The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-15
CHAPTER. I6 THE SPLNSTER,S EVIDENCE

THE SPLNSTER'S EVIDENCE
 q don't know anything about Miss Austin being in Dr. Waring's study Sunday night" returned Lockwood 1 coldly, and 1 don't believe it. For if she had been here should have known about it. I was here myself, | just outside the study door, until II. | You don't mean later than that, do you?"
 Dunno. The Bascom spinster tells the story"
 Then don't bank on it. With all due deference to Miss Bascom, know she is not always reliable source 1 of information"
 But she says she saw the girl coming over here late that night"
 "She didn't It's not true! What under the heavens would she have come for2"
 What does any girl visit a man for?' Cray gave an unpleasant wink 1 and Lockwood with difficulty con trolled an insane desire to spring al 1 his throat And, besides, she is even now in possession of the missing $500 and the ruby pin." T don't believe it"
 See here, Mr. Lockwood, it doesn't matter to anybody whether you be- l lieve these things or not. Miss Aus 1 tin has the valuables, and I'm going over there now to inquire how she | got them. Also, 1t just occurs to me 1 that those small footprints leading across the field are directed toward the Adams house. and may have been made by a woman as likely as by our | hypothetical small footed man."
 Those are Nogi's footprints" ,.a.. Common sense. Even if Miss Aus tin did come over here for any req son she would have come by the street, not across the snowy field"
 Apparently she chose the field. So I'm going to ask her why"
 All right. Cray. but you must ad- init you're illogical, inconsequent and inconsistent. You think I killed Dr. Waring, because I have sharp. round penholder, and owe some large bills. Then, because a gossiping old maid comes over here and babbles. you fly off at tangent and accuse an unprotected girl of absurd and unbelievable crime"
 "Ohoi Interested in the siren your self, eh?"
 No; I'm not-if you mean Miss Austin. That is, not personality"
 Few men could have told this lie r. Lockwood's phlegmatic calm stood him now in good stead and his air of obvious indifference carried con viction.
 But" he went on. T am sorry for her. It's nobody's business who or what she Is. yet those women over at the Adams house are one and all pos sessed to find out something against her. I only want to advise you, Cray tr .l,- T. 4I. Old Salt himself. He's more fair minded than his wife or the other women"
 Men are apt to be-where a pretty girl is concerned" said Cray. dryly. and Lockwood ground his teeth in rage. as the attorney went away. < His demand to see Miss Austin was listened to by Old Salt Adams, who had seen him coming and opened the door for him.
 We'll Cray" said the old man. as he ushered him into the sitting room and shut the door.S T know what you're after-and I just want to say. go slow. That's also slow"
 "All right. Salt, Will you send Miss Austin down here-also, I must in terview her alone.'
 "Yes-I understand. But don't be led away now, by circumstantial evil Gence. You know yourself 1t isn't always dependable."
 "Go along, Salt, don't try to teach me my business. Have you talked to the girl%
 Not word. My wife has, but she didn't learn much"
 Adams went away. and in a few moments Anita Austin came into the room.
 A first glance showed cray's @ ex- perienced eye that the girl was what he called siren.
 Her oval, olive face was sad and sweet The pale cheeks were not touched up with artificial color, and the scarlet lips were, even to his close scrutiny, also devoid of applied art. She wore a smart little gown of black taffeta, with crisp, chic frills of finely plaited white organdie.
 whether this was meant as mourn ing wear or not, Cray could not de- termine.
 The frock was fashionably short, showing thin silk stockings and black suede ties.
 But Miss Mystery seemed wholly unconscious of her clothes, and her great dark eyes were full of won dering inquiry as she looked at the attorney, and then a little diffidently offered a greeting hand.
 The little brown paw touched Cray's with a pathetic, hopeful clasp, and he looked up quickly to find him self looking into a pair of hopeful eyes, that, without word expressed confidence.
 He shrugged his shoulders trifle and secretly admonished himself to keep tight rein on his sympathy
 Then relinquishing the lingering hand, he sat down opposite the chair she had chosen to occupy.
 Miss Austin" he began, and paused, for the first time in his life uncertain what tack to take.
 Yes" she said, as the pause grew longer, and her soft, cultured voice helped him not at all.
 How could he say to this lovely small person that he suspected her of wrong doing?
 "Go on, MT Cray" she directed him, meantime looking 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 him self to behave, he said:
 q am sorry, Miss Austin, but must ask you some unpleasant ques- tions."
 That's what I'm here for" she said with the ghost of a smile on her curved red lips, and smoothing down her taffeta lap, she demurely clasped her sensitive little hands and waited.
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