The press and standard. [volume] (Walterboro, S.C.) 1890-current, August 13, 1913, Image 2
Argyle Case
y»
* HorcUsatimi bj
XoConMichy of th« i
tel H«w PI47 bf Hurtot
Vord, Hanrqr J. O'Higfin*
Detective WillUm J.
■■ In Wldoh Robert
Hilliard la Appearing:: :*
t, m2, br Journal-AaMri-
can-Eaaminer.
SYNOPSIS
Jamre Arjyle. wealthy and eceentrte. la
found etu>t d»a<l In the library of hla Ne*
Tork home ilia only eon, Bruce, an art-
let. and hla ward. Miss Mary Waauret.
are f^spoeted.
aarne Kayton, a detectlve-.of repute, la
called In lie Is dven carte J*lanche a# to
expense and told to run dow n the mur
derer The library where Mr. Argyle was
shot Is opened. < .
“Weil, aafa. Ah was wand ap by
pow'ful row la da middle ub da
Teabed like aoaaebodj most ha' fell
; Aa* deo Ah wait M' liaeeo aa*
1. aa* Ah doot beab aafltn' mo’.
Ah iwckoaa Ah better ’restigate
tree rolled.
k to Hln Masoretr
Kajrtoo.
**Xo, suh.” ratoracd UO obi woman,
orlth a violent ahake of her woolly
toad **Ah wasn't apeakla*; Ah wan Jes*
r-
Kayton amt h!s assistant. Manning, ar- !/
rlVe at the Artcjle*mansion. They
tlon th* buin?r. and searoh for
I
Unger prints in rhv h»i t> of finding ^"clew.
I
'.iK*
r
detectlvos find a wopdfh's finger
prints •!! tie library'* 1 abl^^Mrs, \Vyi\ft!
Miss Mazur* t's cSnptotfjpt? teTjs 'Kayton
that tli** girl's vras a Mrs. Killie
Marsh of S.wt Krofltffpeb.
Kaythn l^irlis prom tbo servants that
Miss Ma^>rfe( vas awake and about at
tbjje1ltp< lli*reTlme.,rmi»t hr.ve been coins'
wtltled InXni'rdiud man's <ksk hi* {iflds
ao unustynliy One counterfeit IMO brtl.
rut this .deyrs Is cipher.** Joe stood
with peocijl poised as Ms chief dk-
tated: ' ' ' n N.>
** 'Look up Mrs. Jofm Maxuret;
k maiden name. XeUie Marsh. Died to
'Frisco about twenty years ago.* Aet
that off. Joer N' c*
"The girl's motberr' ventured the as-
afatoat. *
“Yea." nodded Kajtoo "I want to
Voow aboct that scandal This thin-
has bajtfiencd through the girt some
way or another." _.
IlastcDlog out. Manning rasped Mr.
Hurley in the U«M.nray. The lawyer
entered eagerly, stripping off bis
gloves oud held out a b::r.d to the fa
cuMsing it with rue for aotn* time, but
we never did anything.^
••Did you draw up the old oneY"
“No. That was before my time.
That wits drtwn up by ToiwoitUy A
Mead." -X '• .
Kayton bad opened his. IIimi to ask
another question wbeti there came mu
liiterruptlon. -Bruce Argyte burst Intk
tire room wTtb a;'ncw*tKi|>er tightly
diuebed in bla hand. He was pluliily
tu>:ding himself *s be gri^ct^U tbv de
tectire courteously uml a|*eU>gl/cJ for
beihg late. .Then ^h^ turued uu the
lawyer id a storm of wrath. ,
“Look here, llurloy!" ho cried.
-What do you go and give out all that
stuff/IO the newspajiers fo£-oU>ut fa-
: tvr's going to change Ui» will and
Argyle BMirOlog
v
utous detcctire w ith'a conlial smile.
