The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-03-27

SIEB 81 SIEE-
faced her but although she listened
at each no sound came from behind
them.
The second flight was broader and
curved outward, the huge. bronze
lamp on the newell post sent warm
rays into every corner of the spa
cious entrance hall and as the girl
crept downward she heard at last
the subdued rumble Of masculine
voices from behind the middle door
of three on the opposite side of the
house.
Sallie advanced toward it step by
step and bent TO peer through the
keyhole. The stranger with the
sharp, aquiline features WIS seated
at a huge table almost facing her
with some papers spread out before
him. Bookcases lowered against the
wall back Of his chair and Mrs. Cope
lands gray sleeve and heavily ringed
hand came within the girls range
of vision beside HIM. while the back
of DR.. QuaIter's sleek head was be-
fore her and a shadow which moved
Wheeler Sloat was pacing the floor.
The rumble Of voices went on but
not a distinct word reached her ears
and in exasperation Sallie straight
ened and made for the next door to-
ward the rear. The knob turned be
Meath her hand and she found her
self in a dining room. he gave
scarcely a glance at the massive fur
niture and grtat crystal chandeliers
but turned anXiOusly toward the wall
at her right on the farther side Of
which that conference was taking
place. Curtains hung over an
arched entrance-way and drawing
them noiselessly aside Sallie dis
covered pair of folding doors.
She listened once more but only
that maddening monotone Of voices
reached her and in desperation she
pressed against the doors and
pushed them apart for the barest
fraction of an inch. then, let the
draperies fall in place behind her.
Perfectly satisfactory as far as the
girls record is concerned" A mans
voice which she hal never heard be
fore uttered the words in subdued
but rich, carrying tones. "Orphant
no living relatives known shop girl
popular. but no intimate friends
among her own sex, except the old
Brennan woman. with whom she made
her home; believed to have been en-
gagged to"
"Oh, for heaven't sake, cut all that
and let us get down to brass tacks,
,se-fal L aEI
exclamation "Sallie Peck is dead
and buried! Wasn't her funeral yes
terday?''
SaIlie reeled and clutched the heavy
curtains for support. Sheer horror
overwhelmed her for a moment, but
sharp cry from Mrs. Copeland
! brought her back 10 her senses
wheeler How can you be So
so inruman! How can you speak so
callously of the-the deadr'
well, we've got TO face the facts
as they stand. haven't we. If we're
going on with this?" Sallie held her
breath and peering through the crew
| ice between the doors she saw that
| SIoat had halted suddenly beside Mrs.
| Copeland's chair. I'VE don't care any
/ thing about the girl or her past as
long as there is nothing to reach out
from it and interfere with us now.
land it can't if It was sealed up yester.
day in that grave
Sallie felt the horror rising again.
but back of it a fierce. resentment that
burned it up as though by fire She'd
show that beast in there that she
was very much alive before she was
through with him,
Graves sometimes open, Mr.
Sloaty' The judicial tones of Mr..
Bellows replied Il was about to got
down to brass lacks as you term
it when you interrupted: or perhaps
we had better say brass buttons. The
young man t. whom-er-the late
Miss Sarah Peck is reputed to have
been engaged, is a member of the
local police force. a detective ser
geant. in fact His name is Michael
Curtis and his record, though broken
by overseas service, is a compare
lively brilliant one. If any doubt
should enter his mind. even now
that the funeral is over, he may
prove a positive menace to u.s."
you could have him broken,
couldn't your Sloat demanded coolly
and SaIlie clenched her hands
"Cf course-and give cause to those
whose influence I would be compelled
/ tc emplov-for wonder why 1. the PEI
sonal attorney for prominent family
who were minor victims of that cat
astrophe, should desire the removal of
his obscure Young official, particularly
f there were any hint Of trouble in
the future from the young lady up
stairs
There will he Done.n Salfie's
stout heart quailed at the in. placahle