The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-18
premature exposure Of ones plans"

premature exposure of ones plans" he
said.
His excusesWas a lame one-a very lame
one. / smiled-in order to show him that
] read through the transparent attempt to
mislead me.
Il might have refused to show you that
letter of Ethelwynn's'' protested yet
our interests being mutual handed it to :.
YOU
And it is well that you did,
"Why?''
Because knowledge of it has changed
the whole course of my Inquiries
Changed them from one direction TO
another?'
He nodded.
And you are now prosecuting them In
the direction of Ethelwynn?"
no, he answered. Not exactly,
looked at his face and saw upon IL
an expression of profound mysteriousness.
His dark, Well-marked countenance was a
complex one always, but at that moment
1 was utterly unable to discern whether
he spoke the truth or whether he only
wished to mislead my suspicious Into a
different channel. That he was the acme
of shreWdness, that his powers OF deduc-
lions were extraordinary, and that his
patience in unrayeling a secret was almost
beyond comprehension I knew well.
Even those great crackers of criminals,
Shaw and Maddox, of New Scotland Yard,
held him in respect. and admired his
acute intelligence and marvellous power
of perception.
Yet his attempt to evade question
which so closely concerned my own peace
| of mind and future happiness tried my
| patience. If he had really discovered
| some fresh facts considered 1T but right
| that I should be acquainted with them.
| "Has your opinion changed as to the
identity of the person who committed the
| crime?'' I asked him. rather abruptly
| mot in the least, he responded, Slow
| ly lighting his foul pipe. How can it,
in the face Of the letter we burnt?'
'Then you think that jealousy was the
cause ofsthe tragedy? That She
| "No--not jealousy" he Interrupted,
speaking quite calmly. "The facts 1 have
discovered go to show that the motive was
| not jealousy"
| Hatred, then?'
mo not hatred"
| 'Then wllat?
'"That's just where 1 fail to form the,
ory,'' he answered, after a brief silence,
during which he watched the blue smoke
curl upward to the sombre ceiling of
my room. In few days hope to dis
cover the motive
| you will let me assist your urged,
eagerly. Il am at your disposal at any
hour.
| NO" he answered, decisirely. "You
are prejudiced, Ralph. You unfortunate
ly still love that woman
A sigh escaped me. What he said was.
alas, too true. I had adored her through
those happy months prior to the tragedy.
She had come into my lonely bachelor
life as the one ray of sunlight that gave
me hope and happiness, and had lived for
her alone Because of her / had striven
to rise in the profession, and had Ia
bored hard SO that in little while might
be in a position to marry and buy that
quiet country practice that was my
| ideal existence. And even now, with
her previous engagement to the man now
dead, I confess that / nevertheless still
entertained strong affection for her. The
sweet than the love itself-and to men it
! is very often fatal.
I had risen to pour out some whisky
for my companion, when of a sudden my
| man opened the door and announced:
There's a lady to see you, sir
"a lady!' we both exclaimed with one
voice.
yes, SIR and he handed me a card.
glanced at it. My visitor was the very
? last person I desired 60 meet at that mo-
ment. for she was none other than Ethel
| wynn herself
I'll go, old chap, Jeyons cried, spring
! ing to his feet and draining his glass at
a single draught. .'She mustn't meet me
| here. Goodbye till tomorrow. Remem-
Der, betray sign to her that you know
the truth. It's certainly a curious affair
as it now stands; but depend upon il
| that there's more complication and nnys-
? terry in it than we have yet discovered.
= Go Be Continued Tomorrow