Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-17

cloth had been widely turned over at I
seam. 1t gave complete idea of tn,
pattern of the cloth.
II want to cut SO much off.
The official hesitated and looked
grave.
The two retired to corner and con
versed earnestly. Holbrook was per
sistent and energetic. The oficia
yielded.
A pair of shears from the high official:
desk did the work.
When the je>yeler intimated that he
had finished his work of examination
Holbrook looked at his watch; it was
o'clock.
"What will be the cost of these but
tonsy'
The jeweler named what he though.
would be the sum.
81 will give you four times that amount
if you will deliver them at my Office at
| 10 o'clock. day after tomorrow"
'f shall have to work night and day
then"
THAT'S why I offer you four times the
sum you name. The affair is urgent"
"They will be done"
Holbrook then went to Delmonico's,
where he found Bryan awaiting him.
'Let us get somewhere where we ca.
talk without being heard, said Holbrook.
| They took the corner of Twenty-sixth
street and Broadway.
Tom took the seat with his back to the
corner
Thus he was enabled to 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 same!"
''Sure. cut it off myself"
Good. Have you description of the
button?''
"No. 1 have done better"
WHAT"
II 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 a 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 interfering a 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 hope you won't"
What do you think of it alp asked
Holbrook
at is queer mess, and I think it
deeper than ever. There's great story
behind that murder. I'm! 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 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 to 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. 1t 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 a 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"
"Oh, l have seen more tangled skeins
than this unraveled. The great point is
to make the first step. After that things
go easy"
Holbrook's tale of the interview with
Flora had occupied the time of the din
ner, and Toms comments upon it had
been made over their cigars.
Having exhausted speculation as well
as argument upon it. Holbrook looked at
his watch and pronounced it time to set
out for the Casino.
CHAPTER x.
A PERFORMANCE NOT DOWN ON THF BILLS
Nh