Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-18
CHAPTER w.

Shortly before o'clock l was back at
the Crawford house and found the large
library, where the inquest was to be held,
already well filled with people. I took an
inconspicuous seat, and turned my at
tention first to the group that comprised,
without q doubt, the members OF Mr..
Crawford's household
Miss Lloyd-for knew at a glance the
black-robed young woman must be she
was Of striking personality. Tall, large,
handsome, she could have posed as a
model for Judith, Zenobia or any Of the
great and powerful feminine characters
in history. 1 was impressed not SO much
by her beauty as by her effect OF power
and ability. / had absolutely no reason,
save Parmalee's babblings, to suspect this
woman of crime, but I could not rid my
self of a conviction that she had every
appearance of being capable OF 1t.
Yet her face was full of contradictions.
The dark eyes were naughty, even i'm
perious: but the red, curved mouth had
tender expression. and the chin, though
firm and decided-looking, yet gave an i'm
preston of gentleness.
On the whole, she fascinated me by the
very mystery Of her charm, and found
my eyes involuntarily returning again
and again to that beautiful face.
She was dressed in black. trailing
Ss~AASA
China crepe. 1t fell around her lin soft
waving folds and lay in little pillows or
the floor. Her dark hair was dressed high
on her head. and seemed to form a sort
of crown, which well suited her regal
type. She held her head high, and the
uplHt of her chin seemed to be a natural
characteristic.
Good birth and breeding spoke i'll every
phase of her personality, and in her every
movement and gesture. l remembered
d. III - nr<h p
and cast 1t aside as impossible of belief
She spoke seldom but occasionally turned
to the lady at her side with few MUIR
INJURED words that were Individually those
of comfort or announcement.
Her companion, a gray-haired, elderly
lady. was, Of course, Mrs. Pierce She
was trembling with the excitement Of the
OCCASION and seemed to depend on Flor
ence LlOyd's strong personality and at
fectionate sympathy to keep her from ut
ter collapse.
Mrs. Pierce was Of the old school OF
gentleUomen. Her quiet, black gown
| with its crepe trimmings. gave. even to
my masculine eye an effect of correct and
fashionable, yet quiet and unostentatiOus
mourning garb.
She had what seemed to me q puzzling
face. 1t did not suggest strength OF
character. for the soft. old cheeks and
quivering lips indicated no strong self
control. and yet from her sharp dark eyes
she now and again darted glances that
were Enthusiastically those of q keen and
positive personality.
l concluded that hers was strong ma
ture, but shaken to its foundation by the
present tragedy. There was. without
| doubt, q great affection existing between
her and Miss Lloyd. and yet felt that
they were not in each others complete
confidence.
Though, for that matters felt intuitive-
ly that few people possessed the complete
confidence Of Florence Lloyd. Surely she
was q wonderful creature, and as I again
allowed myself to gaze on her beautiful
face 1 was equally convinced of the possi-
bility of her committing crime and the
improbability Of her doing 30.
Near these two sat q young man, who,