Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-01-04
BY MAURICE H. HERVE

! "A quarter OF AN nOuf. fOlfeu inc
indignant Irislman. making bolt for
the door. That's what comes of Civ
ing information to the police" And,
without further parlcy. he fled to the
nearest telegraph office.
"Clever old party. your Irish friend"
remarked Trail. laughing: and falr
cy he'll be of use to us yet. before we
get at the bottom of this queer case,
But it was rather confiding of him to
expect me to let him use the wires be-
fore had my irons in the fire. BY the
way. l suppose that. having ascer-
| tanned the fate of the missing heir,
your interest in the affair practically
ends. ehy''
why. YES" assented, SONG what re-
luctantly. practically. l suppose it
does. so far as Hawkins & Co. arc con-
cerned; but, personally. am as keen
as ever to solve the mystery Of poor
| Tom Webb's disappearance. and that
| would seem to be bound up in the run
ming to earth of the man who str:,ngled
Luke Arnewood."
THAT is So said Trail. ''unless APP
! EealmnceS lie even worse than usual
But. in the name of common sense. my
dear fellow. dent buoy yourself up
with any hope of ever seeing Webb
alive. 1t is simply impossible that he
should evade capture all this time
were he still above ground
I'm afraid you're right | replied,
despondently. But it's some comfort
to know that the case is still in your
hands, and that you seem more hope
full of worrying through now than
have ever seen you before
''Ics. thanks to the happy thought
which prompted you to bring Mr..
O'Flynn here" he reioined. briSkly.
and now. to drop tee business for a
moment. may ask YOU very person
al question:"
"Certainly. any uestion YOU chonsn."
Have You any special reason apart
of course. from ordinary friendship
for Your evident anxiety to ascertain
Webb'S fatc;''
Yes" l replied. Il have. l was prar-
tically engaged to his sister before this
wretclled affair."
II understand" he said. interrupting
me. gently. "WomaE-like she hla!nrs
you for not saving him against himself.
as the phrase goes. Well. between our
selves. it is pretty well recognized here
that this is one of the most awkward
cases we have had to deal With for
same years past. The idea in the
Yard is that it was a~'one-man job.
and | needn't tell you. who are almost
one of us. that it's long Odds against
our mailing a clever scountirel who
works alone. or who-if he has IL con.
fetlerate-putS the latter ont of the
way before he has time to round ol.
him
81 Won't have it even suggested that
poor Tom Webb was a confederate in
this affair." l rejoined. Ectly.
We'll. call him dupe. if you like"
said Trail. ut is clear that he was
mixed up in the business. somehow or
other. and have not the faintest lo,lbt
that his knowledge of the crime cost
him his life. However let that pass
:. for =. the present The full truth can
only come out when we have the ac+u
al murderer by the heels. Thanks to
you. l have now real clue to work
upon, and-1 think see my way"
These last words We're 81 Fen in \
singularly calm. convincing way. I
knew that Tom Trail. although a man
we'll under thirty. and but recently pro-
NOTED as inspector. was regarded as
one of the smartest men in the depart
ment: and his quiet confidence carried
conviction with it that l would vet
stand justified in the eyes of AIadge
Webb. True. l would rather have
stood indebted to my own personal eff
forts than to his: but I was not my
own master. and I could no, we'll ask
for leave on private affairs at Il time
when Mr.. Hawkins. as vet barely con-
valescent. could SO i'll spare me. And
this | explained to sympathiZing In
spcctor Trail.
; II understand perfectly was his
comment; land think it very hard
lines that. having found the scent. you
should be debarred from joining in
the hunt: but. at all events, you can
have IL lcok-in now and then. For in
stance what's the earliest YOU can get
away from the office this afternnon?"
Five. Or Il quarter to- answered
Frightening up.
"I'll call for you at five sharp. Dress a
ables or much money"
''AIay / ask where YOU are going 4 o (!
Soho?''
NJ. He TepiiSN. ~! aSH:H.
aboard the W'airoa. then?' then. l
suggested.
aQuite right he assented. APPROX
ingly. '.The Wairoa it is. She's now
berthed in the Southwest India docks;
and one of my men. who is used to
seafaring folk has her under obselva-
|: ton But confcund tall. That Irish
man has bolted with the photographer!
mo. he hasn't" ! put in. quietly.
They're in. my pocket I
! Thank goodness" he remarked,
with a sigh Of relief. I'VE shall prob
ably want them. So bring them along.
! Five d clock. mind, sharp" 81
hurried back to Exeter street. to i'll
hsHre that my work for the day would
aby the time specified. dis
patched messenger to my rooms for
La rough boating suit, and awaitefI.tbe
Inspectors arrival with some impa-
| thence,
~ assAlr4 -
ie.,-.e,es..4 CHAPTER VII,