Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06

DOnHelly was rapiuiy fecoVerihe Lao
place on the pedestal. Hands wrist
deep in pockets, he rocked on his
heels and looked at Elinor piercingly |
with his little eyes. The girl, In an
Interval between sobs. raised her
head and saw that gaze A slow flush
swept her face. She detached herself
gently from little Miss March. and
lifting that graceful head of hers
higher, ever higher, faced the sleuth
with composure as startling as had
been her loss Of control.
III you have anything more to ask,
sir" she said in low tone, II will
try to answer"
"Thanks!" came the curt reply. Il
knew you'd come around. You see.
Miss Elinor-"
Miss Holcomb!" burst from Sands
In q thunder tone. "H-o-l-c-om-b-you
understand-Miss Holcomb' Donnel-
ly pretended not to notice the inter
ruption, but he did not address Elinor
by her first name again. But Carson
seemed as perturbed as he had been
under the malignant gaze OF the mo-
ionless Blodgett.
What were you doing in Maiden
Lane the other day." asked Donnelly.
sharply.
II WAS not IN Maiden Lane.
haven't been downtown In weeks. The
last time l went south OF the shop
ping district was more than a month
ago"
THAT is true" said Mrs. Missioner
hurriedly. Miss Holcomb went to
the Battery Trust company for me-"
Much obliged, ma'am." Donnelly
was learning to show more Difference
to the widow Carson had whispered
to him something Of her social i'm.
portance. Yes, Carson. although he
was only a neutral tint in the human
color scheme, knew few things.
WAS that the day you took the dia-
monds to T1ffany's?" queried the big
detective quickly. ITO have one OF
the small stones made tighter, you
know"
Miss Holcomb's disdain had given
place to dull wonder. Where had the
man got his transformation? Could
IL no Ao lcdtly luOu6ut-OQtp uO. ~
was impossible. She felt as II some
thing suffocating was closing about
her. She lifted one hand to her throat
to force back the sobs that would
come.
81 am completely confused by your
questions" she stammered. Il do
not know how to answer. What you
say is SO strange" She looked at the
others with a world Of appeal in those
gray eyes Astonishment, sympathy.
affection, cynicism, mutely replied.
Stretching both hands toward Mrs.
Missioner. advancing with faftering
steps, the victim of the detectives
persecution cried: Mrs. Missioner,
is 1t possible you can think-do you
even imagine I-I-oh," with a swift
turn to Miss March, Dorothy Dor
othyl"
To the credit of little Miss March
be 1t remembered she met ElinOr's
second appeal with undiminished ten
derness. Mrs. Missioner, too, was
kind. but her gentle mo. Elinor," was
not as reassuring as the loving pats
Dorothy squandered on the bent shout
derS Of the distressed girl. Sands
swore IN hts thoughts. His big fingers
bent gold penholdsr into wavy lines.
Ranscoms. with alternate flnger-tips
traced lines in his palms. Griswold
turned bis cigarette round and round
with agile fingers and thumb. Blodg-
ett's eyes seemed to lunge at the de-
tecttpes.
II guess Miss Holcomb isn't ready
to tell all she knows-yet," said Don.
\ nelly meaningly. while we're wait.
ing for her to steady her nerves
He1l Just have look IN her room"
Mrs. Missioner was about to mega
10 the suggestion, but glance al
pors shaking form stopped her
did not reply. and the detectives
walked out OF the room in silence. 4
look from the widow sent Blodget
stalking In their wake. The footmaI
kept his eyes on Donnellys turned
out toes as II calculating how mucl
strength was required TO seizo thos'
thick ankles with q sudden heeve
Not until the central Off co mon wer'
at the end Of tho passage did the sol
bing secretary stsrt In gres. aS!tsho.
toward the door. On the .hr~shoa'
she paused and sarped slowly TIL Oh
faced tbs group
"Ssnos the, aEu gstog to search N
tho room" she sais, in a chokin
voice II with you would all com
.here With me. II feel thAt-won
ynu all cO.aa-nlea.,e
Tho ncn N"Gs .sssg. ba: Darts az
Dorothy joined her on ths instar
Wrd together thu TIRES women 70
lowed the detectives inH .he llf
Rlcds-tt backed froea the car ar
stond staring at the detoctiv,s throug
the 1850 tinted grill A boy in quia
livery threw n. ,,ver and tho ste.
cage Shct upward. Tho car stoppo
Ct too ti,i-a foor ans She little pGre
pscs.aded 30 rsp~n ut tho end {
q soi.iyWghted corridor.
" was st.nrming little bouso
.ato which Donneays ssreSIing foe
ana Ca.tOn's fiat tread cxTled the d
tcstives Mrs. Missioner, Elinor o.
Dorothy went emily little way
and looked on silently. The me
made their search according to !ha
natures, Carson with moderate ind.
ference aEd dispatch, Do .relly e
haustively. ling-r'ptly. glo.tipgl
When the largo sleuth's thick hngsl