The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-03-14

| He did not disturb IT, but Immediate
~ retrcated to safe distance, from
which spot no kept his eyes riveted
upon that corner of the room where Bad
niger had been seated.
| He waited and waited. Several law
yers came in the course of an hour and
sat at the table. One even picked M
the list and glanced carelessly at it; but
no tossed it aside again.
| Suddenly o man came through the
library door who set his heart to beat
ing.
Mr.. Slivey, OF the firm of Slivey,
Tove & Sons, approached the table. $50
He was very cautious man evident
ly. HE won't pick up that list yet, "
thought the detective; ''but he'll pick it
up nevertheless"
Sure enough Mr.. Slivey, after few
minutes wait stretched forth long.
lean skinny hand and took hold Of the
little piece Of paper. He beckoned up
one of the boys and gavo 1T to him.
The boy passed the detective on his
way to the book shelves, grumbling as
no went: That's the second time ]
had that very list of books this blessed
morning."
The detective watched Mr. Slivey
closely for the next few minutes. He
was but very short time in the
library before he got up and went out
The boy came and put away the books
again.
''He's got his message sure" thought
Marshall. "Now to find out what ii
is" He called up fresh boy and gave
tho list to him in order to avert sus-
picion.
Unfortunately the 10y he called was
busy. He eyed the list for a moment
and handed it to his companion.
''Here, jim; take those books to the
old fellow over there with the blue
glasses"
Jim took it He was simply thunder
struck.
Whats in the burned thing" he
| CALCULATED. That's the third time
I've been asked for those books this
morning"
However he took them over to the de-
tective. eying him meantime SUSPECT
ously.
Marshall took the first book on the list
and opened it at page 1874. On that
page he found underlined in pencil
the word further" He went through
the whole list. picking out the marked
words and writing each opposite it's own
book.
The result then stood:
Letter further another must before &C
I any more have expect night
Read either backwards or forwards
this message was rank nonsense. For
quarter OF an hour Marshall kept re-
volving the words in his mind. Sud-
denly an idea flashed across his brain.
With fingers trembling with eagerness
he placed the books before him In their
alphabetical order. A cry of joy, with
difficulty suppressed. arose to his lips,
as the result stood thus:
Expect another letter night must
have more before go any further.
Who was to expect another letter?
Sliveyl Of course. And might" simply
meant Tonight" And Badinger must
have more money before he would 'sgo
any AuESu0Es I0 saw ~ ull now
With an extraordinary feeling of ella
ton, the detective left the library. As
he stepped across the hall to the eleva-
tor, he disposed of his wig and glasses
and turned down the collar Of his coat
When he stepped into the elevator, he
was once more the new clerk OF Messrs.
Capias, Summons e. Circuit All trace
of the old gentleman with his fiery red
hair and the blue spectacles had disap-
peared. Perhaps he had gone over into
the water Office to pay his taxes. Who
knows?
at is Internally hot in this closet
Can't get out for q minute" COM
planned poor Mr.. Capias.
mot unless you want to spoil every
thing. He'll be here, tell you. as soon
rs every thing is quiet You mark my
words You won't have long to wait
It's nearly eight now"
'But I'm suffocating." pleaded Mr..
Cspias Pm not accustomed to being
shut up in closets. And he won't come
any way. for / heard him ring upa
friend on the telephone and invite him
to dinner"
''I'll bet q weeks wages that was q
blind. How do you know he wasn't just
talking into the receiver, without any
Any ono can invite peo-
pie to dinner at that rate and not ruin
Hark! What's that Hush,
not = sound, mind you. ] heard y KEY
In the lock-"
It was quite dark in that closet in Mr..
Capias' room. They listened and heard
. key inserted in the door of the outer
office and caught the sound Of footsteps
cautiously approaching. In another
key grated in the door of the
private room and man entered.
By the light Of sulphur match which
be struck noiselessly, they looked and
saw Badinger-the confidential Badin-
ger.
He lit little piece of candle and
placed it on tho very desk where Capias
bad that day written an important let