Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-03-17

hing in it,
| After the officer had chosen and miXet
! his spirits and water, he began: Now
/ you know what's brought me here, dom
your
IF he was sure he wouldn't try t.
pump me-" argued Leander. Il would
not throw up just yet
Il suppose it's the ring" he replied
| innocentIy. You don't mean to say
you've got it back for me, Mr.. Inspect
or? Well, l am glad
| Il thought you set no particular val
ue on the ring when L met you last?
said the other.
| why" said Ieander, L may have
said SO out Of pOliteness, not wanting to
trouble you: but as you said it was the
statue you We're after chiefly, why ]
don't mind admitting that / shall be
! thankful indeed to get that ring back;
and 50 oyu've brought it have you,
Sir!''
He said this SO naturally, having
called in all his powers Of discrimination
to help him in his extremity, that the
detective was favOrabIy impressed; he
had already felt suspicion that he had
been sent here on a FOOLS errand, and
no one could have looked less like dar-
ing criminal and the trusted confederate
of still more daring ruttians than did
L"ander at that moment
Heard anything Of Potter, Iateiy:'
he asked wishing to try the effect Of a
sudden coup
Il don't know the gentleman said
Leander, firmly; for, after all, ne did
not.
Now, take care; he's been seen to
frequent this house. We know more
than you think, young man.
"Oh, if he bluffs, | can bluff too, -
passed through Leander's mind IN
Ispcc;Or BillbZOw," he said, Il give you
my sacred honor, I've never set eyes
ION him, he can't have been here, not
with my knowledge. It's my belief
you're tying to make out something
against me. IL you're a friend, Inspect
or, you'll tell me straight out"
That's not our way of doing bust
Ness; and yet, hang it, l ought to know
an honest man by this time! IWeddIe,
I'll drop the investigator, and speak
as man to man. You've been reported
to Inc (neyer mind by whom as the re-
Iceiver OF the stolen Venus-a pal Of this
very IOtter-that's what I've against
you, my man.
Il know who told You that" said
| ~
preciosu friend BraddIe!"
'Oh, you know them, do you: That's
an odd guess for an innocent man,
TWeddle
They found me out from inquiries
1T he gardens, said Leander; land as
Tor guessing, it's in this very paper. SO
it's me they've gone and implicated,
have they? All right, | suppose they
are men whose word you go by, sir
truthful. reliable kind of parties en-"
None of that, Tweddle," said the in
spector, rather uneasily I'VE 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. 1t
may be, or i may not be; but it's nv
duty to make the proper Investigations;
IL you were prince of the blood it
would be all the same
Wei all l can sa is,y that I'm as in
hocent rs my OWN toilet preparations
ASK yourself if it is likely? What could
| do with astoien statue-nOt to men
ton that I'm a respectable radesman
win reputation to maintain? Excuse
me. but Pm afraid those burglars have
been having lark with YOU. sir
He went just little too far here. for
the detective was visibfy irritated.
Don't chatter TO me- he said. IF
you're innocent SO much the better for
YOU; If that statue is found here after
this it will ruin you. II you know any
thing be it ever SO little about it the
best hing you can do is TO speak out
While there's time
Il can only say once more, I'm as in
nocent as the driveiing SHOW" repeat
ed Leander. why can't YOU believe
my word against those bIackgllards ="
Perhaps ! dc" said the other: but |
must make formal look round to ease
my conscience"
LeanderS compOSure nearly failed
him. by all MEANS he said at length.
come and ease oyur conscience all
over the house, sir, do; can show you
over
SOFTLY" said the detective; Ia be
gin here and work gradually up and
then down again"
Here said Leander, agtast; why,
you've seen all there is here"
Now. Tweddle, l shall conduct this
In my own way, il you please I've
beer following your eyes, Iweidle, and
they've told me tales. I'll trouble you
to oepn that cupboard you keep looking
at Sc"
Tins caipDoau!" cried aLeander;
why, you don't suppose I've got the
Venus in there, sir!'
III it's anywhere it's there. There's
no taking me in, l tell you-open lt!'
OH said Leander, lit is hard to be
the object of these cruel suspicious.
MIR. Inspector, listen to me. l can't
open that cupboard, and I'll tell you
why. "lou-you've been young your
self. Think how you'd feel In my stu
ation-and consider her. AS gentle
man YOU won't press it. I'm Surer'
III l am making any mistake | shall
know how TO apologize" said the in
spector If oyu don't open that cup
board. | shall
Newer exclaimed I4eander. I'm