Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-11-21
like the .honking" Of wild

sounded like the 'honking" Of wild
geese.
1T is remarkable that SO many
things should point to this man Vim
cent" said Mr.. Chalmers. "He disap
peared the same time your father
did. He had been here several times,
the week before. And, on top of this,
our man Seymour wires that Vincent
is the man.
do you think that he is, Mr.. Chal-
mers?" Miss Carmody looked eagerly
into the eyes of the managing edi-
tor, and that gentleman was so hyp-
Noticed that he was lost at the mo-
ment for an answer.
"I-I-no, / do not think he is"
said Mr.. Chalmers. ut is probably
nothing more than coincidence"
"But your Mr.. Seymour seems so
sure that Vincent is at the bottom of
the mystery" said Miss Carmody.
Seymour is good reporter, but
he is too emotional at times" said
Chalmers, smiling. "He is like many
of our detectives who first make up
their minds, and then make the facts
fit to prove their theory. 1t is bet
ter to get the facts first, and form
your theory later. OF course Sey-
mour may have some important
clews, but he did not send them in
his bulletin. I have good reason for
suspecting certain person of COM
plicity in this matter, and have
some facts which seem to fortify my
suspicious, but l would not dream
of making charge against him.
In few days shall know more"
by the way, there is something
you can do, if you WILL" added Chal-
mers.
"What is it?" Miss Carmody was
much interested.
ut has but an indirect bearing on
this case" said Chalmers. "AIr. Van
Horne cabled me to-day to have Mr..
Walter B. Hcstor work on this mys-
terry. Now, Mr.. Hestor has gone to
Europe with Mr.. Sidney Hammond.
forgot to ask him where he would
make his first landing. Hestor and
Miss LIE Roy are friends. Hestor
said something to me concerning a
dinner party he gave about week
before he went away, and if my mem
DRY serves ME right, he said Miss LIE
Roy was present. Will you ask her
about this dinner party? 1t is likely
that Hestor may have talked over
his plans with Miss lie Roy or Mr..
Hammond. We wish to get into COM
munication with Mr.. 1Iestor ut once.
He is the most brilliant newspaper
correspondent of the time. His as
sistance would be invaluable"
II will do so before Miss LIE Roy
leaves tonight" said Miss Carlnody.
Il am glad there is something L can
do. Is it not too bad that Mr.. Hes
tor went away just when he did?
He is SO fond Of big sensations that
he would have delighted ill this one,
and would have done all in his power
to solve it,
Find out who made up the mem
bers of this dinner party and / will
call you up Tomorrow and you can
tell me-" said Mr.. Chalmers. "The
Record is toabc congratulated on SO
charming an addition to it's repor-
torinl staff"
my assignment is an easy one"
said Miss Helen, as Chalmers rose
to go. "Must You go so soon, Mr..
Chalmers? Won't you stay and join
us in cup of coffee?"
Il should be more than pleased TO
do so." said Mr.. Chalmers, "but we
have an important paper tomorrow.
and one difficult to handle. I prom
lsed my assistants 1 would return
at certain hour, and 1 have lust
enough time to- make the distance
in"
Mr.. Chalmers made his apologies
to Mrs. White, Miss lie Roy and Miss
DE Melville. Miss Carmody ACCOM-
panied him to the door and thanked
him earnestly for the interest he
was taking in solving the mystery.
She extended her hand at parting
and shook hands, not with the cold
conventional touch, but with the
hearty clasp of good friend.
That girl is a trump said Chal-
mers to himself, as he settled back
IN the auto and was whirled down the
street. She is a daughter to be
prouf of. What IL wife she would
make! How would it read? The
wedding ceremony of Mr.. William
Chalmers. the gifted journalist, and
Miss Helen Carmody, heiress to the
Carmody millions, was the fitting
climax to the social season. The
church was thronged With won
der how in the devil l am going to
put four big stories on the first page
OF to-morrow's paper?"
When Miss Carmody returned to
her guests, Miss lie Roy at once mon
opolized the conversation.
Isn't Mr.. Chalmers handsome ?"
she said. clasping her hands. 81
think he is perfectly lovely. Such
deep brown eyes and such wavy hair
And he is SO easy in his manner. DID
you see how he disposed Of us as il
we were children who were in his
way? I would resent such thing in
most men, but it comes naturally tc
Mr.. Chalmers. 1 suppose he is Sc
used to managing lot of newspaper
men that the handling of few wo.
men is matter of no consequence.
But he Is just splendid; don't you
think so, Helen?"
HE certainly Is" said Miss Car.
mody. II can talk to him Just as
II he We're my big brother"
AEUNv