The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-11-03

GiZberf's Sacrifice
BY Troy Allison


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The chief sat back. in his revolving
chair and tapped his fngertips TO-
gether abstractedly.
II never knew you to take SO long
to wind up a case, Gilbert" he said
slowly.
The detective flushed slightly, and
answered with the abrupt, nervous
manner characteristic of him.
IT is the most cleW1ess case ever
tackled he said shortly. There was
absolutely nothing-no sign-no ey1-
dence except that small piece OF cloth
sticking to the tack on the side OF
the desk where Mr. RaWlton usually
hung his penWiper. The cloth had
evidently been snagged from rough
overcoat. The man who wore the
overcoat may have escaped in several
ways, the library was first floor back
room with windows opening into a
garden. The servants had been al
lowed to go out for the night, and
there was absolutely no one IN the
house except the man who was MUIR
dered. No one was seen enterlng-or
leaving-yet the pistol he was shot
with could not be found The pave
ment left no tracks-the next door
neighbors on each side were on IN
the country-so there is nothing
nothing on earth except that small
piece of tan overcoating for a cleW
I've nearly worn it out=in the last i've
months trying to get inspiration from
it-but inspiration refuses to come
Old Rawton had no enemies, 50 far as
/ can find He was a bachelor, and
his property was all Willed to hospi-
tai, so / can find no motive for the
crime
The chief nodded Understandings
t'You do seem up against it this
time, Gilbert" he said. "but you'll win
out yet-if anybody can. Your record
doesn't show a single failure"
Gilbert got up and Lit cigar.
tits hung on long enough want
to devote my entire time to it for the
next month";" he said, taking his hat
and cane from the table. II will either
succeed or give it up in 80 days from
now"
Gilbert went to his Office and sat
down at his desk.
Miss silverton, will you please
bring the book containing notes in the
Rawlton CASE he said to his stenog-
rapher His work had long ago placed
him upon a basis that made the Office
and stenographer necessity.
The girl stopped her machine sud
denly, and her typewriter letter fut-
tered to the floor
"Just one second she answered
nervously, has anything new devel-
oped?"
There was disguised despair in
Gilbert's voice. No simply want
to look at that piece of tan cloth
again. he growled. Perhaps it has
changed co1or-or-or something by
now. Sherlock Holmes could have put
It under microscope and found the
name and correct address Of the
Wearer done in India ink upon one Of
the light threads. He would have also
been able to have explained satisfae-
torily exactly why it had been put
there-and not one of his many ad-
mirers would have doubted that it was
a natural thing to mark a garment
that way. Let's have the piece of
cloth, Miss Silverton, and come help
me look at it-maybe your Woman's
intuition may be what's needed. I've
sworn to discover the truth within 80
days"
Gilbert heard a smothered exclama-
ton, and turned in time to see his
fall senseless to the
floor.
He was by her side in an instant,
bathing her forehead with water from
the cooler.
Poor little girl" he said beneath
his breath, 1--WE been brute to work
you SO hard during the hot weather.
She's awfully delicate, anyway" He
looked at the soft brown hair clinging
with moist tendrils to her white fore
head.
The girls eyes few open wildly.
Please say you won't do it, she
gasped, and her thin delicate fingers
clung to him like a frightened child's.
Won't do what, little woman?" he
asked in amazement. "I wouldn't for
worlds do-anything that would dis
please YOU, he finished softly.
Her fingers chung to him and she
sobbed upon his shoulder convulsively.
You won't try to find out who did
it, will your" she pleaded. They
would hang me if you did"
The detectives face turned suddenly
CHASTITY.
Good Cod" he said hoarsely, tell
me what you mean"
she chung to him, entirely unnerVed,
and kept her frightened face pressed
against his coat.
Il was there-that night" she whis-
pered, and I have been SO afraid they
would hang me"
Gilbert picked her up bodily from
the floor and put her in the chair by
bis desk.
r want to know every DETAIL be