Telegram-herald., 1889-11-19

versed earnestly. Holbrook ~As per
sisJens and energetic. The Official
yielded
A pair of shears from the high officials
desk ala the work.
" Len the Jeweler intimsted that he
had finished his work u examination.
Holbrook looked AZ hls watch il was
O'Clock.
What will be the cost Of these but
tons"
The jeweler named what be thought
would be the sum.
Il viii give you four times that amount
II you viii deliver them al my Office ~
70 o'clock. day after tomorrow.
Il shall have u work night and day
then"
That's why offer YOU four times the
sum YOU name. The affair IS urgent.
They viii be done"
HoIbrook then went 10 Delmonico's,
where he found Bryan awaiting him.
let Us get somew here where We can
talk without being heard, said Holbrook.
They took the corner Of Twenty-sixth
street and Broadway.
Tom took the seat with his back 10 the
corner.
Thus he was enabled 20 survey the
whole room and could note who en-
tered
After they had given their orders, Hol-
brook handed Tom the slip of cloth.
"What is that?"
"A piece of the suit worn by the muir
derer"
you are prompt. Are you sure it is
the samey"
"Sure cut it off myself"
Good. Have you a description of the
buttoni"
"No. have done better"
What"
al shall have, day after tomorrow, a
pair of them-a complete imitation of
the buttons. so close you could not tell
''tother from which"
"You are an angel Good, this is get
ting on with vengeance. Be quiet
here comes the waiter with our soup"
While they were dining Holbrook told
Tom of his singular interview with Flora
Ashgrove.
Tom was deeply interested.
He listened without interjecting re-
mark, only to caution Holbrook to sus-
pend his narrative when the waiter or
some one else approached too closely.
When it was finished he was thought
full.
Finally he said:
"You should have told this to the cor
oner. But am glad you did not. You
ought to tell this to your high official,
but l hope you won't"
What do you think of 1t all?" asked
Holbrook.
at is a queer mess, and 1 think II
deeper than ever. There's great story
behind that murder. Uml That girl
thinks she knows who did it, and she is
afraid for the man. Questioning her
would do no good now; nor would it
have done when you saw her, although
she was then more on her guard than
she viii be again. After all, she said
nothing; as you say, it was all in her
manner don't think as much of the
button as l did"
Why"
because she recognized it, and saw it
didn't belong to the man she thinks did
the deed. She thought until she saw it
that you had something that could be
traced 10 the man she wants to screen.
She thinks now that you are on false
trail. You must throw yourself in her
way again as soon as you can. She will
be anxious to know how your suspicious
are tending. Don't show her that you
have an idea that she knows or suspects
any one" He thought a moment and
said, Il suppose she is in love with the
man."
Holbrook had not reasoned so closely,
but he was struck with the cogency of
Bryan's argument.
The buttons, then, are of no value"
he said, and he laughed as he added, Il
promised four times the value TO have
them done quickly"
They are of value" quickly respond
ed Bryan, great value; all the same,
they may track the murderer. II is by
no means certain that Miss Ashgrove's
suspicious are correct. She may be on
a false scent But, after all, she would
not suspect any one of committing the
deed unless there was reason existing
for doing it. Now what is that reason;
That is what we must try to find out.
But how? The way is dark
ooh, / have seen more tangled skeins
than this unraveled. The great point is
10 make the first step. After that things
20 easy"
Holbrook's tale Of the interview with
Flora had occupied tho time Of tho din
ner, and Toms comments upon it had
been made over their cigars
Having exhausted speculation IA well
as argument upon il. Holbrook looked at
his watch and pronounced it time 10 set
out for tho Casino