rner herself is an ex…convict； and she's just been arrested for murder。〃
At the dread word； a startling change was wrought in the girl。 She wheeled to face the Inspector； her slender body swaying a little toward him。 The rather heavy brows were lifted slightly in a disbelieving stare。 The red lips were parted； rounded to a tremulous horror。
〃Murder！〃 she gasped； and then was silent。
〃Yes；〃 Burke went on； wholly at ease now； since he had broken the ice thus effectually。 〃You see； if there's a mistake about you； you don't want it to go any further not a mite further； that's sure。 So； you see； now； that's one of the reasons why I must know just who you are。〃 Then； in his turn； Burke put the query that the girl had put to him a little while before。 〃You see that； don't you？〃
〃Oh； yes； yes！〃 was the instant agreement。 〃You should have told me all about this horrid thing in the first place。〃 Now； the girl's manner was transformed。 She smiled wistfully on the Inspector； and the glance of the blue eyes was very kind； subtly alluring。 Yet in this unbending； there appeared even more decisively than hitherto the fine qualities in bearing of one delicately nurtured。 She sank down in a chair by the desk； and forthwith spoke with a simplicity that in itself was somehow peculiarly potent in its effect on the official who gave attentive ear。
〃My name is Helen Travers West；〃 she announced。
Burke started a little in his seat； and regarded the speaker with a new deference as he heard that name uttered。
〃Not the daughter of the railway president？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes；〃 the girl admitted。 Then； anew； she displayed a serious agitation over the thought of any possible publicity in this affair。
〃Oh； please； don't tell any one；〃 she begged prettily。 The blue eyes were very imploring； beguiling； too。 The timid smile that wreathed the tiny mouth was marvelously winning。 The neatly gloved little hands were held outstretched； clasped in supplication。 〃Surely； sir； you see now quite plainly why it must never be known by any one in all the wide； wide world that I have ever been brought to this perfectly dreadful placethough you have been quite nice！〃 Her voice dropped to a note of musical prayerfulness。 The words were spoken very softly and very slowly； with intonations difficult for a man to deny。 〃Please let me go home。〃 She plucked a minute handkerchief from her handbag； put it to her eyes； and began to sob quietly。
The burly Inspector of Police was moved to quick sympathy。 Really； when all was said and done； it was a shame that one like her should by some freak of fate have become involved in the sordid； vicious things that his profession made it obligatory on him to investigate。 There was a considerable hint of the paternal in his air as he made an attempt to offer consolation to the afflicted damsel。
〃That's all right； little lady；〃 he exclaimed cheerfully。 〃Now； don't you be worriednot a little bit。 Take it from me； Miss West。。。。 Just go ahead； and tell me all you know about this Turner woman。 Did you see her yesterday？〃
The girl's sobs ceased。 After a final dab with the minute handkerchief； she leaned forward a little toward the Inspector； and proceeded to put a question to him with great eagerness。
〃Will you let me go home as soon as I've told you the teensy little I know？〃
〃Yes；〃 Burke agreed promptly； with an encouraging smile。 And for a good measure of reassurance； he added as one might to an alarmed child： 〃No one is going to hurt you； young lady。〃
〃Well； then； you see； it was this way；〃 began the brisk explanation。 〃Mr。 Gilder was calling on me one afternoon； and he said to me then that he knew a very charming young woman； who〃
Here the speech ended abruptly； and once again the handkerchief was brought into play as the sobbing broke forth with increased violence。 Presently； the girl's voice rose in a wail。
〃Oh； this is dreadfuldreadful！〃 In the final word； the wail broke to a moan。
Burke felt himself vaguely guilty as the cause of such suffering on the part of one so young； so fair； so innocent。 As a culprit； he sought his best to afford a measure of soothing for this grief that had had its source in his performance of duty。
〃That's all right； little lady；〃 he urged in a voice as nearly mellifluous as he could contrive with its mighty volume。 〃That's all right。 I have to keep on telling you。 Nobody's going to hurt younot a little bit。 Believe me！ Why； nobody ever would want to hurt you！〃
