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

You say that is all you know about
that phase Of the matter. Very good.
But what else do you know?" Driven
fairly into a corner I answered des-
perately:
81 know he had a key to the house.
While was sitting with him at the
interview have just mentioned he
became angry at the thought Of I'M
cle's refusal to assist him, and struck
the table several times with some
small metallic object which he had
tightly cIenched in his hand The
familiar appearance Of the object i'm
mediately attracted my attention and
managed to see enough of it to know
that it was a key to this place. I
was somewhat surprised, not know
ing how he had come into possession
Of it; but thinking it was his own
business / did not mention it to him
in his then condition of mind. 1 do
not believe that he knew that I had
noticed it, or was even aware that he
had exhibited it in his excitement,
for Immediately after his outburst he
thrust it back into his overcOat peck
et I think that I have now without
reservation told you all that [ know
concerning his words and actions
within the last few days. He can IN
doubtedly explain his pOssessorship
of the key as well as his whereabouts
last night to your entire satisfaction.
But I hope 1t will not even be neces-
sary to hurt his pride by questioning
him"
LeDuc leaned forward with deep in
terest in his face. Then if there are
but four keys to the front door known
10 be in existence, and as your uncle
has his own as well as the one which
you formerly possessed, and as Mrs.
Tebbets still has hers, the only one
remaining to be accounted for should
be in the possession of your other
cousin, Miss WintOn. If she still retains
hers then the one Bruce had must
of necessity be a duplicate, and a
duplicate could not have been made
without the maker having for a time
had one of the originals. That phase
of the matter we will take up, if nee
essary. when we come to it, but what
we want to know now is regarding the
originals. And to ascertain that we
must know whether Miss Winton has
parted keepership of hers. ] must
see her at once"
Perhaps it would be well for me
TO call her up over the wire and ask
her to come here suggested. "Un-
Gle viii be glad to see her, and
know she will dance with anxiety to
come when she hears about this" He
nodded his aCQuiesCense, and going to
the telephone I briefly put her in pos
session of the news with the request
that she come to us Immediately In
her excitement and eagerness she
dropped the ear instrument instead of
replacing it upon the hood and I
could hear her as she rushed about
the room calling upon her mother for
her hat and gloves. Fifteen minutes
later she was ringing at the front
door LeDuc shot me a look full OF
significance
Did you say that she and Bruce
are engaged. or something to that eff
fect?" he inquired, referring to a re
mark which I had dropped a few mo-
ments before. I nodded.
SO Bruce intimated to me. I knew
they were desperately fond of each
other and he told me that had he not
been wiped out he would have married
her At any rate, she does not seem
to have her key with her this morn
ing" was my answer. Down stairs
we heard Mrs. Tebbets opening the
door, and a moment later with a pat
ter of feet and a rustic of skirts Glare
bounded in upon US. Her eyes were
dilated and she seemed almost ready
TO burst from suppressed excitement
Her first words were about Uncle
Abner and as to whether he was now
entirely out of danger. I assured her
that he was and then introduced Lee
Due. requesting that she seat herself
a moment with us before going into
the other room. She dropped upon
the edge of a chair, fidgetiug and nery-
Gus. LeDuc, Immediately all court
esy, laid aside his cigar.
Il viii detain you but a moment,
Miss Winton," he apologized, his faint
habitual smile breaking into an af-
fable one But as I am investigating
this affair in the interests of your I'M
Gle and in the hope of recovering
more or less Of his money, I am going
to assume that you, as one of the
family. win be glad to give me your
assistance At the present moment
] am devoting my attention to Iocat-