The press and standard. [volume] (Walterboro, S.C.) 1890-current, August 13, 1913, Image 4
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PAGE TWO.
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THE PRESS AND STANDARD, WALTERBQRO, S. C.
AVGUST 13,19!
\
ftal H«w Pl^jr by Harriet
•Ford, Harra/ J. CHiegins
and Dotoctiro William J.
Boraa, In Which Hobart
Hilliard la Appaarlnc it s:
Caprrt«ht m2, by Journal-Amart-
can-Exarr.lnar.
“Wail, anh. Ah was wakad ap by «
pow'ful D9w la da mkMla ob da
'Paahad Uka somebody most hi* (all
ddwadaataflM. Ah wai sea had cohpaa
cold. Aa’ daa Ah wait ad* llaaea aa*
llaaaa, an’ Ah daat hash nufflu’ mo*.
Daa Ah tecksas Ah battsr *rcatigata
SYNOPSIS
JaWirs Arayle, wcnlthr and aceantrle. la
found ahot dead In th« library of hla Now
Tortt home. Hla only ton, Bruce, an arl-
lat. and hla ward. MUa Mary Maauret.
are iuapocud. i
y
Airne Kayton. a detective of repute. 1a
epu
Sailed In. Kc la (riven carte blancne aa to
azpenae and told to run down the mur
derer. The library where Mr. Argyle wae
ahot la opened. X
ayaa rolled.
M Ah doqa It,'
“Did you apaak
, z . »-■
x “No, auh.** ibturaed tba old woman,
with a rioleat ahaka of her woolly
head. “Ah waaaf apaakla*; Ah was jea*
Kayton. and hla assistant. Mnnnin*. ar
rive at the Arcyle mansion.- ’They yue*-
tlon Finley, tho hutk-r, and search for
Anger j>rlnts In the hope of finding a clow.
The dytecJIVeK find* a woman's finger
prints <>u The library table. Mrs. Wyatt,
Miss Mafurot’g eompnnlon. tells Kayton
that the ylil's tnothef was a >lrs. Nellie
Marsh of Sun Francisco. y
Kayton Jearns from the servants that
Miss Masuret was awako ami about at
the time tins crime must have been com
muted. In the dead man's desk ho finds
an unusually fine counterfeit $100 bill.
Jf.
CHAPTER V. -
To Find Out the Truth.
K ayton* broke off with a nod
ns Mrs. Beakfwpardvthe cook,
tvuildlisl Into tbo room. She
Wits a round /del'd old uegress
with woolly gray hair, strong teetli.
•till white, and n uioutli of annulng
Iireadill, deptli nml t^mstrtietlon. In
build idie fidlowed the llfie of n squat
•ml laidly coustrneti'd cylinder. In
motion she resembled a venerable
tdack duck. She wore n neat blue cal
ico dress and white apron, and al»out
her head was the Inevitable kerchief
of the njigro serving womair. Hat
JIrs. 1 buturegard’* wan a. snowy white.
Kbo rolled her eyVs pondenmsly
nlsmt the room and finally brought
them to rest on the great detective,
who was surveying her critically.
"Am yOy do gpnTinnn wniMw to see
mey| she inquired h«*frvll,v, her nrmk
akimbo and otic bmnd foot advanceil.
giving her a singularly truculent fil^-
Kitty hastily run1sli«*d. and Kayton
andled uimn the old negress.
“Are you Mrs. Beauregard?” he In
quired.
f*Yes, suh. Ah am,” she replied. voW
and expression being by no means en
couraging. •‘An* All’s henh to say Ah
don’ wanna see yo\. Alfa seen nuff
o’-you p'leecemen. Ah obsnhveebry—
•bry time hnyUdn’ bad occilh* In this
henb wubld yo’ alTus trie* to put It
on to cullud folks,”
’•’How long have you lived here, Mr*.
Beauregard?” inquired Kayton cour
teously. Ignoring, the arraignment of
tbe roll<*e- S '“/S^
“ITmr' sniffed the Wok contemptii-
oosly. “How long has Ah HIhmI kenh?
