Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-06

n
ances-paper and man-actually occurred |
ct the same time, and by the same means.
The others looked disappointed.
"Preposterous,' CALCULATED Croak.
ITO be sure il isl cried Marlove. -Tha
man vanished from behind the vault
doors during my absence-the paper dis
appeared, SO to speak, from under my
very nose. There can be no association
Of the two disappearances.'
Wormer coolly helped himself TO some
of his brandy, as indifferently as il still
alone in the garden, lighted cigar, and
resumed his newspaper.
Come, come. said Croak, in concili-
atory tone. We didn't mean to offend,
Wormer. Give us your views"
Yes. do" said Marlowe, also in alarm
lest the oracular lips should have hope
lessly closed: There may be money in
this thing for you, man."
1t was only, however, after persistent
persuas sions that Wormer consented to
unbend and thaw out.
sHere's the way it all was," said he.
-The paper really did disappear while you
were putting the unconscious man in the
vault
Gould my son have appropriated it2'
exclaimed the banker.
-Boshi could he have shown any re-
spect to you, after mastering its con-
tents2S
But, moment later, 1 looked in vain
for it everywhere. 1t was neither on the
table or under it.
Simply because you had never put it
thorel Don't interrupt me, please. You
thought you put it there, of course. See,
now. You snstched the paper from the
mans hand as he was falling under your
murderous stroke At that instant you
heard your sons approach. In fright
ened hutter, your first instinct was to
conceal the body. You didn't, think Of
saving time by looking the door. No;
you were too internally frightened for
that. Your first gesture was to throw
aside the paper, your next action was to
snatch up the body in your arms. In
stead of alighting on the table, the paper
must have slipped off, and fallen on the
body. Unawares to you, it was crumpled
up and included in your nervous clutch
of the body. Equally unawares to you,
it adhered in some way to your burdens
clothing, and accompanied it into the
interior of the safe. You locked up both
body and paper together"
He accompanied his sharply stated
theory with illustrative gesticulations
that greatly emphasized the force OF his
words.
ait may have so chanced," reluctantly
admitted the banker.
@Oh, he's deep one-he's a back
reacher-is Wormerl" said Croak, rubbing
his hands.
@This theory admitted, chirped out the
analytical prodigy, self satisfedly help
- 90 c0okbar inh cntfahla mil
at the brandy, who effected the disap-
pearance of both man and document2
That is the question"
-Ay, there's just where the rub comes
| in," said Croak.
@Has either Of you thought Of suspect
ing any one?'
Hardly. But we just half lf-imagined
| that some one Of the servants-say, Miss
| Winford-"
"Bosh againl Boncourt's the mani"
I. They looked at him in astonishment.
Sort of knocks you cold, ,leh? Werenf
exactly prepared for it, were your" chuck
led the clerk, enjoying the sensation ht
had caused.
with due Difference" said Marlowe
! fearful of drying the information at sitl
source once more, 1T seems to me hardl,
possible.
"At least extraordinary" said Croak
equally prudential.
You're out, both of you. I don't car
if that interview with you, Mr.. Marlowe
was Boncourt's first glimpse OF the in
terror of your Office, it was enough 10
him. That man is genius In his line
and his line is varied. Bolts and bar
and combination locks would melt befor
him.
Jasper, in his talk with you, must hav
lied. He had, doubtless, communicate
with Boncourt before seeking your pres
ence. He could have done so, for in
instance, through that late conner at tn
garden party-that, Captain What-dye
call-him you have mentioned. 1t coul
have been done in the course OF that cha
on racing matters-a sort Of between-the
lines whispering, as it were--with0ut 20
being any the wiser. h.
Men of this stamp are up to any sol
of snuff. Then, afterward, Jasper nf
having reappeared, after entering th
house, Boncourt drew his own conclr
sions correctly, made his way in after 70
had gone to bed, and the job was done
4 @This won't dot won't hang togetht
always with due Difference, of course
persisted Marlowe. Granting that boil
. and bars and combination locks woul
melt before his entrance, they cOuldn
melt together, on the inside, after his d.
parture; and the inner fastenings of Il
; entire room, when entered it this morn
ing, showed no trace Of having been di
turbed."
aOh. indeedl" was the sarcastic chi,
in response. @Then, of course, they cou
not have been disturbed, and made ia