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

SHAF Elk \Ii.-(Continued.)
"And the door at the head of the
stairs which leads from here into the
kitchen, was that disturbed?" l asked
her as my first sensations faded. She
was painting from excitement and the
haste Of her movements.
mo, the door was locked and Just
as left 1t last night with the key
still on the inside. He could not
have gone up higher than the head
OF the basement stair. I just hap
pened to remember that l had left a
broom down here yesterday, and when
j came down after 1t l noticed this
door right away. Who on earth do
you suppose could have done it," She
was wringing her hands weakly, the
Precipitation of nervousness popping
from her forehead.
J Being In total darkness myself, l
made no attempt to enlighten her as
I carefully examined the place. Out
side Of the scanty supply of coal that
remained from last winters supply
The basement contained little save an
accumulation of odds and ends and
an old chest of mine that contained
articles that I had stored away years
before. However, I still retained the
key to it, and now opened it and
made careful inspection Of its in
kerior. So far as I could discover by
u .,ointIf6 a6snta r. tha tticlAs hin
Iii remained untouched since had
blaced them there. and satisfied
dat point l shut and locked IT
without having as yet received
faintest ray of light to assist
ri search. must have spent at lest
as m an hour in my examination OF the
81; "a and my questions of the house
ener. but at the end Of that time
q compelled to give up with abso-
b,v nothing learned that l had not
n1vn to start with. Another thing
n.t perplexed me somewhat was as
n whether or not l should inform my
psc,e Of this new crime. l did not
4, that anything would be gained by
Ealing him, while it would most Ger
hinly agitate him and lead to further
s,thnrsts: therefore l decided &c
1--we him IN ignorance Of 1t and re
.,,eeted Mrs. Tebbets to do the same
also decided to see LeDuc and gel
,s oniuion on the matter, and repair
s mo the outraged doors as best coulc
Nth hammer, boards and nails, ane
Eoothins the housekeeper by my as
Surances that the incident was triV
koltv to which she need pay NO furthe
attention, went upstairs and ga
down to my breakfast with Uncle Ah
ner az usual. But an hour later whel
{ had reached my Office I telephones
she detective with the request that h
meet me at the noon hour. He readil
e.sented and / then went about M
daily work.
He met me at luncheon and I e.
,plained the matter to him withou
nrelude. He looked serious minde
ia 7 finished. What do you think
1t7" I asked. In his abstraction b
delayed his reply for perhaps 30 SCI
onds.
ut seems peculiar. But I am NOR
inclined to consider 1t as a separa'
and distinct offence rather than 9
nm aftermath of the original happel
ing. Further than that don't b
lieye have any theory to advance
yet. However, 1t may all come out
the final solution, provided there
one. and In the meantime would di
miss 1t from my mind If / were 20
If you find that difficult, you me-
look upon 1t in this light. II l
member, we had a sharp shower la
night-the thunder awoke me. 1t
not unreasonable to assume that son
backwards prowler caught In Il
storm may have forced his way
merely to secure a dry nest In Will
to Sleep" While did not take mu
stock in that explanation and SO
formed him, added that being IN
receptive mood l would file 1t IN I
mind for future reference. and tn
began interrogating him as to his o.
movements since we had last 10
gathered. But when it came to Il
he had little to say and at III
seemed disinclined to part With eS
that Later on as we ate. no~ev
he became q tribe more co1amu
cative. Under the warming lnnue'
a tobacco and coffee he began
make more satisfactory replies 70
ouizsings. but II he had ~, le.l RI. ss =
thing Of importance he dla ,' no' ~ usi'
it since The day upon WHICH ~