“Hood morning. Mr. Kayton." he i ^ ur t them mi with all this rot nlK.iit j
sahl pleasantly* “Ini Mr-Hurley-Mt | Mary? Why. all ~ these morn lug pa
hfgyle'* lawyer.” x'X . |>er* are full of the. rtjerthest of stalm
"Yes." sai-l Kartcn qBielljr.\jiH • he j i.««jk at this!" And he proctfeiled to
tm
wire right her#,
the desk plume
"What did lie aavr
"I <*uu't remember." retdlcd tun
young umn slowly, "ricept tbai li troa
*be‘ and *>jfs‘ and 'no.* v l thought It
w ng soine^f .Ms huslneas affairs, and
" At* seeuml to want to think It*over, so
Hi left soon afler.'’ .
"Wham did you *p*i»d the alithtF
Inquired the detectlvf-*" '
“In my studio, where | lire*”
"How did you get therw-Hi taxir ,
"No; 1 walked.’*
•^Tbeil «nil it begin to rain?"
<“Hainr echoed Argyle "1 didn’t
know* It did ^lln- ,,
“I»l»l any one see ynu go hda vonr
studio?" . ' . '
"Not that I know oC repiled i* 1 *
young man, w'Lb a shake of the bead.
flvd'tbla to th# popers
what tbey'i
“You nct-i.,
' Go-J kn *.v
'll make of it! They'd i. .
Mary op there Just waiting 16 -
*^fow, my dear fellow, don't i*e
•ardr laterfuptad the lawyer tot
thing that strikes me us U. .’,
Ificaut Is tbg Wepbotu* m,-..
a
Don’t yon think ad, Mr. Kayton V
Kayton faced about on him.
"Wbat do Joo aee aiguifl *aut in .
be inquired brusquely.
Mr. Hurley fidgeted slightly, n..
pot Ilka (be way in which hU w. r.
hrere ^aogbt up every time.
•book baiul* “1‘Ut ^Uid to meet ton.”
“lob glad you've votiie^.iu on the
ygse.*' retnrued tbe’lav.yor in a sin
^er«* m.timer ;j*.-:t we*, in it*eif a r< m
jdlutent. "Kiou'.t -doubt you'll de tr it
alt u;» fv< ii' ’X
“Well. \ b«{s so. Mr. Hurley." wtP!
•Kaytou moh-'tty This itUejTelauge
rend a few of the headlines that ail
Hainly intimated the pos*ll»lejrfinnec
tlon of .Vlr. Argyle’s aiiopted daughier
with dhe eld inlllioualrc's murder,'
“That's unsKakable?" be stormed.
"“If Mary see* that”—'
•Now," broke in Mr. Hurley sooth
trisiX “whV pay any attention to that
»(. t-o’iipiinn *i!*s was the tijjft trial of j sort of tMngV' N /
k *oll* in which e^ch m.t> \va* esr'mat !!•:>* Itruce was not to lie soothed
.^h felt In the ! lie was'white with auger.. . - / ^
tjUU the other. anJXeewh felt i;
Hher an antago:^!. theagh they wer
•n the sam<*j>
“It whs l*ad etiougli when they In
•.'annted that some of frithef's stock
Mr. Ilurky f- md a chair npd^s* t i. arket vjctruis came anj kHirsl him."
lt d IdHl'eir "-mri r: . My * fyr a * hrt
Kayt'»:i ue.*.cl aisnit • Uhe a
X*s{l*->; 1 lr>i •' i' l^e ra'.lted. t<*.t <> •
■ 'r •i'iX; ‘the.|awyer and
:••>*»* .■** '' -•
lie went on. “or maybe some fc^iuw
'•..• •■ted tT>„t!iarry Mary for her unmey
aril Ik rl t*» Cid hmi mit of tho \vfiy;
'!,vi i!.r
“Host ,da you ^krsw'-thst?* 1
Ksytoo. .
rs^ed
• a>‘* * ‘ ir
J*oe>ili!y l av.
i s’r**! Iva
* '''•*. ’;•*• *
he: go. hat
T." Hurley, yr.u'-.e glveh them Jilst
\! ttdhey \puipHi b> build on!" * •
in f*.X s'tnryX sajd the lawyer
v./{eit iriij, irpolo-etiea'ly, “imt I
r thli.’xjjrt- had anjfldng to con-
nj
V"
/
CHAPTER y:
To Find OuXth# Truth.
