The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-07
CHAPTER IN.
HORACE BYRD.

miliar, yet perhaps it is best to describe
them. One is large, benevolent look
ing and elderly, with a smooth face
and kindly bearing, but with a curious
mannerism affecting all his actions
that e once draws attention and in
Spires inquiry. lie never looks at the
person lie addresses, but gives all his
glances and seemingly all his attention
to some insignificant object in his vi
cinity, filling it with his condolences
and extracting from it the. inspiration
which most men gather from the eye
or smile Of those With whom they are
conyersing.
Whether this is a mere habit caught
in the long exercise Of a calling de-
manling secrecy Of intention, or
whether it is the result of deliberate
determination Oh this mans part to
seem to know less and see less than he
really does, has never been decided,
even by those most nearly connected
with him. But that it marks the man
and gives him power at once weird
and controlling no one has ever dis
puted, not even those who suffer most
from his talents These are the aspir-
ing ones who seek to compete with
him in his success and Invariably fail,
though he is an old man now, vergirg.
on to seventy, and both from age and
infrmity in no condition to engage in
the active exercise Of that detective
work which has employed his energies
for so many years.
The other is young man of a we'll
built frame, attractive features, good
expression and cultivated manners. He
is a detective, too, but neither in
speech, look nor action does he show it,
hence his usefulness and growing IA
yor with the chief. The names Of these
men are Gryce and Byrd, names, as
have said, with which you arc famil-
lar, even if you have never seen thenr
mentioned save in this narrative.
They are talking, and Mr. Gryce's
voice is the first we hear.
1.-THE reward, Of course, IS fine one,
but friendship has: some claims, and !,
think the traces you should follow are
those Of the disappointed prima donna.
If, In doing this, you strike, rs is prob
able enough, upon the clue we are all
In search. of, viz, the secret CT con-
spiracy involving so many girls of one
name, virtue will have it's reward in
more senses than one, and for one
shall congratulate you, but, if you do
not and yet find the signorina, and so
relieve Degraw from his anXieties, why
you will have done q good work that
will always give you satisfaction. The
man with the black mustache and gray
eyes who has been seen in connection
with every one Of these girls but the
signorina, will nQtbe found so readily.
The daughter of Abram Rogers is bur
led, and consequently his interest in
her is ended; the publicity attending
the inquest following the death Of the
girl in Blind Alley will frighten him
away from her, while the similarity
between the name of the heireSs and
these two other victims to his machin-
atoms will deter him from being seen
with her till public attention has been
drawn from the name and all those
who have been known to bear it. But
the Signorina ,Valdi has not been
known to have borne it except by very
few persons. With her he may yet
carry on his schemes, whatever they
may be, with seeming impunity. If.
therefore, he is the strong man he ap-
pears, and If the conspiracy, as we
have termed it, has any good reason
for being, you will find her in the tolls
or under the influence Of this man
wh1se name may or may not be Mon
telli, but who is certainly person of
resources demanding all our skill and
energy in tracing him.
Mr. Grycc, how can thank you?
You fire me Mt once with courage and
enthusiasm. I hated to miss the re-
ward, for 1 needed it, but if Judgment
points in the same direction as duty
how easy it will be for me to so for
ward"
"True, but remember that promise
nothing. I only point out the course I
should follow if were of your age and
engaged in active service"
THAT is all that is necessary. de-
sire no wiser mentor nor more dsinter-
esteG friend. And now let rs look into
the clews have picked up in my days
search, and decide as to which shall
follow first. 1t will not take long. FOR
the facts are few and meagre"
The old detective showed his interest
in his usual benevolent way, ard after
short discussion. too technical to be
interesting to the reader, the two men
parted, and Byrd returned home. The
next morning he called at Mr.. De-
sraw's studio.
II should like to see the sketch you
drew Of Signorina Valli."
Mr.. Degraw hastened to show It.
meanwhile overwhelming the detective
with questions.
What have you discovered Whom
have you seen? What hope is there OF
finding herr"
But Byrd was reticent.
IL have discovered nothing rs vet"
nc replied. THE task you have given
me is not an easy one. Were her
beauty less. or her characteristics not
80 pronounced. l should almost despair
OF solving the mystery that surrounds
her, but with such face as hers she
cannot long remain anywhere unno-
diced. and now that l know its charac-
feristics the chances are fewer still of
Yf po,, yrnro IN bn