The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-07-27
CHAPTER v.

| Thus armed, Billery set out upon his
| zeal and resolution of which those
who knew him best would have least
deemed him capable. But almost at
the first step of his inquiries he found
himself fortified Among other facts
elected at the inquest, it transpired
that the owner of the house in which
Aloysius Brangwyn's body had been
discovered had sold his property
some thee years after the old mans
disappearance, and had gone abroad.
A singular feature in the case was
that the purchaser had made no use
of his purchase except to store In its
lower rooms quantity Of ramshackle
old secondhand furniture, where Iob-
tanned or by whom conveyed to its
destination there was no evidence to
show. Now, Billery's theory of the
crime pointed inexorably In one direc-
ton. If he could find the man who
had sold the house, he would have at
least a chance OF Identifying the pur-
chaser. He had an intuition so strong
that, in his own mind, it amounted to
certainty that his selfimposed in
quiry would be virtually ended If once
this discovery were made. To find
the man to whom the house had last
belonged 1t was obviously necessary
to find the man from whom he had
bought 1t.
mended itself to the intelligence of
Scotland Yard, and when Billery be-
gan his house-tO-house visitation
among the Inhabitants of the neigh
borhood he made acquaintance of an
official person who was already in
pursuit Of the information OF which
he was himself In search. The coro-
ner's jury had returned verdict Of
Found dead" and had appended to 1t
a rider to the effect that there was
strong presumptions Of foul play. The
Home Office had offered reward, and
the dead mans sole survivors had sup
plemented this offer by one much larg-
er. Perhaps these facts may have
had something to do with the resent
| ment displayed by the official person
at Billery's inquiries.
This affair."" he told Billery. is be-
Ing looked into by the properly-consti-
| tuded authorities. When we happen
to find ourselves IN need OF amateur
assistance we'll ask for It,"
| That's all right" said Billery. at
fably Perhaps you may find that /
can be of use to you. Perhaps may
be able to make it worth your while
to be of use to me. That is my card.
represent the Daily Record You
may remember that ! was the first
person to identify the body. I am act
ing on exclusive information Of my
own, but haven't the slightest objec-
tion to sharing it in confidence. All l
want to be assured Of is that II my in
formation Is exact shall bave the
proper credit for It,"
There's good deal hanging on to
this" said the officer.
Exactly" Billery assented. Il see
4 your point. I'm not going for the rel
/ ward. I'm doing my duty as journal
! list"
/ Very good said the officer. And
now, may ! ask, what's the nature OF
your special information ?"
ITO be sure Billery answered: :
''there's no tax on human curiosity"
| "Come," said the officer, you said
you hadn't the slightest objection to
sharing it In confidence"
mot the slightest objection to shar-
Ing tin confidence, But I'm not
surS that I'm sharing 1t In confidence
IL share It with you. | don't know
| you from Adam, any more than you
know mo from Cain or Able"
That's my name" SAID the onicer.
ooarching for i loose card In hia watch