The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-10-19

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ton TO color as to necktie, gloves ana
handkerchief than is usually shown.
"a foreigner" thought Hantlin, "but
certainly a distinguished one. This man
is no common murderer, nor thief. The
case, grows more interesting. There Is
| certainly a woman in it.; or perhaps the
boy is mistaken altogether.
While these thoughts we've passing
through the detectives mind the object
of them had walked past him, but not
without observing him, for the man's
eyes were as keen and mind as sswift'as
Hantlin's; but both faces kent their
secret. and neither showed that he was
sharply observing the other.
Hantlin did not speak until this SUI
perb-lcoking stranger was beyond both
sight and hearing.
you're sure you've made no mistake,
Jacky?" he hen asked the bootblack,
in allow, voice.
"Now, boss, is it likely?" returned
Humpy Jack, r~eproachfully.
Well, no. was the answer, In a
frank tone.
And the detectives cheerfully produced
a fve-dollar geld-piece and dropped 1t
into Jacky's grimy hand, adding:
"If you want to earn another to keep
that one company, don't lose sight OF
that magnificent beauty man of yours
But be careful, he's no fool. AS the
girl says in the play, He can see a
church by daylight"
Jacky clutched the gold coin, n
| gave an expressive and awful wink, and
then Hantlin walked on toward theh no.
tel.
He knew the clerk and the %bell-boys,
and he carelessly entered into careless
talk, first with and. then with an
other.
In the course Of conversation. he
learned that the. magnificent stranger
was an Italian gentleman Of rank, the
Marquis del Castellani. but recently ar
rived in the city-had no been a'r'esi-
dent of the hotel very long.
Pressed to be more particular as to
time. the clerk consulted the books. and
Informed Hantlin that it vas just three
days since the marquis had taken up
his abode there.
Having CLEANED this information, out
of whole bushels Of the chatter, Hant-
lin at length sauntered away, FEELING a
good deal perplexed, although his I'M
penetrable c~ountenance quite concealed
his state of min.
was the Marquis del Castellani the
murderer of Philip Grayson? II so,
why had the murder been committed?
Was it accidental or in self-defense!
It seemed absurd to suppose that an
italian nobleman-a person Of rank and
wealth-however wicked, could. play
the part Of thief and murderer out OF
mere vice and cruelty.
OR was the murder In accident, and
had the robbery been committed mere
" as a blind, and to give an apparent
motive for h crime?
The more he questioned himself on
the subject, the less he seemed likely to
understand the matter.
He had about reached the conclusion
that Humpy Jack lad taken advantage
of this gentleman's remarkable appear.
ance to weave a story out OF 1t, ana 80
win the fve-dollar gold piece.
"He never saw that nan on the steps
Of Grayson's house at ALL" the de-
tective thought, .'but, having observed
him somewhere Of late, and found out
where to. look for him again, has delib-
erately fashioned the rest Of the story
to throw me off the scent, perhaps.
How do I know but the real criminal
invented the story for him? And yet.
the boy has an honest face. And here
h ecomes, too. This detective business
would teach a man to suspect his own
mother. Hello, Jacky!" he exclaimed.
aloud, as the bootblack came close to
him. st bade o Tot lose sight OF him
until he was under cover for the night"
"All right, sir, I won't. He's. not far
sof-only in the park or the next block
and he amt in no hurry to move.
He's met his gal there. an they're COO.
In like q pair O. young pigeons. !
guessed I'd meet We about here, boss,
an I wanted ter NOW eft I'd watch him
| or the girl when they leave each other.
cause I've heard say it helps to know
about the wimmin folks in such cases."
what cases. Jacky?"
.Wel, boss, suspicious cases. I've
been a-thlnkin' It over, an I kinder
guess this 'ere's the Teller wot killed
the rich. millionaire. Mister Grayson..a'.
The detective smiled slightly.
Don't think too much. 1Jacky," he
said. Your mind couldn't stand 1t.
What sort OF looking girl 10 ne! ne
added, sharply, a pain contracting hts
heart as he thought Of Leonce. PALE
and foreign-like. with great, dark eyes
and very handsome? 2"
mot albit like that, boss. Handsome
enough-about tho prettiest-1ookin' gal
T ever. saw-buts not dark. She has q
great lotto. reddish yaller hair, an blue
Eeyess an sech q complexion! My seye!5
Lilies an,roses are nowhere 'longside d,
Rher,; II she only knew how to dress But
she's all In black; looks as Il she was.
lin mQurnins,s' for some one I.
You must have been quite close to
them Z, said the detective, and his heart
fsseemedsto expand with a. sudden burst
|of Joy. for Jacky,s description Of the
girl assured him that she was not Mrs.
G~rayson's French maid, SIleonce. Who,
then. was she?s .'Bnt you've assshaTp
lseyeAfor faces, gs.s
Keeps 'em In my#headslike d picters,3
boss. returned Jacky, delighted. \
"veryswell. iJackysG Go back nowsand5
watch them bothsSas much AZ possible.
Find out who the young lady Ii, ifgyou'
IL not. follow tersFWhength they 0ep-s