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rA v TT 1 C^O+O+O+O^O+O+O+G+O+OttfeG I EQUAL I' jg By HOWARI 111^^ < ;hAPTER III.?CONTINUED. "Ill hn v? to," said the captain. "And suppose that L answer all your questions now?" she asked. Neaie struck his tiand down upon the table. "You can go bom? Just as pood as you've done It." he declared, and at that moment a man in plain clothes.1 but with rbe unmistakable stamp of the jjolice upon him. entered the room i and saluted his superior. itui frvr <a said Keule, and. accompanied by the twin who bad just appeared.upon the 6ceoe, he stepped out lQto the hall. Breuda turned to I>r. I?Iair. who was leaning against the mantelpiece. "TV. Blair." she whispered. "you will not say that it was I whom pou saw ( leaving this house'** "Ho." replied the physician slowly;' , "1 will not" "What does tills mean*" demanded Alden. J. / I>r. Blair regarded Alden steadily for aotne seconds before lie said with that careful measuring of words that docC tors learm f "1 have Informed tlie police that as 1 5 was passing this house, very near to the time when this eked was doDO, 1 L saw a person?a woman?come out and 5 walk away hurriedly toward Broadl way." " * A 1,Un |# "A woman: aiv?-u. ub u t ' speaking without volition. "She cannot be accouuted for," continued the doctor. "No one knows who | she is or why she was here or bow she got into the bouse. As to the last point, however, I will say this: 1 had a room in this bouse for a few weeks while repairs were in progress at No. 1G0, where I Uve.and I then noticed that the spring lock on the front door did l" ^ ?- > >! Be took two steps forward ami then hailed. not always bold. If tbe lock bas not been repaired, tbcro may be an explanation of some mysterious points in this case.** If then* bad been an eye upon Detective Elmeudorf at this moment. It would bav? noted that be was much Interested, bat uo one was looking at hlui. He himself was observing llreuda clccely. AW on had begun to pace the boor, his hand upon his forehead. ~l cant stay betv any kHiRor.'* be said suddenly. "I must sec Elsie. I must knots'? Jack! How came poo here?" The question was addressed to a young man who entered with Captain Neale. He was tu his normal state a . rather handsome follow, with the ox eyes that the (Jrocks admired (for women* and a broad forehead abocetbem, hut lu this moment his face was digitated with excitement and striped with perspiration that trickled from his foroliead. The totui effect utts oxnewhat grotesque, especially be- 1 cause the matt was incHr/til to fatness and was a triCe (XBiinieuous to the innitcr of att:T<\ Is dreadful, drocdfuir becrfcxi. "I can't believe It." "You're Mr. UoMroou, Who <srrtrd the nolo to Miss Midler," &nM Near*. "That's \ch>' 1 sent a mau to pour Ijockc." "Yes," safd IloWnson. tnTrring to Al den. "I dtdtrt go bach to the crtlice h> mcdhitely. I wwjt cxvr to the place where I lire. I we* Jest gotog down totvu again when a pcflcemap toe*-me at the door.'* "Did you kixnv artist -to that Octet" esked Urate. "1 kiK-w there vk cDcnej^* vrae the nejity. "hut I didn't fcnaw low much. It watt ad-eied Chen Mr. Allien gave it to ux. He ?atd there was rjuuty la It That wm why t brought K tmteafrof firing It to a messenger bop* * "What happened here**"the psptajn ? ... . . f^,|f?I \ 0*0?0*0^<>k>*C>^0>0#G40#CH>^ 4RTNE8SI v * ?