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

them a baleful fire, which the expert
enced detective instinctively labelled
dangerous" in his own mind.
You would have me to believe" she
said. speaking very slowly and dis
tinctly, ''that Ernest Norton Is not only
traitor and liar. but that he is,
Furthermore, thief?'
"Well, MISS" was the reply. "you put
it rather more broadly than cared to,
but that's about the size of 1t; and l
think 1 have given you proofs enough
to satisfy even you"
"You have" she assented, after a
momentary pause. you have pieced
the evidence together as l, IN my blind
| love, could never have done. Yes, 1t Is
all clear enough to me now. Ernest
Norton deserted me once before, and
1 was mad enough to follow him. He
has deserted ME again, and second
! time l have tried to follow him. Let
him 70 where he will. And so ends
this miserable chapter in my life"
Pardon me, my dear young lady
demonstrated Mr.. Skinner energetic
ally, "but the chapter is not ended
vet: or, if it Is, there is another to fol-
| low. with a rather different ending to
it. You see, for young man to de-
sert his sweetheart isn't any crime in
the eyes of the law, however mean
and dastardly it may look in the eyes
, of all right-minded people. But for
that young man to bolt off with his
sweetheart's property in his possession
is very serious matter indeed. You
shall come with me to Bow street to-
morrow and lay sworn Information
that will set the entire machinery OF
the criminal investigation department
in motion. Mark my words, the next
session will see Mr.. Ernest Norton
neatly fitted with sentence of from
five to ten years penal servitude. And
1 daresay you will get most Of your
! jewelry back"
Zana heard him patiently to the end.
II shall have no hand or part In his
punishment" she said coolly. land
most certainly shall not go to Bow
street to do as you propose. AS for the
money and jewels, since they are the
price of which he has bartered his own
honor and my love, let him keep them!'
But, my dear young lady" exclaim-
ed Mr.. Skinner, utterly aghast at SO I'M
business-like decision. Pray reflect!
You surely will not allow yourself to
be tricked and robbed without making
an effort to bring the culprit to justice
and to recover what belongs to you!
| The idea is simply monstrous"'
II have reflected Zana answered,
'sand have given you my decision"
Then where do l and the police
come in?'' demanded Mr.. Skinner eX-
| citedly. Nothing can be done without
| a warrant, and to obtain that it is es-
! sential that YOU should consent to pros
ecute."
(Which 1 refuse to do she replied
decidedly "Pray, let us understand
each other. l sought your assistance
/ to find Ernest Norton, not to hunt him
down as criminal. am very CRATE
| full to you for the efforts you have
made, but l shall need your services
no farther. And, with my thanks,
please accept this"
"What! Another ESQ note!' exclaim-
| ed the detective, glancing at the prof
fered paper mot if know it! Josiah
Skinner may have had to do queer
thing now and then, in the way Of bus
mess, but he amt exactly a horse
leech. Why! The first note you gave
me isn't half earned YETI
"Then good-by, Mr.. Skinner said
Zana, YEARLY. ''You can do no more
| for me ID. -. unless
Unless what, miss? Heaven knows
! I'm willing enough to do my best-if
you'd only let me!'
Unless she continued, staring
| modify into the fire, lit be to make
quite sure that Ernest Norton really
! did call at the bank
"She's going bit off her head" NUT
| tered the detective. This trouble has
proved too much for her. All right,
! miss" he added aloud, "I'll see to that
Just to satisfy you. Meanwhile, if I
were you would take good, long,
! brisk walk; it Is what always do my
self when things go wrong. Think well
over what I told you about the war
rant, for I simply refuse to accept
your present decision as final.'
And so he left Fer, still staring
blankly into the fire.
| Finding no news at Exeter street
! from the cab inspectors, he decided to
fulfil what he regarded as the very
perfunctory task of again calling at
| the bank, merely in fulfilment Of his
promise. But, lacking the audacity to
beard the manager in his sanctum once
more, he this time addressed himself
| to the cashier whom he found tenn
porarily disengaged and disposed to
be chatty.
"lts about this Mr.. Ernest Norton, -
| explained Mr.. Skinner, in his most
apologize tone. you see, l promised
the young lady would call here
ooh, l understand remarked the
cashier. "Of course, she's very anx-
ious. poor girl. Well, you may tell her
that we have had no news Of Mr.. Nor
ton as yet"
"Of course you would know him by
sight?" put in Mr.. Skinner.
"Know him" repeated the cashier
"Rather. A very common looking man
altogether, with the most piel cling pair
Of grey eyes ever saw in a human
head"
piercing grey eyes, you say?' OBJ
served the detective, producing his
note book and turning over the leaves
rapidly. "Hair4"
"Darkish."
mot brown"
We'll, very dark brown, perhaps
"Moustache?"
"None at ALL
'Height" almost gasped Mr. Skin
ner staring eagerly at his notes.
"a bit above the ordinary. think,
said the cashier, marvelling somewhat
at all the cross-questioning.
| .sp,,t MT civ foot -, u,,aripd tho de