AVTf *N. Kroke off with a nod
a* Mfs. liesuregard, the rook,
Waddled Into the room. She
was a round facial old negro**
A wkh V(s»Hy gray hair, strong teeth,
still white, find' n Uiouth of amazing
breadth, depth and iDiistnictlon. In
build she followed the Hue of n srjmit
and twidly constructe<l cylinder. In
motion she respmbied u venerable
Mark duek. She wore ^neatdjlue cab
Ico dressmvd white ni>nm, and njtotit
her head avs* the I tie vitftbfe kerchief
io.tkin'. Hen Ah wri’late Ah nnist,' dream
t\l soki^* <j!m’ t n* ise.,so I goes b;;ik t
bial i.n’ didn't LeaU uutliu ulo' tH!
tanwniu'. An'"—she took U L»ug
breath—"If y.^l sense me. fcl'tab, Ah'II
go right back to mah banin*. Yu' all
'pears to fo'get dat folks gotta eat.”
“All right, general." mid.led Kayton.
with jr s.nile, thinking of one of the
best generals in the Confederate army
. "We!'.'i**t cs -esp os'* tb.yT'tlrls crini
■ mil o'e iln. ! < :itrv t by tbe con
d Xktylt fiat ii' We ;• re going t )
! ’ .* YrKth of this matter we nee I
/n :: inf honest. Isii t that
..v . ' ’ 'Jr
;y, of •otj.r'C. Mr Hurley.''au^ec.!
'Oi io. iliiy. an l bafonv/llnni*
a c.p a new attack- he skil)-
!iifi» i the ground of/the conver
“go back to yout' commissariat.
Mrs. Ite'ai;regard had started to wad
die oid, but 'he wheeled alsmt in war
like fashion. x 7
“What's ytiatV ' 'he demaUdt'd
‘WUnCs dal yo* tail me':’*
Kayton laughed and waveddiis hand
to in's. "Ail liKbt* Mrs Heauregattl
"siyan *e of • • - f llgej^rvaiits or. |m s
<!bry. one "t tUea -l'-t a key or pa
-o*>h* why t' -X th-v |a i*s.tlg;|»h»nvig(ve
t j*v*t djiX's-v! I!e is di'«,s»i i revl by
tens him -w ith n
1 / Id,
'>* t : ' !l
'Von imdVrstand. >fr. ' nryle. - ’ Ji/
- :.! w ith «U.9^!ty, /That you are it/'a
•t yejt dXc^'vt He i
Mr .Vrtfyl *, XlXfl roat
rt • In'*.': I of the-fandly here. nmXthv
r.-potisioHity f<*r the success o/ fail
revolver a;?! In tie straggle (hat on-
sees the t . r*X** n“*oItv.''
lv«>tou ' :, !«*' niniost iwpprefptiblj.
.reof tii s investigii4’on will rest large
!y with y>yi. I'll hate to ask for year
yoVjteftdfon in everything, and I'll t*v-
w ho bore the uatlie of the old Oegre**^,-AiX how d * X v nr t'tAory account pyet ta^t you'll cuii»ult with .me -lie
'or t'.qfa* t *’ f t’ •'•nglfout this strng
gX-a *trug,•'<*.^y.*ji'Ilynotice. in whi h
several t.'.er s. v .re excbapgetl. Judg/
l.y the ir.arky on tie*"face «' l
hi
hesf bow .***• y, d a**,* -at for fact
• },..( v r Arr*'hf i • a’c no o ttcyyY'
“UK o ** * >•' 't** a- t l^tve lieen t
'Wert!/' ro^.^- ! fh • hjT' er Av-a tlly.
