The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-04-13

| saw him come out again at once.
and beckon to Miss James to turn the
light on for him, when he re-entered.
| sew him finally being csrried into
the aisle"
"Have you any idea about what
time the light was turned on for him?'
reflected for an instant.
"The exact time could not say
but II was very shortly before Pro-
fessor Harrington left, If that fact
Is of any use. Almost Immediately
after the light went on, remember
bowling to him as he passed out at
the door,"
"Miss Fuller. do you think anyone
besides the persons you have men,
toned could have been In the shop
this morning?"
81 know no other customer passed
me. OF course"
"And you remember. Almy," Inter
rupted Mr.. Roberts, that Riggs said
he was alone In the shipping office all
morning."
"Why, how was that?" | demanded
when Mr.. Roberts spoke was just
going to mention that applicant for
the shipping clerks Job who came In
here little after ten-thirty."
"What applicant cried both men.
"Why, the one who came In this
front entrance by mistake. Peter Bur
ton was here at the time. and sent
him back through the shop to Mr.
Riggs"
Certainly Riggs never heard of
him, or we should have, too" said
Mr.. Roberts.
81 might look into that now, them"
observed Mr.. Amy, carelessly rising.
You're sure that no one else was in
the shop this morning Miss Fuller?"
| was positive. Mr.. Almy thanked
me with bow, nodded TO Mr.. Roberts.
and strobe off in the direction of the
shipping Office.
Turning toward MIR. Roberts, | was
astonished to perceive that on that
cool afternoon, with the wind rising
and the steam heat doing nothing of
the sort. he was vigorously wiping a
moist brow.
"Tell me what you think of this in.
sane story of Burton's," he said.
$50 he told you about his romantic
adventures in Richmond? Don't say
he actually did something sensible ~
''He came to me with the story just
before be went out this afternoon.
between Mr.. DarrOw's hearing the
news. and his conference with Almy
and myself, which was scheduled to
take place while you were instructing
Captain Ashland"
"SOme afternoon observed Sc
verely. in order to show sympathy.
"How." continued Mr.. Roberts. even
more severely, this story of Burton's
is going to help either the girl or him.
self, don't see. Ii was solely for her
sake, on perfectly wild impulse, that
he bought the book; and she follows
him here forthwith. You've heard.
Of course. that she's still unconscious?
"Yes; and the old man Is dead"
"Nobody has an idea who either of
them is; and that giri Is the only
person who was In the shop this morn
ing whose actions we have attempted
to investigate without any result
There's not clew, so far, to the mys-
terry of the attack"
"Has Mr.. Almy 70 theories? He
looks experienced" said l.
HE has advanced none yet"
"He seemed very keen about this
case" | remarked IhOughtfully. "Has
he any idea, | wonder. as to how the
attack on the old man was made?
mean, with what sort of weapon?"
whatever the weapon was, it has
disappeared" said Mr.. Roberts, mean
ingly.
"WeIl, that shipping-office applicant
did get away somehow"
"What Almy really wants to know
first, however" said Mr.. Roberts, "is:
What was that girl doing here all that
hour and half?"
pondered. Having abandoned con-
sideration of the bookplate as an OBJ
ject of chase. the book occurred to
me again, and in stronger light
Between you and me, Mr.. Roberts,
it might seem as If she had traced
that book from the Richmond auction
room to this shop, through press no.
tices Of the sale. You see. she said
to Peter, Keep 1t for me- She must
have meant the book"
Must She?" Mr.. Roberts shook his
head. "YOu saw, of course, as did the
other witnesses, that the young lady
clutched the boOk-tabe suddenly as
Burton rushed toward herr"
Eyes"
81 mentioned that the weapon used
in the attack must have been very
small. Therefore the police are won
dering: did the young lady lay any
thing on that table among the books,
and rely ON Burton to pick it up and
conceal it for herr"
"Do they know he saw her In
kichmond?" | demanded uneasily.
"NOt yet, at least. And he denies,
of course. that he saw her put any
thing on the table, much less picked
it up. But what did happen to that
old man? Did she know him? If not.
why should she have been so utterly
overcome by his condition? Why did
she demand Buttons help? These
are the first questions to be an
swered."
here?" | inquired, standing Clarihew's
"Notes" on the desk. "You know
there was rival bid for It; and the
girl was so frightened at the auction |;
and Peter did see her examining the