The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-09-16
them, hung over The house. Danger

might happen next. or who might be
selected as the victim of tragedy. Fears !
of the dread unknown shook their |
nerves, depression seized them.
Fervent tears of gratitude that the |
man She loved had been spared filled |
Edths heart, and she FASTENED down
stairs that she might convince herself
he was uninjured Her eyes swan
with tears at sight of him.
"Oh, Godfrey" she cried out to him.
THANK God you are spared"
He has heard your prayers for me,
dearest"
Dunstan remained silert and alp
sorbed; While Edith assured of her low
er's safety, sought to dismiss her
breads. Lady Bysshe talked most, be-
wailng the horror and mystery of the
nights occurrence. which she declared
must be shifted and the criminal dis
covered.
The detectives are on their way to
us now" Godfrey said
You We're prompt III sending for
Them" remarked the count, nothing
like clear mind when action is neces-
sary. l would not have thought of do
ing so, was SO upset"
The representatives of the new Scot
land yard arrived about midday, one
of them being Detective Inspector
COTE case. The count had let it be
known by delicately conveyed hints
that he wished to have them brought
to him without delay, that they might
| receive their instructions from him. as
master of the house, to search the hall
from garnet to basement and to spare
no inmate from whatever examination
was considered necessary or advisable.
At the same time he wished Godfrey
to relate the whole circumstance OF the
case to them in his presence.
This was done by the barriSter with
n "a iI,sr mi ha 11l
or prejudice he mad conceived, to in
tluence the account. Inspector Foundes
listened with attention, and, with the
rapidly characteristic Of all his move
ments. made notes. He then took the
keys of the locked rooms and eagerly
| began his search.
Save in that occupied by Godfrey
there was nothing to show that any
| thing unusual had taken place, but APP
| pearances or order were not trusted.
and nothing was considered too trivial
| for examination Furniture was over
hauled, mattresses ripped, boards taken
up, walls sounded and measured in the
| hope of laying bare some secret hiding
| place, and the apartments generally
dismantled, but without any satisfac-
| tory result. If the missing jewels
We're in the house, they were slowed
away in Il spot so mysterious and Sc
cure as to battle men naturally astute
and carefully trained to observe. to dis
cover clews, to bring hidden things to
light.
In II private interview which Inspec-
tor Foundes had with Max and Dun
stan, that officer, using consid-
cradle tact. had explained to
| them that il they consented
to n personal search, none of the
servants could object to a like opera
tion, and that the example set by the
ready submission of the young men
wv
to force such an examination on the
domestcs After a rapid interchange
of glances, they both consented to the
ordeal; but the jewels We're not found
upon them, nor upon the servants
The mystery surrounding the disap-
pearance of the stones showed no sign
ef clearing, but with the inspectors
perpleXity his determination to discover
them increased 1t was late IN tho
afternoon when, after a day spent ir
patient investigation, he sent q mes
sage to Max, asking for a few minutes
private conversation with him.
When the latter came in the morning
room, where Foundes awaited him, his
looks We're hostile and resentful. seeing
which the detective began amicably by
saying he needed his help, and felt sure
it would readily be given by one ST
anxious for the discovery Of the mis-.
| sing property.
, Yes, yes" Max replied impatiently
Then may ask you, sir, which di.
rection you took when you left TIL,
i, house early this morning."
The question was unexpected, ant
| after some consideration the answe
l came in the shape of an inquiry as t.
l what that had TO do with the case.
/ You will see later on. sir. Wher
/ did you go?'
Il don't remember" Max answered
! after n pause.
: "You said on vour raturn tb1t WI,
had been for walk; so, suppose, sil
| may take it for granted you left th
terraces and the gardens? p
Il suppose l did" he repeated slowly
as if carefully considering his words
Don't you know sir?"
well, l was thinking over somethin
that bothered me. That's why
went out at all, SO l didn't notice whic
way l took; besides. the morning wa
pitch dark
see, it would have been possible 70
you, who are familiar with the place
to know which way you went. An
there are only two paths you coul
have taken-one leading through tn
garden into the park the other turnin
sharp though the shrubbery skirtin
the north side of the house and leadin
to the home farm.
For the life of me I can't see that
matters where l went?'
but others may the Inspector Su2
gested.
Max looked at him wrathfully, tn
pupils of his small eyes contractint
his face turning pale from suppresse
passion. well, all 1 can tell you
that l don't remember" he answere
defantly, as he turned away.
The detective looked after the re
treating figure mcditatively. compress
sing his lips and stroking his chin a
If SOrely puzzled.
Early next morning while Geoffre
Bysshe was walking briskly up an
down the terraces, bracing himself i
the sharp breeze that was twitching tn
= last leaves from the trees and spOrtive
ly dancing them in middair, ne caugf
e sight of Foundes hulrying toward hi,
and carrying something in his hand
that made the barristcr jump dow
half dozen steps in his haste to NEE
him.
You have found it.; you have foun
my box" he called out excitedly.
;, Yes. sir, but it's empty; the lock ha
] been forced"
Il But where was it-where did va
! find it?" he asked eagerly
i In the underwood of the shr,Ibbe,
that skirts the north side of the hall
I All! The thief managed to get q,
\ of the house and hide it there
A You see, sir. it wouldn't be easy
y put away box like this in the hOus
and I hardly expected to find it ther
It's my first clew and it gives me hope
= Continued Next WeeL