XI
of the' negro serving woman, lint Vf Kwant »on again J’H rend for you.’ : . "Y'try tnr-. '-w !•!•-! KAvtea
Mr*. Heaiiregard'u was a snowy white. Sl*'wly wir ltd rawing her gaze from *, *•< if , . • • . >< X Mr. Harley, j
Klie mile*! her eyes* pomleronslt/ his mirthful fw»*e<ns if daring, him b»t-t*p'/rv-e t c *: M- tV t.ufpkai'lhe*
y
is-
■ •*'
^nliout.the room and tlnnUj* brought
them (o n*st on the great defective,
who was aurveylng her critically.
“Am yo* de genTinan wngt* to see
me?" she Inquired beavil^r' her arms
. akimbo and one broad f^d advanced,
giving her a singularly tniculent air.
Kitty hastily vanlsfied. and Kayton
smiled Of Km. the okt negress.
“Are you Mrs. Henuregard?" h« lu-
qiilnsl. z
“Yes, sub: Ah am." she replied, voice
and expression living by no means en-
coitmgtng. “An' Ah'* bofth to s:»y At»
don* wanna M*e yo’. All's seen nulf
o’ yott p’leecemen. Ah ohsAhveebry—
•bry time anythin’ bad ocCuh* In this
heah wuhld yo' nlln* trie* to put it
on to rullud folks.” .r
"How long have you IIveil here, Mrs.
Beauregard?” inqulrtsl Kayton cour
teously. ignoring' the arraignment pf
tbe policp. *
, “H’mr sniffeil the cook eqntemptu
ously. “Ilo^r long has Ah l.lhed be«h?
^Aiwd o* lobe. Ah alius 1’bed heah! Ah
maxi henb eber since Miss Mary wuxa
U*l’ child. What buslpess Is It o’ yo’s
how iou.t Ah iitssl beah?" And she
glared ufoo Kayton.
xWoK.” retnnusl Kayton. “if you've
Mved here •<* long you must have been
greatly attached to Mr Argyle "
<The old ilarky swelled With wrath
“Don’ yo’ try to wish no scandaf on
the." she warned him. “Ah wah'n m*
mo’ ’tacbed to Mr. Argyle dan Mr
Argyle war ’Inched to me lK*re
wah'n bo body else In dlv'beuh town
could cook for him."
“And 1 suppose .nfi were Jc.st a*
much sttiK’htsl to Ml** MnzuretY'
“Doan yo’ flggcr yo’' i nn .mate me
•ay nuflin’ ’gainst >ll*<» Afarr!" storm
ed Mm. Ilcaurcgard. shaking her fist at
•ry N rcit n
‘hi* X-glar
'ay aiiyUiint? gVure. the cook departed,
gruinblrwig hiilf aloud;
“Yol don' see no mo* ob dls niggnli
Come ’ronn* heah askin’ me nil detu
fool iple'tlons. Ah get so-so nilngNtl
Ah don'knovv a heh .V^i'm nt. Ho|^e to i!e
Ijtwd yo' all cleab out of ills hoUH*f;u nltlX- '-'
^ »v-t< s^tlefi.'iririastgqi
l ave been frightened *
vbleed, then, that it was
**1 Knyfon
" (“i 'c'*-«-«l>the f iwycr
,e ' “I, w?>j» nieroly
(iV;* < «-.l g .it'l
*1" »-;v * •**“>' tJ
1 |sdltv.
him. rouu'beah tr> in',tn workt
op tno’lie*’gainst dat chile fo'denew* 'I-mbing grlnnetl ns be lH*nb over
paper*! Ah know nuflf to know she ,he han ' ! » n,chH :,m,
didn't done tiulbn’.”
Kayton bit hi* Up.
Young Mr. Ar-
r a
r * * * ' •' .; *' i
» • “ '. i* k "f u*.«.*ive o”r,*rv i-e; or j
>• t* i*'c y iwtween the
M*.i e and the < 1; ir.i- ter
t-re-jn wfio might lure
-r * •■ . y
vt?" said Kayton la a
p » ■ y ' '
1 :,e - ,t
xtiretr
It’s
h?i*
"M " V
ic.:itvr i*; :
■r:.-
• « Hi. it i *' Mn't !•<* Mis*
.rot*-':*^! tbe ! :•. ycr Instantly.
