Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-03

surely I1eT eyes RlOWeu' i1ehNc
it to me, Mr.. Harvey IL there's "A
guilty conscience in the crowd and ]
don't spot it I'll stick to being a sec T.
retary for the rest Of my days. But
you don't think those people who
brought the body home would venture
there, do you?"
NO." responded Paul as he shook
find themselves otherwise engaged to-
morrow
Where Death Lurked
TNHE inquest on Monday morning was
L not a protracted one and resulted
in the familiar noncommttal verdict OF
murder by person or persons unknown.
Paul did not produce the later evidence
which he had obtained from the re
luctnnt Miss Bayne, nor had he ms yet
taken Chief Burke into bis confidence.
As he sat in the latter's Office in the
early afternoon the vials of official dis
content and chagrin were poured out
before him.
'1t's not that blame you, Paul,
the chief assured shin gloomily. ''But
that inquest was the biggest fzzlc in
tI,o t;stor,, 90 tho donortn,ort, rrbrcc
da,s sirco tbn nod, ,ros di.coycrod md
,rn ha,.o dono M rooro thon ,,bon vc
first stood looking down on it. Wait
till you hear the boiler the evening
papers make about it! tell you we've
got to do something, and do it quick"
Paul nodded
""' hoiueu'
II know he assented patiently.
Has any report come in yet on that
missing girl, Sadie MullenE' -
None whatever the chief responded
with emphasis. You're on the wrong
track about her, my boy. She's the only
one who holds the key to the situation
and we've let her slip through our
fingers We don't care how Mrs. Harts =
horne left the Ledyard house or when.
What we want to know is who got into
her own house and killed her. And
you won't find that out with the line
of investigation you've been following. y
Maybe not Paul admitted, with
his eyes on the clock. '1'm expecting
young lady to call, chief | took the
liberty of telephoning TO her in your
name and I'd like to have you hear
what she has to say. After that, If
you like, I'll drop the method I've been
working on and take my orders from
you, sir. She is late-no, she's com
ing now. Don't expect too much, it is
only one of the society crowd Mrs.
Hartshorne Travelled with, but | think
she can corroborate certain theory of
mine"
As he spoke the door opened and a
slender figure stood haughtily on the
threshold. Clad in purple velvet with
glowing cluster of violets against her
sables, and toque of the same rich hue
upon her auburn hair. she looked al
most regal as she stood silently regard
ing them with a calm, disdainful gaze.
Good afternoon, Miss Ledyard, y
said Paul suavely. ALLOW me to pre-
sent Chief Burke. The chief is anx =
ious to learn what you know OF last
Thursday nights event"
Ignoring him, she bowed coldly to the
stout figure which had arisen affably
from behind the desk.
Il am at loss to understand your
message, Mr.. Burke" Her tones were
even and metallic. "We-my father and
all of us--have done all in our power
to convince your special investigator
that we know absolutely nothing of the
tragedy, but he has persisted in annoy :
ing us. / have come as you requested,
but must beg you to be brief; have
an engagement"
'Sit here, please, Miss Ledyard.'
The chief gallantly rolled forward @
huge leather armchair.
With an expression of the uttermost
boredom, she seated herself and loosened
the furs about her throat.
81 have already told Mr.. Harvey
she began, but the younger man inter
rupted her.
.It Is what Won have not told m,
that we wish to hear now," he sal,
with ouiet firmness, "Your own move
ments during the evening, for in
stance"
Miss I,edvsrd raised her eyebrows.
"I assisted nv mother to make tn
affair a success. I helped her receive
and then danced. like the rest. Really
Mr., Harvey
"you danced until sumner hour?"
"Certainlr. and sfterwarj. until tn