Page:More lives than one.djvu/86

 When you hid in the closet what were you afraid of?”

“N-nothing in especial—but all the horrid things—the policeman, the dead woman”

“Had you seen the dead woman?” Hutchins shot this out, suddenly, and Pearl Jane gave a little scream.

“No, oh, no, I hadn’t seen her.”

“Yes, you had seen her. You had leaned down and looked at her—and, in doing so you touched her—and you made a stain of blood on the sleeve of your Dutch costume.”

To his surprise she suddenly changed her whole attitude. She sat up straight and seemed possessed of a new spirit of bravado.

“I didn’t do any such thing!” she said, and Kate chimed in with, “Of course she didn’t.”

“May I see the frock?” Hutchins asked, calmly.

“Certainly,” said Kate, and she left the room.

Hutchins took quick advantage.

“Miss Cutler,” he said, softly, “trust in me. Truly, it is the best and wisest course. I will help you all I can—and I’m sure you have nothing of any moment to confess.”

“Oh, I have! I have!” she moaned, and then Kate returned, and defiantly handed the pretty little costume to the detective.

Remembering just where he had seen the stain on the sleeve, he turned to it, but there was none there.

“You see!” cried Kate in triumph.

“Yes, I see,” he returned, “and so can you, the place where it has been washed out. You can see clearly the mark made by the water or whatever was used to cleanse it.”

“Nonsense,” said Kate, airily, “that’s where Miss Cutler chanced to stain her dress while eating a little supper