leave bis henb fiiinlily In pepee." / ,
When Mrs.< lh*auregard’» tnetuping
growl had died awajr In the dtq.rl.s of'i ru .
the hall outside Kayton s exprvssien J (l f
instantly changed, and he ieoked as *fxpf »!,*
be bad never smiled In his iif«*i j ; Ml j ., tni.;’.'.-"
“1 want to see Mis» Ma7,i:ret" be
said to Flnlfiy.' ; '//'“•
“Aliss Mary, sir?” cetqmetl the but
ler. . visibly disturbed.' "I* It oect'S*
sary? Con’d ye not Vet her Ik??” He
was almost |»*ond1ug,
“So,*’ replied Kayton curtly. "Will
you please go to her at once and tell
l»er 1 want to see her?"
The old man sights) and shook his
head. “I will, sor," be s;iid in functeal
tones, and be/slowly departed. A sec- ...... . ,
ond Inter Kayton was making a swift j ...
Js , Afr Ksyt,?«. I Ft tell you r.^at that."
be said sh>w!y. "My cHent bad an
^ idea t
“Well, now. I’ll (ell you nbo?jt tlY
be declared. “You see. the |Mjr>h!>
culled him m^ioust JiAv* k:io-.\.
private telephone uqtuber. Thar w\
Indicate some oner 'vho was fan
with the house and"—
“YesY* said/Kayton/'eucour.*m!:
as the lawyer iwusetj.
“And t he fact tlpthbe was <lNt *
by the uue*Mige, but said notbi;'.g i :
ificant in it!
Hurley Threw s Swift Glsncs et ths
Detective's Impassive FsCe.
X/;
: lacreiiilde flirt a girt !>kv her cold
l-e ii..o!ve<l Ir. a thing/f this sort lie' j
'idvs. bow w ;s s’se -ti? know that If he ’
’ died nt that ptrflcular mpaicnt she j
would l*e the «e't* lietr under the will?” (
*.‘A)b. the F»il was seiretT* inquifed I . ,. r . , ...... ^
.. X ■ ^ ‘ ’ any opinion,or do anything that ha* a
Kayroa / bearing on this case.”
“I'll sxpset that you’ll consult with
me.”
fore you make any move or-express
"Welt, now.
but mlnute^tavehtory of the contents •
of the big antique desk between tb«
window*. Manning looked up «* h
chief* -sut'prcsseil a low exclamation
He was stuudlng at tbe other window
with ft handful of envelopes, from one
of which lie swiftly ✓abstracted some
thing.
that is not Uncommon among mil
lionaires. He had an almost morbid
apiirehension of his heirs waiting to
Inherit bis estate—a somewhat super
stitious fear of the concentrated ei-
peetadons of legatees In fact, he
What have you r«vt tl.ere. goyer didu t Ffut anyone to know who was
ncr?" inqttinsl Manning Kayton bchl
Up a blank enveloite
“One bf these had • new fpiO bltl
In Ir.” ^-'** ' '
“lii tlp» di 'k?" q':erl**(4us assistant
!nc«T?Tf?wte!y • “I .Mtks as If It had l*ceti
pretty well *ein*b«sl tort.”
Kayton shniggl'd his sinHililer* and '
hi' tip curled 'lightly
"Yes. .I k*," he srnd gently, “by the '
packed away h!s treasures
“He mast hate l>«en going to mall
gyle." tie said gravely, ’/lifts brought. Jt io •omelsKly.” he sngge^gd at Inst
me here to find < ont the truth If yon Kayton was examinlrg tirevod under
know anything Uiat wlfl help to clear n P , ' , 'kct magnifying glass.
Miss Mstnret you had letter tell It.” “That’s possible." he mu
muttered.
The oKl termagant was impressed by ^ wonder what stopped him. re-
„ both wonl* and mariner nml regnnle«l ,n;ir kr<l the other thpiichtful!y Kar
’X’ertplnjy." returned young Argyle.
again completely the well, bred, self
contained young muu. ”1 understand
that Mr. Kayton."
M
him doubtfully for a moment. Then
•be wheeled heavily upon the butler s
dls beah man lyin' to me?" she
demanded fiercely.
