The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-01-05

pressed the liveliest satisfaction when
an early date was fixed for u BAN
Quet, and I was glad to escape, after
some ten minutes desultory small talk,
even from The witchery of Nora's ayes
and NOra's voice, to tell Anguish Of the
discoveries 1 nae made.
Before I said anything to him, how
ever, I went to a box in which I kept
a collection Of odds and ends, such as
the rough outlines of sketches that
were to be filled in, little pieces Of
sculpture that I had done. and so forth,
and from amongst them I took out the
model of a hand.
I sent for Anguish and Travers to
conc to the "den."
Look at this model" I said, placing
it o n the table, and the next time you
see D'Orville compare his hand with
it. I did this Immediately after what
happened in Mr.. TraveIs's room, and
I worked it up from the sketch I made
while the image of the hand hat was
pulling the gas-cord was fresh in my
mind. To-day I saw D'Orville's hand
in much the same position, and I rec
ognised the likeness at once. There
is no mistaking the prominent thumb
joint and the extreme length Of the
first bones of the fingers. I eve saw
any other like it.
"Now pay attention to another fact
that I must mention. On the night
when DIR. James was murdered my
father picked up q handkerchief that
close beside his body, n this piece
of linen and lace was scented with. hell
trope. D'Orville's mother had, to-day,
q handkerchief that gave out exactly
the same. odor, and she playfully re-
marked tina her son was always steal-
ing her handkerchief because he was
so fond of the scent. This may be only
a coincidence, but, taken in conjunc-
ton with my recognition Of the hand,
I don't think it is"
Anguish sat placidly watching the
model and muttering something
about the man who dug a pit and fell
into it himself, and Hugh was for
rushing Off and having 'D'Orville ar
rested then and there.
Matters are working beautifully,
MI. Travers,'' said Anguish; "don't
hurry them. You must remember that
in all probability there are others con-
cerned in this awful conspiracy, and
although slang doesn't seem proper
when one is arrayed in this garb. /
must put it that, 81 o will only hold
on, we shall bag the lot. Look at Mr..
Tremayne. He's getting to be quite
a man of nerve, though I daresay IT
gave him a twinge to shake the hand
that so nearly finished off his friend.
Now, about the dinner party. Did you
ask them?" +
Yes, and they're all coming mex
Tuesday. This is Thursday, SO that
we've plenty of time to get some peo-
pie to meet them. There's the doctor,
and his wife and daughter, and Dl.
and Mrs. Galloway from the rectory.
The more we have the better"
"Ah! quite So" said Anguish. But
couldn't you ask someone except the
rector? We'd better not have two Rich
monds in the field. and my Church his
tory won't stand a very severe test.
Who is the old colonel that called the
other day? Can't we have him and his
pretty daughter?'
And so the party was made up, and
everyone invited sent an acceptance,
and as nothing of importance happen
ed in the meantime I should come at
to the Tuesday evening.
Before our guests arrived we had
some advice from Anguish.
whatever happens said he, "you
must neither of you betray any know
ledge of the Ragged Thirteen. You may
be put to the test, and in the most In
ocent fashion; but If o are, and II
D'Orvi1le sees anything suspicious,
7 then we may look out for most I'M
pleasant squalls. I remember going to
q dinner party once and my host ask
ed to be careful not to mention hang
ing or poisoning, as there would be
people present to whom these would
be tender subjects. Do you know, be-
fore the soup had disappeared we were
in full swing on thos very topics! 1t Is
almost a certainty that D'Orville
doesn't that we suspect him. You ney-
err got a sight Of his face when you
grapp1ed with him, and you would new
er have known anything about the
cards or h newspaper cuttings If 1t
had not been for an accident. He
thinks he knows all about you, but
that you know nothing Of him, and
have NJ idea Of the meaning Of the
pasteboards that he and his gang
leave behind Them"
II don't half like the idea of sitting
down with such a man." said Hugh,
'And what's more. I can't see any
thing in it."
That is right said Anguish. I'VE
want to understand him thoroughly.
we are certain that HI has a deuce Of
a temper. Something may put him
out, and in that case we might pick
up useful information. Besides. we
want to put him of his guard COM
pletely, and.so you must both lay your
selves not to do the honors Of the
house as IL you were entertaining q
duke. II I were you, Tremayne, :
should take the mother in to dinner.
and get her to preside at one end Of
the table. Then II any telegraphy
goes on between her and her precious
son, we shall have a better chance of
seeing It. "A glance that only lasts the
tenth Of a second will often tell you
more than an hours talk,
It was, indeed a heterogeneous party
that assembled in the dr~awing-room OF
1.-THE DELI to do justice to the dinner
that had taxed the resourses Of the es-
tablishment to the uttermost.
It was as though we were about to.
dine over a very magazine Of social ex-
plosives-some Of us In all innocence
and others with a full knowledge Of.
the dangerous elements that q chance
word-sperk might set sof;and vet !