The Washington times., 1908-06-28

been bound, ana around e. were the
bundles OF papers, the miniature eb-
Ony sphinx, even the scattered wrap
ping paper and pieces Of string staat
had Uttered the hOOF and table.
The presence Of that rawhide r0Ds
was a singular thing" said Marce-a -
IN low tone. Il wonder how such q
thing got into the Cl0ush mansion
was IL brought I'm by the murderer
Billy Foster smiled and glanced
quizzically al Holbrook
Yes, IL was brought in By the muir
derer, he said. And since the news
must already have been printed ID tie
wire. I don't mind saying that 1 found
cut today that the ravclide rope was
Western Iariat which had been
used as a decoration in Acton CIou-as
studio Despite the artists apparent
frailty an his c-v0tiOu 10 the 1Jule-
varGs OF Paris. ne had, wears ago.
hunted and ridden down cattle on the
plains. ard SUI preserves "a Ereds
f0ndness for Western objects TIE
dagger can from Mexico. you know"
Things are boxing bIacker and
3lacker for Acton ClOush.- said Ma
ella. shaEj-g har head and looking
at HoIbrook-
That young man preserved an oDsti-
nate show OF Uuc0nceru- There was
a chsII at his heart. nevertheless IN
hts mind, ne was convinced that the
artist was not guilty. But he could
readily see that circumsLanJIal evl-
deuce might convict him- Tine clue
that he O5oIbrook) was working on,
was very shadowy and elusive. set ne
was following il assiduousIy-
Plying his distress. which she divin-
ed despite his silence and immobil-
uy. MarceIa changed t5e topic
What a story thai mystic little
sphinx might tell. could IL speak,
she said
I've had TIE same thought sid
HoIbrook. iLtently regarding the e5-
ony figure
And Z" said Billy Foster per
Eaps YOU remember how 7 used that
sphinx for decoration in my first
story. The thing fascinated melt
still does II soOks so much alive. as
il IL knew everything a man thought.
5as well as what ne said o. did
Wei. Billy" said Marcel1a. thai
may be more than a mere fancy-it
may be a pursuable idea-"
What do YOU mean2'' asked Billy
oh. I'm not sure myself But vs
women. You know, have strange in
buttons al times" said the glrl light
", yet with an undertone Of earnest
ness This whole matter Is wrap
ped about with mystery Perhaps
this symbol ~ mystery IS the clue 20
the reveaI-ne1J Of IL all"
But how exclaimed Billy. while
HoIbr0ok merely smiled
I've already said / don't know
Investigate. Billy, investigate. And
while you're about 81, investigate
your pockets for a rubber band.
please This parcel Of photographs
has come apart and the string Is
lost"
7 haven't a band" said Foster
Say, Tommy he continued. address
ing one Of the clerks. toss Us over
a bit Of that string there. wan you2"
I don't know, Billy said the clerk
.hesitating3y; all this stun comes
from the ClouEh house, YOU know.
and I don't know whether The boss
wants it all or not"
'Oh. pshaW- what would he want
tlIs rubbish fore" asked Philip
Il guess it's all right" said the
clerk, heres a piece" And h toss
ed over a bit Of string
Just then the door 10 the inner room
opened and Colville. with the district
attorney. appeared
I'm stealing a piece Of your string"
said Philip to the latter. Its all
right isn't ito
surely said the district attorney
but you'd better take a better piece
That's nothing more than tanEIe Of
knots II must have been used a
dozen times"
"Oh. that's quite good enough. ."
said 8IarcelIa- III just tie one OF
my dinIzy bow-knots and I'm hold
all right"
Neither Of the attorneys had any
thing OF Importance 90 tell the men
reporters. but consented 10 taIz on the
general aspec'r Of the case 10 Mar
celia
So Billy Foster hurried away ne
had an idea in his head which he
meant 20 lay before James GARRISON.
the dead mans attorney.
Meanwhile. HOIbroOk loitered, wait
ing 20 speak in private 70 Colviue.
as soon as Marceua had finished her
Nrlah viii MIN his e--I-- --t- az
AIarceTa departed. and CoIville turn
ed 70 HoIbrook-
The two men were on the best Of
terms. largely because C0lviIe appre-
ciated the value TO his client Of the
Budgets favorable attitude, and knew
how sadly the artist needed friends
in the face Of public opinion, which
was decidedly against him So al all
times ne did what he could for HoI-
brook
Mr.. ColviUe." sat Phil, II wish
YOU would arralF~ n interview with
Mr. Clough for me-
That would be impossible-Quite
impossible said the attorney. "CIough
is very much set against talking fCT
publication and believes that his In
nocence viii be established by the
facts in the case He is content 20
wait FOR HIS vindication-T
But I don't want Mr- Cloueh "a
talk for publication. said Phil you
know that personally believe in his
Innocence You also know that the
facts as they stand are dead aEalnst
him. Nh ColviIle. speaking coudden-
TALLY and as man 10 man"
Things are pretty black admit
ted the lawyer. reluctantly
II feel that I'd Ike 70 know Clough