Lawd o’ lot»e. Ah alius lilssl henh! Ah
Ilbed henh «l>er since Miss Mary wuxa
UT child. What bmdneM Is It o* yo’a
how long Ah lilted henh?” And ahe
glared ui*on Kayton.
“Well,” returned Kayton. “tf you’ve
lived here ao long you must have been
greatly attached to Mr. Argyle.”
The old diifrky swelled with wraths
"Don? yo’ try to wish no scandal on
put this down tn cipher,
potent
Joe stood
bto chief die
wltle pencil
tnted:
"‘Look up Mr*. \Jo|1e Maauret;
maiden name, Nellie Marsh. Died to
‘Prtaco about twenty years age.* Gyt
that off. Joe?” , _ \
•Ttie girl’s mother?” ventured the as
sistant. *
“Tee." nodded Kayton. ~l want to
know about that scandal. This thing
has happened through tbe girt some
way'or another.”'"i - ^ .
Hastening out. Manning passed Mr.
Hurley in the doorway. The lawyer
entered eagerly, stripping off bis
glares and held out a band to tlx* fa
mods detective wtih a cordial smile
cussing It uqtli me for some time, but
'we never did anything.” *|»„
"Did.you draw up tbe old ©q*?”
“No. Tlint was before my time.
Tb:»t was driwn up toy Tolwortby &
Meud.”
Kayton bad opened hia lips to ask
.-.notber questiou wbeu there calue an
interruption. Bruce Argyle burst Inti
IIte room with a new*tpu|*er tightly
clinched in his hand. He was plainly
holding himself us he greeted the d*.^
tective courteou»ly and u|*o!ogizeJ for
being late. Then be turned on the
lawyer tn a storm of wrath. x
•Look here. Hurley!” be cried.
“What do you go and give out all that
stuff to the newspapers fqp-about fa
ther's s"!ng to change hU 'will and
Argyle Indicated
wlr* right here.’
tbe desk phone.
“What did be say r
“I can’t remeini»er.” replied the
young man slowly, "except that it was
"‘be' and ’yes' and *ik>.’ I thought It
was some of his business affairs, and
be seemed to trtiut to think It over. *»
I Iqfi soon after.” ^ r,
“Wbeue did yon spend tbe night?"
shook hand*
*Tui glad 'you’ve tame In on tl»e
case." -returned ll»e, lawyer. In a sin
cere manner th.«t was in *t>ei’f n c< m
piiun-iit. "I dou't doubt you’ll c!*ir it
all up f<»r us * v /
Well. I bofa so. Mr. Hurley,” sr.b!
reed a few of the •headlines that all
phrfnly intimated the possible connec-
tl. n of .Mr. Argyle’s adopted daughter
with the Oh) milliotialrvA OMlVder.
“That’s un»|>eakabler*, he stormed.
“If Mary swa that"—
"Now,” broke, id Mr. Hurley sooth
! ingly. “why pfiy any attention to that
Kayton modi-stiy T!.-b» intertl.nugc
tf i-»;up!lu>f nt» .w.-Js the first trial of ( so: t of thhtg?”
foils- In which ers-b mau was esilmat > But- Bnice was not to lie soothed,
ing the other. (U) i eJ^h felt in the , Ijc'"'as wlirte'with anger,
tllier an antagonist. tbt>agh they werr^J ‘'It was^bad ehttugli when they in
-»n the statue side, . ^ vimiaft-d that sotiie % of fatbdr's stock
Mr. Ilurfcy f.»un ! a chair arid set i. arlict tictitns came and killed himd'
fled himself vomf* rfa’.ly f<fr a ch.it h^went <.t.. “or maybe some feUets
Kayton moved alsiut Lc* roJvin like a ; Watitet^ to malry Mary for her uu/noy
restlt s . I ird talked, I* t o
nwycr anil
.-asiorially t-y 'p'j ;m:x t’.e
flxlng tiitii '>^n t-H'a-
"I• wimxlse.” < id t’ e l “It w
I-totitle f!
