The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1912-01-18
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 [ answered des-
perately:
II know he had q key to the house.
While | was sitting with him at the
interview | have just mentioned he
became angry at. the thought of un-
cle's refusal to assist him, and struck
the table several times with some
small metallic object which he had
tightly clenched in his hand The
familiar appearance Of the object i'm.
mediately attracted my attention and
managed to sec enough of it to know
that it was a key to this place.
was somewhat surprised, not know
ing how he had come into possession
of it: but thinking 1t was his own
business | did not mention it to him
in his then condition of mind. | do
not believe that he knew that | had
noticed 1t, 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
ct. ! think that l have now without
reservation told you all that I know
concerning his words and actions
within the last few days. He can I'M
do0btedly explain his possessorship
OF the key as well as his whereabouts
last night TO your entire satisfaction.
But | hope it will not even be neces-
sary TO hurt his pride By questioning
MIN"
LeDuc leaned forward with deep in
terest in his face. Then if there are
but four keys 10 the front door known
TO be in existence. and as your uncle
has his own rs well as the one which
you formerly possessed. and as Mrs.
Tebbcts still has hers, the only one
Remaining TO be accounted for should
ne in the possession of your other
cousin. Miss Wintoa. II she still retains
hers, then the enc Bruce had must
ri necessity be 4 duplicate, and n
duplicate could rot have been made
without The maker having {or time
had one of The originals That phase
OF the matter We will take ZIP, IL nee
esaary. when VIC come 10 1t, but what
we want TO know now is regarding the
originals. And 30 ascertain that VIC
must know whether Miss Winton has
parted keepership OF hers. must
see her at once
Perhaps It would be we'll for me
so call her up over the wire and ask
her 90 come here" suggested. I'm
II III To- c.,l Z
know she will dance with anxiety to
come when she hears about this" He
nodded his acQuicscensc. and going to
the telephone | briefly put hcr in pos
session of the rews with the request
that she come 90 It's Immediately. In
her excitement and cagerncss she
dropped the car instrument instead OF
replacing it upon the hood and !
could hear. her as che rushed about
the room calling upon her mother for
her hat and g.oves. Fifteen minutes
later she was ringing ct the front
door. LeDuc shot nae look full Of
significance.
did you say that she and Bruce
are engaged or something 20 that eff
fect?" he inquired. referring to a re.
mark which had dropped few mo-
ments before. | nodded.
so Bruce animated TO me- | knew
they were desperately fond Of each
other and nc told me that had he NOT
been wiped out nc would have married
her. AZ any rate. che does not seem
to have her key with her this morn.
ing" was my answer. Down stairs
we heard Mrs. Tcbbets opening the
door, and moment later with Il Pat.
ter of feet and rustic or skirts Clare
bounded iD upon rs. Her eyes were
diIatod and she cccmcd almost ready
to burst from suppressed excitement
Ucr FIRST words we're about Uncle
AbncC and IS 20 whether he was now
entirely oUt of danger. | assured her
that he was and then introduced Le-
Duo, requesting ;hat she seat herself
> moment with rs before going into
The other room. She dropped upon
the edge Of chair, fdgcting ard merry.
Gus. I.eDuc. immediately all court
csy, laid aside his cigar.
FL will detain you but n moment.
Miss WintoD," he apologized. his faint
babitnal smile breaking into an af-
fable one. But as 7 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
IN assume that you, as one of the
family, will &c glad to give me your
assistance At the present moment
arr devoting my attention TO iccat.