The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-13

gagged in eying Ridge. -
do you know said I, aften an instant
of what meant should be one Of unoonn-
Portable suspense on his part, ''that have
NAL Of yours since learning the very good
reason he has for refusing to cross the
street?'' 5cli
Fla, what's that?" al,e asked, with
quick look behind him at the watchful
brute straining toward him with nose over
the gutter. # r
''He sees farther than we can. His eyes
penetrate walls and partitions" I re-
marked. Then, carelessly and with the
calm, drawing forth Of a folded BIT Of pa
per which held out toward him, I added:
by the way, here is something of yours
His hand rose instincively to take it:
then dropped.
II don't know what you mean," he re-
marked. "You have nothing of mine.''
mo? Then John Judson Moore had
another brother. - And thrust the paper
back into my pocket.
| He followed it with his eye. 1t was the
| memorandum had found in the old book
of memoirs plucked from the library shelf
within, and he recognized it for his and
saw that I did also. But he failed to show
the white feather.
4 You are good at ransacking," he OBJ
I served; pity that it can not be done to
more purpose"
| I smiled and made fresh start. With
my hand thrust again into my pocket, I
remarked, without even SO much as a
glance at him:
Il fear that you do some injustice to
the police..s We are not such bad fellows:
/ neither do we waste as much time as
you seem to Think And drawing out
my hand, with the little f1ligree ball in it.
I whirled the latter innocently round and
round on my finger. AS it flashed under
his eye, I cast him a penetrating look
He tried to carry the moment off sue
cessfully; will give him so much credit
But it was asking too much Of his
curiosity, and there was no mistaking
the eager glitter which lighted his glance
as he saw within his reach this article
which moment before he had probably
regarded as lost forever.
i For instance" I went on, watching
him furtively, tho quite sure from his
very first look that he knew more OF
the secret of this little ball than he knew
when he jotted down the memorandum
had been pocketed before his eyes, "a lit
tie thing-such little thing as this"
repeated, giving the bauble another twist
may lead to discoveries such as ne
common search would yield in years.
5 do not say that it has; but such a thing
is possible, you know; who better?"
My nonchalance was too much for him
He surveyed me with covert dislike ant
dryly observed:
your opportunities have exceeded
mine. even with my own effects. Tha
petty trinket which you have presumed t,
faunt in my face-and of whose value
am the worst judge in the world since
$ have never had 1t in my and-descendet
3 to me with the rest of Mrs. Jeffrey
: property. Your conduct, therefore
strikes me in the light of al
: imperinence, especially as no one could b
: supposed to have more interest than my
: self in what has been flor many year
q recognized as family "talsman."
j. ''Ah," remarked. You own to tn
Y memorandum, then. It was made on tn
: spot, but without the benefit of the tails
: man
z Il own to nothing he snapped
= Then realizing that denial in this regar
s. was fatal he added more genially: "Wha
0 do you mean by memorandum? If yo
O mean that recapitulation Of old-time mys
h tteries and their accompanying feature
e with which ! once whiled away an idl
hour. own to it, of course. VIII
I shouldn't I? It is only a proof of m
curiosity in regard to this old rnyster
T which every member Of my family mus
!. feel. That curiosity has not been az
: peased. If It would not be indiscreet o
my part, may now ask If you hay
i found out what that little golden ball
II mine which you sport SO freely before m