Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-15
Copyright. 1914, by Louis Joseph Vance
CHAPTER XVI.
TtIE PLANT.


Tho very sharpness of the attack
shocked Sally into such apparent calm
as she might not have been able even
to simulate had she been given more
time to prepare herself
After that first involuntary start OF sur
prise and indignation she stood quite stili.
but with a defiant chin well elevated anu
her shoulders back, and II she had III
her turn grown pale 1t was less with
fright than with the contained eXaspera-
tion that lighted the fires in her eyes
ranging from face to face of the four.
I.yttleton she noticed, fingered uneasiiy
near the door, hanging his head, avoiding
her glance, almost frankly shamefaced'
The spinster posed herself with arms
nklmbo and smirkcd supercinously at tne
badgered girl malicious spite agleam IN
her little black eyes.
Mrs Standish had fallen back on the
interruption and now half stood, half
rested against the dressing table her
passion of a moment ago sedulously dis
sembled. She arched an inquiring eye
brow and smiled an inscrutabe SMILE
questioning the proceedings without al
together disapproving them.
Nearer Sally than any OF these the
strange man confronted the girl squarely,
appraising her with an unprecedented gaze
IF you please she appealed directly
to him.
Miss Manwaring. I believer" he re-
sponded with a slight, semidittident nod
Silently Sally inclined her head.
That's the name she gave when she
came here, at least" Mercedes COM
mented
Sally addressed Lyttleton. please shut
the door" she said quietly, and as he
obliged her, looked back to the stranger.
"Mason's my name, miss, he went on
Operative from Webb's Private lnvesti-
CATION Agency. Boston. Mrs. Gosnold
sent for me by long-dlstance telephone
this morning. I've been here all evening
working up this case on the quiet The
understanding was that l wasn't to take
anv steps without her permission. but
she left 1t to me to use my best Judg-
ment in case her little plan for getting
a confession didn't work. So thought
I'd better not wait any longer, seeing
how late II Is and how long after the time
limit she set-and ALL
"Do | understand Mrs. Gosnold gave
you permission to break into my room
with these people?" Sally demanded.
NO miss; not exactly As l say, she
told me to use my best Judgment In case
the Jewels weren't returned. And as I've
said, it was getting late and Mrs. Cos
mold was nowhere to be found, and
thought I'd better get busy"
Mrs Gosnold has disappeared"
well you might call 1t that. Anyway
we can't seem to find any trace or her
I've got an idea that maid of hers knows
something but If she does she won't talk
to me. And considering that and every
thing-the circumstances being so unusual
all around-it seemed to be up to me to
take some steps to make sure nothing
was wrong"
He faltered. patiently embarrassed by
a distasteful task.
"Wen?" Sally insisted coolly' still
you've given me no reason for this out
rageous intrusion and accusation"
mo, miss; I'm coming to that. You
see, the first thing was to get that letter
box opened and examine those envelopes.
got several of the gentlemen to act
as a sort of committee, so as nobody
could kick on the ground that everything
wasn't done open and aboYeboard."
"You found no confession. l gather?"
Mrs standlsh interpolated,
mo, ma am; no confession. All but
two of the cards were blank. The two
had something written on them-anony-
nous information, so to speak ] brought
them along so that Miss Manwaring
would understand, in case there was any
mistake. il wasn't my fault"
He fumbled in a pocket, brought forth
the cards, and with some hesitation
handed them over to Sally.
Both bore messages labOriously printed
in pencil or much the same TENOR
Suggest you look into Miss Manwar-
ing's antecedents; also her action between
and o'clock last night"
ASK Miss Manwarlng what she was
doing out OF bed after last night-search
of her room might prove helpful"
Silently Sally returned the cards.
"You see." the detective apologized
heavily, after that there wasn't anything
for it but 10 ask you TO explain"
There is nothing TO explain; the
charge Is preposterous."
Yes, miss; that is, I hope so, for your
sake. All the same, l had 10 ask you.
Most of the gentlemen present when 1
opened the envelopes seemed to think l
ought TO do something at once. Per-
sonally, ia rather have consulted Mrs.
Goshold before putting il up TO you this
way"
I'm afraid you will hnd that would
have been wiser"
Yes. miss. perhaps. But she being alb
sent and no way OF finding out when she
was liable to be back. and the case left
in my hand, 10 act on my discretion.
providing no confession was made"
"Stin. 1 advise you 10 wait. II you
think you must do something, why not
employ your talents TO find Mrs. Cos
nOldg'
'well-thats so, too. and would only
Il was suggested that maybe she hadn't
out of sight until this business vas set-
anything unpleasant was pulled on, Like
this"
sally sszasssd.