The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-23

der Maxwell and Miss Miranda.
! The brother and sister were
much together, and oftenest in
the study. seeming to prefer to be
alone there in their grief.
Not wishing to intrude, | said,
! quietly: Were looking for Lord
! Clarendon. Do you know where
he is?"
He has gone home," said Mr..
Maxwell; "he remembered an i'm
portant engagement that called
! him to the city, and after explain
ing to my sister and myself that
he must go at once, he went, leav-
ing his adieux for the rest of
you"
Here was a fine state of affairs
indeed! The earl, whom we want
ed so much to see, was gone; and
1t seemed tn ne. and I was sure
| Hunt felt the same, that his GO
! ing was, In way, suspicious.
why did he go SO suddenly"
! asked.
Il have at idea" said Mr.. Max
} well, that ne didn't care to stay
! for the funeral. You know bow
queer Englishmen are that way,
and / dare Say 1t got OH his
nerves."
Nerves nothing" I exclaimed;
that man is mixed up In the
shooting of Philip and now we've
let him get away. Hunt, tell
Mr.. Maxwell the circumstances"
SO the detective told the two
interested listeners about the
finding of the seal and the con-
J illusions We must draw from it,
And tho neither of them could
4 believe for a moment that their
recent guest could have anything
to do with The tragedy, was fin
ally able to ? >rsua lie them that it
was only fair to the Englfshman
to return his jewel to him and
give him a chance to eypiain.
Hunt assisted me In this for he
! believed Clarendon could not ex-
plain. / did not feel SO sure, tho
] the thing did not look very we'll
! for Lord Clarence--especially
! when l remembered his impetuous
lovemaking to Mildred In the rose
garden. Could 1t DO that while
! smoking his cigaret on the veran-
da he had witnessed the scene be-
) tween Mildred and Philip in the
| library, and his infatuation breed
! ing jealousy, had rushed in and
shot Philip.
Such an explanation would ac-
! count for almost every circum-
stance thus far revealed ,-even
Hunts contention that Mifjed as
we'll as Philip had recognized the
intruder, but was concealing his
Identity with the story of the au-
tomobile clothes.
Hunt was much excited over
this new clue, and it was arrang-
] ed that | should proceed to New
York Immediately after the fun
/ eral and interview Nrd Claren-
don.
] He had left his address with
Miss Maxwell, and with it in my
! pocket, along with the seal, 1t was
not long before l was on the train.
Before o'clock I was IN the
Waldorf, inquiring for Lord Clar-
enden, only to be told that he was
! out.
With a feeling o. utter disap-
pointment, l stood around in the
crowded lobby.
l was uncertain just what l
should do next when cordial
voice said: We'll, Mr.. King, and
how do you do?"
l looked up, startled, to see
Lord Clarence himself, holding
out his hand. In my gratitude at
finding him, I grasped it and
shook II warmly.
Have you dined?" ne asked.
"No? Then dine with me. won't
you? Do you know, Mr.. King,
can't shake off the horror of that
Maxwell affair. I've never been
thru such an experience before,
and that death of young Maxwell
was an awful thing. Awful
l accepted the earl's invitation
and went with him to the dining
room.
"YoI stayed for the funeral, l
SUPPOSE he observed, after the
first course had been served to
us. 81 couldn't do it. The whole
affair got awfully ON my nerves.
What is your theory of the crime,
If | may ask?"
Here was an opening, but I
countered. "I'm rather at sea,
Lord Clarence" returned.
What do you think about 1t alp"
II hesitate to say what think, :"
he said, slowly. but do you mean
to tell me that nothing has been
accomplished by the police or the
detectives?" ...sa0a
1T isn't really in the hands of
the police" / said, a little apolog-
etically. "You see,, Mr.. Maxwell
thinks Mr.. Hunt can fetter out
the truth, and l am trying to help
fhim." .f.r
The earl looked up at me with
a flash of amusement in his eyes.
"And you're helping him." he said,
by trailing me?" .aqts..t
was chagrined and not.a little
embarrassed, and concluded that
frankness would be the best plan.
II did come in search of your,
Lord Clarendon" / said, "for
wanted to ask your explanation of
certain bit of evidence. And as
LII l. n = N..-s