The Washington times., 1911-10-12
CHAPTER XI (Continued).

x to tell her so. At the Max
wells invitation she had de-
cided to remain at the Hall with
the Writings Until Mildred was able to
travel to New York. DR.. Sheldon had
said that the journey might safely be
taken about the middle of the following
week. / had made my plans to go at
the same time. but in view Of the rapid
Developments of the past two days 1
had unnrade those plans and had made
Doesn't it seem strange" said Irene,
that you and were talking about
crime and criminals on the way down
here last week? How little we thought
that we were coming straight to trag-
e6y."
1T is a tragedy" said ''and it may
prove even more of a one than We yet
know. Irene. if Gilbert didn't shoot
Philip. have ycu anv idea who did?'
NO" she said. looking at me with
candor in her ewes which left no room
for dOu BIT, No, l have not the faintest
did it. ] never liked him.. but he does
not seem to be capable of crime.
And yet you hold the theory that.
given an opportunity. we are all capa-
II know I said that" said Irene
thoughtfully And it does seem true
in theory. but it is hard to believe it IN
Il anu sure Gilbert was not the Grim
inal." I said. but my certainty is based
on something quite apart from the
question of his capabilitS in the way
OF committing crime.
First. / was convinced of his inno-
ccHte by his own attitude. A simple
assertion might be false. but Gilbert's
look and voice and manner told far
more more than his words No criminal
could have acted as he did.
Even his scornful Indifference to the
fact of his arrest carried conviction OF
his innocence. But aside from all that.
'F1eming Stone says he knows that Gill
bert is not guilty. and. moreover. he
knows who is.
He knows who ISL exclaimed Irene.
"Who can it be?'
Il don't know; but 1 am sure from
what Mr. Stone says IT is some one
whom we all know and whose conviction
will not only surprise but SaGden u.s."
DO you suppose" said irene slowly,
her great eyes wide with horror, that
1t could have been Mildred, after alp
So this strange girl had dared to put
into words a thought which had tried
hard to keep out of my mind
DON'T" said l. Il cannot think Of
It."
But her whole story about the in
truder may have been fabrication"
"DOn't!'' said l again. "Such remarks
are unworthy of you-are unworthy OF
any woman.
Irene impatiently. Il don't mean 1t the
way you think l do. If 1 could see Mil
dred myself, l would talk to her in the
same way. There is no narm in asking
. frank question"
you one. What did you mean last Nom
day night when you told me that If !
wouldn't interfere between Philip and
Mildred you would take matters into
Il am not at all offended by your
question: said Irene, looking me
straight in the eyes. neither do l as
sumo that because you ask II you think
that | meant anything desperate. l
meant only what ! said-that II you
wouldn't advise Philip MaxWcn not to
be infatuated by such a foolish, artfuI
little coquette a S Mildred Leslie, then
would warn him myself"
'.Since we are speaking frankly, L
must admit that It would seem TO me
unwarranted interference on your part Gn
"'I suppose / am peculiar" said Irene
with q sigh, but it doesn't seem that
way to me. However, this is question
capable of much discussion. Suppose we
leave its consideration for some other
time and return to the house now.
We walked hack, chatting in nghte9
vein, and somehow my heart sank wheh
saw Fleming Stone sitting aIone on
the yeranda. 1t may have been lmaSl-
nation or perhaps intuition, but as soon
as | saw him | felt a conviction that re
had accomplished his work and that We
would soon know the result.
I've been waiting for you, he sald
as went toward him. Irene went into
1he house and Mr. Stone continued: -
have discovered everything, and l want
YOU TO prepare for a sad revelation.
Did you learn anything from your
interview with Miss Leslte?' l askei
:mpulsively. , ,,to-o 7
kaw her." he replied, and his inscruta-
BILE face gave me no glimmer OF infor-
ut is almost / o'clock" he went on,
''and after luncheon 1 will tell you all.
I have asked Mr.. Hunt to be present,
and you will both please meet me~ln the
library at o'clock"
Somehow the sad fOreboding that had
taken possession of me made me Glad
of even an hours further respite
went to the luncheon table and mace
my bravest endea"or to seem my natu,
raj self But a depressing cloud seemed
to hang over us all.
Although each one tried to be cheer
ful, the Efforts were far from being en-
tirely successful. Even Mr.: MaXweu
seemed disturbed. Indeed Miss Miriam
da was most placid of all, and 1 fel:
sure that was due to the calming erect
OF Mr.. Stones kindly consideration lor
her.
At last the meal was over, and unable
to keep up the strain any longer, l went
at once to the library and awaited the
others.
Mr. Hunt came out first.
Have you any idea of the disclosure
Mr.. Stone is about to make?" he said
mo" said I: Il think I can truthful
q say I haven't"
s,He has asked DR.. Sheldon to be here
by 2:30," said Hunt.
Again my thoughts few to Mildred
Leslie, but I said nothing.
Then Fleming Stone came into the
room. There was sadness still in his
ewes, but he had again assumed that
alert. official air which characterized
his professional moments.
Gentlemen" he said, IT came down
here, as you know, an absolute stran-
ger and entirely unpreiudiced. I have
listened to the various accounts OF the
crime: have weighed the evidence Of
fered to me; l have made investlga-
tions on my own account and drawn
nv own deductions.
IL have considered the character and
disnositions of all persons known to be
in the vicinity of Philip Maxwell at the
time of his death; have pondered over
the possible motive for the crime; and.
from the facts learned as a result or