Ylnley shisik lit* hea»} •’There's
(ricks In all trades. Mr* Reauregnnl.
but Km thinkln' the truth ran't hurt
Miss Mary. So whatever ye know ye'd
bewtteM’lm"
Kayton nodded “Well, what do you
kdo*?"
“Ah know." declared the cook defiant-
f ly, '^Miss Mary hadn’t nuflin' to do wi’
dst ’susslnation, ’cause she was on de
Uppuh floh all de time"
“How do you know thatY* asked
Kayton.
“’Cause Ah done see ber dene.”
“Where were you?",
“Ah Was crawlin’ up dem kitchen
•taihs. an’ deb was a light up deh. an'
Ab look up an’ Ah see her "
"What brought you upstairsY*
ton was bolding the other envelope*
up t<» the t ght. one after another. In
rapid viuo" >n He grinned, a fid with
ii perfect imltutlon of Finley brogue
replied.
"If ye knew that an’ bad yer supper
re con'd go to tfd "
Manning langhed and. righting the
table, pushed It hack to the center of
the r<s*ni and replaced cover and
l*ooks
•I've got all these, governor," he
saM Kayton mslded
“B«*tter start now with tbe servant*'
finger prints. Joe Get both hand*
What I* it. Finley?” '
“Mr Hurley's bgr* ^lr“ saM the
butler from thy hall door,',
•“Is Mis* Mazuret coming?” demand
ed the detective
•i'm pc*in’ to her now. sir."
“Well, don't delay any longer.” or
dered Kayton. with a touch of *tern
CHAPTER VI.
Mary Mazuret.
It rU'IM.KY threw a swift
ghituv'at the detective's im-
piissive. face as if to see
w haf” hidden meaning lay
Kn k of this- last speech! but be made
no comCifiit 1 - ' ;x*
“You t*ere ttie last,person known to
he with your father on tbe night of
bis death.' pursue ! Kay ton gravely.
Tin* new herul of the fatuily looked
very furious '"Yes. that's .true." he
said; "I was 1 had dinner with Mary
and han."
j "Was that unusual?" Inquired thede-
! tectH'e
The yoqjig man hesitated n bare in-
' star.t “AS'v'.I. you knew. I suppose that
1 father and I didn't hit it off any too
' well together." he replied uueotuforta-
( bly “A'on »*'•. he yvns thet kind of a
| |Dctn—be isMildti’t stand nut one around
who wanted to do any thinking for
| himself He had his own ideas nlnuit
tilings, and if you stood up against
them there was trouble all along the
to benefit by Iris death. In the last
few days of hi' life, when he Contwin- .
plated rein'trting his *ou. be w'a s par- *tu1»arrassmcnt^"w hen he objected to
ikulurly lii'isteut on secrecy. The mr ")** ““d
“Ch, it couldn’t bs Misa Mazurst,*'
line. I broke awr.y—about a year ago
—when"—he hesitated again in some
Mary tins been trying ever since to
thing was an oh'e*<k»i». ton undvr-
-xX "j bring u* together. ' That n;ght"-his
k.jiM. ..Mci "I«d tlx iM twk ! «£• »'“;«»-•*«»< "'Oi w«
tU:.l ll. I...I ,li.,„h«tt«l>*' ■ H*«l » «"« '‘“‘>* »''« »» »*
T doubt it." replied Mr Hurley.i
"but if yoh allow fpe this apprehen- i
sion of ffiy edeut’s he would have con
sidered that it was a protection to him
self to have his soft think that he wa»
d.siiiheritcvl When I mentleued that
Mr Argyle was about to m ike a new
w ill at tke time of bis death it never
for a moment occurred to me tbit a
could be about It. l*ecapse father au*l
I were un go**! terms agai-n She went
to ber room’early and left ns here to
hare a talk ”
Kayton'* face Iwtrayed absolutely
nothing of ii by inipressiofl he may
have galneil froirt this Tittle tale.
