The Yale expositor., 1911-11-16

that IL was useless to ask for an eX-
planation until the unfolding of the
plot. We purchased a half dozen
quoits and took them to our prisoner,
to whom l introduced my companion.
Sanford was inclined to be sullen at
first, and demurred when requested
to pitch the quoits.
Sanford" I 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 jailer, without
special order. I'm sorry, but that's
the strict rule"
"Well, then" said Crewe, "let me
see you pitch them In Imagination.
Now, here is the board. You have a
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 be
easy. Now the probabilities are
strongly in favor of his having acted
in the same company with her. In
such event we shall find him upon the
screen at some moving picture show"
But" interpolated, "how will you
know it is the man? Will you suspect
every actor whose photograph was not
among Mrs. Sanford's effects? 1t
seems to me you are stretching your
point very far. I confess / do not
know what your clue is"
Patience, Langton," said Crewe,
smiling. IF were to tell you /
should cease to be a mystery and be-
come very ordinary mortal in your
| eyes. I confess that I enjoy the role
of enigma
The company for which Mrs. San
| ford had posed was at this time ad-
vertising a new play daily. 1t con-
| trolled some three or four dozen mov-
| ing picture theaters in town, and as
the plays grew stale they were sent
out into the country districts. To
| find the man we were seeking, it
would therefore be necessary to make
careful and methodical investigation
of all the theaters which this COM
pany controlled. We spent nearly
week of nights in our search before
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 the
needs of the residents in a new dis
trict of high flats and ostentatious, if
overblown, wealth The play was
| typical southern drama. In cell
| crouched the negro, arrested upon
| charge Of murder. Outside collected
the mob, infuriated with liquor, thirst
| ing for the prisoners blood. With
ropes and pistols in their hands they
demanded that the sheriff bring out
his prisoner.
Then the sheriff's daughter came
out to persuade the crowd to abandon
| it's intentions. AS the girl tripped
| forward across the screen Crewe and
I recognized Mrs. Sanford.
Awed for an instant, the mob quick
nd
| that the sheriff come out in person.
Among the leaders of the crowd l
| recognized several of the originals of
Mrs. Sanfords photographs. Evident
| ly Crewe's theory was correct-that
she selected her friends from among
her own profession.
Suddenly the jail doors flew open
and the sheriff came out in person.
He strode forward, tall, scowling,
menacing. In one hand he held a re-
volver, and, as he came to stop, he
pointed this at the breast of the mob
leader.
There is our murderer" Crewe
whispered to me, in the moment Of
tense interest and silence that fol-
lowed the denouement.
The scene ended and long-drawn
sigh went up from the audience in the
little theater. Single-handed, the sher-
iff had defied the crowd; with his
menacing revolver he had driven them
from the Jail precincts. What next?
The interval was long and tantalizing,
and every shadowy profile in the audi
ence seemed to disclose a mouth that
gaped for some sensational climax.
THAT is our man." repeated Crewe
with sure conviction.
I was conscious of sensation Of
rising anger. 1t angered me to be
made the butt of his fantasies, to SIT
beside him and hear him calmly an
nounce his conclusions while my mind
was striving painfully to pass from
one inference to the next.
"Well, won't dispute your state
ment," / rejoined. "But even If 1t is
I see no reason why it should be, but
even IL It is-how are you going to
locate him? His photograph may be
doings stunts on the screen while the