*? ?? ' J f I?,iCo Charges W. Hooke* lo "Nothing." answered Robinson. " gave the note to Klste"? **To whom?" snkl the <-aptaln. "To Miss Miller; that is what I sak! I pave the noto to Miss Miller. and eh opened it by the window. I didn't ae any money. I wasn't in the room te s*>eou<bi?merely long enough to ask i tboro was any answer, and she said ix Then I went away." "Meet anybody?" "The serrnut who let me fn was prat Jng L'matgh the hall as I went out." "That's important," sold t|x> captalt "It fixes you all right. The servno stopped at Miss Miller's fhxjr. knocks' asked a <p?estion and got an answtu Then she went along down stairs." "l'lxes me!" gasped Robinson. "I anyixxly crazy enough to think I d!< this?" "No." said the captain. "Yotfro ou of It. And now. Mr. AMon, h* ine tol you that I've just had a report from rk hospital. The trirl Is alive, and the dot tors think six* has a fair ekaixvs" "What does site say?" exclaimed Rot tnson. "She hasn't said anything yet," rv plied the captain. "And now let's p* on with our Jittle affairs here. I trues you can't help us any, Mr. Robinson so if you'll Just take a seat in the par lor"? lie waited till the young niai hu<l passed out of the room. "Now Miss Mnelane. I'd like to know a littl more al>out you tf it's perfectly ngnt a We." "I am the daughter of Duncan Mac tane." 6aid Brenda. At the mention of this wealthy uo< widely known man Xeale softly wrhk tied. "It ain't possible," be said, "that yot are the young lady with a lobof iiwoe; and a high social position that yoi numtiouod awhile ago as being ecgag ad to our frleud here?" "I am tbe woman," replied Bnmdft. "And tbe engagement's been brokei off? Wbenf "Oiptaitr"? began A Wen, but tbe of fleer raised his band. "A bargain's a bargain," be eokL " was to have tbe truth. When was tt> ?ngngement broken off?" This afternoon." nuswered Brervd* firtnly. "I went down to Mr. AklouV office at half past 1. I bud expected t see biui last evening, but"? "He didn't cotwr liretxlu Inclined ber itoad. "1 went to bis office," sbf snhi, "ant in tbe eon versa t ion Ix'tween us then I rek'flsed biui from his engagement." "That must have been a hard I>k>v for you. Mr. Aldeu." snkl the captain "Whnt do you dk'an?' demand** Akleu. "If you have the delicacy t< apt>reelate my feeling"? "1 was thinking especially nbou your business," saky Nettie. "I'm tok your Crm l? In the lust ditch, and tho your engagement to Duncan Maclune'i daughter is al*n:t all that l>oklB yot up. That's wtiflt my man tokl tue Jus uow.M "He tokl you a lie." sakl AMen, bu with the same monotonous tone, us I: his utterance was medians al am) hh mind upon another matter. "My affaln were never hetore so prosperous a they are today." "That won't do," rospoiwled the cap tafa. "I have positive proof**? "You knew nothing al?out it." sak AUVen. "I have other interests thai those of my tirrn." "What other interests?' "I decline to answer." "Where did you po when you lef your otHee after sending thut note?" "I will not tell you." "WLv uot?' queried the captain li hl? most persuasive "Oh, per haps you don't know those oOhm" ceo "o* * ! o?<m. ititi, the hall o Ut'Illfll. A llr,l 11 rn ...... ... _ out on to the ImhtMiv, I've ik> (kMiht.' "It wlil make no difference ~ ivpliet Aldeu. ^ MWbnt you my will be conttdectinl of course."* t'aptnm Neake." wihl A Men. "this k a business secivt that Is worth a kckx deal of money. if I siKMrtd tell rt h any Imam l?e ooitkl force ixi>*um*o< fo Ida silence." -Yon don't mean to ?ny ttnit I'd do < thing like that7" detaauded .V>oh\ "I ban* no wish to otftsxl." said AJ den. "but yott want the truth, and ym shall haw K. Tow ^taxation. 