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Show tT T ton drugged. But I win coma to enough had not missed It So wo now campaign, and tog her a few days' lndulgeaoe until I that la a moment Having secured got the coat he had worn on that could go over matters. She had told this Information, which of course occasion and went through It We ms that she was to be at home that eliminated him as the active burglar, found a small rip in the bottom of the evening, and it had been understood I went to him and told him uphill and outside pocket and going further disbetween us that I was to be with her; down that be was making a blank fool covered the key in the bottom lining. therefore, at eight o'clock I arose and of himself... When he learned that I That solved the mystery. As for his called for her number. The voles of bad uncovered hla whereabouts on tbs having pounded on the table with It Janet answered me, telling me that alKht In question he made a clean and afterwards denied It that was breast of It While be had been easily accounted for by the fact that her mistress was not at home. With an overwhelming presentment plunged In despair by the crash, yet In hla worriment 1 a had unconsciously of more misery to come, I vainly im- to had taken but two drinks that day, drawn It from his pocket and used It plored some Information as to where one being a cocktail with you In a as you described and then replaced It she had gone and at what hour she ate. "oon after the last drink he mechanically without noticing what was expected to return. The answer tod become stupefied, which fact he he had held or remembering the Inthat I received' was a dick that told attributed to the reaction from his cident I accepted this as the correct me of the hanging up of the earpiece highly nervous state, but I came to solution of the key Incident, and then and my further vole Inge brought only a totally different conclusion, although and there dismissed Bruce from all the ringing ellenco of an unanswerlng I said nothing to him about It at the connection with the matter. For had time. With your assistance he en- he entered Into collusion with anywire. I sank Into my chair again. In the midst of my stupor I heard tered a cab, and remembered mumb- one else and loaned him the key for the ringing of the door bell and a mo- ling a direction to the driver to take the night the other person most cerment later the sound of light footsteps him to his rooms; yet when he awoke tainly would have been a professional ascending the stairs. There was a tap In the morning he found himself at a who owned his own tools and knew at my door, and at my listless re- place where he had no desire to be. how to use them, and that Idea as you pbaataf a sponse LeDuc quietly entered. I saw him run hla eyes quickly over me as he tossed his hat upon the bed aid drew a ehalr close beside mine. . Ho said nothing, did not even emllo as was hla habit, and In my mlaeryy did not offer him any greeting.' Far perhaps a minute he sat without speaking and then addressed me w 'A unwonted gravity: "Tom, I have Coe proofs." . I started slightly and - raised my eyes to his. I fancied they wore full of regret, even sorrow, but his mouth was firmly set My head was hot end my throat dry, and I cleared the latter before I spoke. Then I aattd him hoarsely where they were: ' He laid them on the table before me. They consisted of a silver card case, a bookmakers ticket n bit of steel, a soiled piece of paper and n small lump of some grayish substance. Stupidly I stared at them. CHAPTER XVI.' l Am Not Through With You Even Yet, Puppy. In the silence that followed the slow ticking of the tall clock sounded like the tolling of a bell. I shut my eyes. Go on, I commanded as be sat facing me with no signs of .any IncliWhat does this nation to proceed. Junk signify to youT He got up and crossing the room silently bolted the door that led to my uncles apartments; then resumed his seat and addressed me in the low tones of one who adds caution to precaution. -When I began this Investigation, Tom, as I then told you I was about to do, I commenced to shift the chaff from the wheat in order to decrease the number of objects which I would In the last analysis be compelled to examine with great minuteness.' My inquiries made upon the morning I first came, together with my Inspection of the bouse upon that occasion, satisfied me of several things, among which were that Mrs. Tejibets had possessed no knowledge being In the safe, and becajufe of that and divers other reasons (she should. be eliminated; that your uncle had In no wise spread the Information of his having the currency to anyone except yourself and Bruce, and therefore that he, as a distributor of the news to outside parties, was to be eliminated; that the house must have been entered by the front door, and therefore that the Idea that all parties were telling me without reservation all they knew about the matter was to be eliminated; and last, that on account of the unusual drilling of the safe and the quantity and quality of the explosive used, that all thought of Its being. the work of a professional cracksman must be eliminated. You see' that brought me down to a pretty narrow field.