Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-28
THE GOLD BAG |
CAROLYN WELLS.
tCcpyrisht. 1910, BY J. B. Lpp,neets
Company
Copyright, 1911. BY J. B. Lippincott
Company
CHAPTER XI-Continued.

| Louis transfer 1t could be proved: and IL
not. 1t must be investigated further. For
a trolley transfer. issued at definite
hour. and dropped just outside the scene
Of the crime, was certainly a clue of i'm
portance.
I proceeded to the Crawford house. and
though 1 intended to have talk with
Louis later I asked first for Miss Lloyd.
Surely, II I were to carry on my investi-
cation Of the case. in her interests, 1
must have talk with her. 1 had not in
truded before, but now that the funeral
was over. the real work of tracking the
criminal must be commenced, and as one
| of the principal characters in the sad
drama Miss Lloyd must play her part.
Until found myself in her presence 1
had not actually realized how much l
wanted this interview.
was sure that what she said. her man.
ner and her facial expression, must either
blot out or strengthen whatever shreds
OF suspicion ! held against her.
know. detective; and am here in Sedg-
wick for the purpose Of discovering the
cowardly assassin Of your uncle. I as
sumo that you wish to aid me in any
way you can. Am right in this?'
Instead Of the unhesitating affirmative
had expected, the girl spoke irreso-
| lutely. YES" she said, "but I fear 1
cannot help you. as know nothing about
The fact that this reply did not sound
to me as rebuff. for which it was doubt
less intended, can only account for by
my growing appreciation Of her wonder
| full beauty.
Instead Of funereal black. Miss Lloyd
was clad all In white, and her simple
| wool gown gave her a statuesque ap-
pearance. which, however. was contra
dicted by the pathetic WEAKNESS in her
face and the sad droop of her lovely
mouth. Her helplessness appealed to me,
and. though she assumed an air of COM
posture, 1 well knew it was only assumed,
and that with some difficulty.
| Resolving to make 1t as easy as pos
sble for her. I did not ask her to repeat
the main facts. which 1 already knew
Then. Miss Lloyd l said, in response
to her disclaimer. If you cannot help me,
perhaps l can help you. have reason to
think that possibly Louis. your late un-
| cle's valet, did not tell the truth In his
| testimony at the coroners inquest. /
have reason to think that instead of going
| around the house to the back entrance as
| he described, he went around the other
| side, thus passing your uncle's Office
To my surprise this information affect
ed Miss Lloyd much more seriously than
l supposed 1t would.
"What?" she said, and her voice was a
frightened whisper. What time did he
come homer
II don't know I replied: but you
| surely don't suspect Louis Of anything
did pass the office he might have looked
in, and so could tell us of your uncle's
wellbeing at that time"
AT what timer
Presumably rather late But since you
are interested In the matter will you not
call Louis and let US question him to-
gether?'
The girl fairly shuddered at this sug-
gestion. She hesitated and for a moment
was unable to speak. Of course this be-
havior on her part filled my soul with aw-
full apprehension. Could it be possible
that she and Louis were in collision and
| that she dreaded the Frenchman's dis
closures? 1 remembered the strange looks
he had cast at her while being questioned
by the coroner. l remembered his vehe
ment denial OF having passed the Office
| that evening-too vehement, 1t now seem
ed to me. However, II l were to learn
anything damaging to Florence Lloyd's
integrity. 1 would rather learn it now IL
her presence, than elsewhere. So 1 again
asked her to send for the valet
With a despairing look. as Of one fore
to meet an impending fate. she rose
crossed the room and rang a bell. Then
she returned to her seat and said, quiet
ly. You may ask the man such ques
tons as you wish, Mr.. Burroughs, but !
beg you will not include me in the con-
versation.'
Not unless it should be necessary" l
replied. coldly. for did not at all like her
OF a sort OF cowardice. or. at least. a pre-
sumption on my own chivalry.
When the man appeared 1 saw at
glance he was quite as much agitated as
Miss Lloyd. There was no longer a posi-
bility of a doubt that these two knew
something, had some secret in common
which bore directly on the case and which
must be exposed. A sudden hope flashed
into my mind that 1t might be only some
trifing secret which seemed of impor-
lance to them, but which was merely a
side issue of the great question.
considered myself justified in taking
advantage Of the mans perturbation, and
without preliminary speech l drew the
transfer from my pocket and fairly fash
ed it in his face.
Louis I said. sternly. you dropped
this transfer when you came home the
night of Mr.. Crawfords DEATH"
The suddenness of my remark had the
effect I desired. and fairly frightened the
| truth out Of the man.
Yves SIR" he stammered. and then,
with a frightened glance at Miss Lloyd
he stood nervously interacing his fingers.
I glanced at Miss Lloyd myself, but she
had regained entire self-possession, and
sat looking straight before her with an
air that seemed to say, go on. I'm pre-
pared for the worst
AS 1 paused myself to contemplate the
attitudes Of the two. lost my ground of
vantage. for when I again spoke to the
| man he. too, was more composed and
IcdAy u reply With CdullOH OOuDtleSS
he was Influenced by Miss Lloyd's de-
meanor. for he imitatively assumed a re-
ceptive air
where did you get the transfer" 1
went on.
"On the trolley, sir: the main line"
ITO be used on the branch line through
West Sedgwick?"
Eyes, sir"
"Why did you not use it,"
"As I tell you. sir, and as 1 tell mon
I
ing with youn3 lady. We went for
trolley ride, and as we returned I take a
transfer for myself, but not for her, as
she live near where we alight.''
"Oh, you left the main line and took the
young lady home. intending then yourself
to come by trolley through West Sedg-
wick?"
Yes. sir: it was just that way"
At this point Louis seemed to forget
his embarrassment. his gaze strayed
away and a happy expression came into
his eyes. I felt sure was reading his
volatile French nature Alright when I as
sumed his mind had turned back to the
pleasant evening he had spent with his
young lady acquaintance. Somehow this
went far to convince me Of the fellows
innocence. for II was quite evident the
murder and its mystery were not upper
most In his thoughts at that moment But
my next question brought him back to
realization Of the present situation.
And why didn't you use your trans
fer?"
"Only that the night. he was so pleas
ant. desired to walk
And so you walked through the vii