The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-12-15

"All that you say Is ver' 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 Lester3"
81 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" l
admitted. that I should like to take a
hand at solving it-though. of course, I
never shall. Our connection with the
case is ended"
He shot me quick glance, then
lighted another cigarette.
Suppose 1t were assigned to you to
solve It," he asked, 'how would YOU
set about it?'
ia try to hnd the mysterious wo-
man."
But the police. SO ! understand, at
tempted that and failed" he objected.
How could you succeed?"
"Oh, l dare say shouldn't succeed"
laughed, his air striking me as a little
more earnest than the occasion de-
manded. II should probably fail. tust
a a tho salioa AiA.u
In France" he remarked. it in
not In the least expected that men of
the law should"-
Nor Is 1t here" 1 explained. "Only,
or course. a lawyer can't help 1t some
times. Some cases demand more or
less detective work and are yet too del
icate TO be intrusted to the police"
1t Is also the fault Of our police that
II Is too fond Of the newspapers, Of
posing before the public. 1t ia a fault
or human nature, Is IL notf"
You speak English 80 well. Mr..
Martigny," said, that / have won.
dered where you learned It,"
Il was some years in England-ths
business OF wine-and devoted myself
seriously to the study Of the language.
But l still ind 1t sometimes very dim
cult to understand you Americans
you speak so much more rapidly than
tne English and so much less distinct-
~. You have way Of running your
words together, Of dropping whole syl-
lables"-
Yes" smiled. "and that Is the very
thing We complain Of in tho French"
"Oh, our elisions are governed nv
well defined laws which each one com.
prehends, while here
Every man is law unto himself.
remember 1t is the land Of the free
ana the home Of the license, is it
hotF' he added, unconscious of irony.
les, l decided, I was very fortunate
IN gaining Martigny's acquaintance.
Of course after he opened his business
ne would have less time to devote ia
me. but nevertheless we should have
many pleasant evenings together, and
looked forward to them with consid-
cradle anticipation. He was Interest.
Ing in himself entertaining, with that
large tolerance and good humor which
l nave already mentioned and which
was one of the most striking character
,stics OF the man. And then-shall /
admit It'll was lonely. too, some
times. as j suppose every bachelor
must be, and I welcomed a companion.
1t was Monday. the fourteenth hav
or April, and we had just opened the
Office, when a clerk hurried In with q
message for Mr.. Royce.
There's man out here who wants
10 see you at once. sir" he said. HE
says his names Thompson and that
he's Miss Frances Holidays butler"
Our junior half started from his chair
IN his excitement; then he controlled
himself and sank back into 1t again.
SHOW him in," he said, and sat with
his eyes on the door, haggard in ap-
pearance, pitiful in his eagerness. Not
until that moment had noticed how
the past week had aged him and worn
him down. His work Of course might
account for part Of 1t, but not for all.
He seemed almost III.
The door opened In a moment and
gray haired man Of about sixty en-
tered. He was fairly gasping for
breath and plainly iaboring under
strong emotion.
well, Thompson" demanded Mr..
0ovco. whats the trouble nowY'
rroutso Enough, sirr' cried the 9th.
er. my mistress has been made
away with. cir. She left town dust
teu days ago tov 3Asin whaps we