The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-02-12

lNNAGEsa@a& where did you
Iy ia get Adams?" asked
" 1@S' the police marshal.
Y, "Volunte cred said
he'd iust come out Of the hospital
after spell OF sickness-.was
stranger, and had nothing to do; had
been reading accounts of the murder,
aud wanted to try for the reward, so 1
let him 60 ahead. Ho claims to have
two clews-a broken iron seal and
torn piece OF coat lining. Here hois
now"
A man Of about thirty-hve entered
the room where the two officials were
sitting
"Anything new, Adams?" said the
chief.
"Yes, sir" replied the newcomer,
emphatically. Glow coald we have
missed it? Look at that!"
Carefully he took from his pocket a
large, white envelope, stamped and
postmarked. It was partly torn, but
this much Of the superscription re-
NAMED: Mr.. William Dryden, Fair
fl
The chief examined it curiously,
and then said, rather contemptuous-
ly: ,
"Why, Adams. we found bushel Of
old envelopes in the dead lawyers
office. You haven't abandoned the
seal clew?"
The chief winked merrily at the
police marshal, but moment later he
bit his lip with yszation at his own
stupidity.
81 have abandoned nothing, sir, :"
replied Adams, with some heat. eve
have accounted for every person we
know of who entered the lawyers
Office the morning of the murder.
We have missed this man Dry
den. Examine the postmarks on
the other, that Of Fairfield Of August
Is. Dryden received that envelope
on the morning of the murder, came.
straight to the city and went to Eos
tsr's office with it. How else would
it have gotten there? Dryden killed
him, and I'm going to get Dryden. :"
He was on the train the following
morning for the suburban town Of
Fairfield. During the long, sleepless
hours of the night the name Of Dry
den had haunted him. He had tried
his beet to recollect who it was of that
namo he had once known, but at last
he gave it tip with q gesture OF wear
led resignation. Notwithstanding his
loss Of sleep he was foverishly awake.
He was on tho eve of solving tho
great murder mystery. There was no
ono to divide with him either tho
honor or the reward, not even Jack
son, his cnvious brother detective.
What better avocation could ho have
chosen, aud at time, too, when the
future had seemed so hopeless?
It was but short ride to Fairfield.
Adams went at once to tho little coun-
try hotel. AS he registered he looked
up at the portly landlord and casually
asked:
"Any city people here?"
"a few, sir. The Bradburys, the
Gillespios, old Mr. Dundon and young
Mrs. Dryden, poor thing!"
"Why poor thing'?"
Ho tried to conceal his anxiety in
the question, and felt he had failed.
But the landlord was stupid and
loquacious.
"Didn't 20 hear of it, sir? Her
husband left here the middle of August
aud has never been heard Of since.
Some thinks he's dead, but his wife
don't. He was only here once-I was
away at tho time. Sho never leaves
her room now, except to so to the
postoilice every day"
Adams was at the postoffice the next
day at the time the morning mail was
being distributed. He kept in the
background, for he wished to see
without being seen. Already he felt
ashamed of himself. The idea of spy
ing upon broken. hearted woman and
laying trap for the one she loved,
was something more than merely dis
tasteful to him.
She came at last fair, golden
haired woman. Even at distance
he knew that it was she before he
made an inquiry. As she drew near
he retired behind an alcove in the
postoffice and watched her with star
ing eyes. Slowly and with seeming
reluctance she left the delivery
window after her futile errand.
In her face there was an express
sion Of infinite sadness, yet in
her eyes still tlickered the light Of
hope. Adams stood there long after
she had Misrepresentation there
knowing we'll that his mission was at
an end. Never through his efforts