Evening star., 1918-07-07

inert and powerless. But only
for an instant; with that one burst Of
extreme feeling she recovered her
calmness the detectives question:
II was passing through the gallery
as any other visitor might. when a
young lady rushed by me-stopped
aonr sr ana % ff
heart by an arrow. In a moment !
was on my knees at her side with
hand outstretched to withdraw this
dreadful arrow. But I was afraid
death. and while I was hesitating.
that vision came. engulfng every
thing. could think Of nothing else"
She was near collapsing again; but
being woman of great nerve. she
fought her weakness and waited pa
different. without doubt, from any
she had expected.
'Then you positively deny any ac-
tive connection with the strange
death of this young girl?"
A pause. as il to take in what he
meant. Then slowly. impressively.
came the answer:
Did you see the person who shot
the arrow?"
From what direction would it have
had to come to strike her as 1t did,"
From the opposite balcony"
Did you see any one there?"
But you heard the arrow7"
"An arrow shot from bow makes
Il whizzing sound as 1t flies. Didn't
you hear that?"
II don't know" She looked troubled
and uncertain. Il don't remember l
was expecting no such thing-I was
not prepared. The sight of an arrow
"a killing arrow-in that innocent
sIsa breast srtu, me With
my husband had not followed, might
remember more. AS 1t is. l have told
all l can. Won't you excuse me? 1
should like to go. l am not fit to
hear from my husband-to learn by
letter or telegram whether he is in
deed dead"
MIR. Gryce had let her finish. An in
quiry SO unofficial might easily await
the moods of such witness. Not
till the last word had been followed
by what some there afterward called
a hungry silence did he make use Of
his prerogative to say:
~ shall be pleased to release you
and Will do SO Just as soon as / can.
But / must put one or two more
questions. Were you interested In
the Indian relics you had come among?,
Did DID you handle any of them in pass
-, mo. 1 had no interest. 1 like glass,
bronzes, china-Is hate weapons. /
shall hate them eternally after this"
And she began to shudder.
The detective. with a quick bend OF
his head. approached her ear with the
whispered remark:
Il am told that when your atten-
tton was drawn to these weapons
you fell on your knees and murmured
something into the dead girls ears.
How do you explain that?"
Il was giving her messages to my
husband. i felt--strange as it may
seem to you-that they had fled the
earth together-and wanted him to
know that would be constant and
other foolish things you will not wish
me to repeat here. Is that all you
wish to known"
Mr.. Gryce bowed, and cast q quiz-
zical glance in the direction of the
curator. Certainly for oddity this
case transcribed any he had had in
years. With this woman eliminated
from the situation, what explanation
was there OF the curious death he was
there to investigate? AS he was medi-
tating how he could best convey to
her the necessity of detaining her
further, he heard muttered exclama-
tion from the young woman standing
near her. and following the direction
of her pointing finger. saw that the
strange silence which had fallen upon
the room had a cause. Mrs. Taylor
had tainted away in her chair.
pTEr TIT