Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-01
~ o.'ra,m 11 6o56s,veryX CT -

your hat. Monsieur" he said,
gravely, returning it.
Nora laughed maliciously. The
author of the abortive Irritation fled
down to the body of the tram.
And now there was no one on top
but Nora and her erstwhile jailer,
whom she did not recognize in the
least.
"Mademoiselle," said the great
policeman, soberly, this is a grave
accusation to make"
Il make it, nevertheless replied
Nora She sat stiff1y in her chair.
her face colorless, dark circles under
her eyes. She never looked toward
Courtlandt.
But Monsieur Courtlandt has Of
fered an alibi such as we cannot
ignore More than that, his In
tegrity is vouched for by the gentle
man at his side, whom doubtless
Mademoiselle recognizes"
Nora eyed the great man doubt
fully
What is the gentleman to you?"
she was Intercepted.
Absolutely nothing" oontamptu-
ously.
The minister inspected his rings.
HE has annoyed me at various
times" continued Nora: that is all.
And his actions on Friday night war
rant every suspicion / have enter
tanned against him.
The chief of police turned toward
the bandaged chauffeur. you recog-
nize the gentleman
mo, Monsieur, / never saw him
before. 1t was an old man who en-
gagged me-
sfTF-
"He said that Mademoiselle's old
teacher was very i'll and asked for
assistance I left Mademoiselle at
the house and drove away. 1 was
hired from the garage. That is the
truth, Monsieur
Nora smiled disbelievingly. Doubt
less he had been paid well for that
lie.
And you?" asked the chief of
Nora's chauffeur.
HE is certainly the gentleman,
Monsieur, who attempted to bride
me-"
'"That is true" said Courtlandt
with utmost calmness.
"Mademolselle, if Monsieur Cort-
landt wished, he could accuse you of
attempting to shoot him"
1T was an accident. His sudden
appearance in my apartment fright
ened me. Besides | believe a woman
who lives comparatively alone has a
legal and moral right to protect her.
self from such understandable intru-
sions. / wish him no physical in
jury, but I am determined to be an
noyed by him no longer"
The minister's eyes sought Court
landts face obliquely Strang young
man, he thought. From the express
sion of his face he might have been
a spectator rather than the person
most vitality concerned in this little
scene. And what a pair they madei
Monsieur Courtlandt, you will give
me your word of honor not to annoy
mademoiselle again."
Il promise never to annoy her
again"
For the briefest moment the blazing
blue eyes clashed with the calm brown
ones. The latter were first to deViate
from the line. 1t was not agreeable to
look into a pair of eyes burning with
the hate of ones self Perhaps this
conflagration was intensified by the
placidity of his gaze. If only there
had been some sign of anger, of con-
tempt anything but this incredible
tranquility against which she longed
to cry out? She was too wrathful to
notice the quickening throb of the
veins on his temples.
"Mademoiselle, I find no case
against Monsieur Courtlandt, unless
you wish to appear against him for
his forcible. entrance to your apart
ment" Nora shook her head The
chief of police stroked his mustache
to hide the fleeing smile. A peculiar
case, the like of which had never be-
fore come under his scrutiny Cir
cumstantial evidence. we know, points
to him; but we have also an alibi
which is incontestable. We must look
elsewhere for your abductors Think;
have you not some enemy? Is there
no one who might wish you worry
and Inconvenience? Is there any
jealousy"
No, none at all, monsieur" quickly
and decidedly.
I'm my opinion, then, the whole
affair is a hoax, perpetrated to vex
and annoy you. The old man who
employed this chauffeur may not have
been old | have looked upon all sides
of the affair. and it begins to look like
a practical joke, mademoiselle."
"Ah!' angrily. And am | to have
no redress? Think of the misery |
have gone through, the suspence. My
voice is gone. [ shall not be able to
sing for months. Is it your sugges-
ton that / drop the investigation?
(TO BE Continued Tomorrow