The Red Cloud chief., 1905-12-15

Dctn Ills HOule, Will IL VIII W WHICH,
his slight accent and formal %utterance
gave new point; he displayed a kindly
interest In my plans which was very
pleasing: he was always %tactful, cour-
teous, good humored. He was plainly
a boulevurdier, u man of the world,
with an outlook upon life a little star
Ting in its materiality, but interesting
In Its freshness and often amusing In
It's %frankness. And he seemed to re-
turn my liking-certainly II was he
who sought me, not l who sought him.
He was being delayed, he said, in es-
tablishing his business; he could not
get just the quarters he desired, but
In another week there would be a place
vacant. He would ask me to draw up
the lease. Meanwhile time hung rath.
er heavily OH his hands.
Though l do not quarrel with that"
he added, sitting In my room n even
ing; lit Is necessary for me that I
take life easily. l have a weakness of
the heart, which has already given
me much trouble. Besides, i have your
companionship, which Is most well
come, and for which l thank you. 1
trust MISUNDERSTANDING you call-Hol-
laday Is again we'll"
1--WE haven't heard from her. l said.
"She Is still at her place In the
try"
"Oh, she Is doubtless well-in her l
take such an interest-you will par
don me II l weary you"
Weary me2 But you DON'T"
Then l will make bold to ask you
have you made any-what you call.
theory Of the crimeY'
mo" answered-''that Is. ION be.
yond what was In the newspapers-the
illegitimate daughter theory. l suppose
you saw 1t. That seems to tit the case"
He nodded meditatively. Yet l like
to imagine how NJ. LecOq would APP
proach 1t. Would he believe it was a
murder simply because it so appeared?
Has 1t occurred to you that Mees HOl.
laday truly might have visited her ia
Their and that his death was not a muir
der at all, but an accident?'
An a%ccident?" l repeated. How
could il be an accident? How could Il
man he stabbed accidentally in the
neck? Besides, even IL it We're an ac-
cident, how would that explain his
daughters rushing from the building
without trying to save him, without
giving the alarm? If 1t wasn't a muir
der, why should the woman, whoever
she was, be frightened? How else can
you explain her flight"
lie was looking at me thoughtfully
"All that you say is YER true" he said.
1T shows that you have given to the
case much thought. | believe that you
also have a fondneSs for crimes of
mystery" and he smiled at me. lis IT
not SO, Mistair Lester?"
IL had never suspected it," ! laughed
until this case came up, but the mi
crobe seems to have bitten me-"
"Ah, yes" he said doubtfully, not
quite understanding.
And I've rather fancied at times"
admitted, that | should like TO take q
hand at solving i%t-though. OF course, !
never shall. Our connection with the
cas- is ended"
He shot me a quick glance, thel
lighted another cigarette.
Suppose IT were assigned to you tC
solve it," he asked, chow would you
set about it,"
I'D try to find the mysterious wo
man"
But the police, SO ! understand, at
tempted that and failed,'' he objected
How could you succecdr'
"Oh, / dare say | shouldn't succeed
| laughed, his air striking me as a it'll,
more earnest than the occasion de
manded. Il should probably fail, JUS
as the police did"
I'm France" he remarked, at II
not in the least expected that men O
the law should"-
"Nor Is it here" l explained. "Only
Of course, n lawyer cant help 1t some
times. Some cases demand more O
less detective work and are yet too del
icate to be intrusted to the police
1T Is also the fault of our police tina
1t Is too FOND of the newspapers, o
posing before the public. 1t Is IA faul
of human nature, is IL notf'
You speak English so well, MI
Martigny," | said, that / have won
dered where you learned It."
II was some years in ~England-th
business Of wine-and devoted mysel
seriously TO the study of the Language
But still find II sometimes very diff
cult to understand you Americans
you speak 80 much more rapidly tina
the English and so much less distinc,
, ly. You have a way of running you
words together, OF dropping whole syI