Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-12-04

drZens Dut not the OlneTS--
Things did not look promising.
We entered the drawing room
which looked like a battlefield the day
after the fight. Several OF the small
gilt chairs were broken, the china
vases had been smashed. and there
was a big tear In one OF the pale vel
low curtains.
When Dominguez saw this devasta-
tion his temper. never the most equa.
BILE. apparently. again got the better
of him.
'Dios miol" he shouted, there's a
nights entertainment; fine expeu-
sive evening. Everything smashed
and three hundred thousand francs
worth Of property stOleni' His eye
wandered around the room till II
rested on the plano, and he burst out
afresh.
Look at my Erardi" he gasped.
looked. and felt sorry both for the man
and for the Erard. Punch, cham
payne, lemonade, every refreshment
serYed had left mark on the instru-
ment. without reckoning the scratches
and knocks. Of which II bore numerous
traces.
Why did not follow NJ Dominguez
when he walked 10 the door to con
duct me to the dining room? why did
sit down on the music stool before
that ill-used piano? cannot tell. All
know is that | gazed at the greasy,
smudgy keys, and that suddenly / felt
something like an electric shock For.
there. on one of the keys. In the high
er notes, was a slight pinkish stain,
similar 10 the one on the paper knife.
/ opened the window behind me to
let In as much light as possible. and
carefully compared the two small spots
through the magnifying glass | al
ways carry with me. No, | was not
mistaken, and / knew instlnctively
had made a discovery that might help
me materially The thief had. after
all. left his visiting card" and 1t was
now for me to decipher his name.
This scene had not lasted minute
ana I caught VI Dominguez in the
hell as he was turning back to see
what had become OF me
"Shn 20 clue. NJ Goron?" asked the
master of the house. looking at me
from the corner Of his eye
Still no clue" retort' ID. but |
have a few questions to ask you. Who
were the people who performed on the
piano last night?'
Madame fumbled about some papers
and handed me the program OF the
musical portion of the soiree There
was a pianist, a yiolinist a prima-
donna from the Opera Comlque. and
Two Montmartre singers, all we'll
known artists.
Now" ! said; i want to know who
played after the concert, and whether
you engaged pianist for the dances. :"
NO. we had no professional. The
dance was impromptu. and the gentle
men took turns at the plano"
Can you give me the names of
these gentlemen"
The names?" repeated Madame
The names--let me think moment
No. / only know one, M. de c..
He played a lot The iour others had
come 70 the house for the first time
and ( did not know them DO you re-
member any, Enrique?"
Enrique could not eulighten me-
My task for the moment was finish
ed Before going away asked for a
complete list of the stolen articles
These comprised a quantity of valu-
able ieweiry bracelets. pendants.
rings. securities. and some documents
which NJ. Dominguez assured me were
of greater Importance to him than
the money The master of the house
accompanied me to the street door,
and putting out his hand. repeated his
former remark:
The thief must be found. NJ. Goron
Spare neither money nor trouble"
AS he was opening the door
turned suddenly around
DO you suspect anybody. NJ. DO.
minguez?"
lie hesitated moment before re
plying.
NO. II we were In Caracas might
perhaps give a shrewd guess But the
man am thinking of Is few thou
sand miles away"
You may as wen tell me what Is In
your mind. | insisted 1T might help
me In my search.
He eyed me curiously for a moment.
No, he almost snarled, st is no
use, 1t would only put you on the
,trtng track" and he closed the door.
had no reason to be dissatisfied
With my mornings work The rob.
berry. felt certain had been commit.
ted by one of the guests at the soiree
The case was of too delicate na.
ture to instrust 1t TO any OF my subor,
dinates myself had to forge the
chain from the one link hoped ! pos
sessed. and my first step was 10 send
for NJ de C.. whose address Mad
anne Dominguez had given me.
NJ de c.. who belonged to q
very wealthy and highly esteemed
family, replied promptly TO my cali
He had heard OF the robbery. ant
| led the conversation on the Domin
guezes
Il DO not know much about them.
he said. laughlngly, they are new ar
rivals. and. l am told. very rich
Madame Dominguez was introduced {,
one of my aunts, and. as she was il
want o. young men. she sent me- ga. In
+ vitation with the request 10 hrin,
/ whom | liked. never saw such
noisy gathering. Some OF the mel
were really too bad"
"You worked very hard said, an
] nresiAnA nNer the rNiannv.,