Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-15
AN OUTSIDER a A Girls, Girls 4dysnture' advent
he said indinerentIy.

What then2'
I'D like to ask you some questions"
Spare yourself the trouble. shant
answer"
You might make things easier for all
OF u.s. miss, yourself Included"
81 promise faithfully" Sally said, ito
answer any question you may care to
ask, fully freely. truthfully-in the pres
ence of Mrs. Gosnold. Find her nrst
Until you do refuse to say a word"
Il don't suppose you'd mind telling me
how you came to get your job as secre-
tary to Mrs. Gosnold."
True to her word, Sally kent her Inns
tight shut.
At this Miss Pride felt called upon 10
volunteer: Mrs. Standish ought to be
able to tell you that. Mr.. Mason. She
brought Miss-Manwaring here"
I'm sure" Mrs. Standish said with an
elaborate air of indifference, 1T know
little or nothing about Miss Manwaring."
But Sally's regard was ominous She
hesitated, apparently revising what she
mad at first intended to say. "She came
to me last week-the day we left New
York-with a letter of recomnendstior
Purportlng to be from Mrs. English
Mrs. Cornwaliish English the social
worker, who is now in Italy"
Purporting?' iterated the detective.
On l have no reason to believe Il
wasn't genuine. I'm sure"
Have you the letter handy?"
don,t think / have" Mrs. standish
replied dubiously. Perhaps. 1 can't saw.
III have to look. I'm careless about such
matters" -
That's all you know about her?p
practically She seemed pleasant
spoken and intelligent took a farr,
TO her loaned her an outfit OF cIothinS
brought her here and introduced her to
my aunt, who personally engaged her.
understanding all the circumstances.
for rat Ms rs me unit Of my responsibility
sally drew deep breath. At all
events the woman had not dared 10 re-
peat any of her former abominaffe ac
uusatons. II she was unfriendiy. shs
vas aiso committed to a neutral attl-
No rnur 49, no 9 more talk of forged letter.
no more innuendo concerning SaIly's "ae-
compIce' of the night before
Ihere was a pause The detacttvs
scratched his head in doubt.
All this is very Irregular" he depre
Gated vaguely.
Miss Pride opened her mouth 20 .,,.
Dut Lyttleton sllenced her with a muir
INJURED word or two She shifted resent
fully. but held her peace.
can't accept your Apology Sally
returned with dignity. But I'm sure Won
nave no longer any excuse for annoying
me-"
But Mr.. Mason held his ground. "rho
trouble is, he insisted, after those cards
had peen read. one of the gentlemen said
he had seen you out in the garden he
tween and o'clock"
Mr.. Lyttleton!' Sally accused with a
lip of scorn
why. yes" the detective admitted
Mrs. Stnndish made a furious gesture.
but contrived to refrain from speech.
Il suppose I shouldn't have mentioned
IT, Lyttleton said blandly, looking Sally
stralght In the face. But the circum-
stances were peculiar. to say the least. II
not incriminating. / saw this elcaked
hgure from my window. I thought its
actions suspicious. I dressed hurriedly
and ran down in time TO intercept Miss
Manwaring at an appointment with a
strange man. didn't see his face. He
turned and ran. While was questioning
Miss Manwaring Mr. Trego came up and
miseonstrued the situation. We had
hit of a row, and before II was cleared
up Miss Manwaring had escaped"
Sally's sole comment was an "oh!'
that quivered with its freight of ioathine.
Sorry" Lyttleton finished chesrfuily;
but / felt had to mention II. dare
say the matter was innocent enough. but
still Miss Manwaring hasn't explained Il.
so far as l know; I felt 1t my duty 10
speak"
TO the inquiring attitude Of the de-
teetive sally responded simply; Find
Mrs Gosnold."
eSt miss, he returned with the OBJ
stinaey of a slow-witted man Mean
time, l guess you won't mind my looking
round bit. win you?"
Looking round?"
Your room, miss"
Sally gasped. "You have the insolenca
TO suggest searching my roomr'
We'll, miss"
II forbid you positively to do anything
of the sort without Mrs. Gosnold's per-
mission"
"There!" Miss Pride interpoiated In ao-
cents OF acid satisfaction. 'If she has
nothing to fear, why should she objectf
"Do be quiet, Mercedes" AEra- Stanz
dish advised swsetly. Miss ManUsrinz
is quite right TO object. even II innocent
You see, miss" Mason persisted. =
have Mrs. Gosnold's authority % rnaka
such Investigation as 1 see ht"
II forbid you to touch anything h the
room"
I'm sorry I'd rather not. But i
looks 10 me like my duty
She perceived at length that he vas
stubbornly bent On this outrageous thiaE
For a breath she Contemplated dashInz
madly from the place. seeking 4fzso. ana
demanding his protection.
But Immediately, with sharp pang. thz
was reminded that she might no longer
depend even on Trego.
AS the detective tentatively approaches
her dressing table the girl sHune Eickz<
armchair about 30 that i faced s corner
Of the room ana throH nerseIl anT4II4
into Ii, her back to the four
fcQzTINuED AoNDAx4