The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-07-05


served something which, though it had
no especial significance at the moment.
excited my curiosity and tended to de-
fleet my attention. Behind Mrs. Culver
there was a mirror, and it gave me Il
/ view OF the part Of the hall and of the
entrance OF the room where Mr.. Kro-
mold was. y heavy curtain was hung
across that door l saw the butler-a
lean, dark, anxious man. whose name
is Derby-draw the curtain aside and
enter. saw him presently emerge, and
1t seemed to me that his demeanor was
not ordinary. 1t was furtive, tense and
/ DervOusly indecisive.
/ There was a chair in a corner of the
/ hall, and he sat down in il ana got up
again in an unnatural way, as if his
action had been part of mild night
mare. l saw his right hand lowering
around the breast pocket Of his coat,
/ and l knew that that pocket held IN
! usual contents. Finally lie glanced To-
ward the door Of the reception room.
caught a glimpse. 1 suppose, Of my ob-
/ serving eyes in the mirror, ana imme-
diately his distress increased.
by all means" said l in response to
/ 4 renewed suggestion by my hostess. Il
/ should be very much pleased to meet
/ Mr.. KrOnOld'
Upon this we crossed to the drawing
room, the butler holding the curtain for
! our convenience and entering after US
! in response to 4 sign from his mistress,
= who II
service of him, though what it was she
/ could not remember, for the excitement
( of the next few minutes obliterated the
matter from her mind.
Mr.. KronOld seemed obliviOus of our
coming. His back was toward us; mis-
eyes were intent upon the score, for it
appeared that he was playing some
thing new to his repertory. purchase
of that afternoon. This circumstance
may account for the fact that he was
giving his third rendition of it when
we entered. l remembered having
heard those chords while the butler was
admitting me TO the house and again
while Mrs. Culver and l were talking
in the reception room.
to make Il gesture to me. indicating
that we should wait in silence for the
conclusion of the piece. but Il sudden
shock of surprise arrested her. Fol
lowing the direction Of her glance. l
saw a plain table, which stood in the
center of the room, seemingly an adj
ditiOn to the ordinary furniture. and
now Uttered with great number of
unframed engravingS, upon the midst
of which there lay Il lady's hand bag.
The mouth of the bag was open and
gaped at us pathetically like a dying
fish
Where is my money!" said Mrs
Culver in q strained and whispering
tone. and | could have fancied that she
addressed the question to the empty
bag and that the inanimate creatures
OMEN mouth replied in the popular
phrase of the day, you can search
Z me-
The gifted KrOnold wheeled about
upon the piano stool and sprang to his
feet.
''Why, Mrs. Culver" he cried; ''sure-
ly it's not possible
/ interrupted him by suddenly adj
dressing Derby. the butler, who was
about TO withdraw from the scene.
Don't GO said l. and then to Mrs
Culver: Pardon me. l think it is inn
pOrtant that Derby should remain. l
saw him enter this room and leave it,
and since then he has not been ont Of
my sight So if anything is missing he
has Il perfect opportunity to prove
his innocence Immediately. In justice
to him 1 could not see him lose this
chance by absenting himself at this
juncture.''
Derby'S distress was extreme and
ludicrously obvious. In my mind there
was no doubt at all that the missing
money was in the mans breast pocket.
What was the sum-" l asked Mrs.
Culver. "And in what form was it?'
Not quite $4,000" she replied.
There were nine $1,000 bills" and she
gave me the whimsical, womanly rea-
sons which had led her to close her
account with a certain bank and take
the sum in cash.
And you carried so much money in
that bag?" said l. 1T was risk"
All, but this is not an ordinary bag
said she, and, taking it from the table,
she closed it and gave it to me. Let
me see YOU open it,
l was unable to DO so. for there was 4
secret spring most ingeniOusly devised.
This is the way said she. taking it
from me, and in moment she had re-
placed it upon the table open.
Are you sure the money was there
when you left this room?" 1 asked.
Positive" she answered. And. be-
sides. the bag was closed. Somebody
must have opened it."
Yes" said Kronold. Il distinctly re-
member that it lay upon the table,
closed, when 1 sat down to the piano a
few moments ago.
Il don't remember where | put it,"
4 IL NTr- C,I,-o, .sI,,7t CHI oE1o1