Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-08-02
CHAPTER XXXXIX.
SCARLET SLIPPER.
SCARlEl SI1tFER.
ORN and Tally had drifted into

SSA4tA4S4 S4441 G1b.
r ORN and Tally had drifted into
the chilly parlor again, and Sue
had made some excuse about
IL taking of her coat and was also
coming upstairs. I did not wait
for her until I had passed beyond the
gallery and into the corridor and thus
was beyond the range of vision of any
one on the first floor.
When we reached the little niche In
the corridor I stopped. There was nc
one in sight; we were visible from only
one or two doors, and they were closed;
not even a policeman was to be seen UP
and down the length Of the shadowy
deserted corridor.
Now then" said, tell me all about
the token
But I don't know" said Sue in what
was almost a wall 1T is just gone
And thought it was so safe
when did you lose it?'
Sometime last night"
You don't mean any one got into
your room during the night?" I was
frightened had her by the arm, grip
ping it so hard that she WINGED.
oh. no, no. The door was locked
and bolted all night"
relieved.
IT don't know I looked at 1.-THE
token, you know-yesterday about noon
Last evening after dinner you told me
the priest had been in nv room. but the
place where where had hidden the
token"
Your slipper" I said grimly.
WHAT"
OF course. One of your scarlet slip
pers with the silver heels. 1t was prob
ably In a hollow in the heel
p,t{ 1rodt-hom could know
that?"
I hated taking time, especially when
1t was so simple.
"Oh, you wore them so much-wore
them that first night when you had
been out to walk on the bridge-would
you wear scarlet evening slippers with
narrow high heels for walk along
cobblestones unless there was rea-
SOM" I was impatient.
But I didn't wear them In the day
time" she protested.
NATURALLY not" 1 said. But there
wasn't so much danger then-or you
probably thought there was not. Or
perhaps you removed it during the day
time. Or perhaps it was very well hid
den. Go on-when did you discover 1t
had been stolen?"
She looked at me moment before
she said: 1T was well hidden. felt
safe about it-when I glanced at 1t ut
was in the heel of the right slipper
1t showed no signs Of being tempered
with. I thought I could have told at
once if 1t had been removed.
80 said the priest had taken MOTH
ing from my room. I only discovered
it late last night. felt must be sure.
of course-and I-opened the heel and
the token was gone"
What did you do?"
Nothing There was nothing coulo
do then. Every one had gone to bed;
II was afraid to venture out into the
black corridors" She shivered and
said quickly, taking a long breath at
the thought Of what might have hap
pened had she done so:
That was right"
I felt rather as If had walked with
out knowing it to the very edge OF
precipice and only looked down at the
last step. Suppose she'd gone out
into the corridors-murder haunted
black
THAT was right" I repeated made
ouately. Then that feeling OF urgency
that there was not much time, nudged
me. and I went on: But you should
have told us at once this morning"
She hesitated looking at me with
steady, but troubled eyes.
But 1 couldn't tell Lorn."
"Couldn't-oh-oh, I see. After all
he's in the employ your brother. And
your brothers interests would come first
with him"
Exactly" said Sue "And couldn't
search the priests room this morning
myself was still, somehow" she
paused, and her breath caught q little
Is she OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES