Show j i H INT IN- IN I F 1 i. i T I 1 j j 21 j I Ij Ct f r. r I H 1 r. r e 1 l' l i p CA' CA rn W ICE C CHAPTER PTER ER XI Continued XI-Continued Continued 17 iJ One Oue De m minute ute please Miss Gros Grosven Grosven- enOne en- en I a interrupted Mr ur Almy Alroy my tit J ur c in business here was W was not sin sin 5 vu would be he hn have e h had nom d t to make muke k tel II How goo On for fora or a short trip tr trip I p para i ara a He Be was studying Spanish he had lesson every day duy But nut he saM too readily 1 that I that be he feltre felt l 3 ore re he could go and he and m in m. n Mather exchanged such a 0 queer r yol L. L they ne never er knew I 1 saw It It they 00 ab absorbed orbed In themselves es Pu Ru PuIt Rui so st i titre tre E It k was 5 pIs-In pIs plain that they understood tiC bother other about some secret M M. had shown no spec special I n J in- in n. n tart lerest In the notice about the auction Con tion eon until lg Notes was m men mentioned n. n and then so much and suet surl Q germination to conceal It from rom ne me rut th Hut t I r felt elt there was something strange grange Involved Ired something e eQi I j at e that the other two didn't want Qi nl ie teto to suspect E J. J Well I r was roused I wondered If It G things th Bs were iere po possibly sibly shaping to give gl ce re e a chance to find out about the 1 i t which had bad always surrounded i nj I parentage you know I had never nC tea l told anything about my father r i mother mother- a By Tj your four grandfather asked Mr tr I J Y tx i f or by Charles answered Jull Julia td I r always thought th be he must have ho hoel haver r l biown something about them Bes Be's Hesi I i enough older than I r am nm to remember r tr a ir n orto to have bare picked up something about nhom oy DJ cy mother t Do you IOU know how old you were I Then den she Elie he died f Four Foor months old I 1 was told the j bj by an old colored nurse of mine rho iho bad been In tn the family for dec dee I J 1 ides its and who had hod waited on m my y Bother iother she be also said sold my mother II 31 died of tuberculosis She took care s of f me only when I r was very ery tiny toy for t 4 I l e e was iras sent home to Virginia f for far r log me as much as that My sus su t dons loons about the book were nothing 1 cl suspicions yet I 1 was so distressed e c i ed d cased that I r Just made up my myn j n to go o to Richmond myself tt d it lOOk tok at that book b and anel see what va WH j 3 M Interesting a about It I IH 11 tl iSo So I went I 1 wanted to n av avoid td r r Charles so I decided not to go to 1 i. i hut but to the exhibition room K tr t rj in the day And there h si log leg I nearly Dearly ran straight Into him J 1 1 Gracious I was frightened 1 J B Bit BitI JT it ci tere ere was a 8 large larte showcase shown e not arra fir ar ra rom m where he was standing beside y to he counter so I r waited behind Ua I he should leave I saw sow bIm Z king ng at a n book very ery carefully 1 5 tot of nf course see what b bok buk ok Ii J fas Ras but I watched him close closely d 4 I saw him trying to pry p. rc plate off with his nn finger er nail od then Ihen I h beard card him order the theto therk t err rk to take toke a bid from him for fo o 68 I Notes otes P up to five fi hundred l b llan m. m for he said he couldn't nt at- ii Dd the auction Ib I. or at wag eras curious after he iri fJ D especially to accommodate dirt n date yomi yom r i remarked Mr A Ahoy liny E. E oi ot at all If It you pu knew him turn lid suld oil la Ia a j coolly He lie has many fanny friends friend IP 1 x l 1 l. l a torte S Swant social olal cI circle g a didn't want to go o down solely on c of f that hook honk I 1 n assure yon g 11 td d five fhe hundred hun dollars I Judi n aim tr what hat little WI I know about some It the Hie prices my mv paid similar I hook honks It wilsn t worth wurth oar aired He lie ml rain might ht w well 11 have hn been e e he Would pet Jet It IL Then he went I 1 n d I neon ent