"IHd your father sei-.a worrierl about
anythingY’ be askerl Bruce thought
“Arty, one drop in on you during the
evening?' 4 7? '
"No.”
Kayton flitijlOl Hit* floor gravely for
a QtumeytXaud then asked:
7 “Is there any one in the ?urr*mnd1ug
apartments* that could have seen you
of yyur H'-lit ':'’ - /
“We!!." said Argyle doubt fully, “you
know t have tbe rear of a top floor lu
an old Twenty third street house with
a KkyfTglit: . X
,rti>idn’t yon H^ar the rain on your
•kyllght?" dcimindetl Kayton swiftly.
“4 tell you 1 didn’t know It rained,”
declared the- young man. \VHh some
peeviijwes*. The best nerves anti
c!»*atn.*s t-Vconsolcnee feel the n * effect of
If.is sort^of an examination. "I go to
bed early." he explained, “and I get
up as soon as tln*re's light enough to
work."
“Mr. Kayton." interposed the lawyer,
"do you see any thing significant in
that telephone message?"
Kayton stared at the lawyer for* a
niomcOit or two as if he bad never seen
him Ivfore. Hi* abstraction seemed
complete. Then his eye* slowly re
turned, to Argyll*'* and be saidfsiowly:
. “Then you don’t know of any way in
which you can corroborate your state
ment tiiuf you left herealiout 1Uo’clock
and spent the rest of the night in your
studio?"
. Bnu-e was silent, and Kayton waited.
"No-m*. I don't.” said the young man
in a low voice " 6
•'Nolio.iy_s.aw you. you think-innbody
saw you leave here?" "*
Again there .was the barest hesita
tion and the low voice.
“No—no." ,
"You didn't st*e Finley ?'' Kay ton’s
eves wca* on th.e young man's face
w*.;h piercing keenness, as if to read
unspoken answers, y
"No, 1 didn't sec finley nt all.” This
answer tame swiftly, as the detective
ex|>e. ted It vypt’ld He shrugged his
shoulders and half tmnet) nwny.
"Mr. Anfyle." lie saul Coldly. "I don’t
want tpbe put in the |«»it,jon of cn>*a-
cxamli.ltig yon, if you are not going
to give Inc yonr.confldem-e It woiifd l*e
better for me to drop the whole mat
ter right Lcfe "
A “gyle flushed slightly and his eyes
si* *d.
"*Ye>l —I"— he l>egan.
"As a matter of fa? t." broke In Kay-
ton abruptly. "Just who was it. that
you thought you saw?"
Argyle's uneasiness increased “Well,
1 don t want to say that I saw any
one." be said reluctantly.
"Aon understand." said Kayton. with
a stern frown.*“that it might be"very
important that some one shonld have
'een yoh leave this house.”
"Oh-1 see—well?' the young man
declared with the air of n man doing
an estrem»dy unpleasant duty. "J
thought as I was going out that I saw
setnetiody looking over the banister
ralh'’ \ -
/KHglrt-dtfStne that/it was sc;:.-
known to him vyho wc.s in a jms
(o annoy him—possibly an old sen,. *
Kayton ^.Vde no coiuaient on t
theory. /
"Had he any buxine^ enemies? "' 1
inquired! ' '
► now," began the l.iy ynr: g
nfnl Kaytoo made * ^ovemei.t of'
patience. “I’ll fell y^t aX»ut : .
A’ou understand. <‘f course, th t i
only • recently been associated, ••’•
Mr Argyle. and lie didn’t consult
about everything, but natunilly a
of hi* many Interest* must have n. .
enemies."
Brnre hud lieen walking impili*- •
nlvout (he r<M^it» while this coir er
tion took pblce. and he m*w c-:;n.e :
yvard.-X ’
“Mr. Kayton.” he said dospcrap
“yofj may ik ; be able t • prove v
did this YvVU l*e sati'lled if v..
otily pr.ive that 51 i" Mazuret didn't'
"Well." rcpihil the derective grtvi
ly. "the U*st way to prove w ho dMi.
kill vonr father Is to prove who <’.
kill him. is this Miss Mazuret'"
, A tall, slender girl with great .mn'-
of deep brown hair and great ,d..r.
serious eyes came slow ly into the ro:
Her cleanly cut. oval face was us wh :
as her negligee gown, and she* w:
plainly utruggllng to keep her couq
5lrs Rennregard gathered up huge ness “Tell Mr. Hurley to come In.
