The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-12-19

tner I proceeded, the more my spirits
zen, FOR they told no story, they seemed
10 nave no relation to each other-ne
ohlfnon thread. Apparently they haG
peen gathered ainllessly at haphazarG
70 satisfy the whlm of the moment
one a wreck at sea; another
IL pank robbery; a third an escape from
PRISON; q fourth was merely a marriage
notlce; a fifth told of a row in a sailors
owe. and SO IN down the list. They
were about different people-friends OF
Ihompson's. perhaps; none of them
nau any connection with Tremaine;
tney told no story, furnished no clew,
shed not a ray of light on the mys-
tety-they were absolutely worthless.
Il laid them down in despair. Yet If
they were worthless, why had Miss
Croydon taken them? Why had Ire
name sought for them? Were they
mistaken, too? Had they imagined the
cnppings told a secret which in fact
Ihey did not tell? But perhaps they
qua tell i~t--perhaps l had overlooked
IT,. They must have some connection
with the tragedy? Why should 1 not
perceive it?
l ran through them feverishly again.
u with no better result. AT last I
LAID them down n took up my pipe.
. H'aSl oobiHll tieID 10 a keenef brain
IMAM mine. If Godfrey We're only
here.
heard a step come down the hall.
stop at my door. Someone knocked.
hastily stuffed the clippings into my
pocket and opened the door. But it
was not who stood there-it
was Godfrey.
just wishing for you. Come in"
With that quiet smile of his, he
stepped over the threshold.
mat nus mean you've got some
new problem to solve,' he said smil-
ing.
the worst yet; ~impenetrable
as the countenance of the Sphinx. But
nrst give me your coat and hat
Ihey We're dripping with water, and
Tor the first time L heard the rain beat
ing saVagely against the windows.
Il happened to be across the street
talking with Simmons" he said, and
l thought I'd run over and see you a
moment"
When did you get back from Wash
Just this evening, and I've got to
put IN tomorrow at Boston. worse
1 handed him a cigar and took one
myself. j confess that the match with
winch l lighted 1t was not wholly
steady. ~
Come" said Godfrey. smiling in
sympathy with my excitement. WHAT'S
the great discovery? Some news from
the house party?"
No; I haven's heard a word from
the h~ouseparty.'
What is it, then? Out with it,"
Godfrey" I cried, 'Ive found the
clippings" and l plunged my hand into
my pocket n drew them forth.
ne was out of his seat in an instant.
Ihe clippings! Not the ones"-
ihe very ones!" I nodded triumph-
antly.
Let me see them; but wait" and he
held himself back. IT confess you sur
prlsed me, Lester-I wasn't expectinp
such a bomb. This is great luck. Where
did you find them?"
l told him of Higgins chance remark
had put me on the track. and in
The same breath related what Cecilv
nad told me OF Tremaine and his en-
with his zombi.
Good boy!" Godfrey commended
When had finished. You're worth ali
NE. re,r rest ST. Of us put together. You see.
1and. Now bring the clippings over
aere to the desk under the light"
laid them on the desk and he sat
before it.
but here he said, starting up
gam, you'll want to see them.
NO, not protested. S down. /
seen them" and then suddenly 7
remembered how I had been disan-
'ointed. They contained no secret. thew
ave us no clew.
So" he said, sitting down again.
SO you're in the secret. them"
I've looked them over" I repeated
but I'm not in the Sc
ret: They don't tell any secret. or
else that concernse this case.
don't believe they'll help us a bit Cod.
rey. They're about everything under
ne sun but he one thing we're inter
In" M
| went back to my chair and applied
user TO my cigar; I hardly dared
ook at Godfrey, his disappointment
you'd be SO intense. A silence of three
T our IN followed, broken onlv
y the rustling of paper and the how.
ne Of the wind about the buildine.
me l glanced at Godfrey. His
heeks We're flushed, his eyes were
canning with triumph.
What" I cried, starting up, do Won
hink'- -
He looked up with a little nod.
Yes he said: they tell us tho
,hole story, Lester"
Continued Next Week.)