Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-02-01

ing the keys OF the house, 1t being evil
dent that the premises were entered
by the front door, as the back door
was bolted from the inside. VIII you
/ be good enough TO let ne have yours
for a few moments?" Clare moved
nervOusIy.
It's queer about that key; can't
/ find It," she said hastily. 7 always
/ carry it in my purse, but when I
/ searched for it a few moments ago on
my way over here II was not there.
! For the life of me I cannot imagine
where I could have misplaced it, for
have been very careful to always
/ keep it in that one place 1 simply
know have not lost it, but it is just
as strange as it can be-" She squirm-
/ ed like a worried schoolgirl
Suppose we go back a little. When
do you remember of having it last?"
/ he pursued Her forehead wrinkled
with thought
Three or four days ago when
/ came over here. l have not had oc-
casion to think of it since until Tom
/ called me up a few moments ago. I
am as worried about it as I can be,
but I am certain that I have not lost
it."
I saw LeDuc's gaze run over the
graceful form Of the girl and then
settle upon her face with an express
sion that was beyond doubt one Of
unequivocaI approval That Clare,
whose heart was as open to the world
| as is the heart of a flower to the
! light Of the sun, could harbor any
/ secret as dark as this was preposter-
| Gus to one who knew her. I had never
met a girl with sounder morals or
/ better instincts, and her character was
of spun gold. And even though she
! loved Bruce and had always defended
| his frailties, I did not believe that
! she would have shielded him had she
believed him guilty of as unnatural a
| crime as this, matter of history
though it is that one can never tell
what heights or depths a woman will
achieve to save the man who carries
her heart. Quietly I asked her when
! she had seen Bruce last, and knowing
her mannerisms as l did became in
stantly aware that my question had
| put her on the rack, for a faint
| shadow fitted cloudIike across her
face. Yet she answered me with her
| accustomed frankness.
Day before yesterday-and I do
not understand it either. He was to
! see me yesterday evening, but he
neither came nor sent word as to why
! he broke the engagement. 1t is not
/ like him to do such a thing, and
while l suppose there is some good
reason back of it, 1 do not know
! what it is. Anyway, I am worried"
! She dropped her eyes and tapped gent
| ~ on the floor with her toe. 4 wish
you would try and get him on the
wire Tom, and find out if he is all
| right That is all / care to know at
| present. I assented and started for
/ the telephone, but mad made but a
| step or two before I heard first his
familiar ring at the door and mo-
ment later his equally familiar voice
! from the hall below. Then up the
| stairs he came and at the first foot
| fall l halted, listening. Usually he
mounted something after the fashion
/ of a scurrying cat IN a series of light
| leaps, but now his feet pounded the
! boards with heavy uncertainty.
| opened the door before him, but at the
first sight of his face stepped back.
He advanced to the doorway, fall
tered there with one hand braced
against the jamb and the crimson
flushing his face as he saw Clare
amongst us His eyes were as red
shot as a bloodhound's, and the hand
that hung by his side was aspen. The
unmistakable marks of an evil night
were stamped about his mouth and
his usually clear face looked puttyish
and notified. I heard Clare gasp as
she arose and slowly approached him
with unbelieving eyes. He stepped
aside as though to avoid her, his
glance falling to the floor.
= have heard about tit is in the
papers. Tell me the particulars" he
said with a hoarse information. From
the bottom of my heart I pitied him
as l gently pulled the girl back to her
seat and answered him in matter of
fact tones.
There is nothing to tell at present
except that the safe was burglarized
last night and the $4,000 stolen. I
spent the night downtown and found
Uncle Abner bound and unconscious
when I returned home this morning.
He was not much hurt and is all right
now. This is Mr.. LeDuc, who has
been engaged by Uncle Abner to
try and ferret out the matter I think
that is the whole thing in a nut shell"
He stood as if in a half daze, his gaze
rambling over us.
Any clues?" he mumbled at length.
made no spoken reply. merely bow
ing in the direction of the detective.
And at the signal LeDuc Immediately
assumed vocal command
The only thing We have learned as
/ vet which seems to be Of any particu-
lar interest is that Miss Wintons key
has mysteriOusly disappeared. All the
others have been accounted for and
we are anxious to locate hers. She is
unable to offer any explanation, and
we therefore turn to you as one who
is frequently in her company in the
hope that you may offer a suggestion.
Can you offer any thought along that
lne?"
He shook his head decisively and
without hesitation, and l leaned back
in my chair with a long breath OF
{ ACCOMPLISHMENTS bod booD -hCr0,,c1, lv