San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-06

-Holbr, ted violently, knocking
a book fro. lis desk and thus covering
up a noise behind the screen which
might otherwise have been heard.
"Bless my soul" said Holbrook, that
is strange"
"What is strange"
Holbrook controlled himself
why. Mr.. Pierson used to he a client
of this Office"
Precisely, and that is the reason why
am here. want to inquire if you can
shed any light upon certain subjects,
and whether any papers relating to MIR.
Pierson or his business are in your
hands"
II shall have to disappoint you," re-
piled Holbrook. "Mr. Persons rela-
tons with this office as a client ceased
before | became connected with it
Judge Harkner and he quarreled very
bitterly; over what l never knew. He
was careful to send everything to Pier
son, and don't know who was his law
yer subsequently. The great amount of
business he brought into the Office was
tradition when | came in. However,
there is an old man who was a clerk in
this Office for many years-confidential
clerk, and who is now retired because of
age. He lives on Long Island, short
distance back of Brooklyn. 1 advise
you to call upon him; I will give you
line to him.
Acting upon the impulse of the mo-
ment he wrote an introduction.
Messing took the note and went away,
after promising to call upon Holbrook
again.
As soon as he was out of the door Tom
came forth
"You Internal asst" cried Tom, what
under the heavens did you shove him
out in that way for?'
Holbrook's face fell
See here, Bryan, there is limit to
the things you may say to me"
Il beg your pardon, Holbrook; l let
my feelings master me. But what pos
sessed you to shut him off that way. He
was disposed to talk"
"Well, principally because you were
behind the screen"
what of that
well, the same circumstances do not
surround Messing as do surround Foun-
tain-the same suspicions-and l didn't
want him to become confidential when
he thought he was talking to a reputable
counselor alone"
But doesn't this queer state of things
strike you? See here. We suspect
Fountain of Templeton's murder
slightly, to be sure-but suspect him.
He comes to see you inquiring for Pier
sons papers Messing sees that murder
and he comes inquiring about Persons
papers What connection is there?"
Il saw all that and recollect what you
have forgotten"
WHAT
That we have our suspicious of Foun-
tain through Flora Ashgroves strange
behavior and that she manifests great
anger against Messing, threatening to
be his accuser, while denying knowledge
of him.
"To be sure! To be sure! Don't you
see that these condolences have an i'm
portant bearing upon the murder-that
you lost an opportunity to get hold of
string which may lead us straight to the
RESULT"
"Oh, don't believe Messing knows
anything of the affair"
my dear fellow, everything is guess
work. but every line must be examined.
How could you let Messing slip through
your fingers sol"
"He is easily enough regained. 1 can
get his address from the police authori-
ties, and he will unburden himself to the
old clerk, George Dolweu. I'll tell you
what I'll do. I'll telegraph Dolwell to
give him all the information he can and
to extract as much as possible. The old
boy is very shrewd."
do so at once. And now l must 90
after my new suit of clothes"
"You will come for those buttons to-
morrow"
Eyes. This thing is getting thick.
Yesterday we painted for single bit of
daylight; today we have an embarrass-
ment."
He disappeared, and Holbrook lost
himself in thought.
CHAPTER XIII.