- -. He ceased speaking, and with my eyes still closed and my head resting heavily against the back of the chair I nodded slightly. 1 understand. Having eliminated the possibility of Its having been done by a professional, you have brought It down to Bruce, who possessed a key, or to Richard Mackay or one of his friends who might have obtained a duplicate from the key I left at Mrs. Dace's. However, go ahead. "You seem to be following me to a certain extent Having decided that ft was the work of an amateur, I was obliged to start .out with those thoughts In my mind as I attempted to still further construct the circle. Your key was In the possession of your uncle at the time of the crime, and I did not believe that you had even had another. Mrs. Tebbets and your uncle had theirs; Miss Wintons was missing and you had assured&ne that Bruce had been In the possession of one which he failed to account (or; tii4 be had made rash statements about getting money; bad become angry at your uncle; had been In a generally unnatural and desperate frame of mind the day before, and therefore I started In to Investigate him. This seemed to me the most logical way of going at It, for loomsuring as big as he did among the concentrate either must I roundings, upon him as the probable thief, or greatly simplify matters by getting rid of him altogether. You had told me of his entering a cab the evening before the crime, and so I went to a friend of mine who Is an official In the cab drivers union. They are practically all union men In this city, and he sent out a circular to every member of his association calling upon the driver who had conveyed the person described to come forward and receive reward. Within two days I was talking to the man who had driven Bruce, and in that way. found out where he spent the night. The cabman drove him to a resort ten miles from this of place and Bruce spent the night the robbery there asleep." I unclosed surmy eyelids with an expression of prise. "I did not know that Bruce went to LeDuo such places," I muttered. went on. "Nor does be voluntarily. He bad . , v of TSfe LASH IRCMSTANCE Harry Irving Axifhor qT' Yosonde of the Illurtrstlon CBPKiour U mo jy y WO.OMWM 8YNOP8I8. Abner Holliday, a mlaerly millionaire. la found bound and lnaenalbla In ' hie room.gagged, hla safe rilled and MO.OOO miss- up ing. The thread of tlie atory Is taken by hie nephew Tom. LI vine In the same house are other relatives; reckless Bruce Halllday and pretty Clara Wlnton. Bruce, who la a bond broker has been trying to raise' (10.000 to put through a deal and save hlmselufrom financial ruin. HeJ.aa applied to hip miserly uncle and to others Tom for the loan' but has been refused. sends for William LeDuc, an old-tifriend connected with a detective agency. thy widow, whose business agent Is Richard Mackay, a boodler and political boss. Tom Is 'Jealous of Mackay' and Is deeply In love with Mrs. Dace. Bruce Halllday warns him to shun her as an adventuress. Tom sees Mrs. Dacs and Mackay together. He afterwards meets the woman at a horse race, and, happening to mention that Bruce had a tip on the winner, she gives him (500 to place on the race. The tip goes wrong and she loses her money. Later Tom Invests In stocka He makes some money, and returns the lost (600 to Mrs. Dace. It Is at this Juncture that the theft of the (40,000 from old Abner Halllday occurs. La Duo meets Clare and Bruce. He learns that the key which Clare had to the house Is missing. Maor dealings with Mrs. Dace make Tom key's more Jealous. The detective Intimates a suspicion against Bruce Halllday as the thief. - This .Clare Wlnton Indignantly re- Dace accepts Tom as her Sudiates. Mrs. encourages him to Invest. In a certain stock. Tom has a row with Mackay and the latter threatens revamp. The detective announces that he covered Important clews as to the thief. It looks as' If Mackay had got hold of Tom's key to the Halllday Bans might have been the burglar. CHAPTER XV (Continued.) At the first corner g shrieking newsboy nearly ran between my legs, and shove the uproar of the street I heard him shout a sentence that caused me to gasp and clutch at a lamp post for support .Snatching a a coin paper from him I threw-hi-m and began to read, the paper shaking In my hands like a reed. Two paragraphs told me the hideous truth. Upon Information that ' had been given him by Richard Mackay, who had. been frosen out of the combination by his coconsplrsr tors, the states attorney bad filed a quo warranto proceeding In which be nt tacked the very life of the franchise of the underground system. Should that official be able to. substantiate the attack and prove that the grant had been obtained by fraud and trickery, as Mackay atated, the courts might deprive the corporation of all Its rights and privileges, take away Its power to act and render It Under such a hopelessly Impotent frightful condition of