Evening star., 1940-08-15
CHAPTER VIII.

takes some work in to the ONCE man
ager, Grimshaw, and finds him dead
at his desk.
I CHAPTER VIII.
(, What time did you leave the
/! office, Miss Ellis?"
f. About 20 after H."
, "Why were you there after the
: noon whistle blew?"
4, "I told you had work to finish"
Then another policeman took it
up WAS Mr.. Grimshaw in his
, Office when you left?"
Yes, he was
How do you know?"
II could see him through the
door. It's glass door"
You didn't go into his Office be-
fore you left?"
.. mo. No, of course not"
The same questions, over and
over and over. The same curious
stares that had been directed at
her ever since she had walked into
the managers Office and found him
shot.
Where did you 60 when you left
the office?"
Downstairs to the lunchroom."
Then at last, the question she had
been dreading.
why are you working in the
Office under an assumed name?"
Managing somehow to look sur
prised. What do you mean?"
Your name isn't Nancy Ellis, is
1t? It's Nancy Thorne, isn't it?"
"Yes."
you've called yourself Nancy
Ellis only since you went to work
in the Bristow Office. Isn't that
right?"
Yes, it is" Her voice was so low
she could barely hear it herself.
why did you change your
name?"
Mr.. Bristow Interrupts.
1t was so hard to explain, espe-
cially to those unfriendly, suspicious
police officers. Il didn't want any
one to know I was John Thorne's
daughter"
"Why?"
because I didn't want the other
girls to know I'd-been rich.
wanted them to think I'd always
had to work for a living"
Her auestioners stared at her in
cold disbelief.
You're keeping something from
Us. What is it?'
Nothing. I'm not keeping any,
thing from you" She realized her
voice was rising in a kind of help
less hysteria.
why did YOU"
"What are you doing to this poor
child?"
She turned her head to look at the
speaker, who had just entered. 1t
was John Bristow. his white hair
rumpled, his usually ruddy face very
pale.
"This is utter nonsense" he said
Indignantly. "She knows nothing
about it except that she happened to
discover the body" Z
"She was working under a phony
name" one of the officers said coldly.
IT know it," John Bristow told
him. "I knew it all along. And
furthermore-"
That was all Nancy Thorne heard.
She saw a hand reaching out to
catch her as she fell heard a voice
cry out something, as from very
great distance, and that was all.
Nancy Goes Home.
She opened her eyes again in the
back seat of John Bristow's car, her
head lying on its cushions. John
Bristow was there holding something
with a pungent, biting odor to her
nostrils. A cool damp cloth had
been laid across her head.
Feel better?"
She nodded. do I-have to
answer more questions?"
mo. Not now. Maybe not ever"
The wave of relief that swept over
her was like reviving flood.
Feel we'll enough for me to drive
you home now?"
Eyes, I'd like to go home-please."
John Bristow gave an order to his
chauffeur and the car began NOV
ing slowly down the street. Nancy,
you'd better let me take you home
with me where you can be looked
after. I hate to think of you stuck
away in that rooming house all by
yourself. Why, if it were Iris this
had happened To-
mo No, please. I'd much rather
70 straight home"
But Nancy"
She shook her head. "Really-1d
much rather not"
"Well-all right But promise me
you'll go straight to bed"
II promise" She hesitated.
"Uncle John-who did it?'
II don't know" His voice became
suddenly harsh.
us it-something because of-the
things that have been happen
ing"
Bristow Is Worried.
He waited moment before an
swering. "Yes. 1t is. GrimshaW
was-never mind"
They rode in silence for while.
Was she doing right, she wondered,
In keeping her secret to herself?
It was true she had no proof OF
what she had discovered, but
Uncle John?"
Eyes child. What Is it?"
'Is there anything I could do
to help find out what is going on
to find out who"
mol" He almost shouted. There
isn't a thing. And I'd lose my mind
worrying about you if I thought you
were trying to do such a thing.
You'd end up by doing more harm
than good anyway" His voice sud-