The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-03-09

I days. I was anxious to meet him, an
l was wondering considerably what
he was up to, and was DESTROYS of
questioning him as to progress. Bruce
l had hunted up on one occasion after
my interview with the detective, and
had found him in seemingly far bet
! ter spirits than when | had last seen
him upon the day after the burglary.
He did not seem to hold 1t against me
that I had charged him with having
had the key, telling me he had no
doubt but that ! was honestly mista-
| ken But when / made a slight al
fusion to his operations on the board
/ he shut up tight as a clam, which Of
course was unusual for Bruce There
fore I did not feel warranted in pur-
suing the matter further He was OPP
Grating openly now and I thought as
| recklessly as ever, but whether his
deals were being made on his own ac-
count or On behalf Of some client
had no information beside what the
| detective had given me. Glare while
equally uncommunicative about his
business affairs. still remained def
antly loyal to him.
II don't believe there is a crooked
hair In Bruces head; won't listen to
anything that anybody may say
against him, and have my own cpin-
ion of those who do she asserted
strenuously sincerely admired her
fealty and told her SO as I emphatical
| ly indorsed her views Still | could
not help secretly acknowledging that
there were very ugly looking features
| about the case that I would have con.
sidered him wiser had he explained
| But he seemed rather inclined to
avoid me since the affair of the safe.
and as 1t was his business after all.
| and as did not care to be snubbed.
| l went my way and allowed him to go
| his without disturbance.
A few evenings later happened to
| be standing In front of one of the
| leading hotels. had nothing in mind
| that cared to do, and was idly watch
Ing the passers-by when some one
gave me poke in the back and
turned to find LeDuc grinning at nse.
| We shook hands and sauntered off
| together as / piled him for the latest
| information. He was mystically eva
sive.
Talk about hustling," he said.
| with a short laugh. "a fly on ban
quet table is idle beside the way
have been buzzing around. If there
! has been any buster man In town
|
behind something and watch him go
! by. He'd whizz like bullet. ] have
run down every possible clue that I
could get hold of and tried out every
reasonable theory that could conjure
up, and at last know pretty near
where to put my fingers next. Any
way, I know who stole the money. !
stopped short, selling him by the
| arm.
"Who?" demanded. He pulled me
along with him, gently shaking his
head.
Can't tell you Just yet. It Isl al
| ways bad Judgment to let a cat out Of
| a bag until the right time comes.
But + know who he is and I will tell
/
| patience to know whom he referred
| to, but restrained from further ques-
| tioning by the manner of his refusal
| to enlighten me. we continued our
way for some distance without fur
| Their conversation. In a certain sense,
| his statement was a shock to me, and
I could not rid myself Of haunting
| fIo< rv,LN, tr A0 h c
disclosures there would be disagree
able facts revealed. Yet my curiosity
could hardly have been at 8 higher
point.
Are you positive7'' ventured after
a while. If there was any doubt in
his mind as to the identity of the
criminal his voice did not betray it.
LAS absolutely sure in my own mind
as though 7 had been hidden In the
room and seen him. But you know
proving these matters to the satisfac~
| ton of other people is quite another
proposition, and it is the proof that
will convince those who do not wish
to be convinced that I am after now
He turned to me with slow scrutiny
of my face But I am going to get
that proof tonight. and ] want you to
help me-
pondered his proposition over
briefly I could see no objection to
acting upon his suggestion, and it
might give me an inkling Of whom he
had in his mind. Therefore after
short reflection l agreed Very we'll.
will give you any assistance that |
can. Where are you going and what
do you want me to do:'' He pulled
out his watch.
1T Is nine o'clock now and is as
dark as it is going to be tonight. We
can take stroll around and inspect
the place I want to visit. If the coast
is clear we will go ahead; If not wa
can wait until it is" He uttered
little chuckle For your information,
I will say that I am going to commit