Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-02

| had nothing definite to go on; but I-well, was keyed up to just about the right pitch, and I thought ] might bluff him."
 ''Mercy me! You do need . guardian angel worse than anybody I know!" Portia cut in. Do so on."
 Kent nodded.
 T had one that night; angel or de- mon, which ever you please. was fairly dragged into doing what did. When I reached the upper corridor the door of the public anteroom was ajar, and I heard voices. The outer room was not lighted. but the door between 1t and the governors private office was open. went in and stood in that open doorway for as much as five minutes. I think, and none of the four men sitting around the governors writing-table saw me-"
 He had. his small audience well in hand by this time, and Ormsby's Ques- ton was almost mechanical.
 "Who were the four?"
 After the newspaper rapid-dre ot this morning you might guess them Ill. They were his excellency, Grafton Hendricks, Rumford, and Senator Du- wall. They were in the act of closing the deal as I became an onlooker. Rumford had withdrawn his applica- ton for a charter. and another straw company had been formed with Duvall at it's head. I saw at once what l fancy Duvall never suspected; that he was going to be made the scapegoat for the ring. They all promised to stand by him--and you see how that promise has been kept"
 Good heavens!" ejaculated Lor- ing. What despicable lot of scoun- drels! But the bribe: did you learn anything about that?"
 q saw it," said Kent, impassively. "It was 8 slip of paper passed across the table by Rumford to Bucks, face down. Bucks glanced at it before he thrust it into his pocket, and I had my glimpse, too. It was a draft on Chicago bank, but could not read the figures, and I doubt if either of the other conspirators knew the amount. Then the governor tossed a folded paper over to the oil man, say ing, There is your deed to the choicest piece of property in all Gaston, and you've got 1t dirt cheap I came away at that" .-..
 Elinor's sigh was almost sob; but Miss Van Brooks eyes were dancing.
 "Go on, go on," she exclaimed. "That is only the beginning"
 Rents smile was of reminiscent weariness.
 q found it so, assure you. So far IS any usable evidence was concerned was no better off than before; il was merely my assertion against their denial-one man against four. But have had a full week. and 1t has moi been wasted. I needn't bore you with the mechanical details. One of my men followed Bucks messenger tc Chicago-he wouldn't trust the bank: here or the mails-and we know now know it in black on white. with the proper affldavits, that the draft wal for $200,O0O, payable to the order oi Jasper G. Bucks. The ostensible con. sideration was the transfer from Buck! to Rumford of a piece of property ir the outskirts of Gaston. I had thi! piece of land appraised for me to-da! by two ,disinterested citizens of Gas ton, and they valued it at a possible but highly improbable $3.o0o."
 "Oh, how clumsy!" said Portia, fl fine scorn. Docs his excellency i'm agine for a moment that any on' would be deceived by such a primitiv' bit of dust-throwing?" and ormsb. also had something to say about thu fatal mistakes of the shrewdest crimi nals.
 "It was not so bad" said Kent. "I it should ever be charged that he tool money from Rumford, here is plail business transaction to account for Il The deed, as recorded. has nothing t say of the enormous price paid. Tn phrasing is the common form use when the parties to the transfer do no wish to make the price public: Flo S1 to me in hand paid, and othe valuable considerations Luckily, W are able to establish conclusivel what the other valuable considers tions' were"
 "Tt seems to me that these docu ments arm and equip you for anythin you want to do," said Loring. polish ing his eyeglasses after his ingraine habit.
 Kent shook his head.
 "No; thus far the evidence Is a circumstantial, or rather inferentia But picked up the final link in tn chain-the human link-yesterda.