Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-07-06
CHAPTER IN.
HORACE BYRD.

them. One is large. benevolent look
ing and elderly. with Il smooth face
and kindly bearing. but with Il curious
manncrism affecting all his actions
that at once draws attention and in
spires inquiry. He never looks at the
person he 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
Convcrsing.
Whether this is mere habit caught
in the long exercise of Il calling de-
manding secrecy of intention, or
whether it is the result of a deliberate
determination on 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 il marks the man
and gives him a power at once weird
and controlling no one has ever dis
lNlpt, HDl tNtl lilbSt W llb Huiitl ihpc'
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, verging
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 Il young man of Il we'll
built frame, attractive features good
expression and cultivated manners, He
is detective too, but neither in
speech look nor action does he show il,
hence his usefulness and growing IA
vor with the chief. The names of these
men are Gryce and Byrd, names, rs |
have said, with which You are famil-
lar. even if you have never seen them
mentioned save in this narrative
They are talking, and Mr.. Grycc's
voice is the first We hear.
The reward of course, is a 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, as is prob.
able enough, upon the clue we are all
in search of, viz, the secret of con.
spiracy involving so many girls of ono
name, virtue will have its reward in
more senses than one, and | for one
shall congratulate you. but if you do
not and yet find the si"norina, and so
relieve Dcgraw from his anXictics, why
you will have done Il good work that
will always give YOU satisfaction. The
man with the black muStachc and gray
eyes who has been seen in connection
with every one of these girls but the
siGnorinl, will not he 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 heress ana
these two other victims TO his machln
ations will deter him from being seen
with her till public attention has been
drawn from the name ana all those
who have been known to bear it, But
the SignOrna Nnldi has not been
known to have borne it except by very
few persons. With her he may vet
carry Oh his schemes, whatever they
may be, with seeming impunity. IT,
therefore. he is the strong man he ap
IL
have termed it, has any good reason
for being. YOU VIII find her i'll the Tolls
or under the influence Of this man
whose namc may or may not be Mon.
tell, but who is certainly person of
resources demanding all our skill and
energy in tracing him."
"Mr. Grycc, how can I thank you:
You fire me at once with courage and
enthusiasm. | hated TO miss the re-
ward for / nceGed it. but if Judgment
points in the same direction as duty
how easy ii will be for me to go for
ward"
True, but remember that | promise
nothing. | only point out the course |
should follow if | We're Of your age and
engaged in active service"
THAT is all that is necessary. / de-
sire no wiser mentor nor more disinter-
estcd friend. And now let us look into
the clcws ] 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 mcagrc."
The Old detective showed his interest
in his usual benevolent way. and after
n 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
graw's studio.
Il should like 10 see the sketch you
drew of SiGnorina Valdi'
Mr.. Degraw hascncd to show It.
meanwhile overwhelming the detective
with questions.
''What have Won discovered. Whom
have you seen? What hope is there of
finding her.
But Byrd was reticcnt.
81 have discovered nothing rs yet"
he replied. "Thc task you have given
me is not an easy one. Were her
beauty less, or her characteristics rot
so pronounced | should almost despair
of solving the mystery that surrounds
her but with such face as hers she
cannot long remain anywhere unn0-
ticed. and now that know its charac-