Page:The achievements of Luther Trant - Balmer and MacHarg - 1910.djvu/118

96 They could then be seen only through the drop-window. This window worked like the shutter of a camera, and was so controlled that it could be set to remain open for a fixed time, in seconds or parts of a second, after which it closed automatically. As Trant set this up and tested the shutter, the maid and chauffeur came to the door of the library. Trant admitted the girl and shut the door.

"On Tuesday afternoon," he said to her, kindly, "was Mrs. Eldredge excited—very much excited—before you came to the place where the machine broke down, and before she saw the woman who took Edward away?"

"Yes, sir," the girl answered. "She was more excited than I'd seen her ever before, all the afternoon, from the time we started."

The young psychologist then admitted the chauffeur, and repeated his question.

"She was most nervous, yes, sir; and excited, sir, from the very first," the chauffeur answered.

"That is all," said Trant, suddenly dismissing both, then turning without expression to Eldredge. "If Miss Hendricks is here I will examine her at once."

Eldredge went out, and returned with the little old maid. Miss Hendricks had a high-bred, refined and delicate face; and a sweet, though rather loquacious, manner. She acknowledged the introduction to Trant with old-fashioned formality.

"Please sit down, Miss Hendricks," said Trant, motioning her to a chair facing the drop-window of the exposure box. "This little window will open and stand open an instant. I want you to look in and read