affairs the stock would become absolutely worthless, and beneath this stab at its heart It had already fallen with a crash that had carried half of those who had ridden upon It to ruin. My meager margins had been wiped out as quickly as a guilty schoolboy scours hla slate, and I had been made a bankrupt In the time which It' takes to tell It I dropped the paper and staggered Into a doorway, my hands pressing my temples. The world (warn drunkenly beforb me In a hideous gray mist,' through which men with faces lined and hardened by hopes long deferred, passed ghostlike as they plodded silently along with si mined eyes In search of the sordid necessities which bind the soul and the body together. The roar of the street came to my deadened ears like the sullen grumble of thunder. From out of the gloom weary shop girls and ragged newsboys stared curiously up at my drawn face, none poorer than T, none half so wretched. d ' O. Greene Wilderness' Kottnsr sjygWY.ST. For they had abided In the depths and had not seen the star of hope shining close above them, whereas 1 had been hurled from the battlements of heaven In the twinkling of an eye. Deadened of senses and seeing but vaguetowards my ly, I went stumbling broker's office, my only hope being that I- would awalfe and find that I had dreamed a nightmare. His doors were locked. Already a rabble stood before them vainly clamoring for admittance, and realising the uselessness of remaining here, I rushed down the stairs and towards the floor of the exchange. The shrieking uproar of the pit was unintelligible to me, but In the midst of It with his collar torn from his neck and his coat split down the baek was my agent, still dancing about Insanely with wild thrusts of his fingers Into the air. The frensy upon his face left me no vestige of hope, and I turned away with my brain spinning. Four steps further and I almost ran Into he arms of Richard Mackay. .His teeth showed beneath his heavy mustaches; his eyes burned and his face was stamped with the vindictiveness that had brought this Inferno about. He saw me at once and a brutal laugh of satisfaction burst from between the lips which my fist had split "I did It partly for your benefit. If that Is 'any satisfaction to you. But I am not through with you even yet puppy," he said In my ears, as he passed. Too broken of spirit to resent the iniult other than by a look I passed him In silence. How I got through that terrible afternoon I am still uncertain, except In a vague way. I dared not keep my luncheon engagement with Mrs. Dace and tell her all; but Instead kept mumbling to myself that I would call her up that evening when I had a chance to think over what I should half-seale- d ay. There Is- always a chance, though It be only one In a million, that something will be saved out of a wreck: and come what might matters could not possibly be more hopeless at nightfall than they were now. And perhaps by then I could think of something to retrieve myself temporarily; ' something which would eventually start me once more along the primrose way. Scarcely conscious of what I was doing I wandered to Bruce's office. He was not there, but his clerk told me that my cousin for some reason had closed out all his holdings the day before at a handsome profit and had announced himself as through with speculation. The bitterness jot the contrast between him and myself brought the tears to my eyes. Should he carry out this resolve and stick to his commissions, as I had little doubt that he would under Clare's persuasions and the weight of his promise, his happiness was In his own keeping. He had undoubtedly again gained a modest competence, had a good the love oil a sweetly beautiful and contented woman. .Verily the richest gifts of the gods reposed In the hollow of his hand. I Tent home and threw myself heavily upon the bed. At the summons to the evening meal I failed to respond; burying my face In the pillow Instead, as for the hundredth time I rehearsed what I was to say to Mrs. Dace. I could only tell her that I had severe setback but .was received - busl-nesarit- 1 Fear of Miss Wlntons displeasure had made him resolve to remain silent rather than hurt her by the confession that he had got drunk, as he imagined he had, and gone to such a place. I could not understand why the cabman had taken It upon himself to convey him to this resort against Bruces directions, so I came back at the driver hard. By the dint of more questions, aided by a few judicious threats,. I drew out the Information that the change In address had been given by a certain party whom the driver knew to be a friend of his passenger from the fact of having seen them together, and who had stopped him and given new Instructions as to where to convey the sleeping one Inside. That explained the driver's peculiar actions, and things were becoming decidedly Interesting. Although practically satisfied now that Bruce had had nothing even Indirectly to do with the matter, I neverthless went a little further In my Investigations. I was very much Interested to find out where he had secured the money which had enabled him to resume his operations on 'change. When I had convinced him that I would keep the Information absolutely secret, he told me that It was furnished him by a woman client who did not care to have her name mentioned In connection with speculative matters. I traced the story to Its foundation and learned that It was absolutely true. That left only one matter to be explained so far as Bruce was concerned. I suppose you mean his possession of the key and his denial that he had It, coupled with the possibility that some one else had somehow come into possession of It, I said, breaking the moment's lull. LeDuc nodded. Exactly. I was almost certain from the time that Miss Wlnton announced the loss of her key that It had somehow got Into the possession of her for Its disappearance sweetheart; from her keeping convinced me that you 'had not been mistaken when you said Bruce had exhibited It or Its duplicate. I had several talks with -- know, 1 had already abandoned. Do you get me?" 1 think so. And having eliminated Bruce, whom I all along told you was innocent you turned your attention to Richard Mackay as the next possibility." My companion smiled faintly, thrusting his hands into his pockets and leaning forward in his chair. Yes, for about ten minutes. At the end of that time I had reasoned him out of the case. The man who strangled your uncle was described by him as a large, strong man who coughed peculiarly. That description fitted Mackay to a dot, and furthermore there was a possibility of hla. having been Informed, through his more or less familiar connection with Mrs. Dace's establishment, of the money being In the safe at this particular time. Then, too, the incident of your having left your keys there for some days furnished a possible way by which he could have secured a duplicate through a conspiracy with one of the household. But that he did It personally was absurd. He Is far and away above It He Is not a burglar; be Is a boodler. He has a million dollars of his own, and would no more .risk himself In an act like this than you would for a handful of silver. And having previously stricken out the professional cracksmen because of the crudeness of the Job, I was now compelled to eliminate Mackay and his friends because of the same reasoning that I had applied In Bruce's case. Had he turned the Job over to some needy friend of bis from the underworld, that person certainly would not have been a bungler. You see what that brought me to." I arose In my chair with a mingled sensation of heat and cold climbing Do my spine and stiffening my hair. you mean to say as the last remaining possibility you fastened your suspicions upon me?" I gasped. One of his hands fastened upon my wrist 'with the stopping grip of trap; his fingers biting like teeth Into my flesh. As In our school days I felt "Tom Halllday, You Stole Your Uncles Money. him and her on the subject, and. they still Insisted with a positiveness that I could not Ignore that their original statements were absolutely correct; namely, she denied that she had ever loaned him the key, and he asserted that he had no knowledge of ever having It In his possession. I made them rehearse all their actions when together for some days previous to the robbery, and finally a thought came to her. She remembered that a short time previous while she and Bruce had been strolling together that she had slipped her pocketbook containing the key Into his side coat pocket for a few moments while she was putting on her gloves. And that In turn suggested an Idea to me. Had " the pocketbook been partially unclasped, the key might easily enough have fallen from It Into his pocket and not having any occasion to use It tar the next few days she naturally the piano wire strength of his tendons and clinched my teeth between the fierceness of the clasp. Tom Halllday," he returned sternly, you stole your uncle's money," Glaring at him, quivering under an Impulse to tear myself from him and strike him down, I first swelled my muscles for the effort, then letting them subside sank back with an exclamation of supreme disgust So that was your ultimate analy-ls- ! I said, with bitterest scorn. Of all the absurd, asinine Idiots It was ever my misfortune to coma In contact with, you are the most complete you, an alleged detective. But you might as well finish your dream. I will compel myself to listen." I turned my head from him contemptuously; became aware that something cold and metallic was snapped around the wrist which he held and leaped to my feet only to find myself handcuffed to the arm or the heavy sakra ehalr. Frensled with rage I mads an awkward dfve behind my back with my left hand for my right-han- d hip pocket as he locked his arms around me. With the quickness of thought he had twisted a revolver from my fingers, and springing ' back laid It on the dresser beyond my reach, as shackled to the heavy piece of furniture I could only stand quivering In helpless passion. Realising my physical Impotence I nt down sullenly. So