Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-25

| luxurious surroundings, does not DELHI
erately commit an atrocious crime.
"A woman thwarted in her love affair
will do almost anything declared Mr..
Goodrich. Il have had more experience
than you, my boy, and I advise you not
to bank too much on the refined and
luxurious surroundings. Sometimes such
things foster crime instead of preventing
it. But the truth will come out and soon,
l think. The evidence that seems to
point to Miss Lloyd can be easily proved
or dlsproved once we get at the work IN
earnest. That coroner's jury was made
up of men who were friends and neigh
bors of Mr.. Crawford They were so
prejudiced by sympathy for Miss Lloyd
and Indignation at the unknown criminal,
that they couldn't give unbiased judg-
ment. But we will yet see justice done
| If Miss Lloyd is innocent. we can prove
it, But remember the provocation she
was under. Remember the opportunity
she had, to visit her uncle alone IN his
office, after every one else In the mouse
was asleep. Remember that she had
had.
Except Mr.. Gregory Hail. 1 said,
meaningly.
Yes; 1 grant he had the same motive
But he is known to have left town at 6
that evening, and did not return until
nearly noon the next day. That lets him
OUT
YES, unless he came back at midnight
and then went back to the city again.
''Nonsense." said Mr.. Goodrich. That's
fanciful Why the latest train-the thea
alter train. as we call lt-gets In at
o'clock, and it's always full of our sos
cety people returning from gayeties in
New York. He would have been seen
had he come on that train and there is
no later one"
/ didn't stay to discuss the matter
further. Indeed. Mr. Goodrich had made
me feel that my theories were fanciful.
But whatever my theories might be
there were still facts to be investigated.
Remembering my determination to ex-
anime that gold bag more thoroughly,
asked Mr.. Goodrich to let me see it, for,
Of course, as district attorney, it was now
in his possession.
He gave it to me with an approving
nod. That's the way to work" he said.
THAT bag is your evidence. Now from
that you detectives must go ahead and
learn the TRUTH
Whose bag is it?'' said. with the in
tention of drawing him out
ITS Miss Lloyd's bag" he said. grave
ly. "Any woman in the world would deny
its ownership in the existing circuIn-
stances. and ] am not surprised that she
did So Nor do I blame her for doing so.
Self preservation is mighty strong i'm
pulse i'm the human heart and we've all
got right to obey it,
AS / took the gold bag from his hand ]
didn't in the least believe that Florence
Lloyd was the owner of IL, and I resolved
anew to prove this to the satisfaction of
everybody concerned.
Mr.. Goodrich turned away and busted
himself about other matters and I de-
voted myself to deep study.
The contents of the bag proved as blank
and unsuggestive ever. The most ex-
haustive examination of it's chain. its
clasp and its thousands OF links gave me
, not The tiniest thread or shred Of any
sort.
But as l poked and pried around in its
lining ! found card, which had slipped
between the main lining and an inside
pocket.
/ drew it out as carefully as l could.
and it proved to be a small visiting card
bearing the engraved name, Mrs Eyer
ton Purvis.''
! sat staring at it, and then furtively
glanced at Mr. Goodrich. He was not OBJ
serving me, and / instinctively felt. that
L did not wish him to know of the card
until l myself had given the matter
further thought.
I returned the card to its hiding place
and returned the bag to Mr.. Goodrich,
after which l went away.
1 had not copied the name, for it was
indelibly photographed upon my brain.
AS / walked along the street 1 tried to
| construct the personality Of Mrs. Egerton
Purvis from her card. But l was able
to make no rational deductions, except
that the name sounded aristocratic, and
was quite in keeping with the general eff
feet of the bag and it's contents.
10 De sure, might nave ueOuced tnat
she was a lady of average height and
size. because she wore a number six
glove; that she was careful of her per-
sonal appearance, because she possessed
a vanity case; that she was of tidy hab-
its. because she evidently expected to
send her gowns to be cleaned. But all
these things seemed to me puerile and
even ridiculous, such characteristics
would apply to thousands of women all
over the country.
Instead of this 1 went straight to the
telegraph Office and wired to headquar-
tiers in a cipher code I instructed them
to learn the identity and whereabouts of
Mrs. Egerton Purvis, and advise me as
soon as possible.
Then returned to the Sedgwick Arms,
feeling decidedly well satisfied with my
mornings work, and content to wait I'M
til after Mr. Crawford's funeral to do
any further real work in the matter.
Go be continued tomorrow