The Springfield herald., 1913-07-18

Clarke"
You will believe ,very word she
says"
mo doubt. All the more reason
why I must see her. Sweetwater.
someone drew that weapon out. The
| question is who? We must leave no
stone unturncd to find that out"
Where will you see Miss Clarke?''
Wherever she pleases-only
| can't walk far"
II think / know the place. You shall
have the. use of this elevator 1t has
not been running since last night or
1t would be full OF curious people all
the time, hustling to get glimpse OF
this place. But they'll put q man on
for you"
Very good; manage 1t as you will.
I'll walt here till you're ready. I'll
one point she must make clear to
me-"
Sweetwater did not presume to ask
what point. but he hoped to be fully
enlightened when the time came.
And he was. Mr.. Gryce had under
taken to educate him for this work
and never missed the opportunity OF
giving him a lesson. The three met
in private sitting-room on an upper
floor, the detectives entering first
and the lady coming in soon after.
Miss Clarke was not a woman to
rouse an unfavorable opinion In any
mans mind. OF slight, almost frail
build. she had that peculiar anima-
ton which goes with speaking eye
and widely sympathetic nature.
Without any substantial claims to
beauty. her expression was so wom-
anly and so sweet that she was in
variably called lovely.
Mr.. Gryce was engaged at the mo-
ment in shifting his cane from the
right hand to the left. but his man
ner was never more encouraging or
his smile more benevolent.
Pardon me-" he apologized. with
one Of his old-fashioned bows. I'm
sorry to trouble you after all the dis
tress you must have been under this
morning. But there is something
wish especially to ask you In regard
to the dreadful occurrence in which
you played so kind part You were
the first to reach the prostrate wom-
an. believe"
Yes. The boys jumped up and ran
towards her. but they were fright
ened by her looks and left 1t for me
to put my hands under and try to
life her up"
Did you manage TT"
Il succeeded In getting her head
into INV Ion nothing
And sat so?"
For some little time"
You knew she was dead, then?"
II felt her to be So"
How felt?'
II was sure-I never questioned It. -
You have seen women in a faint?'
Yes. many times"
What made the difference? Why
should you believe Miss Challoner
dead simply because she lay still and
apparently lifeless?"
II cannot tell you. Possibly. death
tells its own story. only know how
I felt"
Perhaps there was another rea-
son? Perhaps. that. consciously or
unconsciously, you laid your palm
upon her hearth"
Miss Clarke started, and her sweet
face showed moments perplexity.
did II" she queried. musingly.
Then with sudden access of feeling,
II may have done SO. indeed, be-
lieve I did. My arms were around
her; 1t would not have been an un-
natural action"
mo; a very natural one, should
say. Cannot you tell me positively
whether you did this or not7"
Yes. did. l had forgotten 1t, but
remember now" Aid the glance
she cast him while not meeting his
eye showed that she understood the
importance of tbs admission. II
know" she said. what you are go
ing to ask me now. Did feel any
thing there but the flowers and the
tulle? No. Mr. Gryce. 1 did not.
There was no poniard In the wound"
Mr.. Gryce felt around. found q
chair and sank into 1t.
You are a truthful woman" said
he. And. he added more slowly.
composed enough in character l
should Judge not to have made any
mistake on this very vital point"
Il think SO, Mr.. Gryce. / was in
state of excitement, of course; but
tue woman was stranger to me, and
my feelings were not unduly agi-
tated."
"Sweetwater. we can let my sug-
gestion go in regard to those ten min
utes I spoke of. The time is mar
rowed down to one, and In that one,
Miss Clarke was the only person to
touch her."
THE only one" echoed the lady,
catching perhaps the slight rising
sound Of query in his voice.
II will trouble you no further" So
said the old detective, thoughtfully.
"Sweetwater. help me out Of this"
But one possibility remains," he
confided to Sweetwater. as they stood
waiting at the elevator door. Miss
Challoner died from 4 stab. What
follows? She struck the blow herself.
and the strength Of purpose which
led her to do this, gave her the addi-
tional force to pull the weapon out
and fling 1t from her. 1t did not fall
upon the floor around her; therefore,
1t few through one of those open
ings into the lobby. and there 1t either
will be. or has been found"
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