“Hov/ do
tonkin*
you krow^tritat?”
Kay ten.
asked
me.” she warmnl .him “Ah wuh'n no
nto’ '•tnchesl to Mr. Argyle dan Mr
Argyle war 'tacbed tp me. Here
wall'll nobody else In dl* hcah town
could ctMik for him.” ■-/'
•’And 1 suppose you were Just as
much attached to-MIss Maxuryt?”
"Doah yo" figger yo" can make me
any nurtin* Vainst Miss Mary!" slorm-
ed Mrs. Beatiregnrd. shaking bet* fist at
him. “Come r«>uu’ henh try iii' to work
up mo’ lies 'gainst dot chile f«*‘ de news
I ten ..Vicariate Ah urns' dream
ed spine oh^t nclse. so I goes Ii.mH ..
*tcd y uuXduiir't heah nutBu n»(* till
rtmtyaflu'. An' "—she Us'k a I nu r '
breath—"If yo'll sense U)e.,bifstah, Ah'll
gq right back to iatth IgikluV Yo* ail
’ltears to fo'gct Urfl folks gotta eat.”
“All right, general." nodded Kaytou.
with « smile, tliitiMng ^f one of the
best generals lit the Confederate army
who b<ti-e the name of the old uegres^t
“gn back to your commissariat."
Mrs. Heaurcgutd bad stan«si ftp wad
die ouj, but '-(te wheeled about in war
like fashion. • . /
‘•What's dat?” she demanded.
'What’s dal y>*' sail e.ieV'’
Kayton laughed and waved Ids hand
to tier. “All tight.’Mrs. Beauregard
If 1 want you ngniu. I’ll semi for you.”
Slowly withdrawlitJr her' gaze from
his mirthful face* as I Nearing him to
<*ay anything r. ore. the coek depirted.
n~
JWO’S thtfJh
oect-pri 1.”
‘'As. f >r.
fan ii'-tanliy.
> T.: re pto ^ 1
n:!g!:t. 'j»osJdb!y Lave
sCg'-esVt'tl K;
t
Mr was a t:;If!o faket a'-.tek
t tills ssbl’♦ it <•!; tlb< : ge. lest b
tc
jdlel lintmp.’ly C’: « gh:
"Well, let c> s:*;t; o-'* tlintjhis crlm
inal ttlitali:. ! entry citki r by the con
itlvan.e of • r11> the servants or. pt-s*
silyiy. oiieeof tbetn l<-st a key or in
:•->! h; d to get him out of th5/wyyT
' at. llm-fcy. y.us've given t.l«;ni Just
v. !u«.t they wanted to l-niW'bit!”
very soiTy^'- sai l .the lawyer
. : 'v. l”it j***i^apo|ogcti<nrly. ‘‘but 1
tiWtik we bad atiy/filng to con-
. I. I take It that if wc i re* going t »
* t’a- truth "f this/mafter Wcliev'J
.- c A :r a nil hone/i. Isn't that so.
. Kfijie.l?'' , y. *
. 'ef .'arse Air Hurley," agreed
'on ie. i'lIv./iu\ 1 before Bruce
,v. opjt) up / tiMr attack ho skill.
* sh'ifu 1 t/t- gronud of the convor-
htl
S'oti understand.' Mr. Argyle." lie
wltit/Uwdty, “that yon
grumbtiug- half aloud
“Yo‘ doir’ s«h* no mo* ob d!4 jdggnh
Come ’num* lieah askin' me nfl detm
fool ?fi>estKm*,,Ah get so—do tnliiglcd
Ah don' kiM».w whoti Ah's ht. Hope !<• db
Lnwd yo’ hit <-leah out of dis house r.n!
