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

:, lrro Votbor;ro G,-ooo Author of "The Forsaken
Anud hdthdiihe uIVSE, lnn," Etc.

Htl iiN. Al Sot NSiS W paw
tograph this
The artist shook his head.
Il have an invincble rcpugnancc to
making her features the common prop.
criy of Il dozen police officers. The
case does not seem sufficiently press
ing. If you can get along with it, do
am sure her womanly delcacy should
be conSdered.'
Il will try, but it may occasion de-
lay. Have you Montelli's note about
you?"
Il believe so; yes here it is"
Il suppose you have no objection to
letting me have that"
"NOne whatever
"And now for a minute description
of this Italian
IL only saw him for an instant, but
in that instant ! got the impression of
Il tall. slim man, of decided dark COM
plexion and lowering glance. He wore
a black mustache and had sinister
and uncanny expression that made
most disagreeablc impression upon the
beholder. Yet his form was not bad,
and by some people he might even be
called a gentleman, though | should
never describe him as such. But then,
| hate him. and with reason. for be-
lieve him to be the cause of the sisnor.
mas abrupt departure"
Il wish your description had been
little different. | wish ii had tailed
more with that given of the gentleman
haunting the other three girls. SIMS.
ter, eh? and dark? That is not what
is said of the urbane stranger who Wis.
tied Miss Hadden's school and lay in
wait to view Mr.. Rogers young daugh.
ter
What are you taking ahout! cX.
claimed Degraw, getting excited. "ls
there
But Byrd with gesture stopped all
questioning.
Il let my thoughts ont somewhat
carclessly," he acknowledged. Mon
tell is, undoubtedly what the Portu'
gucsc describes him to be. | only
wished to make sure. DO you think
YOU could. by few strokes, give me
an idea Of his facc|'
Degraw shook his head.
81 fear my impressions are too vague
said he. But let me have that paper
And taking the note which he had pre-
viouSly given TO Byrd ht attempted by
n r"w lines on its back to give some
idea of the Italians features. He sue
cecded imperfectly, while Byrd, who
was no mean artist himself, employed
his time in waiting by roughly. but not
naccuratcly. copying into his note book
the face of the siGnorlna.
For my own USE he explained
showing it to the wondering Degraw
And taking the other sketch he but.
toned them both up in his pocket, with
Il look that forbade further question:
Ing. And now. goodbye" said he
"AS soon as get hold of anything def
mite | will let you know. Till then be
easy. Remember that twenty detcc.
tives besides myself are on the track
Of the unknown man who seems to he
HlHhllS ull tHlS IlllStlliti.
Wait. don't go, Byrd. till YOU have
made one thing clear to me. You have
limited to ME that you thought that
Montelli and he might be one and the
same. If so the signorna would be but
one of the several involved in Il plot. OF
which, l dare say, even YOU do not
know either the motive or workings"
You are not far wrong"
"But two of the victims of this plot
have died?'
Natural deaths, Degraw."
Natural deaths? Are you sure?"
"Sure of one and as sure of the
other as l can be till after the autopsy
that will be made to-day"
But"
"Go to the inquest, Degraw 1t will
take up your mind and keep you from
too great impatience. | will write you
in two days whether I have news or
not"
But the artist was not yet ready to
see the other go.
II want to give my opinion" said he,
'before say goodbye. do not think
Montelli is interested in any one but
the signorina, and as for the unknown
| do not think he is near as much to be
feared as the deceiving Portuguese"
1--WE will see, we will see Meantime
every minute that linger here puts
off by so much time the hour of her
discovery"
'Then go; would not detain you an
other minute" And as eager now to
see the detective depart as he had hith.
erto been to detain him he fairly
pushed him toward the door.
But now Byrd chose to halt mo"
ment
"Why, whom have we here?" he
asked, pointing to the picture which
Dcgraw had denominated THE Poets
Dream" 'It looks as if you had been
rying to paint Miss Aspinwall."
Miss Aspinwall"
"Old Lemuel Aspinwalrs daughter,
he beauty of upper Fifth avenue"
well. perhaps l have. Do you rec
ognize the face?
"Perfectly.'
"Then am much obliged to you.
have always wished TO know my mod
els name. saw her in a crowd and
this is the result But | never found
any one before who could tell me who
she is. Not that / have made any
str pnuous efforts to find out, for, as
you see, the picture is not yet off my
easel"