Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-25

ne ushered him into the sitting room
and shut the door. II know what
you re after--and just want to say,
60 slow. That's all---go slow"
All right. Salt. Will you send Miss
AUSTIN down here....-also, / must in
terview her alone.'
"Yes--I understand. But don't be
led away now. by circumstantial evil
dence. You know. yourself it isn't
Always dependable.
Go along. Salt don't try to teach
the girl?"
didn't learn much.'
Adams went away. and In n few
moments Anita Austin came into the
room
A first glance showed Cray's OK.
pericnced eye that the girl was what
he called a siren.
Her oval, olive face was sad and
sweet. The pale cheeks were not touched
up with artificial color, and the scar.
tiny, also devoid of applied art. She
wore a smart little gown of black taf.
feta, with crisp. chic frills OF finely
plated white organdie.
Whether this was meant as mourn.
ing wear or not, Cray could not de.
tcrmine.
The frock was fashlonably short,
showing thin silk stockings and black
suede ties.
But Miss Mystery seemed wholly un.
conscious of her clothes, and her great
dark eyes were full Of wondering in.
quiry as she looked at the attorney,
and then little diffidently offered a
greeting hand.
The little brown paw touched Cray's
with pathetic. hopeful clasp, and lie
looked UP quickly to find himself look.
ing into a pair of hopeful eyes. that,
without word, expressed confidence
and trust.
He shrugged his shoulders a trifp
and secretly admonished himself to keep
tight rein on his sympathy.
Their. relinquishing the lingering
hand. he sat down opposite the chair
/ she had chosen to occupy.
paused. for the first time in his life
| uncertain what tack to take.
The Spinster's Evidence
I Yes she said, as the pause grew
/ longer, and her soft. cultured voice
: he,ped him not at oil.
How could he say to this lovely small
person that he suspected her of wrong
doing!
! Go on. Mr.. Cray" she directed
him, meantime loking at him with eyes
( full of haunting fear, what is IT,
! Cray had sudden, insane feeling
that he would give all he was worth for
the pleasure of removing that look OF
fear: then commanding himself to be-
| have. he said.
II
must ask you some unpleasant ques-
tions."
That's what I'm here for" she
said. with tho ghost Of smile on her
curved red lips, and, smoothing down
her taffeta lap. she demurely claspeJ
her sensitive little hands and waited.
Those hands bothered Cray. Though
they lay quietly, he fc!t that Ut his
speech they would Gutter in anxiety
even IN fear. and be was loath to dis
turb them.
Because Of this hcsitancy. he plunged
III more abruptly than he meant TO do
Whore do you come from, Mis-.
.iustin!'
"New York CITY," she said. q
brighter look coming to her face, as il
she thought the ordeal would not be 81
terrible after all.
Zone West Sixty seventh street"
You told SOME one else the Hote
Plnza.'
"ics; have lived nt both addresses
Why?'
Tho "why" was disconcerting. Afte,
all. Cray thought, be was not census
taker.
He gave up getting past history and
said briefly:
Were you at DR.. Warnings house
Sunday EVENING""
Not evening" she returned, look
ing thoughtful, II was there Sunda;
afternoon.
And went back again, late in the
evening--to see DR.. Waring. in bis
study"
why do you say that" she asked
quietly, but small rcd spot showed
Oh either olive cheek.
Because I must. How we'll do sou
did you know the Doctor"
Know DR.. Warins? Not at all. I
never saw him In my life until came
here to Corintb.'
"You are sure Of that?'
almost sure--oh: why. yes-that
is, am quite sure"
Yet you went over there Sunday
evening, and came back to this house
in possession of DR.. Warnings valuable
pin and n large sum of money"
"Oh. no. Mr.. Cray, didn't do any
such thing"
Then can you explain your pos.
session of those articles?'
''Ycu mean, I suppose. the roll OF
bills that Miss Bascom put into my
top bureau drawer!"
Miss Bascom put In the drawer!'
"Ycs--that Is. she must have done
so, or--how else could they have been
found there? You know yourself, now
don't you, Mr.. Cray, that I'm not q
lurglar--.or bandit or n sneak thief!
You know ! never went in to DIR.
Warnings study and took those things
So, as ! say, isn't it the only plausible
theory that Miss Bascom. who found
the valuahlcs SO readily. 6rst put them
there hcrsclf?'
THAT matter can easily be settled"
Cray said, and going to the door be
asked Mrs. Adams to send Miss Bas.
com TO them.
With an important air the spinstel
entered the room.
Holding herself very erect and evcl
drawing aside her skirts as she passed
other side Of the room.
"Now, Miss Bascom," Cray began al
once. "whnt made you think Of lookins
In this lady's bureau drawer for that
money!
II didn't look for 1t, Mr.. Cray.
merely felt that she had done wronl
and 7 thought perhaps some evidence
would be hidden away in her room. Ant
top drawer Is the place woman
oftenest hides things
Cray gave short laugh. "Rathe,