Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-20

had learned which of the two was more
anxious for the engagement to continue
| I'm what way was your uncle more
| definite in his threat last night than he
had been heretofore?" the coroner con-
tinued
Miss Lloyd gave a little gasp. as If the
question she had been dreading had come
| at last She looked at the memorable
face of the butler. she looked at Mr.. Ran.
dolph, and then dashed half-tim1e
glance at Hall. as she answered:
"He said that unless l promised to give
up Mr.. Hall. he would go last night &C
Mr.. Randolph's and have new vii
/ drawn up"
did he do sou exclaimed Gregor,
Hall, an expression almost Of fear ap-
] pearing on his commonplace face.
| Miss Lloyd looked at him and seemed
startled. Apparently his sudden question
/ had surprised her.
Mr.. Monroe paid no attention to Mr.
Halls remark, but said to Miss Lloyd
| HE had made such threats before, had
| he not?''
yes, but not with the same determine
| ton. He told me in so many words
must choose between Mr.. Hall or the In
heritance Of his fortune
And your answer to this?
Il made no direct answer L had tolo
him many times that l had no intention
| of breaking my engagement. Whatever
| course he might choose to pursue
Mr. OrvilIe was clearly delighted with
| the turn things were taking. He already
| scented a sensation and he scrubbed In
dustriouslv in his rapidly filling note
| book.
This habit of his Disguised me, for
surely the jurors on this preliminary in
| quest could come to their conclusions
without a detailed account OF all these
conversations.
I also resented the looks of admiration
| which Mr.. Orville cast at the beautiful
girl 1t seemed to me that with the eX-
ception of Mr.. Hamilton and Mr.. Porter.
who were family friends. the jurors
should have maintained formal ana I'M
personal attitude
! Mr.. Hamilton spoke directly to Miss
LLOYD on the subject.
II am greatly surprised he said that
Mr. Crawford should take such a stand.
| He has often spoken to me OF you as his
heress. and to my knowledge your en-
sasement to Mr.. Hall is not of immedi-
ately recent date"
No" said Miss Lloyd but it is only
| recently that my uncle expressed his dis
appreciation so strongly; and last night
| at dinner was the first time he positively
stated his intention in regard to his will.
| At this Mr.. Hamilton and Mr.. Porter
conversed togethed in indignant whispers.
and it was quite evident that they did
not approve OF Mr.. CRAWFORD treatment
Mr.. Philip Crawford looked astounded.
and also dismayed. which surprised me.
| as 1 had understood that had it not been
| for Miss Lloyd. he himself would have
| been his brothers heir.
Mr. Randolph showed only a lawyer
| like. non-committal expression. and Greg
DRY Hall, too, looked absolutely impas-
sive.
| The coroner grew more alert, as II he
had discovered something of definite i'm
| port and asked. eagerly:
Ibid he do SO? Did he go to his law
yer's and make another will?"
| Miss Lloyd's cold calm had returned
| and seemed to rebuke the coroner's ex-
| cited interest.
II do not know" she replied HE
went out after dinner, as I have told you,
but 1 retired to my bedroom before he
And you did not come downstairs
again last night?"
| II did not.
The words were spoken in a clear. even
tone. but something made me doubt their
truth 1t was not the voice or infection
| there was no hesitation or stammer, but
a sudden and momentary droop Of Miss
| Lloyd's eyelids seemed to me to give the
Lille to her words.
I wondered il Gregory Hall had the
same thought. for he slowly raised his
| own eyes and looked at her steadily for
| the first time since her testimony began.
She did not look at him. Instead, she
was staring at the butler. Either she had
reason to fear his knowledge or l was
/ fanciful With an endeayor to shake of
| these shadows of suspicion. / CHANGED to
look at ParmaIee. To my disgust, he was
quite evidently gloating over the disclo-
sures being made by the witness l felt
my anger rise. and determined then and
| there that If suspicion of guilt or COM
piicity should by any chance unjustly
light on that brave and lovely girl /
would make the effort OF my life to clear
Iher from it.
You did not come down again.. the
coroner went on. pointedly, ITO ask your
i uncle il he had changed his Will?'