Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-22
CHAPTER VI.-COntinued.

! If she and Elsa were in collision tC
deny her ownership Of the bag, it would
| be hard to prove the contrary, for the
! men-servants could not be supposed tG
know, and 1 had no doubt Mrs Pierce
| would testify as Miss Lloyd did on any
matter.
| l was sorry not to put more confidence
| in the truth of the testimony / was hear
ing, but l am. perhaps. skeptical by ma
| ture. And. too. if Florence Lloyd We're
in any way implicated in the death OF
her uncle. l felt pretty sure she would
not hesitate at untruth.
| Her marvellous magnetism attracted me
strongly, but it did not blind me to the
| strength of her nature. While l could
not, as Yet, believe her in any way I'M
plicated in the death of her uncle. was
| fully convinced she knew more concern
ing it than she had told, and knew, un-
less forced to. she would not tell what
she desired 10 keep secret.
| My sympathy of course, was with her,
| but my duty was plain. AS detective,
1 must investigate fairly or give up the
case.
At this juncture l knew the point at is
| sue was the presence of Miss Lloyd in
the Office last night, and the two yellow
rose petals 1 had picked up on the floor
might prove a clue.
At any rate il was my duty to investi-
gate the point. so taking card from my
| pocket i wrote upon it, Find out II MISS
Lloyd wore any flowers last evening and
what kind
| passed this over to Mr.. Monroe, and
rather enjoyed seeing his mystification
as he read it.
To my surprise he did not question
Florence Lloyd Immediately. but turned
again to the maid.
lat what time did your mistress go to
her room last evening"?
AT about 10 O'Clock, sir. ] was wait
ing there for her and SO | am sure"
Did she at once retire.?
gown for teagown. and then said she
would sit up for an hour or so and write
letters. and I needn't wait
You left her them
Yes sir
Did Miss Lloyd wear any flowers at
dinner last evening"?
NO. sir. There were no guests-only
the family"
'.Ah. quite so. But did she, by chance
pin on any flowers after she went to her
ROOM
why yes, sir; she did. A box of roses
had come for her by a messenger, and
when she found them in her room she
pinned one on the lace of her teagown."
Yes? And what time did the flowers
arrive?'
While Miss Lloyd was at dinner. sir.
took them from the box and put them
in water, SIR
And what sort Of flowers were they?"
yellow roses. SIR
That will do, Elsa. You are ex-
cused"
The girl looked hewildered and a little
embarrassed as she returned to her place
among the other servants. and Miss
Lloyd looked a little bewildered also.
But then. for that matter. nobody I'M
derstoOd the reason for the questions
about the flowers. and though most OF
the jury merely looked preternaturally
wise on the subject Mr.. Orville scrubbed
it all down in his little book. 1 was. now
glad to see the man keep up his indie
fatigable note taking. If the reporters or
| Stenographers missed any points, l could
| But from the industry with which he
| wrote, / began to think he must be COM
posing an elaborate thesis on yellow roses
and their habits
Mr.. Porter, looking greatly puzzled. OBJ
served to the coroner, Il have listened to
your inquiries with interest. and l would
! like to know what, If any. special i'm
portance is attached to this subject OF
| yellow roses"
"Fm not able to tell you," replied Mr..
Monroe. Il asked these questions at the
| instigation of another, who doubtless has
| some good reason for them, which he will
explain in due time
Mr.. Porter seemed satisfied with this.
J.
| if bidding him to proceed.
| But If I had been surprised before at
| the all but spoken intelligence which
passed between the two servants Elsa
and Louis. l was more amazed now They
shot rapid chances at each other, which
| were evidently full of meaning to them
! selves. Elsa was deathly white, her lips
| trembled and she looked at the French
man as If in terror OF her life. But
| though he glanced at her meaningly now
l . of tn
to be more for Florence Lloyd than for
| her maid.
| But now the coroner was talking very
gravely to Miss Lloyd.
/ do you corroborate.'' he was saying.
| 1.-THE statements of your maid about the
flowers that were sent you last EVENING"
| Il do" she replied.
From whom did they Gomez"
! From Mr.. Hall"
MIR. Hail. said the coroner, turning
send flowers to Miss Lloyd last evening
| if you We're in New York city?''
! Easily was the cool reply. II left
| Sedgwick on the o'clock train. On my
way to the station / stopped at a flor
| lists and ordered some roses sent to Miss
was at dinner, they were not sent imme-
diately. as the florist promised
when did you receive them, Miss
Lloyd?'
They We're in my room when 1 went
up there at about 10 o'clock last even
| ing she replied, and her face showed
her wonderment at these explicit cues
| tons
The coroner's face showed almost az
much wonderment, and / said: Per
haps. Mr.. Monroe. 1 may ask a few ques
tons right here
! Certainly" he replied.
| And thus it was, for the first time ir