Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07
CHAPTER XXVIII-Continued.

OF course there were EXPLANATIONS OF
surprise at this, but realizing its impor-
lance they quietly listened to my story.
With scarcely a word of interruption
from my hearers, l told them how 1 had
found the card in the bag. how l had
learned about Mrs. Purvis from head
| quarters, how I had gone to see her and
| how it had all resulted in Mrs. Cunning
| hams visit to Miss Lloyd that morning.
''Well.' exclaimed Mr.. Porter, as I con-
| cluded the narrative Well OF all
things! Well 1 am amazed. Why this
gives wide scope of possibilities. Scores
of our people come out on that theater
train every night
but not scores of people would have
a motive for putting Joseph Crawford
| out of the way said Mr. Goodrich, who
sat perplexedly frowning.
! Then, by way of a trump card, told
them of the extra" edition of the even
| ing paper l had found in the office.
The district attorney stared at me, but
still sat frowning and silent.
| But Mr. Porter expressed his wonder
ment.
How it all fits in.' he cried. THE
| the paper. known to have been bought
| late in New York! Burroughs, you're a
| wonder! Indeed, we don't want any
Fleming Stone when you can do such
| clever sleuthing as this
I stared at him. Nothing / had done
seemed to me '"clever sleuthng." nor die
my simple discoveries seem to me of any
great significance.
"I don't like it," said Mr. Goodrich, a
last Everything so far known, botf
early and late information. seems to nj
to point to Gregory Hall and Florence
| Lloyd in cOlluSiOn.
"But you said.' L interrupted, "tha
Miss Lloyd's confession that she did g
downstairs late at night was in her ia
| vOr."
II said that before 1 knew about thi!
, bag story. Now l think the case is al
tered. and the two who had real motive
are undoubtedly the suspects"
But they had no motive" said Mr.
| Porter, "since Florence doesn't inher
the fortune
But they thought she did," explained
! the district attorney, land SO the motive
was Just as strong. Mr.. Burroughs.
wish you would confer with Mr.. Parma
lee. and both of you set to work on the
suggestions I have advanced. 1t is q
painful outlook. to be sure, but justice i:
memorable. You agree with me, Mr.
Porter
| Mr.. Porter started, as if he, too had
been in brown study.
II do and 1 don't" he said. Person
ally. / think both those young people are
| innocent, but If l am correct, no harm
! will be done by a further investigation OF
| their movements on Tuesday night.
| think Mr.. Hall ought to tell where hi
was that night, if only in self-defense. II
! he proves he was in New York and die
| not come out here. it will not only cleal
him, but also Florence. For l think NJ
| one suspects her of anything more thar
| collision with him.
| OF course / had no mind to tell these
men what Florence had told me conf
dentially about Mr.. Halls possible occu
patton Tuesday evening. They were de-
| termined to investigate that very ques
tion and so, il her surmise were correct
| it would disclose itself.
! Every WE'LL l said. after listening to a
little further discussion, which was really
| nothing but repetition, then l will con.
| suit with Mr.. Parmalee. and we will try
to make further investigation of Mr.
Halls doings. But I'm ready to admit
| that it does not look easy to me to dis
| cover anything Of Importance, Mr.. Hal
is secretive man, and unless we have q
| definite charge against him it Is difficult
| to make him talk
We'll. you can certainly learn some.
thing" said Mr.. Goodrich. "At any rate
devote few days to the effort. l have
confidence in you, Mr.. Burroughs, and
| don't think you need call in a man whom
/ you consider your superior. But if you'll
| excuse me for making a suggestion, lei
me ask you to remember that theory
| OF Halls guilt also possibly duplicates
! Miss Lloyd. You will probably discover
| this for yourself, but don't let your nat.
ural chivalry toward a woman, and per
| haps personal element in this case
blind you to the facts
Although he put it delicately, I quite
| understood that he had noticed my per
sonal interest in Florence Lloyd, and SO
| as 1t was my duty to disregard that in.
! terest in my work, l practically promised
to remember his injunction.
| 1t was then that 1 admitted to myseIt
the true state Of my mind. 1 felt sure
Florence was innocent. but / knew ap
pearances were strongly against her, anG
l feared l should bungle the case because
Of the very intensity of my desire not to
And i thought that Fleming Stone, in
spite of evidence, would be able to prove
| what / felt was the truth, that Florence
| was guiltless of all knowledge Of or com
| plicity in her uncle's death.
| However, l had promised to go on with
| the quest. and 1 urged myself on, with
the hope that further developments Nigh,
clear Florence, even If they more deeply
| implicated Gregory Hail.
| I went back to the inn, and spent some
| time In thinking over the matter and
methodically recording my conclusions
And while I thought, l became more and