Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-25
Uncle David .naersA

;
the calm drawing forth Of q folded
bit Of paper which I held out toward
him, I added, by the way. here is
something Of yours"
His hand rose instinctively to take
1t; then dropped.
Il don't know what you mean." he
remarked. You have nothing Of mine"
mo? Then John Judson Moore had
another brother" And I thrust the
paper back into my pocket.
He followed It with his eye. It was
the memorandum I had found in the
old book Of memoirs plucked from the
library shelf within, and he recognized
It for his and saw that did also. But
he failed to show the white feather.
"You are good at ransacking," he OBJ
served. "Pity that it cannot be done
TO more purpose"
smiled ana made fresh start.
With my hand thrust into my pocket.
I remarked without even 90 much as
q glance at him:
II fear that you do some injustice
to the police. We are not such bad
fellows; neither do we waste az much
time az you seem to think" And, draw
ing out my hand with the little filigree
ball in it I whirled the latter limo
Gently round and rpund on my finger.
AS it flashed under his eye ! cast
penetrating look.
He tried to carry the moment of sue
cessfully; will give him SO much
credit. But 1t was asking too much Of
his curiosity, and there was no mis-
taking 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.
"For instance" went on, watching
him furtive1y, though quite sure from
his very first look that he knew no
more now OF the secret Of this little
ball than he knew when he jotted
down the memorandum had just
pocketed before his eyes, "a little thing,
such a little thing as this" repeated,
giving the bauble another twist may
lead to discoveries such as no common
search would yield in years. do not
say that 1t has; but such thing is
possible, you know-who betterY'
My nonchalance was too much for
him. He surveyed me with covert dis
like and dryly observed:
''Your opportunities have exceeded
mine, even with my own effects. That
petty trinket which you have presum-
ed to flaunt in my face-and Of whose
value I am the worst Judge in the
world, since I have never had 1t In my
hand descended to me with the rest
of Mrs. Jeffrey's property. Your con-
duct, therefore. strikes me In the light
OF an impertlnence, especially as no
one could be supposed to have more In
terest than myself In what has been
for many years recognized as family
talisman."
"Ah," I remarked, "you own to the
memorandum, then. 1t was made on
the spot, but without the benefit Of the
talisman."
II own to nothingw he snapped
Then, realizing that denial in this re-
gard was fatal, he added more genial
ly: what do you mean by memoran-
DUN? II you mean that recapitulation
of old time mysteries and their accom-
panying features with which ! once
whiled away an idle hour. own to
1t, Of course. Why shouldn't I? 1t II
only proof Of my curiosity in regals
to this old mystery which every mem
Der of my family must feel. That Gu
riosity has not been appeased. If it
would not be indiscreet on your part.
may now ask II you have found out
what that little golden ball Of mine
which you sport so freely before my
eyes Is to be used in connection with?"
"Read the papers," said; read to-
morrow's papers, Mr.. Moore. or, bet
ter still, tonight's. Perhaps they will
inform you"
He was as angry as I had expected
him to be; but, as this ire proved con-
clusively that his strongest emotion
had been curiosity rather than fear,
felt assured Of my ground and turned
to re-erlter the house. Mr.. Moore did
not accompany me.
The major was standing In the hall.
The others had evidently retreated to
the parlor.
1.-THE man opposite knows what he
knows" said I, ..but this does not In
clude the facts concerning the picture
in the southwest chamber or the devil
ish mechanism
"You are sureY
"As positive as one Of my inexperi-
ence can be- But. major, am equally
positive that he knows more than he
should OF Mrs. Jeffrey's death. am
even ready to state that in my belief
he was in the house when it occur
red
"Has he acknowledged this?"
mot at ALL"
"Then what are your reasons for this
beliefY'
"They are many"
''Will you state themY'
"Gladly, II you will pardon the pre-
sumption.. Some Of my conclusions