Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-11-24


was the fact that in the somewhat pc
culiar features of the latter recognized
those OF my client, Luigi Bernini
s'What an odd co ncidence!' said
Alice. when | had explained. Il won
der who could have taken the sketch
some one who knows how to handle a
brush" she added. looking critically al
it. s'See. here are initials and date.
hut they are 50 faint that cannot make
them out"
..Let me try.'' said Dora; Il have
good sight" She took the sketch over
to the lamp and scrutinized it closely.
date. Stay. have it, May 10th. l8-''
f" May l0th-why. that was the very
day of the robbery" said. Then the
full significance OF this d tie flashed sud-
denly upon me, and absolutely turned
g;ddy. . The alibir' / gasped--s il
we could find the man who did that
sketch. we might succeed in proving the
asibi" Dora Lyme grasped my meaning
with ready quickness.
Morrison's Library that book came
from, was it not, Alice. They ought to
be able to tell you there who had it on,
or Immediately after. the 10th of May"
And the person. whoeyer-sh she or he
is. will have to be hunted up,' said,
"and there's SO little time. Tbs is
Monday, and the tr al is fixed for
Wednesday. | ppose Morrison is
closed by this, Aliceg'
"lndeed. it is" sheanswered. "Yol
would find no one there now but care
taker Yo1 must just wait patiently
until tomorrow, Richard.
had pclforce to wait; as to the pa
tience with which l d d SO, the less said
the better.
The following morning found me at
Morrison's Library. On explaining my
business. was re erred to the clerk in
charge of the library department. from
whom totally iai ed TO obta.n the re-
quired info olmation. The yong man
who sually attended to that part of the
business was away; ii | could call next
week.
intimated with what appeared TO me,
at the time, most praisewaahy self-con-
troll. that next week would not do. CIV
ing partial explanation o. the circum-
stances But the clerk. although appar-
entity willing to help me. professed him
self quite unable 10 do SO.
"You see. sir" he said, ''if you want
ed to know what book any subscriber
had out at given time l soull proba-
bly, tell you. but rs for asee rtaining the
whereabouts OF special book-its $ an
bility. II you like +, look over
our entries for yourself, you are well
come to do so"
accepted this offer, and spent good
part of the dag turning over the blotted
pages wherein were inscribed the names
and course of reading of the subscr bers
TO Morrison's. And an Improbable
work it was. The record
was to all appearances imperfectly kept.
and allied TO trace the second volume
of the s'Stones of Venice" through
per od longer than three weeks. during
which il had tw ce changed hands.
Some hours more were spent in hunt
ing up The persons in whose possession
il had been for that length of time,
neil ilher of whom could give any infor-
nation concern ng the sketch. An ap-
plication to Bcrninl himself was equally
fruitless. He remembered that lady
and gentleman whom he had met dur
inc his wanderings had asked him to
,it to them, but he did not know who
hey were, nor could he even make 1t
lear where the incident had occurred.
l returned home at dinner time. tired
md ba He'd. 10 report my failure to Al
ce and her husband, from whom l re-
,eived much sympathy but no sugges-
ion O. any practical va ue. had Civ i
m up hope, and was endeavoring to dis ,
Miss the subject from my thoughts,
when late in the e ening tho hall door /
bell sounded and message came up
hat a person wanted to speak TO Mr.. I
-estrange. Going down, found wait
ng for me bright looking boy. one of |
he shop as istants at Morrison's, who
,ad been for short time aiding in my
invest gat'on of the entries.
II think have what you want, SIR"
lie said, as | entered the room. at
vas in my mind all that day that had
'iNen out that book to some one.
ouldn't think who and chance word
hat heard this evening brought it all
ack TO me like flash. Itwas to Mrs.
'rench. of Redcourt, that gave it. and
must have been on the 3D. or 4th of
lay. Here is the la,'y's name and adj
ress. sir;n and he handed me slip of
aper on which was written Mrs
rench. Rcdcourt. kilcarran" II was
/ kilcarran or the neighborhood that,
ccording to Bernini's own statement,
e had spent the day OF the robbery.
Thanking and dismissing the lad,
eturned TO the drawing room with my
rize. The next step was to communi-
ate with Mrs French. kilcarran was
lily fifteen miles from Carrigarvan.
nd the trial was to begin the following
lorniny.
Hand me over that railway guide,
lick. " said Alice husband. ''Ithought
mo train before ten. There's noih-
q for it but for me to drive to kilcar-
IN the first thing in the morning.
ARE can easily do it in two hours--anl
find that any one there can give evil
encc worth having. I'll bring them
lck with me. and have tn m in court
fore the case for the defense opens"
The trial begsn next morning, pro-
'tling at an unusually rapid rate. II
emed 10 me that the learned counsel
r the prosecution had never before
1T forth his wisdom and legal knowl-
lge in so condensed form. The cross !
animation of the witnesses was OF !
'urse in nv hands. and did my best :
make ii as tedious as possible totally !
il ng. however. in INV attempts TO con-
Sc them or cause them to contradict !
emselves. Nv only hope lay now in !!
e unknown witness. and of him tn re
ere no tidings The case for the
'osecution closed and The court adj
urned for lunch; was standing in the =
lr-room. thinking over my speech for I
e de cnse. and mentally re-arranginR
' sentences after the manner OF the z
osf prosy member of the circuit. when =
note was handed TO me: "All right =
e witness is in the Sheriff ROOM
Going into the Sherilf's rom. found !
7 cou sin. accompanied by strange {
iy and gentleman. ~
This is the prisoners counsel. " said .
E former. as / entered ALLOW me
introduce Mr. Lestran4e-Miss
lrcy. Mr.. French" I turned 10 the 6
ly as her name was pronoupced. and. :
I'M afraid. forgot 20 bow. in my sur = :,
ise and delight 1t recognizing in the : :
l. fair-haired girl before me my dream |!
the last sis months; my unknown = 7
e. another glimpseof whom had been Il
: chief desire ever since lost sight Of i