The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-12-13
DUKE OF
DEVIL
MAY-CARE
BY HARRIS DICKSON
Auihor Of
The Black Wolrs Breed &c
CHAPTER xiI.

CCopyrght ism, BY p. Appleton a Coz
CHAPTER XII.
Wait a minute, Felix: now tell me
chat all over again: / don't seem to
get it into my head"
Il couldn't either. at hrst-it took
me a long time. ] don't believe l am
certain about il now; It seems so
strange for such a thing to happen
right here at home. TO people you
know"
He slipped his coffee slowly; Joe's
coffee got cold.
Chaudron went on and gave in de
tail every incident that had transpired
from the moment he entered the
Hotel Louis lie Grande-everything
that Anita had told him, everything
that he police had learned. It did
not take long. there was so very little
of it.
Now. you know all that anybody
knows" he said. finally, and set down
his cup.
Joe did not move; his face did not
light up with comprehension. But
/ don't know a thing" he said.
Neither do NEITHER does any
body.
But the police? the ~detectves?"
Not a thing. Except Tor what
those two girls say We have not been
able to find a solitary trace Of Mrs.
Ashton since she set foot in New
Orleans. Her trunk came to-day, but
the bag that she had last night has
disappeared. We can't even prove
that she ever reached the city-axcept
by the young ladies. Her trunk IS
standing down there in that hotel
right now. It's the only tangible evil
dence we have-standing there like
a gravestone. Kind O. gruesome-
makes a fellow SILVER TO look at Il"
Where is that hotel?" Joe asked.
What sort Of a place is il? / never
heard Of IT,"
Down on Valols street, just below
Esplanade. II Is o a hotel at all,
merely an apartment house; they rent
rooms to Carnival visitors. People go
down there because il Is so quaint
and old-fashiOned-lots Of antique
furniture and curios. all that sort Of
thing"
Joe thought a long time; he wanted
10 FISK a question, but dared not. In
spite of himself he kept thinking OF
Dukes pale and haggard face. and the
intense hate with which be said 4
wish that old woman were in hell, and
] had the receipt for her"
After awhile he did ask h~esltating-
ly. DO you think she has been muir
dercd?"
That seems hardly possible; there
was no reason for anybody to kill
her. II she had been killed there
would have been some sign Of it.
somewhere. But she couldn't have got
up in the night and strayed away
her baggage would be there. Blest II
I can think Of anything that she
might possibly have done. We can't
seem to get a start on it-cant catch
hold Of ID anywhere. The two girls
don't agree as 10 where they left her:
neither n is certain. yet they both
are sure that she went to that house
aud went TO bed, Ia a room which
they decrtbe perfectly But, as / told
yog. there Is not a room In the house
answering Q their description"
Joe may have been slow about some
matters. but he a thorough; and in
tryiag his cases he never left an inch
Of ground uneXplored behind him.
He leaned forward and asked ques-
ton after question-lnclsive pointed.
direct questions. When Chaudron had
answered them as best be could. Joe
settled back. dug his hands deep into
his pockets. and thought.
Come, joe Chaudron said. rising
10 his feet. there's no use sitting
here; we've got 20 do something.
Let's go home and get a couple OF
hours sleep before breakfast"
I'm not a pit sleepy"
yes, you are. you look half dead.
We Ear do nothing tonight. the de-
tectiyes are at work. and Vance is
with them. He caught a little nap
this afternoon"
When Chaudron turned his night
key IN the lock az home and opened
the nall door very softly. the appari.
ton OF Anita startled him
"Oh, It's youl" he exclaimed. HAS
there been any neWs?"
mo. Alice Is asleep. the slightest
SQUAD wakes her-she hears the tele-
phone in her sleep. I'm so glad you
cane, she went on turning TO Joe;
NO needed you. and I knew you
would come
YES" he answered simply. Il was
glad 10 come" Ia some way. from the
ars: momen that he had met her. this
h0Beslck girl wearying for her noun.
taiBa Anita had erept straight 10 the
cofs9it corner Of his unseihsh heart
MT Chaudron has told youg" she
questioned with those big violet eyes
which looked an the deeper and clear
of 10 the dim light
yes. he answered again,
"7hen you mustn't SD up-you look
yory tired Your room l. ready. Mrs
Chaudfon q win Alice. Good night"
aud YOu?" Chaudron asked.