leave his heah fambly In |-eace." /
When Mrs. Beauregard’s menadng
■M»**ie vvigv t’lat t!»e 1:» cstlgations hAve^^'' 1 '- withAlianlty. “that you are qMv
uer.xgt diseWd, He.is dUi-uvcred by !’ • hoc I, . f the family here, and the
Mt 1 . Ariylcv-who tl:r»*;Tten*» h:rt with a "c'poiiyl'c'.iity lor the success or fatly
revolver.an ! in the/<ftf.iggie that on- are*'f/t!i s Invi'stlgatlon wilf rt*st |afgc
sues the’murder reCnlt«" i.r "Hh you. I’ll havepf ask H>r yonf
Kayton s:a“c>c aiinost^ImjM'rceptibly. co^peratloa In everything, rind lit e»-
•*Aud how d y->nr tR<H>ry account l ,l /'t that you II consult with me Ik?
f nr the fact t!ir.t tl.r’iughout lids ^trng
gio—a struggle, you'll notice. In wld h ,
severa-l bhnss wi-re c.whr.tlgeil. Judg >\
ing by tl-e marks _>n the fa e -and
best |io\V «' *- y« u a is ?'mt for the t
fbat Mr Arch- made no outcry?"/
••fils order: < t-.-iv, m>f bare ls-en
‘H.-'rd."'re;>’!-‘I fIv- lawyer rea.IF.y-.
a rW>-l Kavten /
”Terr true
"Of <'oe.rs«
•t’uKargi'.vae
gr<»wl had died a if ay In thtrdepths ofjtath r a la.*-\c
the haU outklde Kayton’s eXpressjy^y
histautl
be bad
"I want to see Mis* Mtfituret," he
said, to Fbrfev ' ^
"Miss' Mary. slr'C-teturned tbe but
ler, visibly dlsBfirbed, “Is it neces
sary? C<»u!<j! Ye not let her be?" lie
orv b i bat r? -r’ :
ihe burglar raa
away.
"Yo-t r»» ennv 1
a Imrtrhir?” a
rb^o
with so.j^r lu-vi*
' •amrp^li z
1'5-^u be k
-• -at v
fltirjej/
he-
ri: bench
chtertoV
it wai*
!.i wyer
w:-s tret'.dy
There ^^:>u to
e C
* , e ; rj>^e. or
tweeg the
“b ouisuie Ka.Mon s expressjy^i j tj:itcr«* of t! - < ri:i.e tiiuldtie « h ir.'c
tly cluinged. and he l« okv*4 as if ■ ,,f *| u , „^,; v who might lu
J never sn»it«t to hhxjjt^: j t, : „i uutp’fr.'*./ X • \
“Miss Mi;zuabtT v .,*aid Kayton In
mat ter..of f,.-/ t. ;»e.
"1 Mi, it,doy‘iln't Is* ?
Iirotestcd the lawyer b
Mis* Mazuretr’
instantly. '‘It’s
I i-.xr^iiible tint a girl like her c<'u!d
wn<* almost pleading. . 1 iXi ’ . /» i .>• ,
,. , ,, , b© liiVutvqO In a thing «>f. this sort Be
“No.” h-tdied- Kayton enrtly. “Will ,
yon [dense go to her at once *nd l*dl '
her I want to see her?”
The old man sighed and shook his
head. ”1 will, sdr.” he said Hi funeieab
tones, and he slowly departed. A sec-
i skies, how was she to know tbat if he
died at that partbnlar moment site
would be the «vde heir under tbe will?”
"Oh. the will was secretT’ inquired
Kayton. '
•xpset that you’ll consult with
mo." /
ond later KPytO’i was making a swift
hut minute Inventory of the content*
of the big antbfh* desk between the
wiodowa. Manning looked up a* hi*
ohfi'Y suppressed n low exclamation
wilb a handful of envelope*, from one
of which he 'swiftly abstracted some
thing. .
“What have yon got there, gover
nor?" inquired Manning Kayton held
up a blank e»ivelo|>e
“One of these had a new flOO hill
in It."
“In the desk?" queried his assistant
IncreduJouldy. “LtNtks as if It had lK*cn
pretty well ‘lurched tm»."‘.
Kayton *!>nigged lu* shoulders and
his lip etirlod sUghtly '
“Ye*. .ItM'," he Mid gently, “by; the
police.”
