Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-26
CHAPTER XXXIv.-Continued.

CStty Sldi GU III pcNiiucIih 1~N
don't understand she said.
Old Bunchester turned to the girl In
deep concern. MY dear Miss Thompson.
this is exceedingly painful. exceedingly
compromising. l beg you most earnestly,
in the interest of every one. in your own
interest. to tell us how il comes that this
money is found in your desk. You must
explain this mystery. indeed you must"
Hold on" cried Bob. springing for
ward, his whole face TRANSPORTED, and
here il was, in the words of Hiram BaX-
ter, that the boy showed himself a
thoroughbred and took the five-bar gate
in one clean leap. Don't say word.
Betty. Don't explain anything. You're
the finest, pluckiest girl ever knew and
right now, without any explanation, L ask
You to be my wife.
Bob she cried, and her wnoie Soul
was in her eyes.
cts ali right. dear" He stood close
beside her and drew her to him protect
ingly. There are two of us now Then'
turning to Grimes: 60 ahead with your
silly little game
"AlI very pretty" shifted the detective.
while the bishop looked on In purple
amazement, but before We get through
with our silly little game you may not
find it as silly IS you think.
| He strobe across the library to the foof
of the little stair and pointed to the
mezzanine door. IF Miss Thompson was
SO confident that Jenny Regain was de-
serving person why did she hide her In
that room this morning.!
WHAT" cried Bob.
Grimes fixed his hard gaze on Betty.
do you deny that you hid Hester storm.
otherwise known as Jenny Regain, in that
room?''
The girl eyed him steadily. Its true
CHI coid s.hIrf-T QxDlain II.
Young Baxter started to his feet. III
| isn't possible this Storm girl who's beer
| working here is-Jenny Regain
| Grimes nodded. Jenny Regan Is ont
| of her aliases. It's a matter of poilc'
record. You knew this. didn't your ID
| turned to Betty, whose cheeks Were
| afiame with anger.
Eyes. / knew it, she flung back, ane
| what is more
| you knew she was a thief and pick
| pocket" he added.
With an effort the girl checked hersel
| and stood painting.
IF your lordship. will give me Few y.
moments she said. in a low tone. -
can make everything clear. You don
mind, Bob? Just a few moments!
Baxter bowed to her wish. "Of course
\ I don't mind. Come on" he said Il
Grimes.
! Thompson says she can make things cieal
| to his lordship. So can i. His lord
| ships purse was stolen by Hester Storm
alias Jenny Regan. but this young won
an he swept Betty with cruel look
was an accessory after the fact.
"You miserable hound!" roared Bob.
And the bishop said. solemnly, MY dea
| sir, you are making an incredible accuse
| ton. Miss Thompson Is a iady-a fr1ene
of mine. knew her estimable father.
| II can only lay the facts before your
lordship," shrugged the detective. HI
went to the library door. and. motionint
| quickly, returned 70 lowed by Heste
| Storm, who looked neither 20 the RICH
nor the left. but held her eyes straish
| down before her, as if studying the vel
| lowsh pattern in the carpet. Betty
| watched her in surprise.
There" Grimes pointed to Hester. Il:
my answer to your lordships doubts
What is this woman doing here! She i
a notorious thief and a pickpOcket- Why
| did she come to Tipping House? why die
| your lordship's friend. Miss Thompson
| shelter her in that bedroom and try IL
| prevent me from arresting her? The an
Thompson proposed to share the none,
| this Storm girl had stolen from YOU
| lordship.''
| That's a lie!' rang out Betty's swift
denial 'Tell them it's a lie. You mus
tel Them" she appealed frantically t.
| Hester.
| But the Storm girl never moved; sh'
never spoke; she never lifted her eye
! from the carpet.
And Grimes went on relentlessly,
Miss Thompson was innocent of Thu
crime why did she not tell the whole
truth about it when she was alone witt
| your Iordship not half an hour ago?'
81 wanted to tell the TRUTH insisted
| Betty. "but had promised this poor cir
| that / would do nothing until-untli tn
| detective had gone" Again she appea et
to Hester. You know that is true. Tel
| them it's true.
But the storm girl stood there like {
| frozen image, her lips closed. her eye
| Betty's breast.
| your lordship must see that there is
| strong case against this young woman.
He moved toward Betty with a grin
| come with me-" He laid a hand on hel
| arm.
Instantly Bob Baxter stepped forward
his face as white as Betty's.
Take your hands off that lady,.
| ooh, 1 don't know" retorted Grimes
| 'I'm an officer Of the law and
my dear Mr. Baxter" reasoned the
bishop, interposing his portly and ven
crab presence between the excited ad
| versaries. "be ieve me, we must respect
| the majesty of the law
Majesty nothing stormed Bob. 81
| tell you
Il tell you to step back ordered ss ,t the
detective. And YOU" he faced MISS
rest If you have anything to get ready
you'd better do it. We start in he
glanced at his watch. lin ten minutes.
"Start?" cried Baxter. aGhast
The seriousness of the situation was
now clear to every one.
See here the young man appealed 10
Grimes after moments thought there
some horrible mistake. Miss Thompson
had nothing to do with steahng tna'
| money. She couldn't steal Look at her
| man! You know she couldn't. III be re-
sponsib'e anyway. or my father Will. for
the money and everything else. You can
drag her off like this and disgrace her
BY God, won't let you.
I'm sorry. sir, but I've no choice.
crime has been committed, and-there's
evidence enough to hold her on il she was
a cousin Of the queen"
Under arreStr' murmured Betty. twin
ing her fingers together piteously and fix
ing her eyes on Hester.
At this moment the sound OF carriage
wheels was heard outside. Bob went
quickly to the window.
It's father" he said. with movement
of relief. "Cheer up. Betty. Dad will
think of something"
A moment later Hiram Baxter entered
the room. His face was ashen gray. He
looked broken and i'll. but q flicker Of the
old, bright smile spread over his rugged
face as he glanced about the room.
Hello everybody! Why. hello. bish"
He tapped Bunchester playfully on the
shoulder. I'm awful glad to see you.
bish" Then, as he noticed the universal
gloom Say. it strikes me you folks are