The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-29
BERBNICE ST. CYR.
A Story Of L00e, Intrigue,
.Es'. and Crime.
BY DWIGHT BALDWIN.

d" BY DWIGHT BALDWIN.
CHAPTER III.
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE
49, rs clear easel"
f NoM Mat Hyland, one OF
M the shrewdest detec-
".'' ~N tives of the Chicago
\t-SGAIf force. closed his to-
sETJ/A- bacco box with sharp
N\NNiVE w click, and looked
- rsIgA knowingly at his COM
- &R S~l panion.
U,NAN What have you de-
MJN Nh Stermined?"
MI" i Several things.
VIZ First and chiefest,
that this work, and bad work 1t Is, vas
commenced from the inside.
-Impossibie!'
Wait o moment, Mr.. Sears. The
crime was discovered shortly after 6
O'Clock, and the police at once notified.
] was just leaving the Twenty-secon
Street Station when the telephone came
in from the patrol box, and was the hrst
to reach the house."
&Eyerything in confusion. The old
man was dead, end the safe rifled as you
see now, the four servants in terror, and
" the daughter in fainting condition under
the care Of physician"
But why do you suspect On inmate OF
the house? Speak, sir! That old man
yonder has been father to me, and
must be doing something to bring his
mnr6erers tn instice"
Gently, my dear sir. That is exactly
what propose to help you do. l found
all the doors and windows secured, the
electric burglar alarms In perfect work
ing order-:not the slightest evidence, in
tact, that an entrance had been forced. !"
But John Kedzie, the only man in the
house, has been in Uncle Pauls service
for twenty years. You surely don't"
Not bit of it. But you are wron 6.
This house had another inmate last night.
Who, in heavens name?"
You heard Of the tire at the Exposi-
tion building?".
mo. But-don't bother with trifes.
Who was here?"
Read that"
The detective took o copy Of one of the
morning newspapers from his pocket and
indicated q paragraph in a long article
describing the fire OF the preceding night.
q. It consisted of brief but graphic ac-
count Of the awful peril of Berenice st.
Cyr and her subsequent gallant rescue by
an unknown young man, whose bravery
was awarded unstinted praise.
He seems to have driven away in their
carriage, commented Sears, when he had
completed the reading.
Yes. He is the murderer"
You don't mean it2"
Il surely do. had read the account
before news of the murder arrived, and
at once acted upon that theory. The
servant, John had shown him to his
room on the floor above. I lost no time
in getting there"
And you found"
THAT the bird had flown. The room
was without an occupant.
Strange! What does John say?"
I've not had chance to question him
since?"
There he is now. This way, John
What is it, Mr.. Almon?"' asked the
servant, ns, with look of mingled fea.
and horror, he approached the doorway
from which, only an hour before, he had
discovered the body of his murdered
master.
"What WAS this young mans name2"
queried Hyland, brusquely.
They called him Winters"
His first name2"
Il didn't hear that"
Describe him!"
-Ia not much in that line
DO the best you can."
He is tall, straight, we'll made, has
black hair, and no beard, except mus
taohe."
Good enough. What else?"
Very bright eyes, and the look of q
gentleman.
"ILnow him!" cried Sears.
-Indeedl" calculated the detective.
Yes. His name ia ole Winters. He
was employed for time by friend of
mine, Mr.. Max Morris, who discharged
him, something like month ago. for
stealing from his cash drawer"
Good! He's our man! No time must
be lost: With his name and description,
can arrest him before room"
Watt" urged Sears, laying his hand
upon the officers arm.
For what? Time is valuable; seconds
count in a game of this kind"
Did Mr.. st. Cyr treat this Winters
kindly?"
This question of the young man was
addressed to John.
Kindly? I should say so. He just
dotted on him, while Miss Bereniee-"
Never mind her" interrupted Sears.
an angry flush sweeping his dark but
rather handsome face. What did Uncle
Paul do?"
Treated him like son, and gave
him"
Swbok2s
The beautiful ring he always wore.
The one presented his dead son
George? Impossible!"
NO. I'm sure of it. I saw it on his
finger when he told me- goodnight in his
room"
Il can't understand it. But what has
he there?"
The speaker pointed to the right hand
of the dead man, which was fast
clinchea.
IN an instant the detective was bend
ing over the PROSTATE form.
1T may contain a clue-a lock OF the
murderer's hair, button from his coat,
= fragment Of cloth. Wsit!"
Had We not better leave that for the
eoroDaron oakad Raara interruptin0 the