Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-02-28
CHAPTER VII
Questions

GANaki0Uas
Connery pulled aside the curtain
OF the Mushroom an the end Of the
Santoine car-the end farthest from
the drawing room where Santoine lay.
"Step IN here sir" he directed "Sit
down. n you want We're far enough
from the drawing room not to dis
turb Mr.. Santolne."
Eaton. seating himself In the corner
Of the leather seat built against two
walls OF the room. and looking up.
saw that Avery had come into the
room with them. The girl followed.
with her entrance into the room came
10 him a strange sensation which ex-
hausted his breath and stopped his
pulse for a beat. To be accused
even 10 be suspected-Of the crime
against Sautoine was 90 have atten-
ton brought 10 him which-wlth his
unsatisfactory account Of himself
threatened ugly complications. Yet.
az this moment OF realization. that did
not fll his mind. Whether his long
dwelling close 10 death had numbed
him TO his own danger. however much
more immediate IL had become. he
could not know: probably he had pre-
pared himself so thoroughly, had in
ured himself so TO expect arrest and
imminent destruction, that now his
finding himself confronted with ac-
cusers In itself failed TO stir new sen
satlon; but till this day. he had never
imagined or been able 10 prepare him
self for accusation before one like
Harriet Santoine; so, for a moment
thought solely OF himself was a sub
current. or his conscious feelings.
the terror that she would be brought
10 believe with the others that he had
struck the blow against her father
was the most poignant.
Avery pulled forward one OF the
leather chairs for her 10 seat herself
and took another for himself facing
Eaton.
"Why did you ring the bell in Mr..
/ SantOine's berth?" Avery directed the
attack upon him suddenly.
ITO call help" Eaton answered.
"You had known, then, that he
needed helpT
II knew it-saw IT then, of course"
"WhenT"
"When I found him. When | went
forward 10 look for the conductor 10
ask him about taking a walk on the
roof OF the cars"
'You found him then-that way,
the way he WASP
"That way? Yes"
"HowT"
"HowY' Eaton iterated.
eyes; how, Mr.. Eaton. or Hlllward,
or whatever your name Is? How did
you find him2 The curtains were
open. perhaps; you saw him as you
went by. ehY7
Eaton shook his head. mo; the
curtains weren't open; they were
closed"
"Then why did you look int"
Il saw his hand In the aisle"
eco on"
"vhen I came back II didn't look
right 70 me; its position had not been
changed az all. and II hadn't looked
right 10 me before. So l stopped and
touched II. and / found that IL was
cold"
'Then you looked into the berthY'
sYes."
"And having looked in and seen
Mr.. Santolne injured and lying as he
was. you did not call anyone. you did
not bring help-yOu merely leaned
across him and pushed the bell and
went on quickly out Of the car before
anyone could see your
yes: but I waited on the platform
Of the next car 20 see that help did
come: and tAe conductor passed me,
and I knew that he and the porter
must find Mr.. SaDtoine. as they did"
do you expect us 10 believe that
very peculiar action Of yours was the
act OF an innocent manT"
.sIf I had been guilty OF the attack
on Mr.. Santolne, I'd not have stopped
ar looked into the berth az all"
III you are innocent, you had. OF
course. some reason for acting as You
did. VIII you explain what IL wasT'
"No-I cannot explain"
With a look OF triumph Avery
turned 10 Harriet Santoine. and Ea-
ton felt his flesh grow warm with
gratitude as he saw her meet Avery's
look with no appearance Of being con-
yiuced.
Avery made a vexed gesture, and
turned 10 Connery. TEL her the rest
OF H." Re directed.
Connery. who had remained stand
ing back OF the two chairs, moved
slightly forward "Where shall be-