The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-02-23

4
to give us any aid at all?"
Roche nodded.
.fWell. then, Roche, we will have to
go down and see what we can do
with her together. You tell her l am
your assistant. You might also add
that If she refuses to give us the in.
formation we need, we can arrest her
on the charge of obstructing an officer
in the discharge of his duty"
Both men grinned at this, and, still
smiling, Roche led the way from the
room. From the top of the stairs
we could see Miss Potter in the Iiv-
ing room below, pacing nervously back
and forth. When she heard US de-
scending, with Roche in the lead, she
stopped at the desk and began to
arrange it's contents in an effort to
cover her nervousness and confusion
She did not look up even. when we
were at her side.
After waiting for her to speak,
BARLEY said in grave tone, Miss
Potter, / understand that you told
the servants"
She raised her face, crimson with
anger, and tried to answer, but
though her lips formed the words not
a sound came from them. At last, in
a voice broken with passion and with
words stumbling one over the other,
she said, 'I-yes-it's so. told Mr..
Roche not to call the servants. No
one asked you to come here. You
have no business in this households
ing into things that do not concern
you. Mr.. Slyke is dead, and every one
will believe that he killed himself in
spite of anything you can say. Any
thing that has to be done Mr.. Roche
can do. It's none of your, business,
anyway"
Standing in front Of us with her
figure straight and her shoulders
thrown back defantly. she almost
shrieked the last words at us. Sc
was so angry that she did not seem
to know what she was saying. Won
dered why she should be in such
rage So far as could see, there was
no reason for it. We stood silent and
embarrassed. Bartley's eyes never
left her face. Under his grave scru-
tiny she flushed and her eyes dropped.
Miss Potter" he said suddenly,
you don't want me to believe that
you know who killed your brother-in-
law, do your
His question seemed the last straw.
She turned on him like fury, and
her eyes roved over the desk as if
she were looking for something to
throw at him. She shrieked, you
say know who killed him-I-I
know? Why, don't even believe that
he was murdered. How dare you say
that-how can you stand there and
say it to my face?"
BARLEY shrugged his shoulders. ST
don't say that you know. but if you
keep on acting like this whenever you
are asked q question some one else
will. If it should come out at the
inquest, for instance, that you re-
fused to allow us to question the
servants, people may not only think
you know, but they may so even fur
Their. If you don't aid US, Roche can
arrest you for obstructing an officer
in the performance of his duty"
This was news to her. Anger gave
place to fear, and she looked at us
helplessly BARLEY realized that,
overcome by what she had been
through, she was not herself. and
added kindly, 81 know this death must
have shocked you terribly, Miss Pot
ter. am trying my best to make 1t
easier for you. | did not force my
self into the house. Doctor King
himself asked me to come this morn
ing What you do not seem to COM
prehend is that a serious crime has
been committed. Your brother-in-law
has been murdered, and the law will
demand to know who did it. 1t will
also want to know if you did every
thing in your power to help us to dis
cover the murderer"
For moment she said nothing, then
she turned and faced BARLEY, her eyes
searching MS, anu III Tue lohc VI VIC
weary and broken she said, Il will do
what I can to help you"
She hesitated and brushed the un-
kempt hair again and again from her
eyes. as il hardly knowing what she
was doing.
'Tt's driving me wild. am half
crazy" she cried suddenly, and taking
an uncertain step forward stumbled
almost to her knees.
BARLEY placed his arm around her
and led her to chair. Then turn
| ing to Roche, he asked him to call the
servants.
AS soon as Roche had gone, BARLEY
began to examine the room. A few
feet away from him were three card
tables, their surfaces Uttered with
playing cards, just as they had been
| thrown down when the last game was
over; so, too. the chairs were in the
same position into which they had
hoon nuShed when the Dl1VerS rose