The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-22


ure for having deserted the Office,
but her eyes we're still shining with
excitement when she knocked upon
the door of a small frame house on
the outskirts Of the city.
y want to see Mrs. Crayf1sh,
please, Nan told the plump, homely
( woman who answered her knock.
Mama amt home. Could I do
anything for you, Miss? I'm Annie
/ Crayfsh-"
Annie Crayfsh?" Nan almost
/ sang the unmusical syllables. Then
you're the very person I want to
7 see. You used to work at the River
side Country Club as a chamber
maid. didn't you, Annie? Will you
tell me why you left your job"
yes, Miss. I been out to Arizona.
staying with my sister who was sick
with T. B. She-she died last week,
and I buried her out there and come
home. I just got home today. Me
and Mama are feeling awful bad
about Madge, Miss, so I hope there
amt going to be no trouble"
I'm awfully sorry about Madge,"
Nan said softly. But it was awfully
nice you had saved up enough
money to go way out there and stay
with her until the end"
Il didn't have enough saved up"
Annie Crayfish confessed. Il never
coulda gone if Mrs Fleming hadn't
sent me. It was funny, too" she
added in a burst Of confidence. Il
didn't know she was so kind
hearted. And I didn't think she
liked me very much. One time she
scolded me something fierce"
What for Annie?" Nan scarcely
dared to breathe.
Why nothing a-tall,' Annie bri-
died, L went in to clean her room
you know, lotsa the members keep
rooms out there and stay Week-ends
and I seen her a-writing at her
desk, and I said, I never noticed
before you was left-handed. Mrs.
Fleming, and l thought she'd take
my head off. And-funny thing!-
she wasn't left-handed, Miss! I
took pains to notice after that"
"Of course Nan said casually, to
keep from frightening her witness.
you never happened to notice what
it was that Mrs. Fleming was writ
ing with her left hand that day, did
you? Just as a matter of curiosity.
such as anyone would have felt?"
she suggested subtly.
We'll, yes, Miss, I did" Annie
Crayfish flushed. 1T hurt my feel
ings the way she carried on just be-
cause I made an innocent remark
like that ana so when she was called
to the door to sign for telegram 1
stopped real quick and slipped the
book off the letter she'd been writ
ing writing with her left hand
she'd covered it up soon as 1 came
in-and it was the funniest writing
almost lying on its back. and
square, like kids just learning to
write"
MAN gaSped involuntarily. Hand
" writing experts, learnedly an
alyzing the queer script in which
the now famous blackmailing let
ters were indited, had not been half
so vivid as Annie Crayfsh!
Did Mrs. Fleming see you look
! ing at the letter?' Nan asked, dizzy
with JOY
yes Miss" Annie confessed.
And she slapped my face But the
next minute she was apologizing
and f,-I-i1,C IN t,Notyo IN n ~ fo,.
her hot temper, as she called it.
She seemed so awful sorry that I
couldn't stay mad, and when she
offered to send me ont to Arizona
to stay with Madge-Id told her
all about Madge, long before that
why. l was just tickled to death, Of
course. I couldn't let false pride
stand in. the way of going to my
sister. could I, MisS?"
"Of course not" Nan agreed
heartily. Listen, Annie, do you
think Grace Cox guilty?"
A puzzled look spread over the
chambermaid's pleasant face.
"Guilty-of what Miss? Miss Cox
that's the switchboard operator of
the club? An awful nice girl not a
bit stuck-up-'
Haven't you been reading the
papers, Annie?" Nan marvelled.
Grace Cox is accused Of having
blackmailed several wealthy mem
bers of the Country Club, including
Mrs. Fleming herself. And the let
tiers were in the funny handwriting
you've just described to me. Annie!
They're trying to send Grace Cox
to the penitentiary for writing
those letters, Annie!" she empha-
sized slowly.
But don't understand" Annie
Crayfish protested dazedly. I amt
seen any papers from here or hardly
anywher else since l left home. I'm
not much hand for reading and
Madge- But I seen Mrs. Fleming
writing one of them letters Miss"
The full truth dawned on the
woman's slow intellect.
Don't you understand, Annie?"
Nan exulteds Mrs. Fleming bribed
you to leave the state, so you could
never testify against herl She's a
wicked woman, Annie, and they may
/ send Grace Cox to prison for a
crime Mrs. Fleming committed, if
you don't come with me right now
and tell the court exactly what
you've told me! Will you. Annie?
know you didn't mean to commit
crime yourself in accepting a
bride, and know you don't want
poor little Grace Cox to suffer for
a crime she didn't do. Come. Annie!
Hurry"