Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-09-02

Us L nave UCcu lOlu, uDOn 4 similar
errand here?"
Quite so, SIR" said Mr.. Skinner.
Well, Mr.-h'm-Mr. Skinner,
apart altogether from the fact that
bank managers do not haOitually d.
vulge their clients addresses to inquir-
Ing ladies or to their agents, l am
afraid 1 could not help you in this
matter, even if I wished to-. do not
know Mr.. Nortons whereabouts N.Y.
self"
Mr.. Skinner stared at the speaker, in
genuine surprise. "That is somewhat
unusual, take it, sir, is it not?' he
yentured to ask.
somewhat so, dare say" was the
reply. II forgot to ask Mr.. Norton
for his address, and it never occurred
TO him, l suppose, to give it. Anyhow,
the fact is as tell you. When Mr.
Norton calls, l shall inform him Of
these inquiries. Meanwhile, good day,
Skinner"
"One question more, if you please,
SIR" pleaded the detective. ut has
most important bearing on the case.
Did Mr.. Norton. upon the occasion of
his visit, deposit with you a quantity
OF very valuable jewelry, either in his
own name or in that of my client,
Miss Zana. to whom it belongs?'
Most certainly mott" answered the
manager, impatiently. His business
with me was of purely financial and
personal character"
With this item of information to con-
sole him. Mr.. Skinner was fain to beat
a retreat; and, indeed, the longer he
rejected upon Norton's omission to
deposit the jewels, the stronger grew
ms conviction that he had fathomed
the true reason of his disappearance.
totally different aspect.
From professional roint of view
Norton could no longer be regarded
merely as faithless lover, but as
common, absconding thief.
Il don't much like telling her so
straight out" muttered the detective
to himself as he wendell his way to
Craven street. "She does seem so un-
common fond of this scamp But I
must make her understand how the
land les
Zana received him as usual, eagerly,
expectantly.
"Well. MISS" he began, with a short
preliminary cough. Il haven't vet
found the cabman who drove Mr.. Nor
ton from Waterloo; but I'm pretty GER
tain to have call from him before the
day is out"
"Ahw exclaimed Zana. "That is ~
deed good news; for. of course, this
cabman will be able to inform You of
Ernest's destination after he left the
station"
'Most likely-up to certain point"
assented Mr.. Skinner drily, though I
don't for a moment suppose the young
gentleman stopped at the place where
he discharged the driver. fancy he's
too clever hand for that. Still, it
would be the first stage, at all events,
upon his track"
"What do you mean?' demanded
Zana nervously. for there was that in
the mans tone which alarmed her.
II can best answer that question,
miss, by asking you two or three" was
the reply. "First of all, what did Mr..
Norton tell you was his first and most
important object in hurrying up to
London?'
'To procure the special license. You
know that"
"Well,' pursued Mr.. Skinner, you
found, upon inquiry, that he took no
steps whatever to procure that license,
although he might easily have done so,
either before or after he called at the
bank"
"He was prevented from doing so,"
protested Zana. II tell you he muct
have been prevented"
The detective shrugged his shoulders
as though plying the girls blindness
to patent facts.
sHave it so," he said little irritably
sAnd now tell me what was his prin-
cipal object in visiting the bank? Was
it to place your jewels there for safe
keeping? Did he not tell you so him
self?''
"He told me he would do" admitted
Zana.
every WE'LL" pursued Mr.. Skinner.
Now, as matter of fact, he did visit
the bank, transacted some business of
his own, but deposited no jewell.
whatever 1t is not pleasant task for
me to have to put the case thus plainly
before you. But cannot you see the
inevitable conclusion to which these
facts point-to say nothing Of his fail
ure to meet yea at the station. or to
communicate With you ever since?
The cool, calculating tones of the de-
tective's view, perhaps even more than
the ineXorable logic Of the words, fell
upon the girls heart like some icy,
SllltcDItS lOIIt:!t, anu Scclllcu 10 luFll
it to stone Silently she buried her
face in her hands and. save for an
agonized quiycrins Of i.ei slight form,
remained thus motionlcSs during sew
eral minutes.
"She'll have what womenfolk call a
good cry, presently thought Mr.. Skin
ner land then she'll feel BETTER
But for once his judgment was at
fault. There was not the faintest
G. | NV
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