The Argosy, August 1905 — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Slr enn ee 156 THE ARGOSY. “No,” she answered; “I have never seen it before.” CHAPTER XI. TWO STARTLING SURPRISES. Wren Effie Hilton declared that the handkerchief was not hers, her denial somewhat staggered Professor Starling. Of course it was hardly to be ex- pected that the girl would freely admit that the handkerchief belonged to her when she must have known what such an admission would imply. There was so much earnestness Mm Effie’s manner, however, when she made her denial, and she had such an air of telling the truth as well as of being in ignorance of the significance of the question, that the professor experienced a sharp pang of disappointment. If she had stammered out a wild, pas- sionate denial—if she had shown the slightest evidences of confusion or had launched into yehement, exaggerated protestations of innocenece—he would have been sure that his chain of eyi- dence had led him aright; but the coolness and sincerity of Effie’s manner made him begin to doubt his ground. “Bither the girl is the cleverest actress and the most treacherous and heartless woman I have ever met,” he said to himself, “or I have been mis- taken in suspecting her in this affair. In that event, who was the woman who did this thing? The only answer that suggests itself is the actress who, Effie says, Was engaged to marry poor Stan- ton. I must learn more about this actress as soon as possible.” He turned to Effie a trifle uneasily. *“ Miss Hilton,” he said, “ would you forgive me if I asked you rather an im- pertinent question? ” “Have not most of your questions so far been more or less on the verge of the impertinent? ” suggested Effie, with the shadow of a smile on her lips. “YT want to ask you about your quar- rel with young Stanton.” Effie started from her seat as if she had been shot. “My quarrel with Stanton! Who old you of that?” she cried, white « | ei “v Yah, “ Neyer mind who told me. I know of it. I know that you quarreled with him the day he died and that he told you he was going to marry an actress, and left you very angry as a consequence.” * You are mistaken, sir, in that last respect. Young Stanton’s plans were of the utmost indifference to me.” “ He would have married you, though, if this actress had not -interyened to claim his affections?” suggested the professor mercilessly. * You are a little wrong there,” said the girl haughtily. “He might have wished to marry me, but I should never have consented to marry him.” “Because I did not love him and I did love—somebody else.” ** But, love apart, you would have ob- tained his uncle’s fortune by marrying him. He and you both knew that.” “Your words have ceased to be merely impertinent, sir; they are down- right insulting.” ‘““T must ask your pardon if they have become so, Miss Hilton,” said the pro- fessor, “‘ but I am acting in the interest of one who is dear to both of us. I am trying to clear Bob Courtney of this murder charge and place this crime where it belongs.” “Then why do you come to me? How can] help you? I wish that I could.” Professor Starling hesitated for a second and his face turned _a trifle paler. Then he said firmly, looking the girl straight in the eyes: “ Beeause the strongest of evidence now in my possession shows that this murder was committed by a woman; because, moreover, this woman _ is known to have used Jockey Club per- fume and to have been aequainted with the undergraduates of Old Orange; because this woman was the owner of this lace handkerchief.” The professor stopped, for Effie had risen and stood facing him indignantly. “No need to go on, professor,” she said icily. “ You think that I murdered poor Arthur Stanton, do you not?” ‘Lhere was just the suspicion of tears in her eyes, but her voice was firm. The pacieeve: delt- very mncant ‘be comicbooks.com