Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-03-15
The Holiday Case]
B BY BURTON E. STEVENSON.
4 ~muu=nnzznu=s Copyright. 1903, by Henry Holt & Co nxnHnnuz~zm

BY BURTON E. STEVENSON.

What would a boys description be
worth? 1t would be at the best vague
and indefinite. Besides they've not even
found the boy. Now, to return TO the
note.
We had come to the coffee and cigars,
and | felt it time TO protest.
BEFORE we return 10 the note, Mr..
Godfrey / said, I'd like to ask you two
direct questions. What interest have
you in the matter?"
THE interest OF every investigator OF
crime" he answered, smiling.
You belong to the detective force,
them"
II have belonged to it. At present,
I'm in other employ.
And what was your object In bring
Ing me here this EVENING""
zone portion of my object has been
Q ccomp!ished. The other was to ask
You to write out for me a copy of the
Lote."
But who was it pursued us up
Broadway"
"Oh, 1 have rivals!" he chuckled. 81
latter myself hat was rather neatly
done. VIII you give me a copy of the
note, Mr.. Lester?"
NO" / answered squarely. you'll
have to go TO the police for that. I'm
out of the case"
He bowed across the table to me with
a little laugh. AS / looked at him, his
imperturbable good humor touched me.
I'll tell o one thing, though" l
added. The writer Of that note knew
nothing of Rogers color blindness
you're off the scent there"
Il ann" he asked amazedly. Then
how did you know it, Mr.. Lester?"
II suppose o detectives would call
1t deduction-I deduced it."
He took a contemplative puff or two,
as he looked at me.
We'll" he exclaimed, at last, "I must
say that beats me! Deduced it! That
was mighty clever"
Again | bowed my acknowledgements.
And that's all you can tell me?" he
added.
Tn afraid that's ALL"
"Verv we'll; thank you for that
much" and he ficked the ashes from
his cigar. Now, / fear that I must
leave You, I've a good deal of work to
do, and you've opened up a very in
teresting line Of speculation. I assure
you that Ive passed a very pleasant
evening. l hope you've not found it
tiresome?"
Quite the contrary" I said heartily.
I've enjoyed myself immensely"
Then I'll ask one last favor. My
cab Is at the door. we no further use
for it, and l beg you'll drive home in
1T"
l saw that he really wished it.
Why. yes, certainly" i assented.
Thank you," he said.
He 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 chance to have met you.
I'm not really such a mysterious in
diVidual-it's merely a trick of the
trade. L hope we'll meet again some
time
S do l." I said, and meant II.
l saw him stand for a on the
curb looking after us as we drove away.
then he turned and ran rapidly up the
steps of the elevated.
The driver seemed In no hurry to get
me home, n / had plenty of time to
think over the events of the evening.
but ! could make nothing of them.
What result he had achieved I could
not imagine. And yet he had seemed
satisfied. AS TO his theory, / could not
but admit that it was an adroit one:
even a mastery one-a better one. GER
toiRly. than / should have evolved UNI
aided.
"Oh. Mr.. Lesteri' she cried. "Such a
time as I've had this night! Every five
minutes there's been somebody here
looking for you, and there's a crowd
of them UP in you room now. I tried
to put them out, but they wouldn't go!"