Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-16
ABOVE SUSPICION
ByROBER7 ORR CHIPPERFIELD
Robert a. McSrde

could you, sir. were wise 10 why
he and Bernhard quarreled, OF
course, but it might help SEINE more
if we knew what brought them to-
gether last year when theyo oeeh
enemies for so long.
II haven't been able to find any
body who could tell me that, Lyons,
and ] can't offer you any sugSes-
| TONS" Doctor Hood added shrewd-
Iy: Perhaps Geoff Peters can.
though: he knows more about
| what's been going on around the
Cayley place than | do
II amt been nigh it today.
Geoff paused. This afternoon
| went to see that rich widow lady
! that's bought the big Durant estate
| over to Silver Bay; Mrs. Van Vert
| her name is. She wants me to put
up some statoos for her round the
| grounds.
HAS that got anything to do with
| the case:' demanded the doctor as
| Lyons moved impatiently.
| II kinder thought it might have,
| seems she's tryin' to git into society
| and knows Lane and the Cayleys
and Bernhard pretty WELL" drawied
| Geoff. 1T was at houseparty she
| give last summer that Lane met
| Miss Millie, and l had kind o
| idee mebbe the little gal had some
| thin to do with the beginnin' o the
| friendship between him and her
uncle, same as she had with the
Dustin O. it up, and that she WASH
no more to blame for one than
t'other. I'd Figured it out that II
Bernhard hadn't needed Lane in his
business he wouldn't have made up
I with him and he'd have told him TO
go to blazes when he come sparkin
the niece. Now, this her Mrs. Van
Vert would do most anythin' to git
took up by the big bugs, and IL
Bernhard had baited his hook Tor
Lane with little Miss Millie | wanted
to find out if Mrs. Van Vert held
the rod a-puppose.'
Did you?" Lyons asked quickly,
with new respect in his tone. Il
don't know how you doped all that
out, but it seems like the straight
goods to me. Had this dame been
, acting as capper for Bernhard
. How'd you get her going
We'll, | let on to the felier that
buttles for her when l sent in my
+ name that | couldn't come before be-
| cause I'd been workin' at the Cay
, ley place, SO she waS all fixed fol
| gossip when he took me to her
II give it to her. too; I've told
more lies today than I'll likely be
, able to live down the rest o my
! life" Geofr chuckled. Il kinder
made out that Miss Mile had took
me INTO her confidence, bein' as how
, I'd worked round their old house
summer after summer since she was
| a little gal. l lowed she was griev-
, in cause Lane had seemed to be
, sort o GOBLIN off to'ards her after
her unCle's death but that she'd told
me Mis- Van Vert would help hcI
to git him back, that she'd inter
dooced EN- in the beginnin' and had
| made the match. Mis- Van Vert
swallercd it like it was candy and
, said it was true and she would dc
anything for the dear child. Then
let her drag it out O me after LOT
more coaXin. that folks were say
in Lane blamed her for gittin hin
in 50 uccp with Bernhard through
her society inflooence that when she
, presented his niece to Lane and
wanted him to marry her. he had t.
fan in with the idee or Bernhard
would wipe him out down on that
there stock Exchange"
Great Jehoshaphat!" the doctor
exploded. "Where'd you ever get
such Il notion, Geoff?
Didn't get 1t nowheres,' Geofi
responded artlessly. Il was baitin
a little hook o my own and Mis- Var
Vert riz right to il. Afore she
: stopped to think she said that Lane
didn't even know Miss Millie was
: Bcnlard's niece till he was head
over heels in love with her, and that
she and Bernhard had fixed it up be-
; tween 'cm. Then she kinder recol-
| lcctcd she was just talkn' to q
! country workman, and Eabby one
, at that, and she shut up like Il clam
, but I'd found out what ! wanted tt
know. 'Zeppa, the cook at the Cay
. ley place. had already told me how
partial Bernhard was to rcmindin
, Miss Milie and her ma o what they
, owed to him, and YOU said, yourself
Doc, that after the readin o the
will this afternoon the little ga
lowed she was grateful to hci
, uncle's mem'ry for all he'd done
, for her even though she knew the
, motive. kinder figgered it out that
, Bernhard never did nothin' Tor no.
. buddy without maxim 1T pay him ir
the end, one way or mother, and
, . that he'd only brung Mis- Cayley
. and her daughter on from the home
, town six years ago because he
, thought his sister would be hell
, in gittin' into society. the sort .
society that would further his Wal
L
; how: purity Miss Mile was. he had
: Der dedicated and groomed just like
one o these here trained bosses Al
the County Fair. sos when she was
old 'nough TO git married he'd fix II
that it would be to Somebuddy who't
, be the greatest help o all to him
. | Lane must a-been the Teller ht
, needed most now to have with hin
and not agin him in some mighty
big deal he was a-plannin', so hin
and Mis- Van Vert put their heads
, together. The little gal herself
though, didn't take to the idee, ant
it must have s'prised him lot
reckon she's bout the only Twin
critter he amt been able to git tn,
whip hand over somehow. Anyway
last Wednesday night it looks to M
as though she give Lane his answe
good and plenty, and he seen how
he'd been played for sucker like ht
said, and the game was up"
For a moment after he had un.
burdencd himself of his lengthy cx.
planation, neither of Geoffs auditors
offered d comment. Then Detective
Lyons spoke.
And you're Carpentering and mix.
ing concrete out here in the sticks
Say. Peters. let me take you TO tn.
Old Man at headquarters and he'll
!. put YOU right into the bureau, YOU'D
make one of the best dicks on tn,
force. One word to him abou
you've dome"
Amt Gone nothin'." Geoff inter.
! rupted in alarmed haste. Il work a
, my trade and ] aim to mind m,
, own business. only kinder go
mixed up in this through Doc Hood
, You called the turn on this friend