ng, 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 you--not 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 will--put
me--in 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 time--no, 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 will--indeed, I will!" came the fervent assurance. The