Evening star., 1923-06-12

he ushered him into the sitting room
and shut the door. IL know what
you're after-and I just want TO say.
go SLOW: That's all-go SLOW.
'tAll right, Salt. Will YOU send Miss
Austin down here-also, | must inter
view 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
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 Crays ex-
perienced 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 scarlet lips We're, even to his
close scrutiny, also devoid OF applied
art. She wore smart little gown OF
black taffeta. with crisp chic frills of
! finely plated 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 stock ings and black
suede ties
But Miss Mystery seemed wholly
unconscious of her clothes and her
ing inquiry as she looked at the at
| torney and then a little diffidently Of
fered a greeting hand.
The little brown paw touched Cray's
with pathetic, hopeful clasp, and he
looked up quickly to find himself
looking into pair Of hopeful eyes,
that, without a word, expressed con-
tidence and trust.
He shrugged his shoulders a trifie
and secretly admonished himself to
keep a tight rein on his sympathy.
Then relinquishing the lingering
hand, he sat down opposite the chair
she had chosen to occupy.
Mis- Miss "a Justin; ,nd nr. he began, and
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. Mr.. Cray" she directed
him, meantime looking at him with
eyes full of haunting fear. what
Cray had a 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:
II am sorry, Miss Austin. but l
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.
Those hands bothered Cray. Though
! they lay quietly, he felt that at his
speech they would flutter in anxiety
even in fear, and he was loath to
Because of this hesitancy he
plunged in more abruptly than he
! meant to do.
Where do you come from, Miss
New York city" she said. a
brighter look coming to her face. as
If she thought the ordeal would not
be SO terrible after ALL
What address there?"
one West Sixty-seventh street"
Plaza"
dras.a.; Yes; ! un,,.e, have lived at both ad-
The why" was disconcerting. After
sus taker
He gave up getting past history,
We're you at DR.. Warnings house
| Not evening" she returned. look
afternoon"
And went back again late in the
| evening-to see DIR. waring in his
! study
Why do you say thase" she asked
| quietly, but small red spot showed
+, on either olive cheek.
F.! Because ] must. How well do you
did you know the Doctor?"
j Know DIR. Waring? Not at all
never saw him in my life until ] came
! here to Corinth.''
! 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 Or. warnings valu
| able pin and a huge sum of money"
-. n3: Mr.. Cray. 1 didn't do any