The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-01-27

print that Anderson must not find in
her possession-but where to hide 1t,
before her chance had passed? Her
eyes fell on the bread roll from the
detectives supper-tray, that had fallen
to the floor when Lizzie had seen her
cleaning eye on the stairs and had
lain there unnoticed ever since. She
bent over swiftly and secreted the
tantiliZing scrap of blue paper in the
body of the roll, smoothing the crust
back above it with trembling fingers.
Then she replaced the roll where it
had fallen originally, and Strengthened
up just as Billy and the detective both
returned.
Billy went Immediately to the tray,
picked it up, and started to go out
again. Then he noticed the roll on
the floor, stopped for it and replaced
it upon the tray. He looked at Miss
Cornelia for Instructions.
"Take that tray out to the dining
room," she said mechanically. But
Anderson's attention had already been
drawn to the tiny incident.
"Wait-rll look at that tray he
said briskly. Dale, her heart in her
mouth, watched him examine the
knives, the plates, even shake out the
napkin to see that nothing was hid
den in its folds. At last he seemed
satisfied.
"AIl right-take it away" he COM
manded. Billy nodded, and vanished
toward the dining room with tray and
roll. Dale breathed again.
Lizzie" she commanded now, "go
out in the kitchen and make some
coffee. I'm sure we all need it." she
sighed.
Lizzie bristled at once.
Go out in that kitchen alone?"
"Billy's there" said Miss Cornelia
YEARLY.
The thought of Billy seemed to bring
little solace to Lizzie's heart.
~That Jap and his Jewy-jitsu," she
muttered viciously. zone twist and
I'd be folded up like pretzel!"
But Miss Cornelia's manner was i'm
perative-and Lizzie slowly dragged
herself kitchenward, yawning and
promising the saints repentance of
every sin she had or had not COM
mitted if she were allowed to get there
without something grabbing at her
ankles In the dark corner of the hall.
When the door had shut behind her,
Anderson turned to Dale, the corner
of blueprint which he had taken from
the doctor in his hand.
"Now, Miss Odgen," he said tensely,
81 have here a scrap of blueprint
which was in Dick Flemings hand
when he. was killed. I'll trouble you
for the rest of it, if you pleased"
"The rest of it2" queried Dale, with
a show of bewilderment, silently thank
ing her stars that, for the moment, at
least, the discriminating fragment had
passed out of her possession.
Her reply seemed only to infuriate
the detective.
Don't tell me Fleming started to go
out of this house with blank scrap
of paper in his hand" he threatened
HE didn't start to go out at all"
Dale rose. Was Anderson trying a
chance shot in the dark-or had he
stumbled upon some fresh evidence
against her? She could not tell from
his manner.
"Why do you say that?" she tented
"His caps there on the table," said
the detective with crushing terseness.
Dale started. She had not remem-
bered the cap-why hadn't she burned
it-concealed it-as she had concealed
the blueprint? She passed hand
over her forehead. YEARLY.
Miss Corneiia watched her niece.
eff you're keeping anything back,
Dale-tell him." she said.
Dale knew herself cornered at last.
The detectives deductions were only
too shrewd-do what she would, she
could keep him away from the truth
no longer. aTou rg5at.; ~
He was going to take the money
and go away with it," she said. rather
pitifully, feeling a4certain relief Of
despair steal over her, now that she
no longer needed to go on lying-lying
involving herself in an inextricable
web of falsehood.
dale" gasped Miss Cornelia,
alarmed. But Dale went on, reckless
Of consequences to herself, though still
warily shielding Jack.
HE changed the minute he heard
about it. He was all kindness before
| that-but afterward-" She shud-
dered, closing her eyes. Fleming's
face rose before her again, furious,
distorted with passion and greed
then, suddenly, quenched of life.
Anderson turned to Miss Cornelia
triumphantly. b
"She started to find the money-and
save Bailey" he explained, building
up his theory of the crime. But to do
| it she had to take Fleming into her
confidence-and he turned yellow.
Rather than let him get away with it,
She" He made an expressive ges-
ture toward his hip-pocket-
isn't that true?" demanded Ander-
son. Dale already felt the cold clasp
Of handouts on her slim wrists. What
use Of denial, when every tiny circum-
stance was so leagued against her?
| And yet she must deny.
| II didn't kill him." she repeated,
| perplexedly, weakly.
| why, didn't you call for help?
You-you knew was hereT
Dale hesitated. I'll couldn't" The
moment the words were out Of her
mouth she knew from his expression
that they had only cemented his grow
ing certainty of her guilt.
! .. "Dalel Be careful what you say !"
y