The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-06-07

oslty had filled my mind as to what
MS researches would be in that d.
rection. I had gone to Mrs. Dace's
with the mention of LeDuc's name
that she might understand why l had
repeated to him conversations which
had occurred between herself and
myself, that she might not feel that
had tattle-taled our private talks
without explaining the reason to her.
But though had paved the way by
which he might have had confden-
tial business chat with her, If he had
avalled himself Of the opportunity 1t
mad not come to my knowledge. That
LeDuc might now have full informa-
ton Of what l had done and feel at
liberty to interview her should he
desire, | now told him Of my talk
upon the subject with her; telling him
that she had denied absolutely having
repeated my half condolences to any
one, and had seemed to be amused at
the idea that Janet was anything more
or less than an automaton. This IN
formation be received without CON-
ment beyond the paradoxial remark
that he could not remember that he
had forgotten anything. What else
have you got to tell me-" I urged IN
finishing. He closed his lips SO
tightly around his cigar that 1t re-
sembled nall driven into a crack
and appeared to be filling himself to
his toes with smoke as he reflected.
Presently he expelled the smoke from
his mouth after the manner Of a nur-
sery dragon.
II don't know whether am acting
wisely or not, but under your promise
to divulge nothing you may learn
from me without my consent am go
ing to risk 1t. l know that you be-
lieve in your cousin Bruce's honesty
implicitly"
But do you happen to know that
he has somehow or other managed to
come into active control Of enough
money to resume his operations on
change on rather liberal scale?" he
queried with a thin smile. l was as.
tonished and told him so.
well, he has," he pursued assert
lively. Furthermore, he Is carrying
on his operations under some name
which does not sound at all like his
OWN. You look surprised. That's the
way felt when I first found this
out"
ruminated. But certainly he
would not be fool enough to openly
and VIGOROUSLY and under our very
noses begin the use of money dishon-
estly obtained almost the day after
the commission of crime which
he knows he has not absolved himself
of" | cried LeDuc looked at me
queerly.
That is what almost any one
would think under first impulse. But
when you are dealing with criminals
YOU must remember that they do ,o1
reason and act just as do honest m9n
When a sane man takes his life .nd
liberty in his hand and commits 6
desperate crime, he Is of necess y
more or less regardless Of conse
quences, as we'll as being driven by
strong pressure. And in nearly al
cases it is because Of this reckless
ness that we catch him. He ma!
colamit the crime itself with a skill
and caution that Is almost more thai
human, yet the next day Is apt to g
out and do something so foolish tina
it instantly attracts attention to him
For instance, having had no none
before, he now begins to spend
lavishly; or becoming under the ir
fuence of liquor boast or let thing
drop that sound queer. If 1t were nc
for these peculiarities of the crimina
make up. and the fact that he genera
" makes a confident of some woma
who betrays him, the road Of tn
criminal would be comparatively SAT
and that Of the detective an unhapp
one"
but cannot believe that there
anything crooked about Bruce. D.
{ ceit is foreign to his whole nature
, NV friend thrust one hand in b
: pocket.
Does he ever smoke cigarettes
. he smiled.
9 Frequently"
3 ANY particular brandt"
/. / paused to reflect. II think so. 1
J. l remember, those that I have see
q we're invariably Turkish abomin
D ton with serrated gilt band for
q mouthpiece.. What is your reason Fl
!. asking me that" He withdrew h
|. hand from beneath the table al
y tossed half-smoked specimen of Il
=. species which / had been describil
# or the table before me. l looked
ia him inquiringly.
IL y found that in the hallway
10 your house near the closet whe
n your uncle had been confined. Pr
n haps you noticed at the time that
n picked up something which ! did Z
n. show you"
a Silently I sat trying to read |
" blank eyes. But as for divining WI
| 1a,. bohind than I MIGHT az mall h a