The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-13

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.
ut may have so chanced," reluctantly
admitted the banker.
aOh, he's deep one-he's back
reacher-is Wormer!" said Croak, rubbing
his hands.
This theory admitted" chirped out the
analytical prodigy. self satishsdiy help;
ing himself to ano her lnhospltaole, pull
at the brandy, who effected the disap..
pearance of both man and document!
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-imagined
that some one ct the servants-say, MISS
| Winford-"
-Bosh again! Boncourt's the mani
They looked at him in astonishment.
Sort of knocks you cold ,Ieh9 Weren't
exactly prepared for it, were your" chuck
led the clerk, enjoying the sensation he
had caused.
with due Difference" said Marlowe,
fearful of drying the information at its
! source once more, it seems to me hardly
possible" :,
AT least extraordinary" said Crosk,
equally prudential.
You're ont, both of you. I don't care
if that interview with you, MIR. 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 lire is varied. Bolts and bars
and combination locks would melt before
him.
Jasper, in his talk with you, must have
! lied. He had, doubtless, communicated
with Boncourt before seeking your pres
ence, He could have done SO, for in
instance, through that late-comer at the
garden party-that Captain What-d'ye.
call-him YOU have mentioned. It could
| have been done in the course OF that chat
on racing matters-a sort of between-the-
lines whispering, as it were-wlthout you
being any the wiser
-hnsea 81 tfiis stamp are up TO any sort
of snuff. Then, afterward, jasper not
having reappeared, after entering the
house. Boncourt drew his own conclu-
sions correctly, made his way in after you
had gone to bed, and the job was done"
This won't dot won't hang together
ALWAYS with due Difference, of course
persisted Marlowe. Granting that bolts
and bars and combination locks would
melt before his entrance, they couldn't
melt together, ON the inside, after his de-
parture; and the inner fastenings of the
entire room, when entered it this morn
ing, showed no trace of having been dis
turbed."
aOh, indeed!" was the sarcastic chirp
in response. "Then, of course, they could
not have been disturbed, and made fast
again from the outsider No, no; OF course
not! It stands to reason that both man
and paper effected their own disappear
snce, OF were carried away through the
ceiling OF through the floor, or were dis
solved into the air. Did you notice any
loose boards or broken plasterng lying
around? Pardon me; if I had known OF
your having formulated theory of your
own I would not have ventured- ="
"A charming day, .gentlemen,, suddenly
interrupted kindly and familiar voice.
|
that would ind you here. Nice, seclud-
ed spot, too, and no artifcialities.
They all looked up, good deal sur
prised.
The speaker was Boncourt himself. He
strolled carelessly into view, whipping
his shapely leg airily with his delicate
little cane, and coolly appropriated one
end Of Wormer's bench, but nevertheless
| mipht have entered the garden SO softly
as to have overheard much that had been
said.
THE ,deuoe" said Marlowe, mastering
his confusion with difficulty. II made
sure of you being at jasmine Lodge, with
Adele and Noel.
II was there, Of course, but felt bored,
and came over here to find some Of you.
Adele has headache. and will not enter.
tain any one to-day-not even Noel. He
has gone to take her a brief boating, how
ever, and wished me to say that he would
dine with YOU"
! ITO BE CONTINUED