The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-09-16
CHAPTER VII-Continued


after glance at his watch, concluded
by asking him to sit down. and offer
ing him a cigar. livery much hoped
that both these invitations would be
declined, for with that girl in the
next room and wilkins knock mo-
lmentarily expected at the door, it was
rather too close quarters to be COM
Portable. But my chief seemed to be
perfectly at ease.
'I'll confess" he began, lighting
cigar of his own, "that Pm little curl
GUS to know what caused your change
of heart; what it was that convinced
you that Phelps and aren't engaged
in conspiracy to thwart justice"
II am afraid am self-convicted
egoist," said Ashton. at took an hour
or more for the thought to occur to me
that there are other people, besides
myself, living in The Meredith. and
that Jane Perkins might have given
that place as her address, without any
reference to me whatever, might have
given it in perfectly good faith. So
when / came home to dinner made
some inquiries, and was cool enough
by that time not to be overwhelmed
with surprise to find that the address
was apparently given in good faith.
At any rate, there is housemaid
named Jane Perkins living in this
hotel"
The doctor simulated no surprise
over this announcement. He merely
nodded calmly, and said:
'You will not have seen her yet,
suppose"
$50 you know about her, too!' ex-
claimed Ashton. "And you were
ahead of me again. Well, that's not
remarkable; you kept your temper
and / didn't. But though l haven't
seen her yet, don't believe you have,
either, because l have been given to
understand that it's her evening out"
II suppose" said the doctor, shat
you have taken precautions for appre-
bending her when she comes back?"
EYES," said Ashton; there's aaman
on watch in her room now. She
won't go far. understand she's been
\ i'll the greater part of the week."
\ The doctor smiled and waved his
hand toward the telephone. "You may
as well tell your man to go home," he
said; "the girls here"
Ashton sprang right out of his chair.
"What's that!" he demanded. you've
got here here; hiding her from me?"
eff I were hiding her from you, !
shouldn't have told you. No, she's not
in hiding at all. She's doing up the
bedrooms in this apartment. She'll
come when call her, which mean to
do in a very few minutes. When she
comes, mean to make a little examin-
alton of her mind to determine her
actual connection with the crime"
81 suppose" said Ashton rather sar-
castically, shat you won't mind my
asking permission to contribute few
questions of my own to that eXamina-
ton"
mot at ALL" said the doctor quite
simply. "You may ask her anything
you like"
There was a little silence. Then
Ashton said impatiently.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
"Pm expecting another visitor.
When l heard your knock, / thought
that you were he. It's none other than
our friend Wilkins"
Ashton laughed. "Wilkins !" he re-
peated. "What do you want of him?'
The doctor glanced at his watch.
81 fancy that he's coming Row.
Why, wilkins knows this girl, who is a
stupid creature and rather easily
alarmed. She'd be almost sure to be
panic-stricken at the sight of these in
struments. All ignorant persons are
the same way" He paused and shot
derisive smile at Ashton. "They put
them in the category Of black-art and
hOcus-pocus, and regard them with a
mixture of contempt and terror. But
she has confidence in Wilkins, and by
his submitting to be harnessed in the
same way we propose to harness her,
which he has agreed to do, it will quiet
whatever fears she may have"
Ashton looked dubious. Already
Wilkins had tapped on the door.
stop a bit, Phelps" said my chief
as started toward the door. "Look
here, Ashton Use little plain COM
mon sense for minute. You don't
half believe yourself that this girl has
any guilty connection with the crime.
Which way will you find out the
most? By making this girl feel that
there's nothing to be afraid of; that
we're simply investigating, and not
accusing her ut all? Or by putting
her through an old-fashioned third de-
gree'?"
"All right" said Ashton; shave it
your own way, only I'll have my way
tomorrow"
''There won't be any need of that"
said my chief. "The Oak Ridge mys-
terry is going to be solved tonight, and
In this room; solved down to the last
detail. Open the door, Phelps"
N imagine that Ashton himself was