The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-04

Hurd stretched out bis hand and
grasping that of Beecot, shook Ii warm
". Upon my word you are a man.
and that's almost better than being
gentleman" he said heartily. eve
heard everything from Mr.. Pash, and
honor you, Mr.. Beecot; honor you"
Paul stared. you must have been
brought up IN a queer way, Hurd." he
said dryly, ito express this surprise
because man acts as a man and not
as BLACKBOARD"
"Ah, but you see in my profession
have mixed with blackguards, and that
has lowered my moral tone. It's re-
freshing to meet a straight, honorable
man such as you are, Mr. Beecot.
liked you when first l set eyes on you
and determined to help you to discover
the assassin of Aaron Norman
''LemueI Krill you mean"
Hurd looked round the bleak garrett
expressively and shrugged his shoul-
ders. You can't bring Miss Norman
here"
NO. But may make enough mon
ey to give her better home"
Can l help you"
Il don't see how you can. want to
be an author"
Well" said Hurd, whose British
speech was in strange contrast to his
foreign appearance, its not a bad
game to be an author IL you get a good
serial connection. oh, don't look sur
prised. l know about newspapers and
publishers as know about most things.
See here, Mr.. Beecot, have you ever
tried your hand at detective story?"
NO. l write on a higher level"
you won't write on a more paying
level" replied Hurd coolly. II know
newspaper which will give you-if
recommend you, mind-f100 for a good
detective yarn. You apply for it,
But l couldn't make up one of those
plots-so intricate"
Pooh! It's a trick You set your
puppets in such and such a way and
then mix them up. I'll give you the
benefit of my experience as a tee, and
with my plot and your own writing
we'll be able to knock up a story for
the paper / talk of. Then, with f1OO
you'll have a nest egg to start with"
II accept with gratitude" said Bee
cot, moved, "but l really don't know
| why you should trouble about me-"
Because you're white man and an
| honorable gentleman" said the detec-
tive emphaticauy. I'm see about the
| story for you. Meanwhile / am going
to card party to meet incidentally
| Mr.. Grexon Hay"
"Ah You still suspect him?"
II do, and with good reason. He's
! got another mug in tow. Lord George
Sandal, the son Of Lord-wen 1 needn't
mention names, but Hays trying to
clear the young ass out and I'm on
| the watch. Hay will never know me
as the Count de la Tour. Not he,
smart as he is. I'm hyr'
do you speak French well?'
Moderately. But I play a silent
part and say little. I shut my mouth
and open my eyes. But what came
| here to say is that I intend to find out
the assassin of Aaron Norman"
81 can't offer you a reward, Hurd,"
said Paul, with a sigh.
"Oh, that's all right! The widow, by
the advice Of Pash, has doubled the
reward. One thousand pounds it is
now-worth winning, ehr'
'Humph!" said Paul moodily. "I
shouldn't think she loved her husband
SO much as that"
Hurd's brown eyes shot red flame
which showed that he was excited,
though he was cool enough externally
YES" he admitted in a careless man
ner, 'she certainly does act the weep
ing widow in rather an exaggerated
fashion. However, she's got the cash
now, or at least her daughter has,
which is the same. thing The two
have taken up their quarters in a fash
ionable hotel in the west end and are
looking for a house. The old woman
manages everything, and she will be
one too many for Mr.. Hay"
What? Does he know Mrs. Krill
He said he didn't"
"Quite right He didn't when the la
dies went first TO Pash's Office. But
Hay, on the lookout for a rich wife,
got Pash to introduce him to the Ia
dies, who were charmed with him
He's making up to the daughter even
In the few weeks that have elapsed
and now is assisting them to find a
house The daughter loves him, 1 fan
cy, but whether the mother will allow
the marriage to take place I can't say
Surely not on such a short ac-
quaintance."
Hurd bent forward as about to say
something, then changed his mind
Really, 1 don't know-Hay is fasci
mating and handsome. Have you been
to see him yet?"
mo. He asked me, but all these
troubles have put him out of my head
Why do you ask?"
Because next time he invites you
60"
you warned me against him.
"And I warn you again." said the