The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-07-26
CHAPTER v.

Thus armed, Billery set out upon his
task, and threw himself into 1t with a
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 three 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 it's
lower rooms a quantity Of ramshackle
old secondhand furniture, where OBJ
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. II 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 self-imposed in
quiry would be virtually ended if once
this discovery were made. To find
the man to whom the house had last
belonged it was obviously necessary
to find the man from whom he had
bought 1t.
But this idea had already recon-
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 it
a rider to the effect that there was
strong presumptions of foul play. The
Home Office had offered a 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
oan 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 l was the first
person to identify the body am act
ing on exclusive information OF my
own. but haven't the slightest objec
ton TO sharing It In confidence. All
want to be assured OF Is that IL my in
formation Is exact shall have tbs
proper credit for It."
There's a good deal hanging on Il
this" said the officer.
Exactly" Billery assented. Il ses
your point. I'm not going for the re
ward. I'm doing my duty as a Journal
list"
Very good" said the Officer. AM
now, may ask. what's the nature d
your special informattonTT
| ITO be sure" Blllery answered
there's no tar on human Curiosity"
Il Come" said the officer, YOU salt
you hadn't the sligh.es, objection u
sharing II In confidence"
| Not the slightest objection TO shar
ing tin confidence. But I'm no
sure that Im sharing II In confidenc,
II ] share II with you I don't know
You FROM Adam. any more than 70,
ks0w me from Cain Or Able
Il That's my name" SAID tha cfYlcsr
searching for loose card In his watcI