The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-16

SpOnSlDle.
Elinor then did something that was
unaccountable to the widow who
thought she knew her so well. and
which rather startled Sands. She
turned to little Miss March and, lay.
ing her head on the young girls shoul-
der, wept unrestrainedly. Dorothy,
patting her shoulder, stood looking
helplessly at Mrs Missioner.
One of those awkward pauses fol-
lowed in which nobody seemed to
know what to do. Sands stared hard
at the floor. Ranscome wriggled in
his chair uncomfortably. Even Blod.
gett's carven features twitched for an
instant. Mrs. Missioner gazed at
Elinor plainly perplexed. Sympathy
struggled slowly to the surface OF her
gaze. She went up to her secretary,
and put her arm about the weeping
girls waist
This cannot be necessary, Mr.. Don.
nelly" she said. 81 would rather lose
jewels twice as valuable than have
Miss Holcomb distressed in this way.
She knows nothing she will not tell
US"
Donnelly and Carson whispered
fervently to one another at a little
distance from the central group.
Blodgett's eyes, turning slowly in a
craven face, traversed the length and
breadth of them as if nothing could
please him better than to still the
Bacchante with a mighty blow and
Jolt Carson out of the room. The only
person entirely at ease was Griswold.
He smoked TRANQUILITY, his glance trav.
cling from one to another in rotation
with the appreciatlveness of q con.
noisseur studying a great picture.
There was something of the dilettante
in the man. lie was the opposite of
Sands In every particular save breed
ing, and even In that respect there
was a difference.
Sands broke tho tension with a
suddenness that fairly shouted his
whole character. Rising so abruptly
that his chair fell backward with q
crash, he strobe to the telephone and
seized the instrument savagely. He
was calling Police Headquarters be-
fore either of the detectives recovered
from his surprise. Donnelly hastened
toward him, the Bacchante in great
agitation. He pushed out fat hand
as If to stop the millionaire.
What are you going to dot" asked
the sleuth, visibly anxious.
Pm going to have Manning cal
you fellows back to Mulberry Street,
said Sands, his jaw hardening. Hes
sent the wrong men. This isn't g
Tenderloin case"
Now, see here, Mr.. Sands
snarled Donnelly threateningly.
I'm seeing straight enough" re
turned Sands. II asked the Detective
Bureau to send up on an important
case, and the wires crossed before my
message got to tho Chief. Somebody
told him It was a Chinatown hold-up
Now I'm going to talk to him straight
Hello, Spring! What's the matter
with that number?"
You're going strong, Mr.. Sands
even for a society man." said Donnel
ly, doing his best to quiet the Bac
chante, "but / don't see any shield on
your shirtfront, and me and my part
ner amt got any call taking orders
from you. We're on this case, and
we're going to stay on It. And II you
start anything with Manning, you
want to be sure you can finish It," He
was white, shaking-whether with
rage or fear no one could say. Turn
ing to Mrs. Missioner. he went on:
II suppose you know, ma'am, interfer.
ence with an officer is a pretty seri'
ous thing. We're here on duty, and
it's up to you to see we're not both
cred"
Mrs. Missioner paled. She dreaded
not the law, but n scene.
81 think we would better let them
have their way, Bruxton," she mur'
INJURED, the light Of admiration in her
eyes in contrast to her words. "Mr
Donnelly knows Miss Holcomb's stand
ing now, He will remember"
Donnelly didn't know precisely what
he was expected to remember, but he
realized gentler tactics were safer to
ward the Widows secretary while
Sands was around. 1t did not escape
even his observation that neither
Ranscome nor Griswold had said any
thing in Miss Holcomb's defense.
Nov, this is all wrong, young
lady" he said to Elinor, bearing on
the soft pedal as much as he could.
ut isn't right for you to go on like
this, you know. You'll get yourself
all worked up and then you won't
be able to answer our questions. Take
my word for 1t. it's best for you to
keep yourself in hand"
Elinor couldn't keep herself In hand
while that raucous voice was thrust
into her self-respect like rusty file
gripped as poinard. She fought for
self-mastery, but the shock was too
much for her determination. Doro-
thy's sisterly comforting only made
her tears flow more freely. Her whole
form quiyered with stGccato sohs