, 1913-02-27

Bella told me that she had lived with
Mrs. Butler since she was sixteen and
mad only left when the husbands sui.
eide had broken up the home. 7 conId
get nothing else out of her.. but grad.
uaiiy beila's share In the mystery was
coming to light.
Wardrop was looking better that aft.
ernoon than he had when 1 saw him
Delore' but the news Of Mrs. Buffers
approaching death and the manner OF
her injury affected him strangely. He
mao seer the paper, like Bella, and he
turned on me almost ~fercely when
entered the library. Margery was at
the window.
is b consciousT Wardrop asked
eagerly. indicating the article In the
paper.
mo. not now; at least, 1t is not like.
ly."
He looked relieved. Then he paced
the room nervously His next action
showed the development of a resoIu.
ton. for he pushed forward two chairs
for Margery and myself.
Sit down. both of you,' he directed.
I've got a lot to say. and I want Won
Doth to listen When Margery has
heard the whole story she probably
Will despise me for the rest of her life.
can't help 1t. I've got to tell all I
Know. and 1t isn't so much after nil.
You didn't fool me yesterday, Knox;
] knew what that doctor was after
But he couldn't make me tell who
Killed Mr.. Fleming because, before God,
I didn't know.
Il have to 60 back to the night Miss
Jane disappeared-and that's another
thing that has driven me desperate.
VIII you tell me why l should be sus-
pected of having a hand in that when
h had been a mother to mea II she
is dead she can't ~exonerate me; If she
is living and we find her she will tell
you what | tell you-that l know
nothing of the whole terrible business"
~ am quite certain of that, War
drop" ] interposed, Besides, think
havelgot to the bottom of that mys-
terry"
Margery looked at me quickly, but
shook my head 1t was early to
.r,. Gspleion
me were bad enough, but they had
nothing TODD with Miss Jane. i will
~ oeioie Inc hishI
away paeh " the time MT.
outier was Tue Nslate treasurer ana
WIS us casnier-
-. was hol a business "an.
-, .es sOo,.uuen 'esp~"nsip'''y ne WIN
nAS ooofulha'es' anu .nen. according
u'1i'- seor9. ns eou'on { 10 mucn any
"" Aa Seu"a'tH .ne eash'er
wa, eu.'es unaer .nau,ne Sontro'.
nu uesieet,uL ,ou re
umoer' hnoA' Tue crasn "heh three
oanAs' rotcen.oo Tue cure went unuer
anu was 'ou"u ID urge anount Oh
state money had gone. too? 1t was
Fleming who did 1t. am sorry,
Margery, but this Is no time to mince
words. 1t was Fleming who deposit
the money in the wrecked banks,
knowing what would happen. When
the crash came Buffers sureties to
save themselves confiscated every dol
lar he had In the world. Butler went
to the penitentiary for six months OF
ONE minor count. and when he got
out, after writing to Fleming and
Schwartz protesting his innocence and
asking for enough out Of the fortune
they had robbed him of to support his
wife, he killed himself at the White
Cat
Margery was very pale. but quiet.
She sat with her fingers locked In her
lap and her eyes on Wardrop.
at was a bad business" Wardrop
went on YEARLY. "Fleming moved
into Buffers place as treasurer n
took bightfoot as his cashier. That
kept the lid on Once or twice wnen
there was an unexpected call for funds
the treasury was almost empty. ano
Schwartz carried things over himself