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

an elusive memory, a nameleSS emo
ton, vague, fluid thing that would
not crystalline was perplexing her.. She
was trying to think, which is. some
thing am willing to wager that Jane
Perkins had never done in her life.
Naturally, the first person looked
at when withdrew my eyes from her
was Ashton. He was looking straight
into her face, and it was the same
face, in purely physical way, that he
had seen the night he went to the hos
pita with JUS. 1t was not until I saw
the look of blank Indifference depicted
upon his own that the realization was
forced upon me that he would not
recognize her any better than had
done. From him my gaze flashed
round to the doctor, and on the way II
took in wilkins. Both of them were
watching her, both, guessed from
their faces, had noted the same indie
Unable difference that had struck. me.
1t was the doctor who spoke.
Perkins," he said, "here is Mr.. Ash
ton. He is one of the assistants to the
district attorney, and he and ! and
Mr.. Phelps here are interested in try
ing to find out something about the
murder which took place at Oak Ridge
few nights ago"
"Murder!" she cried with gasp
81 don't know nothin' about any muir
der, SIR"
NO." said the doctor, I'm quite
sure you don't. But we think it pos
sibe that you know some things which
will help us to find out who the muir
derer is. Are you willing to help us?"
She hesitated a moment, then turned
quite frankly to wilkins.
us it all right, Mr.. Wilkins?" she
asked. Then quickly turned back to
the doctor. IL beg your pawdon, sir,
for askin' such question, but know
Mr.. wilkins, and If he, says it's all
right"
ITS all right, Jane" he assured her.
Il came up here a purpose so that
there'd be nothing for you to worry
about"
''All right, SIR" she said, turning
once more to Doctor McAlister. ell
be glad to tell you anything | know.
Pm sure, though / don't see how what
/ know can help much, unless" She
frowned and rubbed the back Of one
hand across her forehead.
UNLESS what?' 81
"NOthin', sir. ! seem to be thinkin'
Of all sorts Of curious things, as if my
mind was tryin' to wander like"
The doctor laughed. ''We're all that
way sometimes" he said. "Sit down
in this big chair"
She obeyed little reluctantly.
Whether it was half-memory of it
that troubled her, or merely the in
stinctive hesitation of one of her class
to make herself comfortable in our
presence, did not know.
The doctor busted himself with his
instruments. The girl watched him
rather nervously. ~.
Il beg pawd0u, SIR she said. Are
you goin' to do anything. with those?
1 don't exactly like the looks of 'en.
sir; all those queer lookin' machines.
Is it anything like goin' to the
dentist's?"
Nothing in the world" laughed the
doctor. These machines don't hurt.
Here, wilkins, sit down in this chair
beside her, and wen harness you up,
too"
He hung up before the girl one of
the pair OF little telephones that we
had used in our association test on
Harvey. Then he turned his attention
to wilkins, who had seated himself
readily enough in the chair the doctor
had designated
j"That's very impressive looking
machine, SIR" the man commented.
MAY ask what name it's called by"
"Its name is just as impressive as
it is" replied the doctor. ut is called
a recording phonopneumosphy
graph"
Up to that moment Ashton had kept
perfectly quiet, but at the sound of
that portentous word he burst into a
AOdA VI AOuShlCAs WAiSA NAhlllS uC-
corously and respectfully echoed.
laughed frankly myself. What the
purpose Of the instrument might be.
had no idea, but the prodigious name
which the doctor assigned to it struck
me as nothing more than a flight of
his rather grotesque fancy.
"Well, SIR" said Wilkins, at will
have to accomplish good deal to live
up to that name"
That my chief had, by no means, ex-
hausted his store of surprises, became
evident when he began his examina-
ton of the girl. There was nothing
psychological about it. He questioned
her very much as Ashton would have
done.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)