Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-05
CHAPTER Xxx.
MARJORIE HESITATEs.


THAT car was seldom out Of
Jimmie's mind. From the local
registration bureau he had
Il learned that Capt. Stirling and
16 others in the locality owned
Morris two-seaters of the type seen
near the grounds. Maj. Gresham owned
one, but he said he hac walked over on
the night Of the tragedy. The car
might have come from q distance or, II
a local one, possibly was used without
its owners knowledge.
Coming from a visit to Constable
Roscoe, who had been tracking down
these cars, Jimmie met Marjorie, who,
rather to his surprise, crossed the road
and happier than when he had previ-
ously seen her, and he wondered what
She said that If Nancy Wade would
drop In again and bring Donald and
himself 1t would be kind. Jimmie prom
ised to deliver the message. Then he
said:
mo news, I suppose. OF the vanished
will?"
NO" said Marjorie, adding that she
could not understand any worry over 1t,
since Morgan had said that. even If
signed, 1t would not be binding.
If properly signed, it would not all
be imperative"
"Onfy the bit about us? And of
course we are suspected" Her manner
was almost gay. Whom do you sus-
pect, Mr.. Haswell?"
Jimmie countered with a smile and
she continued. THE police suspect
everybody. don't they? Especially Bill
Netherton and me. If they only
knew" Then she stopped abruptly
and spoke more seriously. Us all the
talk about 1t going to do Bill any
harm? My brother declares that In a
little place like this Things are never
Winnie Is suspected, too. Ought 1 to
say that he wrote to me before he came
down here? He told me he was coming
and he asked me to see that Aunt
Annabelle was in a good temper"
Have you got his letter."
mo, didn't keep it."
Jimmie considered the question for a
few moments. Such a letter would be
further evidence that Vincent Blake
had not made a secret visit to his
aunt's abode, though 1t would not dis
pose of the possible theory of a plot be-
tween himself and one or both Of his
sisters. Nor would 1t dispose Of the
suggestion that he might have seen his
Marjorie did not want to tell the
superintendent of Vincents letter, but
told Jimmie that he might, although
Vincent had told her that Richmond
would ask why it had not been told
before. Jimmie suggested that Vincent
tell him.
II don't think 1t matters much either
way" Haswell commented. But what
did you think, when you found your
aunt and Vincent did not appear"
you mean did suspect Winnie? No,
did not I had forgotten about him. "
And now? Yourself, your sister, your
Notwithstanding your aunt and all the
circumstances Of her life better than
any one else could-can you make no
suggestions that will help to solve the
mystery"
1.-THE more reason then to tell all you
know"
After a slight hesitation she said,
I'VE told about the letters, but they
never discovered who wrote them
Suppose the letters had nothing to
do with it?"
But why suppose it? I must leave
suspicious to you and to the police"
You spoke of the danger of harm
resulting to DR.. Netherton. Have you
done all you can TO prevent that
danger?"
What do you mean" she asked.
"If you believe DR.. Netherton to be
innocent. is there nothing you can tell
that will help to establish his inno-
cence? To clear his name from any
faint of suspicion?"
The warm color flushed her cheeks.
Bill is innocent. absolutely innocent.
No one can prove anything else"
IT know I have no real right to inter-
fere," Jimmie paused to let his words
sink In, although one of the parties
concerned asked me to help them. We
want, if possible, to punish the guilty;
but, most Of all, we want to save the
innocent"
She looked away from him, the old
troubled look coming again into her
eyes. DO you not suppose" she whis-
pered, IT would help you if could?"
Would you? Think it over, Miss
Blake. Think over all it may mean to
Bill-and others. Then, If there Is any,
thing-will you let me know"
Once more she hesitated. When she
spoke it was in new rnood-there was
something of defiance IN it. You are