Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-31

right in her face, so l trusted she
had not seen me, and, putting the little
volume down Just where I had found
it, l jumped behind the bushes. The
owner of the book was looking for her
| property. On she came, running slow
ly and glancing eagerly from side to
side of the pathway. AS she came OPP
posite me she stopped and snatched up
| the book, and when she had run back
again the conviction that the Honor
able Agatha was no other than Agatha
Fourth was forced In upon me.
So reused was | by this event that l
| turned my steps homeward at once.
| Suspicion had now fallen on every one
| of the six Agathas, but this-this was
the most convincing of proofs! That
night l could hardly wait for the end
of the evening, so that I could drag
! Vincent into my room and disclose to
him my final and greatest discovery.
was so full of excitement over it, be-
sides feeling certain pride in my wit
| and sagacity which had led to the dis
covery of so many important clews,
that ! was rather disappointed when
Vincent received my disclosure with
Indifference.
"At it again, Arch" he said, rather
gloomily, as he sat cross-legged before
my fire in extreme deshabille, and
| smoking his vile pipe. What is the
use? l should think you'd get tired
of pursuing the elusive gold. l admire
your patience, my boy, but don't take
any more stock in this 'clew' than
did in your others. When you think
that you have now fastened suspicion
| upon each one of the six fair ladies
who have been christened Agatha
marvel at the sangane temperament
which permits you to place SO much
Importance on this last find of yours"
He stopped, and 1 answered him rather
sarcastically, as 1 didn't like the gen
tie ridicule of his tone or his lack OF
enthusiasm.
1T seems to me-" said, that con-
sidering how you've spent your time,
my dear boy, you are a very poor per-
son to look down upon my efforts to
turn this adventure of ours to some
account. The fact that l have kept
my eyes open and used those faculties
of penetration and observation Of
which l am the natural possessor to
discover a piece of information which
might prove of great value, not only
to myself but also to youths fact,
l say, Vincent, ought hardly to bring
upon me your derision as well as your
lack of sympathy" l don't mind ad-
hitting that I really felt hurt, and
Vincent saw that l did
He took his pipe out of his mouth
and looked at Qe with those big, truth
full eyes of his so penitently that
smiled inwardly; then he gathered up
his long limbs from my hearthrug and
came and ensconced himself at my
feet as l sat in my easy chair.
We'll there, then" he said, patting
my hand as if I'd been an old woman
or small child. Poor old Arch bald,
did l make it cross? Well, it was
shame!" And he smiled at me with
| such a mixture of contrition and fun
that l was obliged after a short strug-
gle to laugh unconstrainedly.
We'll, l suppose you will begin op-
erations according to your latest clew
tomorrow" he laughed at me-
l did not answer him, and silence
fell upon US. 1 was bordering over
the problem and did not look at Vim
cent for long while, but when did 1
saw that his face wore a troubled,
hopeless look, and that his whole at
titude indicated profound detection.
Vincent" l said, leaning over him,
what's the trouble?" l had been
noticing Of late that he had been sub
ject to fits of melancholy altogether
out Of keeping with his character. and
l had come to the conclusion that he
had some trouble on his mind. 1
wanted to know what it was, so that
/ could help him. When I spoke he
turned his head slowly and looked at