San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-25
Stories

find it, am sure, but"-he paused, look
ing at her signifcantly-"I want a wort
with you first"
Watching her narrowly, he saw her turn
white to the lips, and for a moment h
thought she was going to faint. But sud
denly recovering herself, she moved pas
him down the stairs, and reckoning him Z
follow her, led him into a small paror ano
closed the door. When she faced him h
noticed that her fists were tightly clenche,
and that she was striving to exercise somt
great control over herself.
"Well?'' she said.
Inspector Dwayne laid his hat on the
table
"Now, ma'am," he said soothingly
there's no need whatever for you to be
alarmed, or disturbed, or anything. Blu
I've got my duty to do, and | must do it |
It was you who met Miss Oxenham or
Primrose Hill last night, and who picked
up that eye in the garden outside on the
morning after Mr.. Bartenstein'3 murder
and who saw some unknown person leave
the private door that night"
The woman faced him with something
like defiance. $50 Miss Oxcnham-a
lady!-has betrayed me-" she exlaimed
"And tracked me-after her promisep
Nov, ma am" said the Inspector, in
his mildest manner, Miss Oxenham has
done nothing of the sort. You we're fol
lowed from Primrose Hill by someone
without either Miss Oxenhams knowledge
or mine-someone acting on his own re-
sponsibility. That someone informed me
Nc, I NJ to t,1l rh,r, ~
give your evidence freely on behalf OF
Lieutenant Lauderdale? You know what
it means"
81 can't, and WON'T" she said. "Therd
that's fiat"
Inspector Dwayne picked up his hat.
"Then, in that case, ma'am," he said, 81
shall have to summon you as witness.
"Then, in that case, Inspector Dwayne
shall take my life" she answered.
The Inspector hesitated, looking at her
narrowly. And again the conviction that
he had seen her before, somewhere, a
long, long time ago, forced itself upon
him. He remained silent, watching her
still more attentively. He judged her I'd
be at least sixty years of age, though hen
dark hair was scarcely shot with gray, and
her tall, wcll-shaped figure was as erect as
his own. She had been a beautiful and !
was still handsome woman, and Inspec-
tor Dwaync admired her as she stood there
in an attitude of resolute defiance.
81 know you now" he said suddenly
"You are, or were, Mary Simpson, of my
own old town, Beechmnster. You won't
remember me- was a good ten or twelve
years younger than you"
The woman's lips trembled, and for
moment the Inspector thought she would
burst into tears. But she controlled her.
Look here, Mary-if | may call you
so, for old times sake" said Inspector
Dwaync. 81 gather you owe some debt of
gratitude to the Lauderdales. Pay it off
He's fine young fellow this, and as inno-
cent as | am. Now, listen-it so happens
that I'm almost certain that | can clear
him without you. But it will help me if
you tell me what you've kept back"
owe kept nothing back" she said sui /
lenly.
"Well, III give you my woodland
everybody who knows me knows that my
words as good as my bond-that if you'll
tell me the reason why you don't want to
appear, I'll not call you except at the very
last extremity-and not even then, if it's
so serious as you make out. Confide in
me and I'll never breathe a word to liv-
ing soul. And it strikes me-" added the
Inspector, that if I'm any judge, you
want friend that you can confide in"
The woman remained silent for what
seemed long time. She sat in a sort of
liStless attitude, drumming her fingers on
the table. At last she lifted her head
and gave Inspector Dwayne a searching
look. She rose with another deep sigh.
every WE'LL" she said, 81 trust you.
Wait there a moment while ! go up and
see if she's wanting anything. Then"
She left the room, and Inspector
Dwayne, having gone through his usual
habit of hopping his forehead, which he
always did when surprised, sat down and
waited her return. She was calm and
resolutc enough when she came back, and
Inspector Dwayne knew that he was going
to hear the truth.
witness-box about this, Mr. Dwayne," she
said, taking chair opposite his and speak
ing in a low voice. "Its because things
would come out that would ruin other
peoples happiness"
"What people?" asked the Inspector.
my husband, my three sons, and my
two daughters" she answered. "The
children are all grown up, Mr.. Dwayne,
and doing well. And-they're fond of me-
And respect me-"
"Pm surep' said the Inspector.
She bent nearer to him across the table,
and a dull red ovcrsprcad her features
Inspector Dwayne saw that the next words
came with an effort.
"Mr. Dwayne, the girl who's lying i'll
upstairs is my daughter" she said.
"Indeed" said the Inspector. You've
been married twice"
The woman bent her head lower over
the table.
tt,biepproJ