Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15
CONTINUED from Second Page.)

served the detective as he drew away
the string and turned the package over.
The smile which just lifted the corner
Of her lips was not in answer to this
remark. but to her recognition OF her
employers handwriting In the WORDS
under her name: Send without open
ing" She had not mis 5,1s n MN. or
Yourself" suggested the officer as he
lifted the box out of its wrapper.
..Oh, don't mind" she answered. and
then all were busy watching her whip
OF the lid and lift out the pile OF sheets
and pillowcases with which the box
was closely packed.
shall / unfold them" she asked.
The detective nodded
Taking out the topmost sheet, she
shook it open. Then the next and the
next. till she rea ched the bottom Of the
box which, as well as its contents. was
without mystery Of any kind This was
not an unexpected result. OF course, Dut
the smile with which she began to re-
fold the pieces and throw them back
into the box revealed one of her dim
pies, which was almost as dangerous
to the casual observer as when 1t re-
vealed both
There" she exclaimed; you see!
Household linen. exactly as said Now
may I go home?"
Certainly, Miss Strange"
The detective stole shy glance at
the reporter
She was not going in for the horrors.
then. after all
But the reporter abated nothing OF
his knowing air, for while she spoke OF
going she made no move toward doing
60 but continued TO look about the room
till her glances finally settled on a long
dark curtain shutting OF an adjoining
room.
There's where she lies. I suppose"
she feelingly exclaimed. And not one
of you knows who killed her Somehow
/ cannot understand that. Why don't
hired foro' The innocence with which
she uttered this was astonishing. The
detectives began to look sheepish and
the reporter turned aside to hide his
smile Whether In another moment
either would have spoken no enc can
say for with mock consciousness of
having said something foolish, she
caught up her parasol from the table
and made a start for the door.
But, of course, she looked back.
II was wondering" she recommended,
with a half wistful, half speculative air.
whether I should ask to have a peep
at the place where It all happened"
The reporter chuckled behind the pen
cil-end he was chewing, but the officer
maintained his solemn afr. for which act
of self-restraint he was undoubtedly
grateful when IN another minute she
gave q quick, impulsive shudder not al
together assumed, anu NeueUetltiS ADD
ed: But / couldn't stand the light; no,
] couldn't: I'm awful coward when
II comes to things like that. Nothing IN
all the world would induce me to look at
the woman or her room. But I should
like''-here both her dfmples came into
play, though she could not be said ex-
actly to smile-.'Just one little look up
stairs"
Who could dream that back of this
display OF mingled childishness and
audacity there lay hidden purpose IN
telIect. and a keen knowledge of human
nature. Not the two men who listened
TO this seeming irresponsible chatter
To them she was child to be humored
and hunnor her they did. The dainty
feet. which had already found their way
to that gloomy staircase, were allowed
TO ascend, followed, II Is true. by those
back at the reporter. because Of the
brothers watchful and none too con-
ciliatory eye
At tho stair head she paused to look
back
7 don't see those horrible marks which
the papers describe as running all along
the lower hall and up these stairs"
NO. Miss Strange: they have gradually
been rubbed out, but you will find some
still showing on these upper floors
oh! oh. where? You frighten me
frighten me horribly. But-but-if you
don't mind, ! should like to see"
Why should not a man on a tedious
job amuse himself? Plotting her over
TO the small room in the rear, he pointed
down at the boards. She gave one look
and then stepped gineerly in.
Just looki" she cried: "a whole strtns
of marks going straight from door tc
window. They have no shape. have they
just blotches? I wonder why one OF
y them Is so much larger than the restr'
This was no new question. It waa