Evening star., 1923-06-09

THE MYSTERY GIRL
A Thrilling Detective Story
BY CAROLYN WELLS.
Copyright. by J. B. Lippinoott co..

why. what ails you? You don't
know the man. do your
Il heard him lecture, you know.
Tell me-what is the-the news|
bluntly on purpose. She had felt in
a vague way that this strange per-
son, this Miss Mystery, had more
interest in DR.. Waring than she ad-
mitted, and tho landlady was deter
mined to find out.
find out, for the girl almost tainted.
She didn't quite lose consciousness,
indeed. il was not so much a faint
as such desperate effort to regain
her poise that it unnerved her,
Now, now, Miss Austin. why do
you take 1t SO hard? He was
stranger to you, wasn't he?"
''Yea-yes, of course, he was"
He was such a-suCh fine
man--' the girls stified sobs i'm
peded her speech.
We'll, somebody killed him.
At that Miss Austin seemed turned
to stone. KILLED him. she whis-
pered, in accent of terror
Tes-or else he killed himself
they don't feel sure Mrs Adams,
once embarked OH the narrative, told
all she knew of the circumstances,
and III the exciting recital almost
forgot to watch the effect of the tale
on her listener
But this effect was not entirely un-
noted. At the partly open door. Old
Salt Adams stood. eavesdroppinG, but
with kindly, anxious look on his
race that boded no ill to any one.
And he noticed that the girls at
tention was wandering. She was pitt
fully white, her face drawn and
scared, and soon she exclaimed. with
Il burst of nervous fury. stop! Please
stop! Leave the room. won't you?'
1t was not Il command but an
ire Adj fui fri
Jumped. and. alarmed as well as of
Iehded, she arose and started for the
door, only to meet her husband en-
tering
Go down stairs, Esther" he said.
gravcly. II want to speak to Miss
Austin myself"
Staring at one, then at the other,
and utterly routed by this unbeliev-
able turn of affair Mrs. Adams went.
Old Salt closed the room door. and
turned To the trembling girl
Miss Austin" h" said kindly. II
like YOU; ! want to help you-but ]
1t,tid In4St ask I, YOU T. explain yourself a
you Miss Mystery. Why are you
here? Why are YOU in Corinth at all ?''
For a moment the girl seemed
| about TO respond to his kindly, gentle
attitude and address. Then some
,hlhg stayed her. and she let her
lovely face harden to "a stony blank
ness, as she replied. 1T Is a bit in
trusivc. but I've no reason not to
tell. am an art student. and I
came here to paint New England win
ter scenery"
Have You done much?"
i haven't been here quite a week
%et-and I've been picking out avail
able bitS-and for two days I've had
cold"
How did you get cold?" The
voice was kind but il had a definite
note. as If desirous of an accurate
answer
Miss Mystery looked at him.
How does any on" get cold?" she
said, trying Ia smile. perhaps sit
ting in draught-perhap by means
of germ. 1t is almost we'll now"
Perhaps by walking in the snow
and getting ones feet wet" Mr.
Adams suggested. and the girl turned
frightened eyes on him.
Don't" she breathed; "Mr. Adams,
don't
Her voice was piteous; her eyes
implored him to stop torturing her.
Why. what's the harm in my say
ing that? he went on. iuexorabIy.
You wouldn't go anywhere that you
wouldn't want known, would you.
Miss Mystery?"
He spoke the last two words in a
meaning way. and the great dark
eyes faced him with the look of a
stag at bay.
Then again by a desperate effort
the girl recovered herself and said
coldIy:
please speak plainly. Mr.. Adams
Is there a special meaning in your
Words"
There is. Miss Austin. Perhaps /
frztVe no right to ask you why, but
do ask you if YOU went over to DR..
Warnings house late in the evening
night before last?"
Sunday night. do you mean"
Miss Mystery controlled her voice.
but her hands were Clenched and her
foot tapped the floor in her stif1ed
excitement.
Yes. Sunday night
"Nb: of course. l did not go over
there at night. I was there in the
afternoon with Mrs. Bates and Mr..
Payne"
Il know that And you then met
DR. Waring for the first timer"
For the first time" She spoke
with downcast face.
1.-The first time in your life?
'The first time in my life" But if
ever a statement carried it's own de-
niaL that one seemed to. The long
dark lashes fell on the white checks.
! The pale lips quivered. and if Anita
Austin had been uttering deepest per-
Jury she could have shown no more
convincing evidence of falsehood.
Continued tomorrow.