Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-11-08

"Uh, we are sure. lis continued
anxiety and still active interest prove
this, even If our surveillance had beer
less perfect"
And the police have been equally
unsuccessfulw
Equally"
After every effort?"
"Every."
WHO was the man who collected
and carried out those things from the
southwest chamberY
He smiled
"You see him." said he.
ut was you?"
Myself"
was among themW
mo. l only know that have seen
1t somewhere, but that it wasn't among
the articles delivered to Mr.. Jeffrey. y
How did you carry them2"
I'm hand bag which l locked my.
self"
Before leaving the southwest cham
ber?"
Eyes"
"Then 1t is still in that room?"
Find II" was his laconic reply.
That night l went back to the Moore
house and sought first on the open
foor and then in every possible Granny
for the missing trinket. But failed to
lind it and was about to acknowledge
myself defeated when my eye fell on
the long brocaded curtains which had
drawn across the several windows to
hide every CLEAN Of light from the
street. They We're almost free from
folds, but shook them well, especially
the one nearest the table, and naturally
with no effect.
Folly" muttered, yet did not quite
desist. For the great tassels still hung
at the sides and Well, you may call
1t an impossible find or say that If the
bauble was there it should have been
discovered III the first search for it.
/ VIII not say no. | can only toll you
what happened. When I took one Of
those tassels in my hand l thought, as
1t twirled under my touch, that saw
something CLEAN in its faded old
threads that did not belong there.
Startled, and yet not thoroughly realiz-
Ing that had come upon the object of
my search, picked at this thing and
found it to be morsel of gold chain
that had become entangled in It. When
had pulled It quit It showed small
golden ball at one end, fligreed over
and astonishingly heavy for its size
and apparent delIcaey.
The talisman Of this old family was
found. I had but to discover what it
held concealed to understand what had
baffied Mr.. Moore and made the mys-
terry he had endeavored to penetrate
so insolvable. And what did find
inside? Something SO different from
what l expected, something SO trivial
and seemingly harmless. that II was
not until I RECALLED the final words of
Uncle pavid's memorandum that
realized it's full import and the passi.
ptltties it suggested. In itself 1t was
nothing but minute magnifying
glass; but when used in connection
with-what? All, that was Just what
Uncle David failed to say, ppssibly to
Know. No; guessing would not answer
mus: trust to the inspiration Of the
moment, which suggested with almost
irresistible conviction:
4he picture! FIAT tnane and seemingly
porthless dragging orer the fireplace in
Fhe ColoneFs 0pn, tohoae presence IN 40
rich room has al,eays been mysteryi
Why this object should have suggest
I'd itself to me and with such instant
conviction cannot readily say.
Whether, from my position near the
bed, the sight of this old drawing re-
called the restless nights Of all who
had lain in face Of its sickly smile, or
whether some recollection Of that
secret law Of the Moores which for
babe the removal of any of their pic
lures from the time worn walls or
remembrance Of the curiosity which
this picture excited in every one who
looked at it-Francis Jeffrey among
the number-I no sooner asked myself
what object in this house might pos.
sibly yield counsel or suggest aid when
subjected to the influence of a magni-
flying glass than the answer, which 1
have already given, sprang instantly
into my mind-the picture!
Greatly excited, | sprang upon a
ehair, took down the drawing from the
r.. Ii