Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-18

uaoHds 70 T1Kanys1" aueried the big
!! asSsctiv2 quickly, ITO have one Of
the small stones made tighter, you
know.s 49,
Miss Holcomb's disdain had given
place to dull wonder Where had the
man got his misinfornaation7 Could
Il bo he really thought-but, no. Il
was impossible. She felt a. II some
thing sufIocating 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. "I-I do
not know how to answer. What you
say Is 30 strange" She looked at the
others with world Of appeal in those
| gray eyes. Advertisement. sympathy,
affection. cynicism. mutely replied.
Stretching both hands toward MIS-.
Missioner. advancing with fartering
| stops, the Victim Of the detectivs's
persecution cried: MRS. Missioner.
| = It possible you can think-do you
even imagine I-I-oh," with q swift
turn to Miss March, Dorothy. Dor
othy!"
| To the credit Of little Miss March
be It remembered she met Elinors
second appeal with undiminished ten
! derness. Mrs. Missioner. too. was
kind. but her gentle mo, Elinor," was
not ~ reassuring as the loving pats
/ Dorothy squandered on the bent shoul-
ders Of the distressed girl. Sands
swore In his thoughts His big fingers
bent . gold penholdet into wavy lines.
Ranscome. with alternate hnger.tips.
traced lines in his palms. Griswold
turned his cigarette round and round
with agile fingers aud thusab. Blodg-
cts eyes seemed to lunge 81 the de-
tectives.
Il guess Miss Holcomb isn't ready
to toll all she knows-yet." said DON
nelly meaningly. while were wait
ing for her to steady her nerves,
VOL just have look in her room"
Mrs. Missioner was about to mega
tive tho suggestion, but a glance 1T
Elinor's shaking form stopped her.
She did not reply, and the detectives
walked out of the room In silence. A
look from the widow sent Blodgett
stalking in their wake. The footman
kept his eyes on Donnelly's turned
out toes as II calculating how much
strength was required to seize those
thick ankles with a sudden heave.
Not until the central ONCE mon were
at the end Of the passage did the Sob
bling secretary start in great agitation
toward the door. On the threshold
she paused and turned slowly till she
faced the group.
"since they are going to search my
the ROOM" she said, in choking
voice, II wish you would all come
there with me. IL feel that-won't
you all come-please?"
The men hung back. but Doris and
Dorothy Joined her on the instant
and together the three women fol-
lowed the detectives into the lift
Blodgett backed from the car and
stood staring at the detectives through
the rose-tinted grill. A boy in quiet
livery threw the lever and tho steel
cage shot upward. The car stopped
at the third floor and the little party
proceeded to a room at the end of
! softly-lighted corridor.
It was a charming little houdoir
into which Donnelly's spreading feet
and Carson's nat tread carried the de-
| tectives: Mrs. Missioner, Elinor and
Dorothy went only little way in
and looked on. silently. The men
. made their search according to their
natures, Carson with moderate indif.
ference and dispatch. Donnelly ex.
haustive1y, linEeringly. gloatingly.
When the large sleuth's thick fingers
and beady gaze became more than
ordinary intrusive, Mrs. Missioner
seemed about to protest. but each
time she checked herself.
r"1t Is better, to, let them search
thoroughly" said Elinor. "Since this
is considered necessary, wish It to
be made complete. Please do not IN.
terfere with them" She handed to
Carson a small silver keyring. He
passed It to his mate. and Donnelly's
by leaps and bounds. No single key
| on the tiny ring escaped use of his
hands. He unlocked boxes. a dressing
case and other places Of possible con-
cealment. His method would have
drawn a derisive smile from Chief Of
Detectives Manning. But Manning
was far downtown In Mulberry street,
and could not know the course his
subordinates were pursuing.
From a drawer in Elinor's Chippen-
dale secretary Donnelly took a box
Of rare lacquer and fitted key to 1t.
He stopped to gaze searchingly at
Miss Holcomb for few minutes, then
he unlocked tho box.
II hate to pry into any young lady's
little keepsakes," he said in a ponder
ously patronizing manner. but, as
Miss Holcomb hasn't been to Maiden
Lane in such a long time, know she
won't object. Now, this little box, Of
course, contains nothing but trinkets
or odds and ends-love letters, may
be?" Elinor's heart sickened at the
leer in his face. She turned her eyes
to Dorothy's loving little face. and
chung to tho debutante's hand. Don
nelly, fumbling with the key for
awhile opened the lacquered box.
'Just what said. you see." no ex-
claimed. Nothing but trinkets and
other little souvenirs-huh!-of old
| ~nrho.. Uh -