se police mustaches and jaws, those wide,
square-toed, police shoes.

"My name is Casey and this is my side-partner, Mr. O'Rourke," said the
shorter and fatter of the two as they seated themselves without waiting
to be asked. Casey took off his hat; O'Rourke's hand hesitated at the
brim, then drew his hat more firmly down upon his forehead. "Sorry to
break in on your little party," Casey went on, "but the Cap'n sent us
to ask the young lady a few questions."

Hilda grew pale and her father and Otto looked frightened.

"Do you know an actor named Feuerstein?" asked Casey.

Hilda trembled. She could not speak. She nodded assent.

"Did you see him to-day?"

"Yes," almost whispered Hilda.

Casey looked triumphantly at O'Rourke. Otto half rose, then sank back
again. "Where did you see him?" asked Casey.

"Here."

"Where else?"

Hilda nervously laced and unlaced her fingers. "Only here," she
answered after a pause.

"Ah, yes you did. Come now, lady. Speak the truth. You saw him at
Meinert's."

Hilda started violently. The detectives exchanged significant glances.
"No," she protested. "I saw him only here."

"Were you out of the store this afternoon?"

A long pause, then a faint "Yes."

"Where did you go?" Casey added.

The blood flew to Hilda's face, then left it. "To Meinert's," she
answered. "But only as far as the door."

"Oh!" said Casey sarcastically, and O'Rourke laughed. "It's no use to
hold back, lady," continued Casey. "We know all about your movements.
You went in Meinert's--in at the family entrance."

"Yes," replied Hilda. She was shaking as if she were having a chill.
"But just to the door, then home again."

"Now, that won't do," said Casey roughly. "You'd better tell the whole
story."

"Tell them all about it, Hilda," interposed her father in an agonized
tone.

"Don't hold back anything."

"Oh--father--Otto--it was nothing. I didn't go in. He--Mr.
Feuerstein--came here, and he looked so sick, and he begged me to come
over to Meinert's for a minute. He said he had something to say to
me. And then I went. But at the door I got to thinking about all he'd
done, and I wouldn't go in. I just came back home."

"What was it that he had done, lady?" asked O'Rourke.

"I won't tell," Hilda flashed out, and she started up. "It's nobody's
business. Why do you ask me all these questions? I won't answer any
more."

"Now, now, lady," said Casey. "Just keep cool. Wh