The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER xI.
i UNMAsK MY ENEMY.

X. anu Il WAS 6dBcE W BIdPPAc
anew with the mystery. / found two
reports awaiting me at the office: Mr.
Royce had passed good night and
was better; the clerks who had spent
the afternoon before In visiting the
stables had as yet discovered nothing
and were continuing their search.
looked up a time card Of the Long
Island railroad, and found that Miss
Holladay's coachman could not reach
the city until $780, So I put on my
hat again, sought a secluded table al
Wallacks, and over a cigar and stein
of hock drew up a resume OF the case
to clear the atmosphere as II were. III
ran something like this:
March 13, ursday--Holladay found
murdered: daughter drives to Wash
iE-ton square.
March ia. Friday--Coroner's inquest;
Miss Holiday released; mysterious
note received. aE F
March 16, Suuday-Holladay buried.
March Is, Tuesday-Will opened and
probated.
March 2S, Friday--Miss Holiday re-
turns from drive bringing new maid
with her and discharges old one.
March 30, Saturday-Giyes orders TO
open summer house.
April 1, Tuesday--Asks for 100000.
April 2, Wednesday-Gets 1t.
April 3, Thursday--LeaYes home, os-
tensibly for Belair, in company with
new maid .... .'
April IA, Monday--Butler reports her
disappearance; Royce taken Ill; begin
nv search.
There stopped. The last entry
brought me up to date--there was moth
ing more to add. But 1t seemed impos-
sible that all the developments Of this
mystery should have taken only a
month. For years, as it seemed to me,
had thought OF nothing else.
/ looked over the schedule again
carefully. There was only one opening
that could sec where 1t was possible
to begin work with the hope OF ac-
complishing anything. That was In the
very first entry. Miss Holiday had
driven to Washington Square; she had,
/ felt certain, visited her sister; l must
discover the lodging Of this woman.
Perhaps I should also discover Frances
Holiday there. In any event, should
have a new point to work from.
The police had been over the ground,
knew; they had exhausted every re-
source in the effort to locate Mr.. Hol-
laday's mysterious visitor, and had
found not trace of her. But that fact
did not discourage me; for i hoped to
start my search with Information which
the police had not possessed, Brooks,
the coachman, should be able to tell
me ..#H #g
Recalled suddenly to remembrance OF
him, 1 looked at my watch and saw that
1t was past his hour. was pleased to
find him awaiting me when I opened
the office door three minutes later.
had only few questions to ask him
When your mistress left the car
riage the day you drove her to Wash
ington Square, did you notice which
street she took after she left the
square?" ...... ...- ...".
yes. sir; she went on down West
broadway"
"On which side?"
"Th' left-hand side, sir; tn east side"
to get to that side" .ar @
"Yes, sir; she did. noticed pertic-
lar, for though 1t funny she shouldn't
we let me drive her her on down tn
street to wherever she was goin'. Its
a dirty place along there, SIR"
"Yes, l know. When you drove her
out on the 2Sth--the day she brought
back the maid-where did she go?
ITO Washington square, again sir"
And left you waiting for herr"
Yes, sir. just tn same"
"And went down the same street%
"Yes, sir; crossed to tn east side
just tn same as tn time before"
How long was she gomez"
"Over an hour, sir; and hour an a
half, / should say"
did you notice anything unusual In
her appearance when she came back !"
mo, sir; she was wearin' a heavy
veil. She had tn other woman with
her, an she just said 'Home!' in a
kind Of hoarse voice, as l helped them
into tn carriage"
That was all that he could tell me,
and yet / felt that 1t would help me
greatly. In the first place 1t narrowed
my Investigations to the district lying
to the east Of West Broadway, and
knew that the French quarter extended
only q block or two in that direction.
And, again, 1t gave me point to in
sist on in my inquiries--I knew the
date upon which the mysterious woman
had left her lodging. Or, at least
knew that 1t must be one of two dates.
The lodging had been vacated, then,
either on the twenty-eigh of March
or the third of April. AS a last re-
source, / had the photograph. was
ready to begin my search, and dis
missed Brooks, warning him not to say
anything to anyone about the mystery.
AS passed out the door to the pave
ment. 1 happened to glance across the
way, and there, in the crowd of brok-
ers which always lines the street, per-
ceived Martigny. He was listening in
tently to one OF the brokers, who was
talking earnestly in his ear-telling
MIN now 10 make MS fortune, i sup
pose-and did not see me. For an in
slant, was tempted to cross to him,
and get him out of danger. Then
smiled at the absurdity Of the thought
1t would take a clever man to fleece
Martigny, and recalled his strong face,
his masterful air-he was no fool, no
lamb ready for the shears. He was
perfectly able to look out for himself
to WELD the shears with power and eff
feet, IL need be.
turned west toward Broadway, still,
I suppose, thinking of him subcon-
sciously; for few moments later,
some Irresistible impulse caused me to
glance around. And there he was,
walking after me, on the opposite side
OF the street! Then. in a flash, / un-
derstood. He was following me!
1t is difficult to describe the shock
that ran through me, that left me
numbed and helpless. For an instant,
I stumbled on, half dazed; then, grad
ually, my self control came back, and
with certain fierce Joy, hot exulta-
ton. Here, at last, was something
definite, tangible, a clew ready TO my
aand. IL only I were clever enough to
follow 1t up; ray Of light In the dark
ness! l could feel my cheeks burning.