Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-12-22

ible and remained so even after the best
efforts Of the county police to solve the
mystery had exhausted themselves.
After this the town began to acquire a
bad name, and one or two families NOV
ed away. Yet no one was found who
was willing to admit that these various
persons had been the victimsfof foul
play till month later another case
came to light of a young man who had
left the village for the hillside station
and had never arrived at that or any
other destination so far as could be
learned. AS he was distant relative of
wealthy cattle owner in Iowa, who
came on posthaste to inquire into his
nephew's fate, the excitement ran high,
and through his efforts and that of Mr..
Trohm the services Of our Office were
called into play. But the result has
been nil. We have found neither the
bodies Of these men nor any clew to
their fate
could not help casting an envious
glance at the pocket where felt sure
that the map had asked for lay.
"Yet you have been there?" sug-
gested
He nodded.
Wonderful I exclaimed. "And
you came upon no suspicious house, no
suspicious person."
The finger with which he was rub.
bling his eyeglasses went round and
round the rims with q slower and slow
er and still more thoughtful motion.
EVERY town has its suspicious look
ing houses, he slowly remarked, "and,
as for persons, the most honest often wear
lowering look in which an unbridled
imagination can see guilt. l never trust
in appearances of that kind I"
"What else can you trust in, / said,
"where all is impenetrable as in this
case?"
His finger, going slower and slower,
suddenly stopped.
In my knowledge Of persons" said
he, knowledge of their fears, their
hopes and their individual concerns If
l were 20 years younger" he stole
glance at me in the mirror which
made me bride; did he think / was
only 20 years younger than himself?-T
Wouit, liC NtIt VII, Sui 81
acquainted with every man, woman
and child there Here he drew himself
up with jerk. "But the day for that
! is passed." said he. Il am too old and
too crippled to succeed in that undertake
| ing. Having been there once, am q
marked man. My walk alone betrays
me. He whose good fortune it will be
to get at the bottom Of these peoples
hearts must awaken no suspicious as to
his connection with the police. Indeed
do not think that any man can succeed
in doing this now"
started. This was frank showing
of his hand at least No man! 1t was
woman's aid he was after, then. l
laughed as thought Of it. l had not
thought him either SO presumptuous or
SO appreciative of talents of character
SO directly in line with his own.
Don't you agree with me, MADAME"
/ did agree with him, but had
character of great dignity to maintain,
SO l only looked at him with an air of
marked severity.
II do not know of any woman who
would undertake such task" l OBJ
served.
"No?" He smiled with that air of for
bearance which is SO exasperating to
me. "Well, perhaps there isn't any
such woman to be found 1t would take
one of very uncommon characteristics,
l own"
"Pishp cried. "Not so very!"
Indeed ! think you have not fully
taken in the case" he urged in quiet
superiority. "The people there are Of
the higher order of country folk. Many
of them are of extreme refinement. One
family"-I thought his tone changed
the least in the world here-"is poor
enough and elegant enough to interest
even such woman as yourself.
"Indeedp' / answered with just
touch of my fathers hauteur to hide
the stir Of curiosity his words naturally
evoked.
ut is in some such home" he went
ON with an ease that should have warn
ed me that he had started on this pur-
suit with quiet determination to win,
"that the clew will be found to the
mystery we are considering. Yes, you
may well look startled, but that conclu-
sion is the one thing brought away
with me from--X. let us say. Iregard
it as one of some moment. What do you
think Of it?''
"Well," said I, sit makes me feel
like recalling that pish uttered a few
minutes ago. 1t would take woman Of
uncommon characteristics to assist you
in this matter"
II am glad we have got that far,
said he.
A lady," 1 went on.
"Most assuredly lady"
paused. Sometimes discreet silence
is more sarcastic than speech.
"Well, what lady would lend herself
to this scheme?' asked at last.
The tap, tap Of his fingers on the rim
of his glasses was my only answer.
II do not know of any," said l.
His eyebrows rose perhaps hairs
breadth, but / noted the implied sar-
casm and for an instant forgot my dig
nifty.
4 - Il