The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-15

clasped, her flashing black eyes
and his blue ones locked in a chal-
longing gaze. Then their hands
dropped apart. and they smiled
at each other in the old, friendly
fashion OF many years.
Come along, Betty" he said,
change into your street things,
and I'll take YOU over to your
uncle's."
BE ready in a jiffy, she as
Sured him. The quicker we get
started the better"
Taut Nerves
All the way downtown in the
taxi, Betty and the inspector tried
with taut nerves to keep away
from the subject uppermost in
both their minds.
After all, the murder had been
committed, and all the evidence
tended to establish the guilt of
Lawrence Vane as the perpetrator
Of the daStardly crime. They both
felt that the least said between
them at the moment the better.
When they arrived at the house
owned and occupied by Mantel,
the Inspector helped Betty from
the taxi and stood for a minute in
the chilly morning air. watching
her trim figure as she ran lightly
up the stairs Of the dignified old
brownstone house.
AS the door opened in answer
to her ring, and then closed be-
hind her. he got into the cab, gave
the address of police headquarters
and was conscious of something
closely resembling a prayer upon
his stern lips.
Betty greeted the white-haired
butler with a beaming, though
nervous smile, and walked swiftly
across the wide, darkly-panelled
hallway toward the stairway.
From above, as she started the
ascent, a voice greeted her-a
voice strangely arresting despite
the present anger that overlay its
mellow bass tones.
THAT you. Bet?" the voice
called. Hmm! I thought it would
be-"
Yes. Uncle Cyrus" she called
back breathlessly, and ingram
matically, "it's me-"
She reached the top of the fine
old Georgian stairway and crossed
Immediately to the library, the
wide door of which stood open.
Hello. Uncle Cyrus" she said.
He removed the pince-nez, dap.
perly fastened around his neck
with a wide black ribbon, and
shook them at her.
Young woman" he scowled, II
have been expecting you ever since
2 O'Clock this morning. You're
late"
Since o'clock, Uncle Cyrus?"
she gasped. why 2 o'clock?"
For very simple reason, my
dear Bet" he answered tartly.
THE murder on the roof was dis.
covered around midnight. Head
quarters knew Of it very short
time after. The papers had the
bare facts for early extras, and
Cyrus K. Mantel knew all of that
as quickly as they did them.
selves" He Stroked his right eye.
brow with his glasses. But Cyrus
K. knew something more Yes,
my dear Bet, he knew a great deal
more. :"
What, oh what, Uncle Cyrus?"
she cried breathleSSly.
CHAPTER VIII
Again Cyrus K. Mantel shook
the glasses at her angrily.
He knew" he said, that Betty
Potter would come plunging in
here as early in the morning as
possible, to try and get Cyrus K.
to help that puppy Vane out of
the mess he's got himself into.
That's what he knew. So there,
my dear!"
"Oh, Uncle!" Betty was between
laughter and tears. You always
know everything, even before q
person knows it himself"
She flared into an anger that
matched his. But don't you dare
call Lawrence a puppy-don't you
dare!"
How should know what to
call him?" he questioned equally,
1--WE never met the chap"
She went to him quickly and
perched herself on the arm Of his
great chair. With the daring of
known love she rumpled his
red hair, so like her own, save
for the white streakS that now
distinguished 1t.
"Uncle Cyrus" she begged,
you've got to help me {.
please no one else hut Won