The Washington times., 1913-11-06

Payne, You and Cozens will return
| these bags to the vault for me, won't
! you? I've got important business up
! Certainly. SIR Payne said, touching
| his hat
THAT will be better, then; for I, too
am pressed for time." said Yorke.
They dropped Thornton at his office
the dors Of the bank.
A few words from Robin threw open
to them the Office Of the cashier. and
forke explained in few words the OBJ
5ect Of their quest.
IT They wished to know II check on
some odd dollars. dated the previous
Monday. made out to Victoria Van
Rensselaer, and signed Lucille N. Good
al had been cashed.
After a short delay. they were In
previous Thursday. morning early. just
after the bank opened. IN fact The
check was produced for their scrutiny.
u was made out for $3.50 and across the
back was the Endorsement Victoria
same .chirography. PAY to bearer"
Robin glanced at II, then seized II
and scrutinized 1t closely. He turned to
Yorke. his face slightly flushed. and
whispered nOarSely.
words"
You are certain Of itr' Yorke ask
Positively. It's cleveriy done, I'll ad-
init; but couldn't be mistaken. I am
WILING to swear that Is not victoria's
"A handwriting expert win be able to
Yorke.
Then. turning to the cashier, he
asked; who cashed this check? May
We have the paying-teller in?"
The paying-teller, when he came. re-
membered cashing It very well, as 1t
was early, before the rush hours, and
was the largest amount paid out SO far
that morning.
The man who had presented it-here
Robin leaned forward and dropped his
stick with crash!-was tall and thin
and very sallow, with q small black
mustache and goatee, and he spoke
pleasantly. but not volubly, with a
very pronounced French accent.
He was dressed neatly, but not ele-
gantly; the cashier had thought he
might be a tailor, or q small tradesman
his bill.
That was all the Information they
could obtain, and they left the build
Robin had seemed more animated
since his discovery of the forgery on the
check, but the reaction from the highly
strung tension Of the last two DAYS and
the emotion Of the morning told heavily
on him. Yorke persuaded him to 20
home at once and try to rest
You've got to keep your feet, you
know. II you are going to help me. and
you'll collapse II you don't take care of
yourself. want you to come to my
at O'Clock. The GoodaiIs n Will IeehoUn be thsrs
and Mrs. Ashley. and Merriman. You
will hear something very curious con-
nected with this case-nothing that will
help us find the assassin. I'm afraid,
but something We have been anxious
to know ever since the murder was dis
covered"
'I'll come, Of course. What Is IL.
Yorke? Something 20 do with this check
business?
But the detective smiled enigmatIcar-
ly. and put his client into passing
After lunch Yorke paced his rooms,
watch in hand. more anxiously than he
would have admitted, even to himself.
At last. at faltering ring Of the bell.
his face cleared, and with an exclama-
ton Of relief he went himself to the
door.
Yorke was not overg1ven to attention
bestowed upon the fair sex, but ten
later he might have been seen
a slender, heavily veiled wom-
an into a waiting taxi and speeding
downtown with her.
Thev went first to a brokers' office,
and then uptown again to a theater, be-
ing caught several times en- route in the
traffic. SO that 1t was somewhat past
the hour OF 4 when Yorke and his COM
panion returned to his rooms. and he
found all his guests already assembled.
awaiting him.
He stepped aside in the hall to allow
the woman to precede him, but she
shrank back with little murmur of
and dismay, and he entered.
kept you waiting" He spoke with por-
tentous gravity in his tones. Then he
turned and held out his hand to the
woman. who came timidly forward.
ALLOW me to present to you Miss Mu-
riel Kennedy. Miss Kennedy, will you
kindly raise your veil?' |
The girl turned to him beseechingly as |
the rest sat In silent astonishment, but !
he stood as IL waiting, So she drew her
self up, faced them all. and, lifting ner |
arms, she unpinned her heavy veil and |
let it fall at her feet.
A little gasp went around the room. a |
moment Of electrified silence. and then !
Lucille Goodall screamed:
Its Mary; It's Mary Kelly!'
Dysart bounded from his chair.
Waltz cried Yorke authoritatively, |
stepping forward. wait and hear what |
Miss Kennedy has to tell you"
First of all. l want to tell you that |
I did not kill Mrs. Van Rensselaer,, nor |
do l know who did.
II found her lying there dead when I |
took her chocolate to her room, and in |
stead Of rousing the house. fled like a |
not of being accused OF |
the crime. but of the notorlety which |
was bound to ensue. You can never for |
give me for it. 1 know. I can never for
give myself
She closed her eyes, clutching Yorke's |
arm and swaying slightly, as he drew
her into a chair.
noIIlIr FlrrlII lIn