11b n.onf pjwIuh* man iwtrh no ii 4 iJCX* VI tuwu. w ? the deportment, hi ?? bad ah 1 can be. ReoMMirtHftntf thot this IkhM lh** ruftftw Involve* ottx-rs flwut uiy self. I won't treat yoo whb a Wnf of M That la my hHrt word on that rol^ect.' Nvale's face turned red awl wt/ko ti Btrfl04?f\ fm??ruiar xpot*. "Now bear a ?wl from me^ bi aeld. Tvb been looking yoo up. R* are & ruined man. You were esga#ei to tbia g+rl. and to w?ie all thai sa*a you. But foo cocftdnl be booest etreI wltb her. fttQTWKte-to ve<o-this Oa* , Miller, nsfi- yoa TiPjrlected Miss Marlane, ami she wouldn't stand for it But by the* time you jvere so invoiced with MJ?e MHler thai >*mj cruldn'l break So wtiut did you do: i Why. poo wrote ber a note telling a fairy story about a lot of iik)i>?-y. knowt lug that the note would Ik; found and | would uiake the case look like nbbery. ! You told ber bow busy jj?u weiv, ;u>1 I live minutes afterward you <juit work ! o-nd cutne up town. You h;Ml a k??y t<: | this house;. you came here"? "f>o you mean to iux-use toe of thisV" The words cam?* from betwe?rtt Atden's teeth, and be strode toward Neah\ I who pot the tn-bk- N-t>eeeo them twxl I drew his revolve*. "Wallace!" "be called. * i A policeman entered from the hell I "That man te wxler arrest." s>ahl | Neak-. "Take him in." M "This Is monstrous." said Akien, but " be spoke cuollj*. "You shall answer e j for it." 11 j 'Wv'11 tntta about that later." re * Joined the captain. "YVh? po with thai ' j man." Brendn crossed the room quickly and took AkleaN hind. *" i "1 will do <?verytWng that 1 can for ; you." six- sokl. "and for her." L: "You're coming along, too." ?iW *i Nualo. ">toj HI stand l>v wtiut I suM ' ' Go bane." ' : A Men ofreotd bis mouth to sp? ab au<! then closed It again. Il?' turned anO s went wj4 of tbe room with ti>e poH<*e ; m;:u, Brenda following Immediately ; and I>r? Blntr n moment later. Elicen* dorf and Neale remained. '; The captain dropped Into a chalc. 0 "1 ilonl know as I done right;" be " j sakL ! Eltnondorf walked across the room h . and looked at ft picture on tbe wall lx>! tweeu- tbe windows. It was a jihotou grapbki copy of XelerstelnSj painting t of "Tuutaltnv" The unfortunate kiny s who divulged the Msvets of Zeus waf i, 1 represented chained to tbe nek atarv' i tag Mlille the frutt IsHh-n boughs whvh] u just beyond his reach. It wti-s u j hi 1 n| fui picture, ijulte otit of keeping with e all else to tbe room, and mraetKlorf re i parried ft curiously. A few Hnes. tellI ing tbe legend, wen. printed below, - i and tbe detective read them. "HYf!, be looks tt," be snkl. -glanc 1 tog up at tbe face of Tantalus. "And. k ! hy tbe way. Neule, you don't think Aldto did tbht thing, do yooT* a "Not on your lifer* said tbe captain. y "Tbe cose is perfectly plain. It may u bo that I didn't do tbe smart thin#" t ' Eiroendorf turned away. ! "Arresting a man for murder just be ! cause be cells you ft thief when you a 1 know you are otx\" snkl he, "Isn't exi actly tny Idea of wisdom.", ' v* 1 ?? Kb. A.wU arol RL L I m*H?e IV IITO ITXTC XJU isn.i-i. ? j mendorf angrfty. 1 ; "Not wKb me, Joe Neale," said tin e detective. "H wont work." * ! CHAPTER 11 3 i TIIS KA8Y WAT. 3 ; WALLACE dW not eonsfd\f B er It necessary to ?abi ' )J mBS^J\ **** ll1* prater to e 1 E] the indignity ch" handI iVcuffs. l*:t be kept a f firm liokl on Alden's \ . nrm stove j the elbow m tbey left the bouse. AJ5 den seemed to bo entirely Indifferent to this attention. When be reached ^ the eWewoik. he paused. bringing his . iwij.j. tt\ h h*?R The cab tn-which be J. ? __ t ; bod come wttH beside tbe eurU and AJ9 den. using bte free hand, helped Bm>, ! da Into the vehicle, t! It bt not customary for New York po; lleemen to dally while their ja-iscnors j perform the gentle courtesies of polite f eoelety. hot AhJen's deadly calmness , prevailed In this im-taute. g j "Comer* IK> aek?si s j "St. Winifred's," replied Brenda. : "Pkase tell him to drive fast." A!den gave the order nod tfien, ftd! dressing Xhe young woman. safdt "I i 1 shall be there eooo. Tbey dare Dot j liokl me." : Itreud-a would hove spolcen, but the I horse suddenly started under the whip. I and the cab lurched or^ihe reuglMttovet uienL The last gllru/se of Aldf'n 11ftI lag his bat while t<tau huge policeman i gripped iite left ?r$ remahied with j Rr.mda like a perftls'tei^ nightmare that ~ stii-vlvea the dafVu. Toe convooTjonai eourteoy stock in bor mind. It was a p lHtle picture of the oW days, the time of mnail plenftiires and ?*tis.v living. so ] sharpy luuugbt to an end. Everything In life had suddenly liecqme difficult. Words must l** weighed and ooeS conduct guided bj a plan, not left ? to mold Itself Into the forms of mere s j usage. And tbus sbe catue to think of what ftbe ebouk] do and say at the bosp pkaL IIow meet the emergencies that mlgbt arise? Had Elsie regained ber j settees! nod she spoken, or did sbe lie dead at tbat nx>ment lu some small, bare room. wnkhed by n stolid uurse j vrho yawned and stretched bersdlf as } tbo day's work drew to a close? A por~ tw+t h) a velvet frame? Elsie's mother t beyotKl a doubt?rewirred sharply to Etvodo's memory, and she shuddered. _ K bad stood on the dressing table?a ^, mxnati not yet old; a pretty, smiling ? face. It vena drwuiful to think of that a ft?oe sarttttiff fts-re ail tl>at afternoon, tbe eyes tooktuc. 5** seeing nothing: tbe tip* unohte to otter a cry. ; "*! root* pot It out of my mtatV* ?*d 4 i Bmodo to bersett jj At tbe hospital there was ttftle to be t fearaeft ootlriac to be dooa. Aa eider I' *e tp-*att?rity <4 n ? n ?I i???? . nfn ??lt said-: "The child Is still living. Wt I cannot predict the ultimate result of ! I the Injury as jet. i'ou cannot see her; nor sen<l any message. Leave your ad- j . dress, and we will communicate with j , you hi aecordauee with tbe event, j whatever it may be. It will be useless j to wait. If you are able to see her at j all, there wlfl be do great pressure ot I riin<\" Brendu rode to bor borne, and as the , cub drifled through the ^clamoring ; whirlpools of the Avenue she was ibk.klng 'that the white haired tnar had spoken almost tenderly of Elsie n? "tin; child." 1 There was no mother In tho Machine mansion. She hud l>een dead ten! years. There was nn aunt, no amiable j old lady for whom lirenda outortniDod no little affect!*-n. hut !n tho serious affaire of life she would as readily have takeu eounoel with her brother, who was not yet 12. Iler father, for, so strong i) man as he whs In the world of finance, was a weak man at home, lie had no gift of sympathy, a deficiency which may haw accounted 1 for both the strength) and tin' weakness. Uremia told hiin the story of her adventures as It hus Nsm here s*-t forth. and la* received it with painful I .,?.l llt.Aln ?UirlTl ' ZTliiJ'l au\i * T.Ij uiutti*. ""Why ilkl you go there?" be ex- ! Hnimed. "What iHjsslbk> interest j I ecu!'! you have in this wretched girl?" j I iktir father." slw replied, with tn e.ii'Meut counterfeit of u smile, "Set uie remiDd you that my ufftvtlon fi>r >lr. Ahlen has i*>eri the <me sin< ?:v emotioD of a sadly artitklal life. When I saw that terrible story, the "j I* ?JU? I "Permit mc to contfJer tin; hyai <uspctt : of the cate." first feeling I bed was sympathy for , Clarence, i wanted to do something i lor lilin. and I couldn't tliink of any- j thing else hut to po to her." "The papers will be full of it!" ho ! grouned. 