r and asked ked o fn for 1 bh to examine It It And Ami t. t t when I cot gm ItI It mot OS' OS t tainted it I didn't hove have a n real rent J n ID It at all ull Ji I S I 1 I. I It lt had n a drawing b that 31 deceive almost olmos' nn anybody undy hut hilt an nn ana I II I was tas J a n wonderfully skillful piece I Fork r. r said Julia Julin M It seemed scented ver er in Pe age to t DIe ale that mt anyone eme ne would uld P e a n H drawn hag unless s for fur fora e p t Rss a hock in eVent perhaps erns nt to o the tine il r i ch metal plate from I o the regular t it were g rev ell ed I wo what there nn t a nu Out t that i very ery queer beer r bookplate rn j mae maeco Ide my s two relatives noxious co o meal eal s so sn It Med e rom m inc me I W S r ii s- s I. I li 1111 I h I 1 I an un Idea what to do du heard ard It a yn olee ice Ic-e mI d k i k asking for ing that v ty Wit d It It ft n tens Mr Jr R s n s I rero a at t rf cr lId Wi I n the auction n It gave eave ne ce Urles Ott c e wasn't n t gu going I n to tn tho thu sate Bale o c. c r k k 01 I Ie el c's cs Bt u ulIS tits as Interested In the their th then ir n mm and n T 1 i C t to t th there re resl resolved rut to ru toW W t J ll t son sonic SOllie e In n the faint hope 0 pe 1 l 1 it that n 0 De nIght out outbid hid h S K-'S s. s spy v o U It tt eu NII C. I r resolved ed S hed to lu find fin out 6 v n vas nag CI nd keep J k track of ot thela the Until Unu I la Jf Ih ith I I 1 could of either elther her learn leum they the rhe r y t f 1 If It f I ci IUt t It Or perhaps even buy St tl I Tf I 1 uc succeeded In I gettin s n lr n ce or of t felt sure flUte rd It l I into Hi little Jule He HeC C t t tell Ter Over er seeing II n I 0 1 t iru how his hlf ann and P I 1 rf ers me met I hf t e 11 Ci flon t 07 strY yon Sort for or M Mr r w 04 t Col 01 the hu l IT t r Y S clear u Interesting account of your experiences es Miss Iss 0 Gros Grosvenor enor said Mr AI Almy my Im I m much obliged ed to tot ou and I 1 sha n t trouble e YOU f t today If I can hel help It use YOUr telephone May I just Js n a moment i It f please you 00 The door closed on him MY M y real chance to speak to Julia Jua G a Grosvenor roS roSeno eno had come at ot last Yes I said quietly v p Peter eter B r B-r ton got that b book 00 k and I know w why hY and s so d do o you It was for your sae It w was to O help you out ont of a n difficulty t h he didn didn't e t understand at nt all nIJ He did aid t out ut o of f pure chivalry because e u ue ut knew you were In great need of Just that service You can cnn see he be h b has as n not nt 1 t ti i 4 r I I c I f i ir j r t 1 tI 1 sc r rCharles Charles Stood Before Us broadcast his bis deed either Mr Almy source of Information about Rich mond Is the clerk from the galleries And e ever er since that purchase Pete has hns been In no nC end of ot hot bot water Julia groaned moved groaned moved Indeed far tar beyond what I 1 had expected What has hos happened she gasp C a. a Mr Darrow was furious over o the price to begin with Peter Burton bore the blame In silence The legal legai society which had hod ordered the bookfor bookfor book bookfor book book- for which Peter ostensibly bought II t then then refused It Then your recognition of him In the shop on Mon Monday Monday day caused a n great grent deal of comment which he entirely Ignored He is not In the hest best of ot spirits but If It I know Peter Burton Burton I I have hn known him seven years he years he Is seeing this thing through h without flinching So I cant can't help hoping you'll finish your story Miss Gros Grosvenor enor teil us oJ all you know about the m mystery tery surrounding your grandfathers grandfather's death clear yourself of suspicion for suspicion does hang hangover hangover over o you Oh dont don't make a po poor r return return re re- turn for the unswerving ln confidence shown In to you ou by this week weel of silence and suffering 1 Julias Julia's face acc was blanched ner net breath came carne In gasps At first s RI I. I could not speak when she fin finally 11 II raised her e eyes es from the floor trey were again full ull of tears Oh she whispered huskily but you ou dont don't know how poor my best hesT return return re reo re- re turn would he he he- She was Int Interrupted A latch lath k key y Sounded d In the front door dor Churles Charles Macivor stood before us But before he could speak Mr I t f rl w.