Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-10-24

him, that Jack had not really seen this
man on the steps or Philip G~rayson's
house-why. then, the fellow was no
lover OF Leonce. nor OF her mistress.
and had. probably, nothing TO do with
the murder, but vas merely amusing
himself counting a pretty girl,
In hat case. what a fool to spend
time thus, following up a wrong clue,
while the real murderer walked the
streets in safety.
On the other hand, IL this nan the
Marquis del Castellani, was, indeed,
b man sought for. what was the Sc
cret of his apparently confidential in
timacy with Philip Grayson's niece?
The affair was becoming more n
more complicated, or else Ii was a
wrong scent entirely.
The more the Deceive thought over
the matter the less light was shed upon
IL. He Ionged for Jacky's return, and
determined TO be guided by whatever
information the boy brought him.
Then he fell into a respondent frame
Of mind. as clever people are very apt
to do when the nervous system is
taxed too far, and told himself he had
adopted a wrong calling-he had really
70 talent for the business of a detect
i~e, the powers of his mind seemed to
be leaving him. and above everything
and beyond everything. the beautiful
eyes Of a dark, lovely woman seemed
TO shine on him. coming between him
n all hat had once been OF interest
to him.
Yes. I love her" he thought. "She
baunts me like a vision. For her sake
I could be mad and desperate like 9TH
er mentor her sake / could be great
and noble, and for her sake I will go
mad and die unless / can win her"
He flung himself desperately on the
nearest chair, and bowed his head de-
jectedly on his hands.
At the same moment a peculiar
sound, like the subdued cry Of a cat
bird, was audible under his window.
1t was the signal agreed upon some
time before to Jacky's pres
ence on any occasion when he wished
to see his employer.
Hantlin jumped up and rang the bell.
Hes back soon: he must rave some
news" he thought. Come I'M" to the
servant who knocked. send the boy
a bootblack-who is outside in the
street. directly TO me-
The young man, who understood the
detectives business and was accus-
toned to prompt obedience, FASTENED
to obey: and In a few moments, Jacky
entered. looking very crestfallen.
After q slight whistle OF surprise at
the detectives appearance, though he
was beginning to get accustomed to
his protean changes. he said, detected
ly:
Guess I'll 'arn no more sinners from
you. boss; but I couldn't help 1t. I fol-
Tered EN- close, nut they took the l.
train for Harlem. an this blamed leg
o. mine give a turn jest's I was goin'
through the gate. an I fell. Fore I
could git UP the strain was off, an they
was gone afore my eyes,"
Thunder and ~lightning!" exclaimed
Hantlin, in a tone OF desperation.
1t was wholly unlike the cool and un-
| damonstrative manner he a so long
cultivated, to give such a sign of i'm
patience and disappointment, and in
the next moment ne had subdued all
outward traces of his feelings.
eff this man really is the criminal I
am after" he thought. ct must be the
devil protects him. I never had such
m-luck with any case in my life. Con-
found it all. I will have him yeti"
He set his teeth together with a de-
termined click, and his steel-blue eyes
emitted q pale. fiery CLEAN that made
Humpy Jack feel very uncomfortable.
Don't look like that, hoss!" the boy
said. 'Blest IL I wouldn't ruther a.
So $500 IA - 49, 1t..w
p'inted yer. Blu I'll find 'em yet an
track 'em home. I'm Almost all over
this ere metropolis in the curse O. tn
day"
That's right, Jacky,' said Hantlin:
pluck up your spirit. Better luck next
time, What's that in your hand?"
sSomethin' the gent dropped in his
hurry. I told the guard I was a-hur-
ryin' to give II to him, but he wouldn't
believe me; an then I run away with
it. COS he wanted to take 1t hisself."
The boy held out a delicate white
handkerchief as he spoke. 1t was a
plain, hemstitched border, but unusu-
ally fine, and, from its size, Hantlin
saw that It was a mans handkerchief.
He took 1t. and glanced quickly at
the several orners. In one was writ
ten the name. "Leonce A. Beaupre."
An electric shock seemed to pass
from his hand to his heart. He
clutched the handkerchief in a tight
grasp.
You may go. now, Jacky." he said,
kindly. "Tl keep this. II you see that
man again, keep your eye on him, and
come and tell me when you think there
is anything interesting"
Jacky had observed the frightened
grasp on the handkerchief, and won
dered: but he obeyed in silence, de-
termined to find some way Of earning
the promised sinners"
Hantlin turned the key in the door
n dropped into a chair I'm front OF
the writing desk, at which he often
worked out plans, real and imaginary,
OF his various cases" He used TO say
It gave him ideas and helped him in
following out q clue.
He spread out the handkerchief be-
fore him, and his gaze became fastened
as if fascinated, on the name in the
| corner.