'T hare always been afraid | of A Id en. Yo?; know I could never reconcile myself to him." "I remember thut yoo always admired him," said she. "A good many i>eople admire Mm," exclulmod the old gentleman ltnpatler.tl.v. ~and they're all afraid of him. ! He Is a headlong, reckless, oii6ufe uiau. and 1 never should hare permitted yoc to become engaged to him." Brenda stalled without effort this time. She knew that her will wouki dominate her father's in any conflict, j and that he would permit her to have her own way to the end of tlve story. "I aui not engaged to him any more," sakl she. mid her fattier admitted cordially that that was something to be thankful for. "He has behaved most dishonorably ! to you," ho added. "1 Lave no complaint to make of Mr.1 shall not break my heuit for him, but { I wish he might have loved uxs. Let us go iu to dinner." Mr. Muclaue was cooeiderobly sur- j prised to observe as the meal progress-; od that Ills daughter ate with a good appetite. Having a shrewd faculty of' observation, h? perceived pt last that Bretxln's body was attending to the whole matter of Its own sustenawe ?nd that her tr!i>d was elsewhere. As ! anxiety rises In Intensity the thinking part of us Interferes more and more t with the grosser envelope and the ! processes of enlightened selfishness j therein implanted by riatnre, but there [ comes a point of separation whence the mind goes Its own way and the | body likewise, to the great betterment I of tlie latter temporarily. I After dinner Brenda awl ber father j went into the library. a room of which 1 be made great nee for smoking, much preferring tt to the apartwem especial- ( j iy designed for the Indulgence of that pernicious habit. ! Brenda fell at one? Into deep thought, . and her father, after several futile attempts to talk with ber. ant down by a desk and endeavored to occupy himself ; with certain booseltold accounts. He was a man of large frame and little j flesh. rarh?T handsome la a mildly aquiline style olkI w+th eyes like Bret?- i da's, bix gentler and wttb more of tbe Wjie tint lu therru There was some- j thing womanish about him. bard to trace, hot pcot<a^ly hi lite menoer altogether aod not hi his looks. A nervous hrttabittfy made utter trifles tragic . tor him. Everything worried Wry more j or teas. At tbe desk there, M be poti. tered with tbe aceoofita Ms pen fefl j from the rest where be bad placed It, aodbe pWteHHm, flTOfiL-. ; * ' . . . \ ' His pleasures were few. His home was something to hiio> his pride, oi various kinds, a staff to lean upon. He had considerable aCeetioo for Uts son and rather more for Breixhi. He thanked God daily that her health was so good: hut, even so, be was always afraid that It might fail. His chief Joy hi life was a business Journey. lie cook] get nothing out of a , pleasure trip because of the obvious waste of time. Rut to be one of three or four moderately congenial men ab4Vt?,.rut ?n fmvp! nreferablv ID mjiuit:ij ivinu ?v ??? v., f some one's private car. perhaps to see t bit of industrial property in the west or even no farther than Washington when there was a bill affecting business Interests before congress?that was genuine relaxation. It was necessary to go. and the responsibility for getting there was on the engineer in the cab ahead. One might smote a good cigar meanwhile and speak of small matters. When one has reached i certain stage of nervousueed, it is more traiK]yflfzfDg to ride 05 miles an hour under another mau's guidance than to sit still at home as a result of cue's own volition. To Uremia ami ber father Ld the library entered Wlllett, the butler, with a troubled