San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-08-25

bedroom, Wnat'S the news! Are we
going to share the spoils tonight, or are
you to take the whole burden of failure
ON your shoulders andConfess you're
stumped?"
Before we begin our business prop
err, " said Goringe, ignoring the inspect
or's questions, Il have a report to make
to you in your official capacity Iwould
have gone round to the station this
morning only that decided it was best
for me to keep dark, and took the lib
erty of keeping my report back until
you called"
Report of what?"
''An entry was made here some time
last night-probably between the hours
of 10 and ~ O'Clock, possibly later. "
"Phewp' whistled the inspector.
"What does this point to? Mean to say
any one entered the house while you
were in it,"
THAT is matter we can discuss
later. did not arrive here until mid
night. Now, Briggs, am going through
what may seem to you bit of tomfool-
cry. Put that last little burglary job out
of your head for the present, and I
think we may safely start operations. I
am now going to try and demonstrate
to you how the money was stolen"
"Do you still think that the notes are
warm? But I suppose I mustn't ask
such question"
II have no objection to answer you,
though I am little disturbed by this
last entry into the house. / have not
changed my mind-the notes are still
in the house.
"All right. But do you think it is
better to search for them in the dark
than with the aid of a light? My bulls
eye is at your service"
Thanks We may require it later.
At present prefer the dark. Now, will
you seat yourself in Mrs. Davorn's
room? will remain here for the pres
ent."
"Do you want to be locked in?" asked
the inspector, with a suspicion of play
fitness
mot just yet. Recollect / am seri-
Gus. am going to stake all I'm worth
Il mean my reputation-on the expert
ment.
SIS this to be final performance or
a dress rehearsal, or what?"
"There has been no rehearsal, Briggs,
but flippancy doesn't agree with You
nor with me- am in a very irritable
mood now. Pray be serious. Now will
you get down to the room which the
dead woman occupied, and sit there un-
til come to You, with the door closed
NOT locked? And don't speak to me
again until 1 speak to you"
"All right" said Inspector Briggs,
rising to his feet.
He could not help feeling amused at
the notion of Goringe converting him
self into kind of thought reader, but
he felt the detective was il no humor
to be played with. With noiseless steps
he passed out on the landing, descended
the five steps and entered the room in
which Mrs. Davorn had died.
Here he seated himself, and in few
moments he found that his playful pro-
pensities had deserted him, and that he
felt more uncomfortable than ever he
had felt in his life. He sat in the dark
for several minutes, prey to the most
uneasy thoughts Practically he was
unarmed. He had no revolyer-nothing
but his whistle and pair of handouts.
What ON earth was Goringe doing?
Perhaps the man had gone suddenly
mad and had deceived him into the lone
" house. But that was too foolish
thought to harbor. And yet it was all
very strange, Goringe's manner most of
all Not a sound in the house. He could
not sit here in the dark much longer.
Not unless he could hear noise-some-
thing which would direct his thoughts
from that hideous bed in the corner
where the woman had died. Was it
murder? Was it, as the doctor said,
natural death?
Inspector Briggs was seated facing
the door. As he was about to make
some noise, to shuttle his feet or stand
up, and listen even to the creaking of
his own boots, he thought he saw the
bedroom door moving. His eyes could
now distinguish objects in the room.
No sound had reached his ears. He sat
gazing spellbound at the door, which
gradually moved inward with no noise
In a moment, just as the inspector
felt he could bear the horrid silence no
longer, he saw the figure of Goringe en-
tering the room.
The detective, still moving noiseless-
", walked to the bed, remained along
side it for some moments-an apprecia-
49, / H.,