The Huttig news. (Huttig, Ark.) 1907-1955, 1912-12-14

long red cloak. Probably you pre-
ceded your daughter, Mrs. Watkins"
The lady thus brought to the point
made a quick gesture towards the girl
who suddenly stood still. and, with a
rising color in her cheeks, answered,
with some show of resolution on her
own part:
You say your name is Gryce and
that you have right to address me
thus pointedly on subject which you
evidently regard as serious. That is
rot exact enough for me. Who are
you, sir? What is your business?"
Il think you have guessed it. | am
a detective from headquarters. Per-
haps this young lady can tell me
what you cannot"
Granddaughter tie mother broke
down. "Show the gentleman what you
picked up from the lobby floor last
night"
The girl laughed again, loudly and
with evident bravado, before she
threw the cloak back and showed
what she had evidently been holding
in her hand from the first, sharp
pointed, gold-haudled paper-eutter.
1T was lying there and | picked it
up. | don't see any harm in that
You probably meant none. You
couldn't have known the part it had
just played in this tragic DRAMA
said the old detective. looking careful
ly at the cutter which he had taken
in his hand.
You have washed this?" he asked
mo. Why should | wash it? 1t
was clean enough. l was just going
down to give it in at the desk" Aud
she turned aside to the window and
began to hum, as though done with
the whole matter.
The old detective rubbed his chin,
glanced again at the paper cutter,
then at the girl in the window, and
lastly at the mother. who bad lifted
her head again and WAS facing him
bravely:
ut is very important" he observed
to the latter, that your daughter
should be correct in her statement as
to the condition of this article When
she picked it up. Are you sure she
did not wash il ,"
Il don't think she did Put FIN sure
she will tell you the truth about that.
Caroline, this is a police matter any
mistake about it may involve MS In
world of trouble aud keep YOU from
getting back home in time for Your
coming-out party. Did you-=did you
wash this cutter when YOU got up
aropitiatory glance at Mr.. Gryee-
wipe it off at any time between then
md low? Re sure
Mother, how can tell what did ?"
5ashad out the girl. wheeling round on
se- 'eeai iii she faced them booth
such a lot of talk about pagry
thing which couldn't have cost TIT
dollars And she wheeled back.
1T isn't the value Nj. GfFce
could be very patient Its the fact
hat We believe It 10 have been an
werable for Miss Challoner's death
that is, il there was any blood on it
when you picked Il up"
ssBlooa!" The girl was facing them
aeaip. establishment struggling with
| disgust on her plain but mobile Il +
lures Blood! Is that what you meaf?
Take it away" she cried. "Bloed."
she repeated in horror HinKing her.
self into her mothers arms.
Mr.. Gryee thought he Understood
the situation. Here was iittle kieu-
tomaniac whose weakness the motiInr
was struggling to hide.
Does that brighten you? Are you
SO affected by the thought OF blood!
Don't ask me. And | put the thing
under nay pillow! l thought It was SO
SO pretty"
Mrs. Watkins" Mr.. Cryce from
that moment ignored the daughter,
did you Sea it there?"
.Yes;; but | didn't know where it
came from. | had not secn my danrh.