But his well…meant attempt to assuage the stricken creature's wo was futile。 The sobbing continued。 With it came a plaintive cry； many times repeated； softly； but very miserably。
〃Oh； dear！ Oh； dear！〃
〃Isn't there something else you can tell me about this woman？〃 Burke inquired in desperation before the plaintive outburst。 He hoped to distract her from such grief over her predicament。
The girl gave no least heed to the question。
〃Oh； I'm so frightened！〃 she gasped。
〃Tut； tut！〃 the Inspector chided。 〃Now； I tell you there's nothing at all for you to be afraid of。〃
〃I'm afraid！〃 the girl asserted dismally。 〃I'm afraid you willput mein a cell！〃 Her voice sank to a murmur hardly audible as she spoke the words so fraught with dread import to one of her refined sensibilities。
〃Pooh！〃 Burke returned； gallantly。 〃Why； my dear young lady； nobody in the world could think of you and a cell at the same timeno； indeed！〃
Instantly； the girl responded to this bald flattery。 She fairly radiated appreciation of the compliment； as she turned her eyes； dewy with tears； on the somewhat flustered Inspector。
〃Oh； thank you！〃 she exclaimed； with naive enjoyment。
Forthwith； Burke set out to make the most of this favorable opportunity。
〃Are you sure you've told me all you know about this woman？〃 he questioned。
〃Oh； yes！ I've only seen her two or three times；〃 came the ready response。 The voice changed to supplication； and again the clasped hands were extended beseechingly。
〃Oh； please； Commissioner！ Won't you let me go home？〃
The use of a title higher than his own flattered the Inspector； and he was moved to graciousness。 Besides； it was obvious that his police net in this instance had enmeshed only the most harmless of doves。 He smiled encouragingly。
〃Well； now； little lady；〃 he said； almost tenderly； 〃if I let you go now； will you promise to let me know if you are able to think of anything else about this Turner woman？〃
〃I willindeed； I will！〃 came the fervent assurance。 There was something almostquite provocative in the flash of gratitude that shone forth from the blue eyes of the girl in that moment of her superlative relief。 It moved Burke to a desire for rehabilitation in her estimation。
〃Now； you see；〃 he went on in his heavy voice； yet very kindly； and with a sort of massive playfulness in his manner；〃 no one has hurt younot even a little bit； after all。 Now； you run right home to your mother。〃
The girl did not need to be told twice。 On the instant； she sprang up joyously； and started toward the door； with a final ravishing smile for the pleased official at the desk。
〃I'll go just as fast as ever I can；〃 the musical voice made assurance blithely。
〃Give my compliments to your father；〃 Burke requested courteously。 〃And tell him I'm sorry I frightened you。〃
The girl turned at the door。。。。 After all； too great haste might be indiscreet。
〃I will； Commissioner；〃 she promised； with an arch smile。 〃And I know papa will be so grateful to you for all your kindness to me！〃
It was at this critical moment that Cassidy entered from the opposite side of the office。 As his eyes fell on the girl at the door across from him； his stolid face lighted in a grin。 And； in that same instant of recognition between the two； the color went out of the girl's face。 The little red lips snapped together in a line of supreme disgust against this vicissitude of fate after all her manoeuverings in the face of the enemy。 She stood motionless in wordless dismay； impotent before this disaster forced on her by untoward chance。
〃Hello； Aggie！〃 the detective remarked； with a smirk； while the Inspector stared from one to the other with rounded eyes of wonder； and his jaw dropped from the stark surprise of this new development。
The girl returned deliberately to the chair she had occupied through the interview with the Inspector； and dropped into it weakly。 Her form rested there limply now； and the blue eyes stared disconsolately at the blank wall before her。 She realized that fate had decreed defeat for her in the game。 It was after a minute of silence in which the two men sat staring that at last she spoke with a savage wrath against the pit into which she had fallen after her arduous efforts。
〃Ain't that the damnedest luck！〃
For a little interval still； Burke turned his glances from the girl to Cassidy； and then back again to the girl； who sat immobile with her blue eyes steadfastly fixed on the wall。 The police official was； in truth； totally bewildered。 Here was inexplicable mystery。 Finally； he addressed the detective curtly。
〃Cassidy； do you know this woman？〃
〃Sure； I do！〃 came the placid answer。 He went on to expl