Joe." he went on rapidly as Finley left,
“get out your pad. I want to aend a
telegram to tbe San Francisco office
suspicion might It* construed again«t
Misjt Mrtxuret But" he sh*v.|i b;*
heed, “when you com# to construe mo- *
lives"—
"Mere .nm going to draw cp the '
will?” intemjpted Kayton
“Well.” Mf. IlHiiey hesitated. 'TU ,
tell you about that Ued been dla- 1
for a moment and replied
*'IIo had • telephone rail that di*-
turls'l him a good deal while I was
hew ” • - •
"What time was IiY’ , ^
“Why. about )0 ’’
“Did'be receive It himself?“
•1’cs. he was called on his private
"What made yen U*ok up nt the ban
ister < ralF" demand*'! Knyt**n.
sup
pressing any frnce of elation.
"I .suppose I must have heard »on:e-
Ihing.” A)needed Argyle grudgingly.
Ras It Miss Mazuret?" The ques
tion was almost n cohinur'ftd
The young-man wimyd "It might
have been one of the maids.’’* he par
ried" .' X _
"Why didn't yon speak to her?"
“1 w*a*n't sure—and she drew bftvk.
Look here. HurleyT* He wheeled oq
sure,
v **Ves.
she *ald. “Mr. Kayton?"
“Ye*»." he tvpiie*! with a bdw Rru
went swiftly to her and put hi* an
about her. *
, "Yon oughtn’t to oe down hen
Mary." he reproached tenderly, wn
tbe air of uu affectionate 1 ig hrothd
“Tliere'* no need for it. You look a .v
fully ill. Mary. IF* too much for yo.
l*k*n*e go back " ^ \
“I sent. f«»r Miss Mazuret." Inter] ">
e«! Kayton quietly, hi* gaze on tt
girl's pale face.
"Rut. Mr. Kayton," protested Bn: •
“you don't understand. It's to-.* u:'.>
to ::sk her to come down hepe/ It's t!
first time ttse room ha* Iven ojsi •
sin iv*’’— ; j ><., /
"No. no. Bruce," the gir! luterru; :»
gently: "it's alf right no,w. pieft'* !'
*T should Tike to have a t.lk v X
Miss Masuret alone If you don't
said Kn.vrou in the Aawe quiet t •*-
addressing the two men. Rut y
Argyle was in o;*eii rebellion.
"She’* bod enough to tsvirl'* he
dareil .uigrily. "I'm not going to t.
In*f put Uirough any third degree.’"
The detective's li;-s vftmc together
a razorlike Hue. ~X > '
"Just a nouient. Mr Argj !*•."
said Icily. “Reforc we go jmv f , :rr'
with thl* lovestigatlon I vvr.nt you t
Understand clearly that I aui in - .•
charge of It.’’
“This l* nonsense. Brace:" exX -
ed Mr. Hurley, coming forward. "'• r
Kayton has got to question Mi>' M - •
rat If he’* going to l*e of any lid;
h<-r or to us. Come along with no*
But the young man rvfused'to l -
“Mary, don't you want me to s-v’■
here w ith you?” be'asked The f
UA>k his arm and geatly pushed I:-
towrartl tl»* ■*
“No. wo; thank you. Bruce." she r*
pHed steadily. “It's all right; I 'tf
go.’’
’ He le»l her to a’chair and made h 1;
*it In It and tlyu reluctantly nIXwc
Hurley to lead him out.
Kayton . sighed wearily, drew
chair near to the girl's and sat do*v:.
"Miss Mazuret,” be said fent’y "
bis must courteous manner. “1 can
derstand Thut this affair has bt t*: •*
great shock to you. And you feel th
loes of Mr. Argyle protlably more tl.
any one. I don’t need to say that 1