Manning crlnne«r g* ho Ix’nb over
Hurley hesitated. "Well, now.
Mr. Kayfou. .I'll tell you nl>out that.’
be' said slowly. “My clW-ut, had an
Idea that I* hot uncommon among mil
lionaires. He bad nn almost morbid
fore you make any tnov© or express
any opinion or do anything that ha* a
U-nriug fin this case."/
“Certainly." returned young Argyle.
again completely/the well bred, self
contained youn/ mail. “1 understand
that Mr. Kuyfon.".
He was standing at the other window *PI >r vhen*lon of his beb* waiting to
Inherit bis estate—■ somewhat super
stitious fear, of the concentrated ex>
pectnHon* of legatees In fact, be
didn’t want any one to know who was
paiH'r*! Ah know nuff to know '•he ! band satchel and carefully
didn’t done tiuffln*."
Kayton bit Ids lip. "Young Mr. Ar
gyle," he said gravely, •'haw brought
me here to find out the truth If you
know anything that will help to clear
Miss Mnxnret yon liml better tell It.”
packed away hip treasures
’He must have been going to mall
it to somebody." he. suggested at Inst.
Kayton was examining tbe find under
a pocket magnifying'gh***.
"That’s possible.” fie muttered.
Tbe old termagant was impressed by i *'* wonder wbat st«q»pi*l him," rp' i
both words and maufior and regarded m! * r kcd ti*e otlier thoughtfully. KAr* j
him doubtfully for a moment. Then xvnH b'ldlng the other envelopes
•be wheeled heavlty'utnui tbu butler. ! ,l B ^ 1 ono nnotfher. In
“Is dl* heah loan-lyin' to me?" she
demanded fiercely.
F'lnley sbiKtk tils b|nd. "There’s
tricks in all trades. Mr*. Beauregard.
but I’m thlnkin' the truth can’t hurt
Miss Mary. So whatever ye know ye’d
best tell ’Im.”
Kayton nodded. "Weli, what do you
know?"
"Ah know.” .declared the cook defiant
Ij. “Ml** Mary hadn't nufllu’ to do wl*
dat ’sassination. ‘cause she was on de
uppuh Holt a fide time " % y
"How do you. know that?" asked
Kayton. /
“'Cause Ah done see her dere.”
“Where were you?" y ,
"Ah was CnitidiQ' up flem kitchen
staihs, an' deh was a light up deb, an*
Ah look ifpitn’ Ah see her"
"What brought you upstairs?"
t /\ ■. .. s.'&pyy'' ■
“Oh, it couldn't b* Miss Maxurot.”
II, «•><»<« «U w«M, ^ 1H . m ^ w , j„ th |b ,
. pt-rtW-t* Imitation Uni,., l,ro k n.« d „ r ll(l , „
r*'i»llcii:
/ CHARTER VI.
, Mary Marurot. •
. Ilt'IM.EY threw a swift
glance fit tfu* detective's itn-
pussive fue ns If to see
what hbiilctt meaning lay
lia< k of this la>t speech, but he made
no comment.
"You were tiie last |>er*ou known fo
tic with your father on the night of
his death.'' pursue-1 Kay too gravely. ^
The Hew herfd of the family lofiked
ver>' serious "Yes, that's true." he
said; "1 was 1 had dinner with Mary
aud him."
“Vyas tliat tinnsnai?" inquired the de
tective.
Tlic young man hesitated a bare in
stant "Weil, you know. I suiqtose that
father intd I didn't lot it off any too
' weji together.” lie replied uncomforta
bly "You si*-, lie was tl:. ( kind of a
mnn—ho couldn't stand any one around
who wanted to da any thinking .for
himself lie had his own ideas about
things, and if you stood up against
them there was trouble all along the
line. I broke away—abrfut a year ago
—when’’—lie hesitated again in some
qmHurrassment—"w hen he objected to
ye
, ‘ . y plated rtdnstatiug his sou. he was par- lf au " irrjssu, *' , H wix-ti ne objectcsl to
"If ye knew hat -bad yer supper l||Nijitt . !f| ou ^ v Vhe m - T trying ,Allss T hom, V on. aud
U«»«w an obsession, you under-! Mary h;l « P*' n evrr since to
Manning laughed and. righting the ^.,,1,1'.''
