Tombstone epitaph., 1916-03-19

 on-her eyes showed the emotions which she had suppressed in public.
 What is it7" she said Icily.
 q wanted" said Tommy-'I wanted to tell you something"
 'I think" responded Betsy Barbara. that you needn't make any more e1- planations--thsnk you!"
 She was turning away when Tommy recoye<ed himself.
 ''Oh, it isn't that" he said. 'l can't explain that. of course. I'm not trying to explain that, Miss Lane. It's just something-something new in the line of evidence-about the Hanska case think 1t may help"
 Betsy-Barbara turned again-and this time quickly. Her look was startled-but-heaye be praised friendly.
 Something new?" she said. breath lessly. "Oh. you angel fresh from heaven! Shall I send for Constance?"
 1his was the point where Tommy North became s strategist
 Tt has to do." he said humbly. with the way was last night. You saw mel shouldn't like to tell her"
 Let's take 3 walk" proposed Betsy Barbara. with her wonderful practi- cality
 If you wish" said Tommy North hunbly. and yet thrilled with sense ot renewed companionship. Indeed. by the time they reached the street, be had recovered his spirits 60 much as to propose. because the street was so noisy. that they take a cross-town car and walk up Fifth avenue. The car was crowded: they must stand; so they did not approach the subject Of the moment until they were treading the street Of the spenders.
 Well. what is il? I'm dying to k1ow," said Betsy Barbara, the instant they reached the avenue
 Did l do anything strange" in quired Tommy. when I first saw you last night?"
 You nearly tumbled at my feet. for one thing." replied Betsy Barbara
 'What-what were you wearing on your feet"
 Betsy-Barbara thought a second on this peculiar question. My velvet slippers with the rhine stone buckles" she said. Tommy nodded solemnly. That vas it--I was reaching for them last uight-just as was reach ! ing for something the night fell at Captain Hanska's door. And 1t brought everything back" "Oh. what do you mean?" begged Betsy Barbara Go on! Please so on"
 T had got 10 the head Of the stairs on the night Of the murder" said Tom. my. The gas was lighted in the hall was picked. You know how your mind gets on one little thing when you're pLkled-" "I don't" put in Betsy Barbara. in srlte of her interest in the story-"but please go on"
 1 And saw something bright In the | hallway, close to Captain Hanska's s ! door. l braced against a post and ! looked al it. 1t wEs a cluster of dia- more it seems like that shoe buckle of | yours. reached out to get it. Then | I tumbled and hit-the stun. The tum- | ble and the sticky feeling put dia- monds out of my mind. But I'm sure. | just the same, that I saw bunch Of | diamoI ds or something beside that | door. You've asked me to tell you anything l might dnd about the Han ska casa And I'm telling. that's all ' I Tt may not mean anything" she said, and it may mean a good deal. " | She considered again. Even if the diamonds were there. maybe 1t had | nothing 10 do with our case. If any | body had been robbed that night, if there had been any signs of a burglar, ! this evidence would be very important. But the police say that the house wasn't entered. Then again, what be. came of the diamonds? It seems no one else noticed them" 1 Well" remarked Tommy North cynically. there were a great many l policemen in the house" Betsy Barbara walked on, stIll think. ing. Maybe. I'm afraid. though, that | 1t might be only an aberration," she said finally.
 Perhaps" echoed Tommy North. And now, having finished his introduc. ton, he approached tho subject near. est his heart
 "of course. that's all he said, "ex. cept that I owe you an apology for for my condition last night"
 Tt is to yourself" said Betsy-B bara. that you owe the apology. Mr North. why did you do it-sgain!- ! Now 1t was in Tommy Northe i'm. pulses to tell exactly why he did it. to come out with the truth, accompa- nied by his opinion of philandering ] Spaniards. But that would have amounted to declaration; and to de. clare his feelings for Betsy-Barbara was leagues beyond his present cour. age.
 Oh" he said. carelessly. desperate. ly, T got jolt. That's all. And took 1t out in booze"