- w. tu 22 22 t UH Z 22 Z U U Almy had bad stepped back I Into So Mr r. r the room no 0 PP o on taking me In b hart tJ i I to cc nt on on the th presence In n hIs had ord ordered ered house bouse ot 01 one fie f out of It th the e previous pre e e evening g though from he w was ns his oTi not pleased ilia g r ew ver very but Mr Almy self placid non self possessed possessed Inquired politely what was Wonted wanted II 1 came to see my cousin on pp otters said MacIvor By W which II h y 1 c Mr Almy Aimy 1 responded yoU mean menn that hat bookplate bool YOU out of look nt at It Notes There Tere it It i. i Is a Taken aback ns as M or Macl was by bv bye this une unexpected answer he could nt I restrain e ra his bis eagerness to see t tie thE bookplate QI He lie He snatched it Iy Y from the e other ther mans man's an and 1 like e Julio Julia the turned It II over over- only t to o s set blank back In stupefaction h tit ho stared at nt it fully half a minute minu te tI t n 11 nn turned o on n his hs cousin white with h ru race rase c and to badly frightened but attempting conceal his fright under bluster r. r Thou Thought r J ht you'd g get et gal ahead lead of me gain again did you I III dont don't know what you m mean pan n Charles said Julia Jolla Likely story st I J Got the bookplate through your new confidante MI Mh Fuller did you I dont don't think you'd arouse a all he sympathies If It you toll toH 11 her your whole story Miss Fuller brought me the boik bolk Plate because she he knew I had hod an In In- terest in n It It It cried Julia Julin aroused 1 II I I have hn as ns much right to It as ns you have I ICharles Charles opened his eyes As much 1 he echoed a a at much He looked at ot her had ha-d studying her Row How much Is that 7 t She looked back at him innocently Innocent innocent- iy ly I know you and grandfather both wanted that book Clarihew's Notes tes she said maid quietly and lIand I 1 know I wasn't allowed to go and get Pt It It SC so I suspect that there may mav h he something about It It you dont don't want want me to know What Her natural natura sincerity gave e her away I III dont don't know l she admitted You Yon dont don't v 1 repeated Charley Charles triumphantly You just Implied d It was the bo Be careful Julia youre you're stumbling What was It about the bookplate hOf that Interested you 1 I felt he was testing her to see ee how much she know w. w I glanced at nt Mr Almy Imploring him silently to stop the questioning hut but he did not see Eee me Julia looked at Dt her cousin af at- fronted Perhaps U it was the same thing that Interested you when you tried to pry It off the cover In the exhibition room at nt Richmond 1 1 sh sh flung at al him Be almost sprang ng out of of n a sent You were there here were you he cried crier Spying on me I III have e as us much right In any exhibition exhibition ex ex- ex room as any anyone one 1 cried Julia Dont dare speak to me that way woy J Why were you yon so Interested Interest d In Inthe Inthe inthe the bookplate yourself You ever e er know that 1 Jt sneered her cousin And OlAnd a n lot of good the bookplate has bas done you hasn't It Keep It I He gave It one final appraising ap praising g glance and flun flung It on the table roble I 1 will keep It It returned Julia calmly or rather Miss Fuller will She has charge chorge of ot It It And she banded banded band band- ed It to me His suspicions blazed up again Youve ou e been to toe me That Tho t bookplates bookplate's not all there The Idea Ideo of If pretending you dont don't know what Im I'm talking about 1 