Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-02-16


one 70" f<'i'c IN yoatT hU1ld.'
missing. He placed the red pawn he
had taken from his pocket beside the
Others Il was q facsimile There could
be DC question that it belonged to the
So. In2z, Dsrrcns turned his attention
to the white pieces. He scrutinized the
delicate wo:',,- Of the bishops embroid-
e1e:l ve;tz'le2a$s, the carved pagodas on
tlc backs ii the elephants, the flowing
robes Of the king and queen. He took
tho white queen in his hand and ex-
a1Einea the carving Yes; a tiny piece
had been Clipped off. just little frag-
1lent OF the delicate ivory filigree
crown that rested on the curling hair
He replaced the pieces in the box, ex-
ceDt the red pawn and the white queen,
and, taking from his pocketbook the
scrap Of ivory that he picked up from
the library floor, fitted it exactly into
the broken part of the crown Yes, be-
You'd all doubt, this was the set of
chessmen stolen from The Grange. And
where had he found them? In the house
OF the fancee of the man now lying
under sentence Of death for the murder.
A sudden revulsion of feeling seemed
to sweep over Darrent. He had, he felt,
been wasting his sympathy to no pur-
pose. Doubling his own acumen, he had
started on fresh track, he had COM
menced to reconsider all his conclusions
and yet the very first new step that he
had taken had only the more deeply
confirmed the damning evidence that
his former efforts had accumulated.
''Mr. Darrent, do you think it will
help your case? Do you think these will
prove anything?" she asked, breaking
the long pause.
"Let me ask you few questions be-
fore I answer -
Eyes, anything you like-anything
that will help Astray."
"Where did you get these chessmen p
''They were sent to me-"
'By Whom?''
II do not know
"Was there no letter or message with
them?''
'*None, she hesitatingly answers.
"Come, come; you must confde the
whole truth to nle if I am to help you
and Astray. When did you receive
them?''
"Two days after the murder
"How?"
''They came by express"
'Have you the wrapper still2''
81 dare say can find it. Shall I seef''
Zone moment. You do not know who
sent them2''
emo; but the same morning I had
letter from Astray, written in Chicago,
telling me that small box would come
addressed to me; that was to unpack
and take care Of it for him until we
met
''You did not know he had been at
Norcombe?''
"No."
"You have never seen these chessmen
before2''
"No."
'Astray has never spoken to you
about them?'
"Never.'''
''Thank you; that is all. You may
now find me the paper in which the box
came, if you will
While Miss Kingston went in search
Of the paper Darrent calmly slipped the
Ivory queen and the red pawn il" his
pocket and, laying the rest Of the pieces
evenly in the box, closed the lid.
'''Thank you" he said as she returned
and gave him the desired : paper.
''Thank you, and goodby." H.,
EDO you think there is any hopper"
Ehe asked. r- ~
II cannot tell yet. We must do our
best. Shall I say anything to Astray for
you? I shall see him tomorrow. F.
"Only tell him that know that he is
Innocent. I know it. - ..- -
''More than I do muttered Darrent
10 himself as he walked toward the
hallway station. 15sss,z%s o.: 49, 4 n
..s. ss.s 81 I'D. CHAPTER VIII. .: b. +
=. TEE IVORY QUEENS SECRET. e
There was no train back to Barnstaple
Hi late in the afternoon, and Darrent
filed in the time with a hearty meal