countenance. It appeared that two men* desired to see Miss Maelane and that their names were Barnes ami Haggerty. - - -? - XlrwiLt ~inev meunoueu n (.uinmu wan-, miss," sjild the butler, "presuming to say tLat you'd understand." Brenda rose hastily. "They have cou>e to take me to the hospital." she sakl. "Tell tlietn I will lx> really in a few minutes. and see about the carriage." "Are these p^-opie pollcemcD-?' demanded Mr. Machine. "Well, sir. I bxAc them to be what they call ward detectives," ventured the butler, "and I dropped the hint to .kimes that he'd do well to keep an eye on them. There's things in the small reeeption room, sir. as woukl go into a ' man's pocket." "You did quite right, WilletV' saW Mr. Machine. "Breuda, my child. 1 ? suppose it's entirely useless"? . .K "Absolutely. I must go." she saki. "Then I must go, too." he groaned. But B rend a pot a nrui veto upon iur? proposal. "It Is wholly nnrwopsnry,"' she said. "With my maid and Janes I shall not l>e afraid, evea ff these are all that Willed say* they are. There will be the coachman and grcow besides." Her father came up to lidr and touch(h3 the diamond ornament which she wore ut l>er throat. ^ "I would not put unnecessary temptation In the way of the weak," be said, with an attempt at levity. "Some of these fellows are 9a hi to be very expert." Brooda go'sv the pin to lie* father and aho removed n ring of rooro thai; ordinary valne, which she knotted up rn a ban<]kcichK.-f an4l thrustf Info the bosom of bcr dross. Her nijh^l entered at this moment with sucfrthings as were necessary to prepare Beenda for ti*e rKJe. After bis da Tighter* b departure Ifr. Machine poccd tin? floor of the library for a long tkiur in mttless anxiety. Then he received a telephone message from Brenda informing hlpj that she hrnl learned that Mr. Alden was still detaiiKMl at the police station, which was an Injustice not to be overlooked by his frler-ds. The financier then understood why he had been left at home. As a result of Brondo's presentation of the case Mr. Mac-lane call oa Upon "13 f?W)Tr, w uv Ttao a neighbor, and the two men roie down to the station bouse in a cab, stopping at a club cn the way to cash a check. Upon giving their names tp the sergeant ut the desk in the station they ? ~ were ushered into the captain's room, where, to their surprise, they found both ti>e office r aod his prisoner. Neale was sitting by a doKk in the corner, lie bad the cramped iook and the dull eye of a man who has neither moved nor spoken In a long time. Half a cigar with a ragged end was between bis lips, and it seemed to hovo been driven In wkh a hammer. Any one who bad known Neale for tea years would have saW that this was the samo cignr be bad aiways been smoking. There was a tradition that he had never been seen to light a fresh una AirVr ? ?? stnndinc by a barred win dow looking out Into a narrow. dark court, with a (load wall oo the opposite &KS*. There was nothing to attract a rattooal man's eye. hot Aklen continued to stare even after Machine nix! the lawyer eotered the room. lie turned, however, wiren Captain Neale greeted the two moo ty nattxv At the sight of ARWCb face Madam* who was advancing toward him, stopped efx-rt. H hi no* the harrier between them which keeps, the spectator in the menagerie from Intruding upon the privacy of the caged tiger; W & the look In fbe creature's eye. "<>ood evening, sir." srid AkJen onlrtly. *1 a en surprised to see you here." [To he Cnnttnrel. j An opportunity of lifotim* often merely a chance to say *nn.?' ?. Some men are like- imported cigars?very good, but exceeds icgly aarrow? - w