you feared I would murder you," I sneered. He negatived. No, I did not think you would do that. But I feared that you might murder yourself. Do you wish me to proceed quietly, or shall I summon to hear what I have to your unde say?" For a moment I hesitated as I calmed myself by a mighty effort There could be no good n getting him excited. If you have anything more to say to me you may continue or not as you choose. I can scarcely help hearing you, but you will regret this outrage when I am set free." He did not seem to become either alarmed or angry at the threat; on the contrary his voice was even smoother than before as he resumed his seat ' Tom," he continued, 1 have always been your friend and I wish to always remain so. When I have done telling you what I know about this crime we will talk about other mat- o ters, If you desire. But what I wish'-ttell you additionally la this. I had been compelled to eliminate everybody but you, and was therefore compelled, most regretfully, to start along your trail. As my first step I went to the hotel where you told me you staid on the night of the crime; looked at the register and ascertained the room that you had occupied. I engaged It, and went to It for the purpose of a thorough inspection. It was a back room overlooking an alley and the fire escape ran close by one of Its windows. It at once occurred to me, therefore, that it would have been the simplest thing In the world for you, after having called up your uncle and after having left a request at the office for a morning summons In order to impress It upon the minds of others that you were In your room at- - midnight, and thus establish an alibi in case of suspicion, to have passed down the escape in the dek-nesgone to any place you wished I and returned before daybreak. therefore went down the ladder, as I assumed you had done, and at Its bottom chanced upon what I consider to have been the only piece of pure good luck that came my way In the whole case. For, mind you, I insist that the rest of my discoveries were the result of experience in such matters, aided by close reasoning. Re that as It may, at the foot of the ladder I found your lost card case. I could only account for Its presence there in one way; namely, that it had dropped from youn pocket whlla you were either descending or ascending the ladder with your arms working above your head. That will perhaps remind you of the other night when that office you and I burglarized downtown. You will remember upon that occasion I handed you your match aafe after we had come down, and told you that I had picked It up at the foot of the ladder we had Just left; mentioning the fact that climbing up and down under such conditions was apt to work a smooth article out of ones vest pocket. There Is nothing truer than that statement, and I have no doubt but that la exactly what happened In the original case of your lost card receptacle. Now aa a matter of fact, I extracted that match safe from your pocket In the darknesa when you were occupied In pressing the putty against the window In order that I might try an Interesting experiment The experiment succeeded. My calling your attention to the likelihood of losing such articles under conditions similar to those you had Just experienced, started a train of thought In your mind. I knew you were worried by the loss of your card case and were very desirous of regaining It My stratagem of the restored match box made It occur to you that It was possible that you had lost your card case In going out of the window on the night of the crime, and that there was a bare possibility that it had not be'n picked up and that you would find It among the rubbish back of the hotel. Having as I hoped sowed this thought In' your mind, I made an excuse and left you. You will recall that the pretext I made for departing was that I wished to make another experiment alone. I Immediately made It, the experiment consisting of my going rapidly to the head of the alley passing the Pacific hotel and waiting there for you. True to my reasoning you went straight to the place where I had found the card case, and lighting a cigar made a brief search of the premises by the light of the match, of course unsuccessfully. Then as you came hurrying Into the street you popped into my arms where I bad stood to watch If you would fall Into the- trap. I remember your expression of surprise and displeasure at unexpectedly seeing me there. As an excuse I told you that the criminal was downtown then and moving around considerably himself. I Imagine that remark rather got you to guessing. a, - (TO BE CONTINUED.) Unnecessary Advice. Boston school teacher, on attiring after 49 years' service, bad these suggestions to make to young women A little harmless flirting teachers: with nice people with whom you are acquainted will do much to rest the tired mind after the arduous duties of the schoolroom: bo a live wire every minute; do noi eat too much." Advice Is given to those who need It; It Is easy to guess v hat young Motion school teachers are Ilka. A .4 |
