Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-03-21
The Holiday Case]
GY BURTON E. STEVENSON. )
I Ezunnz1zEEoC Copyright. 1903 by Henry Holt & &C Umu-. :


What would a boys description be
worth? 1t would be at the best vague
and indefinite. Besides thcv'v" not cvei
found the boy. Now. 10 return to the
note.
We had come to the coffee and cigars,
and / felt IL time To protest.
'I'cfore we return to the note, MIR.
Godfrey" l said. I'd Ike To ask you two
direct questions. What interest have
you in the natter"
The Interest NJ every investigator of
crime he answered. smiling.
You belong to the detective force.
then"
Il have belonged 10 IT. At present.
I'm in other employ.
And What was your object in bring
ms me here this evening""
"one portion of my object has been
accomplished. The other was to ask
YOU to write out for me "A copy of the
note"
But who was 1T pursued us up
Broadwayr"
"oh. l have rivals" he chuckled. II
faitcr myself that was rather neatly
done. VIII YOU give Inc u COPY of the
!.ote. MIR. Lester"
No" | answered squarely. You'll
have to go to the police for that. I'm
oLt of the case
He bowed across the table to me with
4 little laugh. AS / looked at him. his
imperturbable good hulnor touched me.
III! tell you one thing. though" |
added. The writer of that note knew
nothing of Rogers color blindness
you're off the secent there"
II ann" he asked amaZedly. ''Then
how did you know il. MIR. LESTER"
II suppose you detectives would call
II dcdnc;ion-I deduced it,"
RE took a contemplative puff or two,
as|+~-4tr,h- -r+-1m.
Well" he exclaimed. at last. Il must
sn;' that beats me, Deduccd it, That
was mighty clever"
Again I bowed my acknowledgements.
And chats all you can tell me?" he
added.
TIN afraid that's all"
VERY well. thank YOU for that
much" and he hicked the ashes from
his cigar. Now. | fear that must
leave YOU. I've n good deal of work to
Go. ard you've opened up Il very in
teresting line of speculation. assure
that I've passed "A Very pleasant
evening. | hope you've not found it
t~ircsome.'
Quite the contrary" / said heartily.
I've enjoyed myself immensely"
Then I'll ask one last favor. NV
can is ut the door. Eve no further use
Tor 1T. and | beg you'll drive home In
saw that he really wished it.
Why. yes. certainly" l asseuted.
THANK you" he said.
lie took me down to the door. called
the cab and shook hands with me
warmly
Good by. Mr.. Lester" he said. I'm
glad of the chanc to have met YOU.
I'm not really such n mysterious in
d~ividual-it's merely a trick OF the
trade. l hope We'll meet again some-
time
so do L." l said. and meant 1t.
saw him stand for n homer on the
curb looking after us as we drove away.
tncn he turned and ran rapidly up the
steps of the elevated.
me driver seemed In no hurry to get
ne nome. and l had plenty of time to
think over the events of the evening.
but l could make nothing of them.
what result he had achieved I could
not imagine. And yet he had seemed
satisiied. AS to his theory, I could not
but admit that 1t was an adroit one.
even a mastery one-a better one. cer.
tainly. thai I should have evolved I'M
aided. "'-
oh. Mr.. Lester" she cried. "such n
time as I've had this night. Every five
minutes there's beer somebody here
looking for you, INC there's a crowd
OF them up in your room now. tried
10 put them out. but they wouldn't co.,