The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-12-08

BOSt lAC pllbOutI Will De dllOMGu "
pitch them in the prison yard?"
was lost in amazement at this
new scheme of Crewe's, but l 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" l 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, '1et 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. II 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, sis 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" 1 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. confess I 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 a very ordinary mortal in your
eyes. I confess that 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
a 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 a
slum that had grown up among a
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 a
typical southern drama. In cell
crouched the negro, arrested upon a
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 sheriffs daughter came
out to persuade the crowd to abandon
its intentions. AS the girl tripped
forward across the screen Crewe and
I recognized Mrs. Sanford.
Awed for an instant, the mob quick
ly regained its courage. 1t demanded
that the sheriff come out in person.
Among the leaders of the crowd
recognized several of the originals of
Mrs. Sanford's 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 strobe forward, tall, scowling,
menacing. In one hand he held 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 a 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.
was conscious Of a sensation OF
rising anger. It fingered 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