The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-02-23
CHAPTER VIII
Questions.

Questions.
Connery pulled aside the curtain
of the Mushroom at the end of the
Santoine car-the end .farthest from
the drawing room where Santoine lay.
"Step in here, sir" he directed. "Sit
down, if you want. We're far enough
from the drawing room not to dis
turb Mr.. Santoine"
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
TO him a strange sensation which ex-
hausted his breath and stopped his
pulse for a beat. To be accused
even to be suspected-of the crime
against Santoine was to have atten-
ton brought to him which-with his
unsatisfactory account of himself
threatened ugly complications. Yet
at this moment of realization, that did
not fill his mind. Whether his long
dwelling close TO death had numbed
him to his own danger, however much
more immediate it had become, he
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
sation; but till this day, he had never
imagined or been able TO prepare him
self for accusation before one like
Harriet Santoine; so, for a moment,
thought solely Of himself was sub
current. OF his conscious feelings,
the terror that she would be brought
to 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 to 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 help?"
II knew it-saw 1t then, of course y
"When?"
"When / found him. When I went
| forward to look for the conductor to
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"
"How?"
show" Eaton iterated
"Yes; how, Mr.. Eaton, or Hillward
or whatever your name is? How die
you find him? The curtains were
open, perhaps; you saw him as you
went by, eh?''
Eaton shook his head. "No; the
curtains weren't open; they were
closed"
"Then why did you look in?"
II saw his hand in the AISLE"
$50 on"
/ w hCii NdIuc IL ulun lOOf
right to me; its position had not beer
changed at all, and it hadn't looked
right to me before SO l stopped anC
touched it, and / found that it was
| cold"
"Then you looked into the berth p
Eyes"
"And having looked in and seer
Mr.. Santoine injured and lying as hi
was, you did not call anyone, you die
not bring help-you merely Leaned
went on quickly out of the car befor,
anyone could see your"
Eyes; but / waited on the platform
Of the next car to see that help die
come; and the conductor passed me
and / knew that he and the porte
must find Mr.. Santoine, as they did.
do you expect us to believe tina
very peculiar action Of yours was TIT
act of an innocent MANI"
"If had been guilty of the attacl
on Mr.. Santoine, I'd not have stopped
or looked into the berth at ALL"
IF you are innocent, you had, O
course, some reason for acting as yol
did. VIII you explain what it was?
"NO-I cannot explain"
| with a look of triumph Aver,
turned to Harriet Santoine, and Ea
ton felt his flesh grow warm wit
gratitude as he saw her meet Avery
look with no appearance of being con
WINGED.
Avery made vexed gesture. AM
turned to Connery. TELL her the res
of it, he directed.
Connery, who had remained stand
ing back of the two chairs. move,
| SliphtIy forward ..kNhara cbau h.