The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-03-23

D.
10 remain beside the body, he departed.
He was gone perhaps five minutes,
and nothing OF consequence happened
In my observation during his absence,
but i had great surprise when he
returned, for he brought with him the
nilliner. whom / instantly recognized
IA young woman named Esther War
len. she had been employed In my
flee up to four months ago. when she
bad given up her position.
Before we could exchange word
even Of ordinary greeting, the marshal
detached us from the increasing throng
and drove Us gently into a private room
ut the back Of the store.
Now" said he, turning to us, you
two people know each other. I saw
that at glance. Who are you"
"Who am II" asked the young wo-
man.
| EYES," said he. "You are supposed to
knows anything about you. Where
did you come from2 Who is Mr.. VIII
son, and where ia he? Where did you
get the money with which you opened
this store?"
81 decline to answer these questions"
she said.
$50, supposed" said he without a
trace Of annoyance. That's why
asked them all at once. But you don't
deny that Clifford had been calling on
you and was taken sick up thereT'
"No, don't deny it."
"Did you give him anything to eat or
drink"
"No"
AS she made this reply my memory
flashed at once to the glimpse of her
that I had had at the window, but
even without the sight Of the wine
glass I should have known that she
was not telling the truth.
did he say what seemed to be the
matter with himT
"Yes; he was faint He thought 1t
was the cigar that he was smoking.
He said his lips felt numb"
II thought they looked queer" said
Ford. Here's the cigar" showing us
half Of very small one. II found It
in his pocket He was going to have 1t
examined, I suppose. Well, I'll do
that, but it's poisoned sure enough.
Now" he continued, pointing his finger
at the girl, Ito whose advantage Is this
mans death-to whose advantageT
II beg your pardon" said I. "Is this
young lady under arrest?"
At this moment a hasty hand was
laid upon the knob of the door which
communicated with the shop.
"You can't come in," said the mar
shall, but he was mistaken. The lock
Of the door burst with rattle Of splin-
ters, and Frank Clifford precipitated
himself into the room.
Cant come In, eh? said he. "what
do you think about 1t now?"
He strobe across to the little milliner
and, standing beside. her, glared at the
marshal, who had not risen from his
chair or even paused in caressing his
silky mustache.
AGlad to see you, Mr.. Clifford" said
he, speaking through his hand. "Have
a seat and tell us where you got this
cigar that you gave to your uncle"
Before he could reply the young wo.
man stepped In front of him, and she
was picture.
"Mr. Clifford-Mr. Duncan Clifford
got that cigar here in this store" she
cried. "He told me So"
The marshal rose and stepped to the
broken door, now guarded on the out
side by some serviceable citizen who
had appointed himself deputy.
"Send Edgeworth in here" said the
marshal, but it appeared that the to-
bacconist-jeweler was not present. No
one knew what had become of him.
"Ah, he told you so!' said the mar
shall, turning to-the milliner and calm
ly resuming the conversation. "How
did he happen to do that?"
Il don't remember" she answered,
"but If the cigar was poisoned know
why. Mr.. Edgeworth has annoyed me
beyond endurance with his attentions.
He knew that Mr. Duncan Clifford
came to see me often. He believed that
preferred Mr.. Clifford. and he hated
him insanely."
% MT. CluOTu uSeu 10 COIie 10 see
you? WhyT
ITO persuade me to go away" was
the reply. HE offered me money. He
was trying to separate me from
Frank"
ITO give up Frank?' said the mar
shall. What are you to him?"
Il an his wife" she answered, "but
Mr.. Clifford did not know it,"
And IL he had known it Frank
might have lost half million dollars.
I see"
The entrance Of Mr. Edgeworth in
terrupted this line OF questioning.
"Ah, Edgeworth; good evening"" said
the marshal
"Good evening. Captain Ford" re-
sponded the tobacconist in a deep,
heavy voice that sounded strange from
his narrow chest and thin lips.
when did you sell this cigar to Dun
can Clifford?" asked Ford.
II never carried these goods" he
said. .Tt's sort Of large tobacco ciga-
rette, sold eight In a box--a little tin
box. think they're called the Mar
quis."