Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-20

left-handed. that Is to say, having |
been trained to the use of the right |
hand. they revert to their natural In
stinct in moments of excitement. Our
murderer was doubtless one of this
large class; therefore 1t is not neces-
sary to suppose that he used his left
hand habitually, In which event he
would have left traces that would
have aroused the attention even Of the
stupid police. Well, then. when
went to the moving picture show was
looking for an unknown man with a
left-handed instinct. Did you notice
nothing in that scene with the mob?"
HE held his pistol in his left
hand!" exclaimed.
yes. But you saw It and let it
slip through the gates of memory"
"One more question? Why the
Quoits?"
Merely to ascertain beyond doubt
that our friend Sanford was not left
handed himself" said Crewe.
Langton. this is a very important
point. We must stop in at a sport
ing shop and get some quoits. I sup
pose the prisoner will be allowed to
pitch them in the prison yard?"
was lost in amazement at this
new scheme Of Crewe's. but knew
that 1t was useless to ask for an ex-
PLANTATION until the unfolding of the
plot. We purchased a half dozen
| quoits and took them to our prisoner,
to whom introduced my companion.
Sanford was inclined to be sullen at
first, and demurred when requested
to pitch the quoits.
Sanford" whispered, there's
more in this than you or know. Don't
be obstinate. Mr. Crewe has got men
out of worse troubles, and apparently
by just such aimless means"
"You can't hand him those things,
gentlemen" said the TALLER, without
special order. I'm sorry, but that's
the strict rule"
well, them" said Crewe, "let me
see you pitch them in Imagination.
Now, here is the board. You have .
QUOT in your hand. Now heave it."
Sanford complied in a reluctant
manner. Though his action was not
very graphic, it evidently satisfied
Crewe.
Excellent, Langton," he comment
ed. 81 have learned all that it was
necessary to know. And now we have
to find Mrs Sanford's friend whose
photograph was removed from the
mantel."
And that" I said, "is the begin
ming of the whole difficulty. We seem
to be no nearer that than at the
first"
'If we can find the identity of the
man." said Crewe, 'the rest will bt
easy. Now the probabilities are
strongly in favor of his having acted
IN the same company with her. II
such event we shall find him upon tn,
screen at some moving picture show.
But" 1 interpolated, "hcw will yol
know it is the mani Will you suspec
every actor whose photograph was NO
among Mrs. Sanford's effects?
seems to me you are stretching you
point very far. 1 confess l do no
know what your clue is"
Patience, Langton," said Crewe
smiling. IF l were to tell you
should cease to be q mystery and be
come a very ordinary mortal in you
eyes. l confess that enjoy the roi
of enigma"
The company for which Mrs. Sar
ford had posed was at this time &C
vertising a new play daily. 1t cor
trolled some three or four dozen NOV
ing picture theaters in town, and a
the plays grew stale they were sen
out into the country districts. T
find the man we were seeking,
would therefore be necessary to MAX
careful and methodical investigatio
o of all the theaters which this con
pany controlled. We spent nearly
week of nights in our search befor
/ We found what we were looking for.
1t was at little cheap theater in
slum that had grown up among
maze of shops that catered to th
: needs of the residents in a new di
! trict of high fats and ostentatious,
II overblown, wealth. The play was
g typical southern drama. In a ce
,crouched the negro, arrested upon
o charge of murder. Outside collecte
the mob, Infatuated with liquor, thirs
= ing for the prisoners blood. Wit
- ropes and pistols in their hands the
demanded that the sheriff bring o,
his prisoner.
= Then the sherif's daughter can
out to persuade the crowd to abando
:. its intentions. AS the girl trippe
forward across the screen Crewe an
= I recognized Mrs. Sanford.
~ Awed for an instant, the mob quic
- ly regained its courage. 1t demande
20, that the sheriff come out in perso
A. Among the leaders of the crowd
recognized several of the originals
= Mrs. Sanford's photographs. Ev:den
ly Crewe's theory was CORRECTIVE
$, she selected her friends from amor
10 her OWE profession.
of Suddenly the jail doors few ope
and the sheriff came out in perso
n. He strobe forward, tall, scowlin
NJ menacing. In one hand he held +
ne volyer, and, as he came to a stop,
nd pointed this at the breast of the me
In leader.
There is our murderer" Grew
whispered to me. in the moment
lr- tense interest and silence that Il