The Washington times., 1913-04-09

I they were having the girls portrait
painted. She said she thought she could
a look at 1t. SO that We could get ready
for the old lady.
1T was then the talk came up of her
going into partnership with us 1t was
hadn't done anything about trying 10
land her. 1 suppose Irene had. though
never knew She drove up in car
riage with a heavy veil on, and said
she wanted reading.
Il was going to give her one, be-
cause knew already, from what Irene
had told me. enough to make a good
beginning. But Irene wouldn't hear OF
it-made us send her away: tell her We
were too busy, and make an appoint
ment for her early the next week. She
said that was the way to impress those
people-treat them as though you didn
care anything about them. We got the
portrait the next day. The Jap brought
It in
Did you know where Irene got it,"
Richards asked. ..
No" said the woman. "She said
she'd borrowed it. and that We could
the most wonderful thing I ever saw.
1t almost frightened me. And my hus-
band felt the same way about IT.
How was that?" asked Richards.
have been painted from irene herself,
We both of US looked at 1t and said that
IL Irene only had the dress, she might
have walked straight out OF the pic
ture. She said she thought she could
get the dress, and the next day she had
Il. l don't know how she did that,
either
You gave Miss Meredith material
ization the next time she came?'
let her "Sman see too nGnueS mueh she said % Eve eve
were afraid she'd go right out of her
head. We Just gave her little glimpse
in dark light. But that was enough"
'Weil?'' said Richards. GO on. How
comsr. more 'He' ''o ''S' fso's'
She never came again." said the
woman. She made an appointment.
but she didn't come to keep it"
why do you suppose that Was?'
Il don't know" said the medium.
planation?''
self"
What day was it she disappeared"
date?'
Yes: said the woman. 1T was No
That must have been quite = shock
ards. Didn't you make any Inquiries?
Didn't he make an effort to find her."
ing to do with her really. She didn't
owe Us any money or anything. She
came and stayed a while and went
away. 1t was none OF our business"
She was pretty valuable to you IN
Your business, wasn't she?'
oh. yes" said the woman. But we
could get along without her. We don't
need any help from anybody"
You couldn't hope to do much with
Miss Meridith without her. could you?
Not as much as you could with her,
anyhow"
Miss Meredith never came back.
tell You. SO it didn't matter"
DO you ordinarily let people 60 as
easily as that? People that are once
know they are rich?''
"Wel,'' said the medium, I'VE could
not do anything without Irene. could
so YOU passed it all up said Rich
ards; 'and didn't think anything more
about Irene TIL you saw her picture in
the papers-the girl they had found
frozen in the ice
The woman nodded
Why didn't you come across then:
asked Richards. why didn't you tell
US who she was?''
We didn't owe. you any fayors, did
we?" said the woman.
You knew you were in wrong with
the front office" said Richards. we
were pulling joints Ike yours all over
town. You hac Z chance to get strong
VIII US. you u gwen bS the IlS.Il
tip about Irene Fournier you could
have gone on as you were and we'd
never have bothered you. You mus;
have known that. Why did you let the
chance 20 by? t.
Il don't know"
You and your husband talked II over,
didn't you," said Richards. and neither
Of you thought of that?'
No. We never thought of that.
why didn't you return the portrai,
when Irene went away"
How could we? We didn't know
where Irene had got it,
And while the lieutenant had beol
asking his questions ] had sat beside
him, watching the woman. puZzlinT
over her sullen, half-defiant replies;
What she said hung together vel
enough, but the manner of her saying
it was big with potential falsehood.
What was the thing she was keeping
back-the thing that would account foi
her scream at the sight of 1rcne's face.
and for that unexplained revolver shot
that had changed the face of things
so suddenly.
I wished that Jeffrey had been pay
ing a little closer attention. After hear
ing Richards ask a question or two, lac
had lounged over TO the window AMI
stood there locking out, without the
slightest sign of any interest in the