Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31
CAROLYN WELLS
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

Inc man ndO no answer lOT tiliS I1c
was not ingenious in inventing falsehood.
and he stood looking helpless and de-
spairing. 1 perceived 1 should have to
go on with my questioning.
WAS it man or a woman you saw in
there with Mr.. Crawford %
II see nobody, sir, nobody but my mas
ter
That wouldn't do. then. AS long as
asked him direct questions he could an
swer falsely. l must trip him up in some
roundabout way.
yes" 1 said, pleasantly. Il understand
that. And what was Mr.. Crawford do
ing?"
He sat at his desk" and Louis spoke
slowly and picked his words with care.
"Was nc writing?"
mo: that is yes. sir. he was writing.
1 now knew he was not writing, for the
truth had slipped out before the man
could frame up his lie. | believed | was
going to learn something at last, if
could make the man tell. Surely the testi-
mony of one who saw Joseph Crawford
late that night was of value, and though
that testimony was difficult to obtain ii
was well worth the effort.
And was Mr.. Hall at his desk also?''
Louis stared at me. Mr.. Hall. he was
in New York that night" This was said
so simply and unpremeditatedly, that
was absolutely certain it was not Hall
whom Louis had seen there.
"Oh, yes, of course, SO he was, | said,
lightly; land Mr.. Crawford was writing.
was hep
scowl which l was beginning to learn al
ways accompanied Louis untruthful
statements.
And now 1 decided to put my worst
fear to the test and have it over with.
1t must be done and / felt sure l could
do it, but oh, how / dreaded it.
did Mr.. Crawford look up see your
mo, sir
"And didn't Miss Florence see you,
either?"
It was out The mere fact that Louis
answered that question SO calmly and
unconsciously proved he was telling the
truth. But what a truth! for it told me
at the same time that Florence Lloyd
was in the Office with her uncle, that
Louis had seen her. but that she had not
seen him. had learned the truth from
my reading of the mans expression and
demeanor. and though it made my heart
sink, l didn't for a moment doubt that it
was the truth.
OF course Louis realized the next in
stant what he had done and again he be-
gan his stammering denials. "Of course
Miss Lloyd do not see me for she is not
there. How can she see me, then?
tell you my master was alone."
Had / been the least uncertain this
would have convinced me that 1 was
right. For Louis voice rose almost to a
shrek, so angry was he with himself for
having made the slip.
Give it up. Louis" / said: you have
let out the truth, now be quiet. You
couldn't help it, man. you were bound to
trip yourself up sooner or later. You put
up good fight for Miss Florence. and,
, now that L understand why you told your
falsehoods, I can't help admiring your
chivalry. You saw Miss Lloyd there that
evening, you heard her next day at the
inquest deny having been in the Office In
the evening. So. in way, 1t was very
commendable on your part to avoid con-
tradicting her testimonies with your own.
But you are not clever enough, Louis. to
carry out that deceit to the end. And
now that you have admitted that you
saw Miss Lloyd there, you can best help
her cause, and best help me to help her
cause, by telling me all about 1t. For rest
assured, Louis, that I am quite as anx-
ious to prove Miss Lloyd's innocence as
you can possibly be, and the only way to
of the truth as 1 possibly can. Now,
| tell me what she was DOING
Only talking to her uncle, sir" Louis
had the air of defeated man. He had
tried 10 Snleld Miss LfOyd'S name and
had failed Now he spoke sullenly and
as if his whole cause were lost
And Mr. Crawford was talking to
| her?"
Yes, sir
HE was not writing, them
mo, sir
Did they seem to be having an AMIGA
| BILE Conversations
Louis hesitated and his hesitation was
sufficient answer
Never mind,'' said. you need not tell
me more. In fact. 1 would prefer to get
the rest of the story from Miss Lloyd
herself
Louis looked startled. Don't tell Miss
Lloyd l told YOU this" he begged Il
nave try very hard not to tell you
4 know you tried hard, Louis not to
tell me, and ii was not your fault that
wrung the truth from you. 1 will not
tell Miss Lloyd that you told me- unless
1t should become necessary, and / do not
think 1t will. Go away now, Louis and
do not discuss this matter with anybody
at ALL And. also do not think for q mo-
ment that you have been disloyal in tell
ing me that you saw Miss Lloyd AS ]
say, you couldn't help it.. I should SIM
ply have kept at you until l made YOU
tell, so you need not blame yourself in
| the matter at all
Louis went away, and though I could
| see that he believed what I said, he had
a detected air, and couldn't help feeling
sorry for the man who had so inadyert-
emily given me the knowledge that must