" 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
appeared rather as an angel of light.
Now, at his somewhat feeble remark in reply to her query, the
childish face grew as hard as its curving contours would permit.
"Sir!" she cried indignantly. Her little head was thrown back in
scornful reproof, and she turned a shoulder toward the official
contemptuously.
"Now, now!" Burke exclaimed in remonstrance. After all, he could
not be brutal with this guileless maiden.
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