JIt II If If said sold Julia Julin reflectively taking nJ all our circumstances Into part of the bookplate Is not Dot there according to your our Judgment and und If there Is something secret It which I l must not know because It would he to my ray advantage sod and against yours I 1 guess that you wc were re expecting to find down at ot I some document which would give gl rn rno me mea a o right to part of the estate So this is why wily e you lJ been ln In cah cahoots with all that gang bang at nt Pv Ira 1 1 rows row's rowS row'S Burton and his sister and M woman oma n Anybody else he stormed d. d I III haven't ha an nn Idea Iden what you mean menn I cried Julia Julin Youve e been working wurl against ire after the special kindness I showed you yea u I t The emi emphasis halls In his wnM- wnM was deadly Julia Julin gave go a start arid and I n y 1 1 f frightened but did not reply Mr Jr Almy however er broke promptly in Special kindness Since It suite suit your taste to refer to such a thin think you'll not mind saying If you ou mean menn that trip you made to Darrows Darrow's Oar Dar rows row's Thursday night Charles sprang from hip hie chair That d d-d d d sneak Case Cose Casel J be bt shouted So hes he's a friend of ot yours youn too Is he Julia He certainly 19 Ie-a Ie a good one J I cried Julia outraged You shant shan't speak so of hIm himl J 1 Ele le was here bere today todo- to offer me the aid refused me r bythe by y the men of f my own family and family and he a stranger I He lie said he knew you had seen you ou off oft and ond on all nil your life i he warned me against you I And he be did right I 1 Ilie lie tie warned you against me did he And he told the police I broke Into Darrows Darrow's late Inte at night to steal I 1 suppose by hy way of ot helping you No Interposed Mr Almy suavely suave ly Iy Mr Case did not mention the cI circumstance mst 0 nee or turned violently on his bis cousin Then you did I Youre You're the one p person person per per- r son who knew I was going and you knew well why J For your own safety you CU try to betray me do you I Charles Chorles Julia Julin denied I 1 did not cot say one word about It J Do liDo you expect me to believe that Who did then 1 did said 1 boldly III I 1 saw sow you yoo youat youat at nt my desk from where I 1 was standIng standIng stand stand- Ing lag In the north gallery I IThen Then Its It's a conspiracy against me In behalf of you Is It shouted the Infuriated to tC his cousin II Very ery well Yell then Its It's its time for me to explain why I 1 went to Darrows Heres Here's the reason renson 1 Heedless of her cry of ot her hand hondo stretched out to stop him he be dashed to the rear of the room threw open one of the glass glass bookcases and snatched a 0 sma small object from a n lower shelf what 1 went to get 1 he be cried and flun flung It on the table while Julia Julio overcome by his bis fury sank back and covered ered her ber face with her hands Mr Almy picked up the small ob jest It was a n shaped cube brass bross box the bases of which were about an on Inch and a half square He revolved re It slowly In his hand and we could see It from every angle From the top protruded a n thick black metal shaft nearly an nn Inch in length out of ot a wide slot about half holf the length of the I base bose Beside this shaft In tn the very center of the top was a flat flot black screw that stood od out perhaps a 8 quarter quarter ter of an nn Inch on the round base of Its awn awu sunk Into the box On the side ide of the box just below the shaft was a small black lever ever protecting projecting from a small slot siN And on the bottom hot bot tom as ns he slowly turned It toward me I saw saw saw-a a pattern of ot slots sluts which I 1 Instantly recognized 1 Straight across the bottom base they ron ran ran In Just the formation I r had seen elsewhere clinching for me that conviction con which had hod Instantly sprung to my ray raymind I mind as ns Mr Almy Alray picked up the |