Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-12-02
CHAPTER xxIv.

ton. He had been writing and the ia
BILE was strewn with piles of closely
written manuscript. Johnny's eyes fell
upon the pages, and riveted there. That
they were the work of Hackleye's pen
was evident, and
The writing was absolutely unlike
that in the letters found addressed to
Cerisse Wayne!
Writing a book?" asked Johnny, as
he sat down with an effort to be COM
posed.
mo, merely some instructions as to
what l want done with my estate, in
case anything happens to me-" answ-r-
ed Hackleye. IT'S on account of the
children, you know"
Don't let me bother you." politely
suggested Johnny, "if I interrupt I'll
CO."
ION the contrary I'm glad to have
you," replied Hackleye, I've had
mournful morning, spending it among
reliquaries. Would you like to see
some of my mementoes?"
He pulled out a deep drawer from
the side of the table and began lifting
out treasure after treasure. Folded in
softest parchment was long caressing
curl of rust red hair, only too evident
ly cut from the head of his dead wife.
Then there were pictures of her from
babyhood to maturity. And letters
love notes-all in the same handwrit-
Ing There were odd gloves, delicate
ly perfumed, with the strange odOr
that had permeated the Desterle home
that wretched morning of tragedy and
woe, cobwebby lace handkerchiefs, and
a bunch of faded flowers.
Here is her wedding bonnet" mus
ed Hackleye. "See, here is a program
Of an exhibition day in the convent
where she played and sang. She had
voice like melted crystal worshipped
her, made an idol of her, and paid
the penalty. / hope that death has
brought her peace-life never could
have done so. My wife, by beloved
wife!"
'Hackleye," said Johnny. placing his
hand on the bowed head, you didn't
kill her. know it. Help us to find
the man who did"
Hackleye looked up. You're the flrst
one who's had any faith in me-" he an
swered, except Francis, LIE Malheu-
Teux as you call him, her brother. you
her name"
why" questioned Johnny, striking
while the iron was hot, why does LIE
Malheureux ever walk among men
thus yelled and concealed?"
'Hackleye shot Johnny a gasp of ter
TOR. LAS you would not injure the gen.
tlest soul that ever walked" he plead
ed, try. never try to probe that mys-
terry. Fer your own peace of mind
leave LIE Malheureux alone"
II spied on you last night" confess
ed Johnny. Il followed you into that
closet there, where you have all those
images of your wife. want to apollo
gize for doing It,"
you needn't" returned Hackleye,
worship her loneliness any time you
wish, as 1 do always"
do you know Harcourt," abruptly
questioned the American.
mo, I've never met him." answered
Hackleye. II never knew who the man
was that had stolen my wifes heart
from me. Cerisse was clever and she
covered her path we'll. l do know,
though, that towards the end she SEEM
ed to grow tired of him. He waxed
insanely jealous of her towards the
end. I think she was planning to leave
him at the last.
who do you think killed herr"
Queried Johnny, 'or do you known"
Il did not lease that house at "a
Briarsweet place-the one where the
passage way was found you know"
why, saw you, saw you go through
the passage way myself, the morning
after the murder" cried Johnny.
yes, / know you did," admitted
Hackleye. That was my second visit
there. / was in there the morning that
they found the body. 1 had followed
LIE Malheureux there up through the
hole in the wall. Mrs. Desterle saw me
there when she burst in the door. LIE
Mauheureux and had gone up to see
Cerisse. LIE Malheureux had been there
before. He had traced her out and told
me where she was. went expecting
to find the living woman-I found, dead
clay. When the policeman and Mrs.
OBSTETRICS husband were carrying her
back to her bedroom, 1 walked down
the stairs and away from the house.
When reached my lodgings. whare I
was stopping under an assumed name.
discovered l had lost one of my gar
u.s. NNAN OhSAA mat night anu lOEC-
ed an entrance to the Flanders house,
and climbed back into the bedroom
through the hole in the wall. 1 looked
for the garter but couldn't find it. l
wanted it for sentiments sake, and lot
because 1 was afraid of any incrimina-
ton that might result from it, as for
years have been practically unknown
in civilized countries. And" with
whimsical smile, Il was frightened
away, and in my haste to leave the
Flanders house. lose the mate to it
out of my pocket"
And 1 found it right by the door to
the house that Hamley Hackleye was
supposed to have leased" said John
ny. was the Man-Aperilla in the
room when you and LIE Malheureux
were?" came Johnny's final question.
Il know of no such animal" said
Hackleye. And now, Mr.. Johnson. 1
an tired. The strain of months is tell
ing on me. do you mind If beg to be
sxcused2"