Bright Arrows Read Online Free Page B

to Eden. She will wonder why I didn't come."
    Mike looked down at her with wise, penetrating eyes.
    "What did you say your name was, madam?"
    "Fane," said Lavira eagerly, "I'm Mrs. Lavira Fane. And I got word--that is, I had the notice of the death, and I started right away to come, for I knew the dear departed man would have expected me to be here at once. I took the first plane and came right out here as quick as I could."
    "You say your name is Fane? I see." He took out his notebook and flipped over the leaves with one hand. "Fane. Yes, Fane. Have you any relatives in the city or nearby by the name of Fane?"
    A quick wary look came into the woman's eyes as she met the stern gaze of the policeman.
    "Relatives? Oh no, none by the name of Fane. That is, no relatives at all in this part of the country except the Thurstons. You see, my name is really Thurston. I was a widow with one son and married a brother of the deceased, Mr. Thurston, so my name really is Thurston, and I certainly ought to go right back and be with Eden. It is my duty, you know."
    But Mike McGregor walked steadily on, with his grasp still firm on the woman's arm, and suddenly he looked down into her shrinking, frightened eyes.
    "Your son's name is Ellery?" he asked, quite casually, and pierced her through with those eyes that did not flinch.
    "Why, yes," she simpered, trying to hide her astonishment. "Did you used to know him when he was here before? He was only a child then. I never heard him speak of you. He'll be here in a day or two, I guess. He had some business matters to settle up before he left the West, but he'll be coming on soon."
    "Your son is here now," said the policeman calmly. "He must have arrived sometime yesterday, or perhaps earlier, but he is here now."
    Lavira gave him a frightened glance, and he could see that her lip was trembling.
    "But how would you know that?" she asked, trying to appear casual. "Where is he? I want to see him at once!"
    Mike paused beside a big red police car and opened the door.
    "Get in," he said coldly. "I will take you to him."
    Lavira turned toward the car and suddenly caught her breath, stepped back a pace, and looked the bright red car over.
    "But I can't get into that car," she said haughtily.
    "Why not?" asked Mike sharply.
    "But a bright red car like that! It looks like a police car!"
    "It is a police car. Get in!"
    "But I can't ride in a car like that! I never was in a police car in my life! I couldn't endure to ride in that. I would be ashamed all the rest of my life. I couldn't get over it."
    "People have been ashamed all their lives for less than that," said the policeman grimly. "Get in!"
    "Oh, no, no, no !" said Lavira. "I simply couldn't do that! Tell me where you think my son is, and I'll get a taxi and go there, but I can't go in a police car!"
    "Sorry," said Mike, "if you want to go to your son, you'll have to go with me in this car. This is my car, and I'm taking you. Get in!"
    There was that in Mike's voice that made the woman know she must obey. Slowly she turned and got in, forcibly assisted by Mike's big insistent hand.
    "But, but, where am I going? I can't do a thing like this without knowing where I am going."
    "You're going to the police station, madam," said Mike. "Your son is there. You wanted to see him. That's where he is."
    "Oh!" she gasped. "But what is he doing there?"
    "He's being questioned for breaking into the Thurstons' house last night and ransacking Mr. Thurston's desk drawers."
    "Oh, he didn't do that," pleaded the mother. "I know he didn't. He wouldn't do a thing like that. Besides, he wasn't here last night. He was to come in on the afternoon train and meet me here. We had planned to come right on and take care of Eden. We knew she would be so lonesome!"
    But McGregor rode on in silence, not even noticing by so much as the lift of an eyelash the flow of words by his side and the freely flowing tears, which he told himself grimly were only crocodile tears. For McGregor