San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-12-23

Tor guessing. ITS IN TINS very paper SC
it's me they've gone and implicated, have
they? All right, | suppose they're men
whose word you'd go by, wouldn't you,
sir-truthful, reliable kind of parties,
eh?"
None of th.t, Tweddle," said the in
spector, rather uueasily. ave officers
are bound to follow up any clue, no
matter where it comes from. | was in.
formed that that Venus is concealed
somewhere about these premises. II
may be, or it may not be: but it's my
duty to make the proper Investigations;
if you were prince of the blood it
would be all the same"
well, all can say is, that I'm as in
nocent as my own toilet preparations.
Ask yourself if it is likely? What could
do with stolen statue-not to men
ton that I'm a respectable tradesman,
with reputation to maintain? Excuse
me, but I'm afraid those burglars have
been 'aving lark with you, sir.
He went just little too far here, for
the detective was visibly irritated.
Don't chatter to me-" he said. at
you're innocent so much the better for
you; if that statue is found here after
this it will ruin you. If you know any
thing, be it ever so little, about it the
best thing you can do is to speak out
while there's time"
IL can only say once more, I'm as in
nocent as the driveling snow" repeat
ed Leander "Why can't you believe
my word against those blackguards?"
Perhaps | do" said the other; but
must make formal look round to ease
my conscience"
Leander'S cOmposure nearly failed
him. by all MEANS" he said at length,
"come and ease your conscience all
over the house, sir, do; can show you
over"
"Softly," said the detective; an be.
gin here and work gradually up and
then down again.
"Iere?" said Leander, aghast; "why,
you've seen all there is here"
Now, Tweddle, l shall conduct this
in my own way, if you please. I've
been following your eyes, Tweddle, and
they've told me tales. I'll trouble you
to open that cupboard you keep looking
at So"
This cupboard?" cried Leander;
"why, you don't suppose I've. got the
Venus in there, sir"
"If it's anywhere it's there! There's
no taking me in, | tell you-open it,"
"Oh!" said Leander, 1T is hard to be
the object of these cruel suspicious.
Mr.. Inspector, listen to me. | can't
open that cupboard, and I'll tell you
why. You-you've been young your
self. Think how you'd feel in my situa-
tion-and consider her. AS a gentle
man you won't press it, I'm sure!"
If Tn, lyin1r foil I Shnl1
know how to apologize, said the in
spector. "If you don't open that cup
board | shall"
"Never!" exclaimed Leander. "I'n die
first" and he threw himself upon the
handle.
The other caught him by the should
ers and sent him twirling into the oppo-
site corner; and then, taking a key from
his own pocket, he unlocked the door
himself.
Il never encouraged her." whim-
pered Leander, as he saw that all was
lost.
The officer had stepped back in silence
from the cupboard-then he faced Lean
der, with changed expression. Il sup
pose you think yourself devilish sharp?"
he said, savagely; and Leander discover
Gu JIdJ JllC CupDOdEu was dS DdTS DIS
| Mother Hubbards!
He was not precisely surprised, ex-
| cept at first. "She's keeping out of the
| way; she wouldn't be the goddess she
is if she couldn't do trifling thing like
| that" was all he thought of the pheno-
menOn. He forced himself to laugh a
little. "Excuse me-" he said, "but you
did seem so set on detecting something
wrong that couldn't help humoring
you!"
| Inspector Bilbow was considerably
| out of humor, and gave Leander to I'M
derstand that he would laugh in a GER
tain obscure region, known as "the
other side of his face, by and by. "You
take care, that's my advice to ou,young
man. I've deuced good mind to ar
rest you on suspician as it is" he said,
| holly.
"Lor', sir" said Leander, "what for
for not having anything in that cup
board?"
ats my belief you know more than
you choose to tell. Be that as it may, l
shall not take you into custody for the
| present; but you pay attention to what
l am going to tell you next. Don't you
attempt to leave this house or to remove
anything from it till you see me again,
and that'u be some time tomorrow
evening. If you do attempt it you'll be
apprehended at once, for you're being
watched. | tell you that for your OWE
sake, Tweddle; for I've no wish to get
you into trouble if you act fairly by
me. But mind you stay where you are
for the next twenty-four hours.
"And what's to happen then?" said
| Leander."
81 mean to have the whole house thor.
oughly searched, and you must be ready
to give us every assistance - that's
what's to happen. 1 might make a
secret of it, but where's the use? II
you're not a fool you'll see that it won't
do to play any tricks. You'd far better
stand by me than Potter.