The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-09-30


looked up.
81 see you are an artist, Mr.. Girls
void" remarked the sleuth, MS eyes
on the paper under the clubmans pen
Gil
Griswold was genuinely surprised.
For the first time, he seemed to be-
come aware of the shape his idle ira
cling on the pad had taken. In the
course of his brief chat with Mrs
Missioner, he had sketched clearly,
accurately, artistfcally, not only the
room. but the great safe at the for
Their end-sketched them far better
| in those few minutes than Britt could
have done in as many hours. His
drawing, almost automatic, showed
the subconscious skill OTTO say the
least-an excellent amateur.
'Why, that's So" he said, holding
up the drawing indifferently. His
prowess with the pencil was an OLD
story to the widow and his rival. Girls
| void tossed the pad and pencil on the
table and resumed hts talk with Mrs.
Missioner, turning the coolest OF cold
| shoulders toward the sIeuth
| But Britt was not to be shouldefed
aside so easily He addressed himself
| toward the widow, winning her instant
attention with his first query:
HAS Miss Holcomb ever told you
much about her last year in Smiths1
he asked.
Mrs. Missioners eyesbrows arched.
Nothing important enough to re-
member, Mr.. Britz." she said, staring
4 incredulously. The detective had al
ready assured her warmly Of his be-
lief in Elinor's innocence. Could 1T be
he was not going to clear the gfrl
after all?
You know nothing of her engage
ment to a Harvard Undergraduate,
then?" he persisted.
The widow shook her head.
Before her father lost his fortune
mean,'' said the sleuth.
Neither before nor after, MT
Britz," replied Mrs. Missioner, rising
impatiently. Miss Holcomb, being 9
beauty, naturally received great
. deal of attention, but never heard Of
betrothal.'
Lieutenant Britz, still standing be
fore the hearth, moved to let Mrs
, Missioner pass The widow pushed
! aside the heavy hangings Of window
! and peered into the twilight backed
. BY the trees in the park Britz
! having moved, took another step
: Those gray eyes of his shifted SO rap
J. idly they were upon the three Others
! almost simultaneously. So gradually
t SO slowly did he approach the table
t that no one noticed his hand upon II
+ Resting that hand upon the edge, b
e went on:
8 Il am sorry you are not more min
Q ute1y informed concerning Miss Ho
n combs university days" Slowly hi
n fingers extended until the tips reste
on the tiny pad. in case Ike this
= the smallest knowledge may be c
h value Slowly, ever so slowly, tn
/, fingers contracted, drawing the pa
n with them. Perhaps If you make a
IS effort, you can recall something abou
e the-the prisoners past, Mrs. Mi
e sioner?" The pad was in his hans
IS Deity he tore Off the top sheet an
70 inclosed 1t in his fingers. AS til
d widow started to speak, and entirel
y unobserved by Grfswold or Sands, th
Is detective slipped that agile hand Int
his pocket. When the hand came gu
lit was empty.
NO said the rich woman wit
more emphasis than would be expec
ed of her large good nature, Il ca
recall nothing. | am sure there
nothing to recall. You must look els
where If you seek to forge links In
chain of evidence against Miss He
comb I have told you all know
all could possibly know
'That being the case,' said Bri
briskly, there is nothing more to sa
\ With your permission, | will send
draughtsman to make plans OF tt
room and diagrams of the SAFE"
hesitated. Il suppose these little a
gems of mine" he resumed with d
smile, may as we'll meet the ia
they deserve" With a quick mo,
ment, he threw all the sheets of pap
on the table and the pad as well in
the heart Of the fire.
Guess I'll say tGood-afternoon,
and with bow to Mrs. Missioner a
? the coolest Of mods to the men, he Il
II the room, the widows detached Goo
III afternoon, Mr. Britz," floating aft
f. him.
Y Was he mistaken, Britz asked hi
\ self as he walked quickly along
~ passage, Or did he see pair of ey
beneath a towering turban peer
1850 him from the corner of cross col
dor? He made mental note to ha
the Hindoo servant watched mt
closely as, treating Blodgett's 10
ness with exasperating indifferen
he tripped down the steps Of the N
sioner mansion, and hurried along
path in the park. Once in the shell
of the shadows, the detective qui
ened his pace. heading south.
He stopped under the loE-hang