Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-10-17

"a foreigner thought Hantlin, but
certainly distinguished one. This man
is no common murderer, nor thief. The
case grows moro interesting. There is
certainly woman in it: or perhaps the
boy is mistaken altogether"
While these thoughts We're passing
through the detectives mind the object
of them had walked past him, but not
without observing him, for the mans
eyes We're as keen and mind as swift as
Hantlin's: but both faces kept 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 then asked the bootblack,
in a low voice.
| "Now, boss, is it likely?' returned
Humpy Jack. reproachfully.
"Well, no." was the answer in a
frank tone.
And the detective cheerfully produced
a tive-dollar gold-piece and dropped it
| 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, and
gave an expressive and awful wink. and
then Hantlin walked on toward the ho
tel.
He knew the clerk and the bell-boys,
and he carelessly entered into careless
talk, first with one 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 not been a resi-
dent of the hotel very long.
Pressed to be more particular as to
time the clerk consulted the books, and
informed Hantlin that it was just three
days since the marquis had taken up
his abod. there.
Having CLEANED this information, out
OF whole bushels of the chatter, Hant-
lin at length sauntered away, feeling
good deal perpleXed, although his i'm
penetrable countenance quite concealed
his state of mind.
Was the Marquis del Castellani the
murderer of Philip Grayson? If so,
why had the murder been committed?
Was it accidental or in self-defense?
1t 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 an accident, and
had the robbery been committed mere
ly as a blind, and to give an apparent
motive for the 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 it, and so
win the five-dollar gold piece.
HE never saw that man 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 man to suspect his own
mother. Hello, Jacky!" he exclaimed,
aloud, as the bootblack came close to
him. II bade you lot lose sight Of him
until he was under cover for the night
"All right, sir, I won't He's not far
off-only in the park on the next block
and he amt in no hurry to move.
He's met his gal there, an they're coo.
in like a pair O. young pigeons. I
guessed I'd meet We about here, boss,
an 1 wanted ter know eff 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?"
well, boss, suspicious cases. I've
been a-thinkin' it over, an kinder
guess this 'ere's the Teller wot killed
the rich millionaire, Mister Grayson."
The detective smiled slightly.
Don't think too much, Jacky," he
said. Your mind couldn't stand it.
What sort of looking girl is she?" he
heart as he thought Of Leonce. "Pale
and foreign-like, with great, dark eyes
and very handsome?"
Not a bit like that, boss. Handsome
enough--about the prettiest-lookin' gal
\
great lot O. reddish yaller hair an blue
eyes, an sech q complexion! My eye!
Lilies an roses are nowhere 'longside O.
her. if she only knew how to dress But
she's all in black: looks as if she was
in mourrin' for some one
You must have been quite close to
Them said the detective, and his heart
seemed to expand with sudden burst
of joy, for Jacky's description of the
girl assured him that she was not Mrs.
Grayson's French maid, Leonce. Who,
then, was she? But you've a sharp
eye for faces
Keeps EN- in my head like picter
boss returned Jacky,' delighted
Very we'll, Jacky. Go back now and
watch them both as much as possible.
Find out who the young lady is if you
can; if not, follow her when they sep
arate. We know where he lives, for
the present. If your informant on is
useful. when we meet again, T.. give
you the other gold sinner to make. COM
pany Tor the one you've got"
Humpy Jack grinned with delight
and limped off with his invariab;e cry.