■ table. pai*fx>d ft back to the center of ' ,, , » .. .
the r.K>m,4nd replaced cover and ..M,' 'T, ‘ flC , ,,0n kno1 *
/^ * that he had Ikh'u disinherited?
bring ns together That
to
night"-his
l took*
voice trembled >ligbtly-"that night we
had fl fine time Hite was ns hnp[iy ns
M . "I doubt it." replh'd Mr Hurlev ' 0011,11 ,>e fllH,ut ,t ' n ‘"»
r ’ he -- "hatJf you allow for this apprehen-’ I 1 W<>r ‘‘ 0,1 KO ‘" 1 Uiru,s np,in S, ' t * w * nt
"t'.ve got all these, governor,
saw Kayfou nodded. , .
e.Ej ~ . . . nion of Tir clK k ut h he ^oultl b ivt* t'Oti-
44 Bettor Htsirt now with the nercant* „ * #i * # u l . * . «<h:ivo n t:i!U •'
Oncer nrlnt* • Joe tSet ‘-ch hands 1 11 a ProtectionJKt hiurC^ V. " . ,
finger prints, .Joe W ,o.h sH f bT have hts son tlbuk that he warL K . a . Jt ' m ", f; '
ta her room early and left us here to
What is It. Finley?"
"“Mr '"lluriev's"' here «ir" ^dNinhcrthvl -When I mentioned that “ othJu * ^ *“■' impression he
b„tw i Mr AWie »bout tfi make a new hnVe f ,n ^ 1 ; ru "‘ this » r «le tale. ^
!.[ x !r .! h ^ d . v . . . *wiU at the time of his death it never ~ ,>l1 * t,Hr fa,,u * r "J
,k 0 .na^..ul Ur ' ,l, ' em * n fur “ lament oeobrred to me that a ht ' a»ke<t Bruce tboi
ice lietrayed absolutely
any 'Impression he may
ed the detective
“I’m goin’ to her now, sir."
“Well, don't delay any longer.” or
dered Kayton. with a touch of stern
suspicion might Ik* construed agninst • * tr 8 UM,In * [, t :ir> d repllevl:
& * ft mm — ■ ' * 1 W A i V 0,1 ftft P AI • ■ t x I, « . a m
about
thought
Miss Martinet- . Dut," he shook hi*
He had a telephone call that dis-
Mrs Beauregard gathered up huge “Tell Mr. Hurley to come In.
handfuls of her apron and rolled her J *i? " he tyenl on rapidly as Finley left
•yes. swallowing visibly before she “F p t nu t Four pad. 1 want to send a
"Were you goiqg to draw up the
wfll?" Interrupted Kayton.
telesmu! M lb, ta. rmdMft oScft STSm a™ 1
lie;’d, ’‘when you*coma to construe mo- ^‘ In * K°ed deal while I was
tlves”-^ a bere • ' ,
“WbaVtime was It?"
“Why. about 10."
elMd he receive It himself?"
"Yes; be was called on his private
Inquired tbe detective.
“In my studio, where I live."/
“How.dld you get tbere—a Hixl?”
“No; 1 walked."
“When did it begin tai’nln?"
"Haln!” echoed Argyle. “I didn’t
know It did ralh." * •
"DUI any our see you CO * n *° yo ,,r
sftidlor W
replied the
tbe head
^UuoA morning. Mr. Kayton." he ,[ tr t them: up with all this rot about . ’ 1 k „ 0 iv of" rent
«" Mr- Hurl,,-llr | Mjir>? WL.,.- all IbM, mm** .fa ■£* ™ , baM J,
Argjles lawyer. — jkw* a re full of the meanest of stalm _ * . #
"Yes." sal ! Koyti n quietly, 'as he [.oak at tliis!” And he proceeded to “• ’* .
