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

more convinced that, whether Florence
connived or not, Hall was the villain. and
that he had actually slain his employer
because he had threa tened to disinherit
his niece.
Perhaps when Hall came to the office
late that night Mr.. Crawford was already
engaged in drawing up the new Will, ana
in order to purloin it Hall had killed him,
not knowing that the other will was al
ready destroyed. And destroyed 1t must
be, for surely Hall had no reason to steal
or suppress the will that favored Flor
ence.
AS a next move / decided to interview
Mr.. Hall.
Such talks as I had had with MIN SO
far had been interrupted and unsatls1ac,
tory. Now I would see him alone anu
learn something from his manner ana APP
pearance.
found him. as had expected in the
I lou AZ bic i., late employer. He was sur
founded with papers and was evloeH ao;,.
very busy but he greeted me Win
show of cordially and offered me a M NJ
II want to talk to you piainilS' h,,ev
Hail. l said. and as l. see so'
I will be as brief as possible. ,a be
eve been expecting YOU, salo .,s me
CALMLY. I'm fact I'm rather surprised
that You haven't been here before.
'Why?" said /. cycling MN cioseH SEA- at
"Only because the inquiries mace q.
the inquest amounted to very little; anu
T assumed YOU would question all 'he
members of the household again. ;. r.-
I'm not sure that's necessary, don@-
snonded. following his example in adopt
;n~ Iicht casual tone 81 have no rea-
son to suspect that the servants !o'a
other than the exact truth. [ have taxed
to both the ladies. and now I've only
few questions to put to you. NV Golf
satisfied air. -,
Have YOU nailed the criminal?' ne
asked, with a greater show OF lh'eres'
than he had before evinced.
mot exactly nailed him, perhaps. Du'
we fancy we are on the scent
..Pesent WHAT" he asked, looking
II didn't say resent l said we are on
the scent" - aooc
In your direction" 1 said. willing to
trv what effect .bluntness might nave
upon this composed young man:
II beg your pardon?' he said' as IL ne
hadn't heard me.
'.Evidences are pointing toward you as
the criminal" l said, determined TO ols-
turb his compOsure If l couid.
Instead of showing surprise or anger
he gave slight smile as one woulo AZ on
idea too ridiculous to be entertained ior
an instant. Somehow, that smile was
more convincing to me than any Verpai
protestation could have been.
Then l realized that the man was oouDt,
less a consummate actor, and he had
carefully weighed the value OF that super
cilious smile against asseveratfons OF IN
nocence. So / went on
'.yVhen did you first learn OF the acci-
dent to the Atlantic liner, the North
American
II suppose you mean that question for
a. trap he said, coolly; but / haven't
the least objection to answering IL. &C.. l.
bought late extra in New YORK Guy
- xl,oI or
Eat what hour did you buy it?'
II don't know exactly. 1t was some
time after midnight
Really. there was little use in question
per at half-past II, as 1 felt positive ne
did, and if he had come out to SedgwicK
on the II o'clock train, he was quite capa-
BILE of answering me in this casual way
to throw me off the track.
Well l would try once again.
Excuse me- Mr.. Hall, but [ am obliged
to ask you some personal questions now
Are you engaged to Miss Lloyd
II beg your pardon?
His continued requests for me TO re-
peat my questions irritated me beyond
endurance. OF course 1t was blum TO
gain time but he did 1t so politely L
couldn't rebuke him.
Are you engaged to Miss LLOYD: l
repeated
NO, think not" he said. slowly. She
wants to break 1t off, and 1, as poor
man, should not stand in the way OF her
making a brilliant marriage She has
many opportunities for such, as her uncle
often told me- and 1 should be selfish in
deed, now that she herself is poor, to hold
her to her promise to me-"
The hypocrite! To lay on Florence the
responsibility for breaking the engage
ment. Truly, she was well rid Of him..
and 1 hoped l could convince her of the
fact.
But she Is not so poor l said. Mr..
Philip Crawford told me he intends to
provide for her amply. And I'm sure that
means a fair-sized fortune, for the Craw-
fords are generous people,
Gregory Halls manner changed.
Did Philip Crawford say that?" he
cried "Are you sure?"
.'Of course I'm sure. as he said it to
me-
'.Then Florence and 1 may be happy
vet" he said: and as l looked him
straight in the eye he had the grace to
look ashamed Of himself, and. with a ris-
ing color, he continued: II hope you
understand me, Mr.. Burroughs. No man
could ask girl to marry him II he knew
that meant condemning her to compare
tive poverty"
mo, Of course not said 1, sarcas-
tically. Then l assume that, so far as
you are concerned, your engagement with
Miss Lloyd is not broken?"