St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-02-16
OPELOUsAs, LOUISIANA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 1896
were 10 drive 1t left the place, Fenn-


were TO drive 1t left the place, F'enn-
Ing gave them these ir1struetiunss
when yoti eoine to the Cache
Eulley, siz miles out, yoti IRE to leave
this box marked 4 under the eatalpa
tree where the bowlder Is, id The grove
on the right. II contains tools and
instruments for the surveyors who are
TO place d new bridge over the slough.
Handle it carefully place it under the
tree and go on.
He knew these men would carry out
his instructions, for they were
regularly in his service and were well
paid.
The truck got away just ono hour
| and twenty minutes before Fenning
got call at his office.
He recognized bis visitor at once ns
the man who Ind been following the
woman There was something about
tho fellow that instantly told Feuning
he Was d professional detective. Iid
Tas Jeeumiagly dressed ii good
clothes, bilt they were not worm with
the ease of familiarity. His general
appearanee Indicated inpHdenee ind
aoggedfless rather: than shfewdness
lie had one Of those faces, square;
immobile and hard, that are devoid of
ali emotion. His little bead eyes were
sunken and black and wore d steady;
imperturbable stare. He was u
inusulaE fellow with square broad
shoulders and significant bulges OF
muscles on his arms, but he moved
without elasticity or celebrity.
Can r see you alone, Mr.. FcnningY'
he asked, in q rasping but subdued
voice.
yes, sir replied Mr.. Fenning,
step right in here. Z
The moment they were seated IN the
private Office the man said: Where is
Mrs Hendricls2'
II took her TO private house early
this morning, replied Fenning.
s.5yhy did she leave the hotel7''
sBecause she was annoyed at your
iIlslfferab1e ilnpudence In dogging her
all the way from New York.
The man was d little surprised ut
this unexpected frankness. lie showed
il in his hesitation; his black eyes
stared steadily at Fenning, who Ind
leaned mfortablY back IN his chair
with the evident purpose OF Q leisurely
conversation. but they betrayed . Kind
Of blank uncertainty
ssshe came from the hotel directly
here last night?
I n + nd.
1nire her smartness in getting rid OF a
nuisance. 6
And you know where she is'''
s.Yes, sir, do, but you must not ex-
peet me to point her out to You before
understand the object OF your annoy
anee. # you will give me one good
and sufficient reason why yon should
follow her, I'll tell you where she Is. s
II guess T know, : said the uthers
she IS on her way to Hendricks before
this
sre not IN b offieer VIII sou
s. jtUtl
How do yoia know q not 81
ofhceT5'
because Ii yoti were. the Wunaan
you are IN search Of couldn't get out
Of this city without your knowing II;
that is, If you understood your busi-
ness. There has no boat left for
up river since last night, and yp1i
would have been at the trains as they
Left | don't pretend to know you, but
j notice you do not wear the red neck
tic that you sported in New York. 3
The men looked each ether in the
eyes. Tenning Wfls the most self
possessed a--tfc other tho most stolid
His black eyes had q flicker In them
that might mean weak astonishment
or 1t might mean contempt
.s'And notice. he said, that you
don't wear the same hair and the same
] clothes that you wore when we
boarded the Corinthian, Z
Jennings self-possession was here
I tested to the utmost. 4 don't know
| what you're talking about, he said.
Were you one of the men that robbed
the steamship Corinthian? and he
pushed his chair back O little with the
impulse of q sudden horror ut such
close contact.
s.Yes, you and / had hand IN II,
but Hendricks got the swag.
Fenning regarded the man with IN
! disguised astonishment. Did Mrs.
Hendricks hare hand in 1t, boo9''
..See here. said the man, there
! amt bit of use in this kind OF fenc-
ing. / was d witness Of the first job.
The wouaan's been singing gold evel
/ since, while Hendricks is carrying on
his underground works. !.
..Yes2s' said Tenning, rs ifcoaxing 3
crazy man to tell more
..And you run the office in town.
That's where the woman is now
underground. z
This was an admission that he did
/ not know where the Laran cave was
and Fenning was anxious to find out
/ inst how much he did know.
You are right, he said. She il
safe by this time. I've got 9 tunnel
that runs from this Office to the under,
ground place, but tell me about the
steamship. | have forgotten exactly
/ how we managed 1t.
i you're q steady one" said his
companion, t.but its no use you was
] there
II acknowledge it, said Fenning
seThe only trouble is / never can con
vince the fifty other people who knew
I / was here at the time that it's so
/ Now dare say, gou viii not have tina
difficulty. Yor1 haven't told me yei
i what you were sneaking after Mrs
8 II ard. ,.inIrs fcs.z IVns she fIaara2.,