The Holly chieftain., 1923-02-15
CHAPTER x-continued.


B.
While she spoke, the blood. rising
with her embarrassment, had dyed
Harriet's face; suddenly now she
looked away from him and out the
window.
.'He would be called, judge, a
rather llkable-looking MANI" Santoine
said tentatively; his question plainly
was only meant to lead up to some
thing else; Santoine had Judged In
that particular already.
.Mr. Notwithstanding addressed
him suddenly-"I understand that
you have admitted that you were at
the house of Gabriel Warden the eve
ming he was killed while in his car.
Is that sof'
YES" said Eaton.
"You are the man, then, of whom
Gabriel Warden spoke to his wife?'
"I believe So"
"You believe so?'
II mean," Eaton explained quietly,
-'that l came by appointment to call
on Mr.. Warden that night. i believe
that 1t must have been to me that Mr..
Warden referred in the conversation
with his wife which has since been
quoted in the newspapers"
Because you We're in such a situa-
tlon that, If Mr.. Warden defended
you, he would himself meet danger3'
Il did not say that" Eaton denied
guardedly.
what, then, was your position in
regard to Mr.. Warden"
Eaton remained silent.
"Iou refuse to answer?" Santoine
inquired.
II refuse"
"In spite of the probability that
Mr.. Warden met his death because
of his intention to undertake some
thing for your"
"I have not been able to fix that as
II probability"
.Mr. Eaton, have ever injured you
personality don't mean directly. as
man to man, for should remember
that; have ever done anything which
Indirectly has worked injury on you
or your afrairs?"
NO" Eaton answered.
'who sent you aboard this train?
.Sent me? No one"
.You took the train Of your own will
because was taking it?'
"I have not said l took 1t because
you were taking 1T
THAT seems to be proved. You
can accept it from me; 1t has been
proved. Did you take the train In
order to attack me?'
mo"
ITO spy upon met"
NO"
Sanroine was silent for an instant.
"What was 1t you took the train to
tell me?'
~? Nothing"
"That is all, Mr.. Eaton"
Eaton started back to his compart-
ment. As he turned. Harriet Santoine
looked up at him and their eyes met ;
and her look confirmed to him what he
had felt before-that her father, now
taking control of the investigation OF
the attack upon himself, was not con-
ilnulng 1t with prejudice or predis.
posed desire to damage Eaton, ex-
ccpt as the evidence accused him
And her manner now told, even more
plainly than Santoine's, that the blind
man had viewed the evidence as far
from conclusive against Eaton; and
rs Harriet showed that she was glad
of that, Eaton realized how she mus,
have taken his side against Avery In
reporting to her father.
Eaton had barely finished breakfast
when n humping against the car tolt
him that 1t was being coupled to {
train. The new train started, and nov
the track followed the Mississippi
river. Eaton, looking forward from
his window as the train rounded
curves. saw that the Santolne car wa
now the last one of train-pre
sumably bound from Minneapolis t.
Chicago At nine O'Clock In the eve
ming. some minutes after crossing til
state line into Illinois. the trai
stopped Mt station where the las
car was cut Off.
A motor-ambulance and othe
limousine motor-cars were waiting |
the light from the station. Eatoi
SEATED at the window, saw Santoin
carried out on 4 stretcher and pt