••ru^gkid to meet you.
tba lAwyur with a glare. "You
give tbla to the papers. God k
what they’d make of It! TbeyM !.
Maty op there juat waiting to' -
“Now, my dear fellow, don't u-
aurd!" Interrupted the lawyer t«'-
tbat strikes me as 1.
ifleant Is the teteplione n.---
T you thlok so, Mr. Kaytou?
Kaytou faced about on him.
“What do you see significant in it
he inquired brusquely. -
Mr.TIurlety fidgeted slightly. [[.,
pot like tbe way lu which hU \\«
Were caught up every Uu»e. e -
"Well, now, 1T1 tell you nbotitMl, ■
be declared. "You see. the per-c: ■
culled him up'must have k:.-. t
private telephone number. That -
Indicate some o’ne who was f.y ; r
with the house and"—'
“Yes?” s«id Kayton iPCOuf .
as the lawyer paused.
“And the fact that he was dlM
by tbe message,-but said uotbi: .
"Whst do you soe significant
in it
Hurley Threw a Swift Glance at ths
Detective’s Impsssive Face.
“Any one drop in ou you during the
evening?" / -v i --,.
’•No."
Kayton strUlicI the floor gravely for
a moment aud thfin asked:
“Is there any one in the surrounding
apartments* that could have seen you
or your light?"
♦’Well.'’ said Argyle doubt fully, “yon
know I have the rear of a top floor lu
an old Twenty third street house with
a skylight.”
•‘IlhUTLyou hear the rain on your
skylight?"'demanded Kaytou swiftly.
"I tell yurt I didn't.Jrtiow it rained.”
declared the young mau. with some
l>eevisliHess. 'J'be be^t m-rves and
cleanest cmeselence feel the effeid of
tl.is/aort of an examlnallotk “I ^o to
he ex[dulut'd, “iiMd I get
ns there's light enotigh to
bed early,” ht
yt|i a* soon ns
, work."
“Mr. Kayton." interposed the lawyer,
"do you see anything significant, lu
that telephone message?”
Kaytou stared at the lawyer for a
moment or two as If he bad never seen
him liefore. Ills abstraction seemed
complete. Thou his eye's slowly re*
turned to Argyle’s and he said slowly;
"Then you don’t know of any way in
width you cun. corrolHirafe your state*
rn’enf that you left here nhunt 10 o'clock
and spent the rest of the night in your
studio?"
Bruce wns silent, and Kaytou waited.
"No—no. I don’t,” said the young man
in a low ro:<e. “
"Nobody^saw you. you think-nobody
saw yon leave here?"
Again there was the barest hesita
tion and the low voice.
"No— no."
You■ didn't see l-'inley?'” Knyton’s
e.\c* were on t!ie yqnug man's face
wlih piercing keenness, as'if to read
unspoken answers. , yT
"No. I di<hi't see l-’inley at all." This
■answer c:uue s"iftly.ta^-the detective
exjKf. twl it would He shrugged his
shoulders and half fumed away.
"Mr. Argyle." J* said s ooldty. "I don’t
want lo be put m tbe iH»sltlon of cross-
exandidng you. ff you are not going
to give 1 we yocr confidence It would be
belter for nVe to drop the whole mat
ter rlghf lore " „
/ Argyle fir.shcd slightlv and his eyes
shift **l.
"Well-1"— he liegan.
"As a matter of fact." broke In Kay
ton abruptly, - just who was it that
you thought you saw?"
Argyte’s Uneasiness increased. "Well,
I don't want lo say that I saw any
one." he said reluctantly.
“?ou understand." said Kayton. with
a stern frown. "Hint it might be very
lmi>ortant that some one should have
seen you leave this house."
"Oh-1 see—well.” the young man
declared urtb the alf of a man doing
extremely unjflcnsatit duty. "1
nu
thought as I was going out that I saw
so met tody looking over the banister
rail:'’ '
sup-
"Wlint made you look up at the ban
ister rail?" demanded Kayton,
pressing any trace of elution.
