Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER XIV.


Hackleye greeted Johnsons rap with
n nervous Come in," and exchanged
wan smile for Johnny friendly saluta-
ton. He had been writing and the ia
BILE was strewn with piles of closely
written manuscript. Johnnys 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 1 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 1 interrupt I'll
CO."
Hackleye looked up. You're the first
one who's had any faith in me-" he an
swered, except Francis LIE Malheu-
reux as you call him. her brother, you
know. Francis and 1 have tried to save
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
ror. LAS you would not injure the gen.
tlest soul that ever walked" he plead
ed, try, never try to probe that mys
terry. For your own peace of mind
leave 20 Malhellreux alone"
do you know Harcourt," abruptly
questioned the American.
mo, I've never met him." answered
Hackleye. Il never knew who the man
was that had stolen my wife's heart
from me. Cerisse was clever and she
covered her path well. 1 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 her?"
queried Johnny, "or do you know?"
Il did not lease that house at "a
Briarsweet place-the one where the
passage way was found you know"
why, l saw you, saw you go through
the passage way myself, the morning
after the murder" cried Johnny.
Yes, 1 know you did," admitted
Hackleye. THAT was my second visit
there. 1 was in there the morning that
they found the body. l 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 1 had gone up to see
Cerisse. LIE Malheureux had been there
before. He had traced her out and told
me where she was l 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, I walked down
the stairs and away from the house.
When l reached my lodgings, whsre !
was stopping under an assumed name
discovered had lost one of my gar
tiers. / went back that night and fore
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
wanted 1t for sentiments sake, and lot
because 1 was afraid of any incrimina-
ton that might result from it, as fol
years l have been practically unknown
in civilized countries. And" with 6
whimsical smile, Il was frightened
away, and in my haste to leave the
Flanders house, lose the mate to Il
out of my pocket"
"And 1 found it right by the door t,
the house that Hamley Hackleye wa.
supposed to have leased" said John.
ny. Was the Man-Aperilla in thu
room when you and LIE Malheureu,
were?" came Johnny's final question.
Il know of no such animal" sait
Hackleye. And now. Mr. johnson,
am tired. The strain of months is tell
ing on me. do you mind if beg to b,
excused?"