The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-08-24

- \ 80 -s,4T
'Missall says he could identity him
by his portrait. suppose you could
get photograph Of him from some
one Of his friends or another, couldn't
your"
Il can't quite tell where at present"
said Billery. "Mr. Alexis Brangwyn
has one. know, but he's travelling
abroad for his health. I haven't got
his address, and I don't know when
hell be back again."
"Ah, WELL" Holt answered, 81 shall
be coming your way in a couple Of
hours time. II you are going to be in
then, I should like to have . talk
with YOU"
"All right" said Billery. 'rll be
here"
Then he sat down to think the whole
question out over a pipe.
'The plain fact IL that I'm not cut
out for this kind of an enterprise.
What the dickens has 1t got to do with
me whether old Brangwyn's murder
goes unavenged or not? Let Provi-
dence do justice in its own good time.
I've set the game going, but I'm out
OF the hunt from this day forward.
Why. by Heaven" cried Billery, jump
Ing from his chair, II never dreamed
of such mental agony as that beastly
discovery inflicted on poor Alexis.
There it is, there it Is. There's no JUS
tice in the world. Everywhere and al
ways men and women suffering for
other peoples wrongdoing."
With these thoughts and thoughts
like these his mind was mainly occu-
pied until, little before the specified
time, the commissionaire in the in
quiry Office below summoned his at
tention, and announced the arrival of
Detective-Sergeant Holt from Scotland
Yard, with a colleague from Paris
They've been a little bit slower
than l anticipated" said the sergeant
as he shook hands, "but they've got
the old bloke at last all right. Sort Of
rag and bone and bottle merchant.
Buys from the chiffonniers, and sells
his rubbish wholesale. Allow me to
introduce yau to M. Ribot, gentleman
professionally in good many cases.
He's had talk with old Missall, and
he'll tell you all about him."
M. Ribot was stout man, in var
nished boots and a tightly-buttoned
frock coat. He was clean shaven and
close cropped, and he looked like q
prosperous low comedian. He bowed
at the mention of his name, and began
his recital without any sort of preface.
"Missall, Edouard, Rue Bouge 4bis,
MontmaTtre, dealer In street refuse,
aged seventy-two. Owned the tene-
ment No. in Agar Row, Rotherhithe,
London. Sold the same in the autumn
of the year 1899 to person calling
himself WilmOnte, whom he believes
to have been Frenchman. Is quite
unable to describe the man adequately,
but believes he might recognize him.
Believes the man to have been some
thing like his own rank in life."
1T doesn't appear to point very
strongly to the party you suspect, does
it, Mr.. Billery?" said Holt. But in
the transfer of house property there's
generally some kind of intermediary,
and there are certain legal forms to
be satisfied to make the contract bind
ing. Well continue the inquiry for
what it's worth, anyhow. II you could
get us that photograph, now, Mr.. Bill
cry, it might simplify matters"
We'll, I'll tell you how the matter
stands, so far as am concerned" said
Billery. II can't bring myself to be
concerned In 1t personally any longer" "
"No?" said Holt, looking at him in
establishment. why. Mr.. Billery, II
my opinions worth anything, and |
think 1t is, or ought to be, after all the
experience I've had, whatever progress
has been made In this case has been
made by you. You're on the way. be-
lieve to q very striking success, sir,
and when the facts come out you will
be entitled to the credit of It,"
IT don't want it, thank you," Billery
returned. i've done my duty by the
State already"
n RAM%i~.,~AN