Yet, the disdain of the girl seemed only to increase momently.
She showed plainly that she regarded this brass-buttoned official
as one unbearably insolent in his demeanor toward her.
Nevertheless, she condescended to reply, with an exaggeration of
the aristocratic drawl to indicate her displeasure.

"I was introduced to Miss Turner," she explained, "by Mr. Richard
Gilder. Perhaps you have heard of his father, the owner of the
Emporium."

"Oh, yes, I've heard of his father, and of him, too," Burke
admitted, placatingly.

But the girl relaxed not a whit in her attitude of offense.

"Then," she went on severely, "you must see at once that you are
entirely mistaken in this matter." Her blue eyes widened further
as she stared accusingly at the Inspector, who betrayed evidences
of perplexity, and hesitated for an answer. Then, the doll-like,
charming face took on a softer look, which had in it a suggestion
of appeal.

"Don't you see it?" she demanded.

"Well, no," Burke rejoined uneasily; "not exactly, I don't!" In
the presence of this delicate and graceful femininity, he
experienced a sudden, novel distaste for his usual sledge-hammer
methods of attack in interrogation. Yet, his duty required that
he should continue his questioning. He found himself in fact
between the devil and the deep sea--though this particular devil