"I suppose I must hnrv© heard some
thing. 1 conceded Argyle grrtdglngljb
"Uas It Miss Mnzuret?" Vh* q'lea-
tlon was almost n criuimand
The young man rtiuced "It might
have U'en one of the maids." he par
ried
Why .didn't you speak to her?"
’I wasn't sure—and she drew beck
Look here. Hurley!" He wheeled on
might argue tint it was
known to him yvlio wits la » po-.
to annoy him—possibly an old -H-n..
Kaytou' made no lomment on t
theory.
"Had he any business enemies?"
Inquired. ^ ^
"Well, now," began tlio lawyer a.
and Kayton made a movement o:
patience, .^1’lI tel! you about 1
Yon understand, of enure**, th .t ,
only recently been flssoci’.tcd
Mr. Argyle. and lie didn't coasujt
about everything, but mtlurujly .1
of his many Interests'must ^huve
entndes." jT, ^ . . I
Bruce hud been- walking
nbout the room wbife tliis con - >:
tion took'[dace, and be now came :
ward. '
yMr. Kayton." he said de' : pcrat<
“you may not be Tilde tn. prv'e '■
did this. We'll be satisfied If y
only prove, that Miss Ma zuret^d id n't
••AVell.’’ replied the detective gr t-
ly. "the Ih'sj .way to prove who did:
kill your father Is to prove who <
kill him. Is this Miss Mazuret?"
A tall. sJendtM- girl with great mas,
.of deep browii hair and great Ta:
wMous eyes came slowly into the re
Her cleanly cut, oval face was as w h
tts her JK'gllgve gow'n, and she w,
plainly struggling to keep her cyti.i
sure.
“Ye*.”, she an id. “Mr. Karton?”
“Yes," he rvplie<l with a bow Bru
went swiftly to her and frt:t ids at
about her.
“You oughtn’t to be down he:
Mary.” he repronetied tenderly, wi
tbe air of an affectionate I ig bn>t!n
"There’s no need for it. You look a
fully IIl,“Mrfry. It’s too much for n
IMense go back.” ,
"I sent for Miss Mazuret.” Intcri
ed, Kayton quietly, his gaze ou t
girl’s pale face.
“But, Mr. Kayton," protested Bn:
“you don't understand. It's to * n
to ask her to come down here. It's 1!
first time tbe room has been ojci-
sinvi'"— * I
"No. no. Bruce." the girl Intcrrapa
gently' "it’s all right uaw, |>k-.i>' !"
"I should like to have u talk v..
Miss Muxuret alone if you don't uiii.ti
said Kayton in the same quiet ! <
addressing the two men. But yo"
Argyle wrts In o[»en rebellion. *
"She's had enough Jo bear:" ll" !
clarinl augrflf. ‘Tm’ not going t<> 1.
tier put through any tidr.I degrce! > *
The d('te<‘tlve'sdips. came togetlicr
a razorlike line.
“Just a moment. Mr. Argyle.”
said Icily. “Before we go any. f'irtT
with -thliyTnvestlgMtlon I w;.at y-'n
tmlerstand clearly that I am in -
charge of It.” T ^
‘This is nonsense. Brinv!” esc!, it
ed Mr. Hurley, coming tor ward. ' Y
Kayton has got .to question Mb* M
r**t If he’s going to l>e of any itc^;
Iht or to us. Come along wMi me
Blit rtie yoqng man refused to I t !-'
’ “Mary, don’t yoji want roe to s’
here with you?” be asked The s
took his arm anil gently pushed k:
towanl the (^H»r.
“No. no; Thank yon. Bruce.” six* r
piled steadily. ‘‘It’s all right; b*«^
F°- ,
He led her to a chair nriri made t
slt lu it fttnl then reluctantly ab 1 "
Burley to lead him out.
Kayton sighed wearily, drew
chair near to the girl's and sat d<’"i.
“Miss *Mazuret.” he said gee: y •
bis most courteous manner. ”1 can
d era land that this affair has ITc n
great shock to yon. And you feel ?!•
loss of Mr. Argyle probably more tl :
•ny one. I don’t need to say that