The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-17

stopped to pick up something from
the floor and when he returned he
was holding. rather gingerly, a
damp ball of handkerchief.
did you cry yourself to sleep,
Mrs. Berkeley?" he asked gently.
The woman shrank from the
handkerchief as If it had been
soaked with blood, instead Of tears.
Mono. no! I didn't. I cried
this morning after I'd heard about
Doris"
Pardon, Mrs. Berkeley, but the
handkerchief you were using when
Captain Strawn told you the news
is the one you have in your hand
now" Dundee corrected her courte-
ousIy. ST remember the edging of
orchid linen.
"This one is all white, as you
can see. And the condition Of this
handkerchief shows that the tears
were not shed recently. You tucked
it under the edge of your pillow
when you had finished weeping last
night, L think, and it fell out when
you arose this morning"
The woman collapsed suddenly
and began to cry into the orchid
bordered handkerchief which had
betrayed her lie. ayes, II did cry
myself to sleep, but if you're think
ing it had anything to do with
Doris If you must know. I was
crying because George had been
$3.50 cruel, so pig-headed, so nasty
to me"
"Abbiei" her husband broke in
sternly.
Mrs. Berkeley, forgive me, but
there are few more questions I
am compelled to ask you" Dundee
began again Soothingly. First, aside
from the fact that you disapproved
Of your sons interest in the girl,
what was your own feeling toward
Doris? Was the relationship of
mistress and maid a pleasant one?"
"Of course it was! I wouldn't
Stoop to quarreling with a servant"
she sobbed out indignantly.
Il am to infer, then, that you
did not quarrel with the girl about
Dick after the scene yesterday"
'I-no. didn't quarrel with her
at all. I merely told her most en-
phatically that she was not to vamp
Dick"
WAS she sulky or impertinent as
she helped you dress for dinner
last night?"
THE tear-reddened blue eyes
l. looked startled, then roved wild
ly about the room as if seeking help.
And when they encountered the
stern gaze OF George Berkeley they
chung for moment and grew wider.
"She-she wasn't like herself
Mrs. Berkeley admitted as If the
words had been wrung from her
"She-She was clumsy"
80 clumsy that you became dis
gusted with her, spoke to her sharp
". and after she had retorted
impertinently, you pushed her vio-
lently from you?" Dundee asked
his voice suddenly steely.
Captain Strawn hitched I'D his
trousers and grinned approvingly
Now they were getting somewhere!
"I-you!-I-" Mrs. Berkeley
gaSped, her hand at her throat
Then again she collapsed against
the cushions. II might have known
she'd tell tales-make a mountain
out Of a molehill!
Il didn't push heri II Just
slapped her cheek, not very hard
either. but she had been grossly i'm
pudent-'
Just when and where did this
scene take place, Mrs. Berkeley?''
Dundee asked.
Why don't you ask Wicket, since
he's alrea@y told you so :nuch?" she
cried angrily. I'll discharge him,
tool He and that girl were as thick
as thieves, and both of them have
acted, ever since they came, as il
Mrs. Lambert and not I were the
head of this house"
"Will you answer the question,
please, Mrs. Berkeley?"
"Oh. can't you let me alone?"
she walled. Then, captivating sud-
denly: ut was while I was dress
ing for dinner. II told her to
open a new bottle Of perfume I'd
bought in the city yesterday. and
and she said something inperti-
nent-"
"Just what did she say. Mrs.
Berkeley" Dundee pressed, a
strange excitement in his dark eyes.
IL don't remember!" the wom-
an protested. You don't expect me
to remember every tiny thing, do
you? -. Well. it was just--just a
word or two Ike She knit her