Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-01-26

And that" ! said. is the DeSlH-
mig OF the whole difficulty. we seem
to be no nearer, that than at the
first" *
IF we can find the identity of the
man." sa;d Crewe, The rest will be
easy. Now the probabilities are
strongly in favor of his having acted
in the same company with her. In
such event We shall find him upon the
screen at some moving picture show"
But l interpolated, chow will you
know it is the man? Will you suspect
every actor whose photograph was not
among Mrs. Ssnford's effects? 1t
seems to ne you are stretching your
point very far. I confess l do not
know what your clue is
Patience, Langton," said Crewe,
smiling. IF | were to tell you
should cease TO lie mystery and be-
come very ordinary mortal in your
eyes. confess that I enjoy the role
of enigma"
The company for which Mrs. San
ford had posed was at this time adj
vertising a new play daily. 1t con-
trolled some three or four dozen NOV
ing picture theaters in town, and as
tie PAYS grew stale they were sent
out Into the country districts. To
find the man We were seeking, 1t
would therefore be necessary to make
a careful and methodical investigation
Of all the theaters which this conf
pany controlled We spent nearly
week of nights in our search before
We found what we were looking for.
1t was at little cheap theater in
slum that had grown up among a
maze of shops that catered to the
needs of the residents in a new dis
trict of high flats and ostentatious, if
overblown, wealth. The play was a
typical southern drama. In cell
crouched the negro, arrested upon
charge of murder. Outside collected
the mob, Infatuated with liquor, thirst
ing for the prisoners blood. With
ropes and pistols in their hands they
demanded that the sheriff bring out
his prisoner.
Then the sheriff's daughter came
out to persuade the crowd to abandon
its intentions. AS the girl tripped
forward across the screen Crewe and
I recognized Mrs. Sanford.
Awed for an instant, the mob quick
1r rooo;nod SIC oouropa TT demanded
That the sheriff come out in person.
Among the leaders of the crowd l
recognized several Of the originals of
Mrs. Sanford's photographs. Evident
ly Crewe's theory was correct-that
she selected her friends from among
her OWL profession.
Suddenly the Jail doors flew open
and the sheriff came out in person.
He strobe forward, tall, scowling,
menacing. In one hand he held re-
volver, and, as he came to stop, he
pointed this at the breast of the mob
leader.
There is our murderer" Crewe
whispered to me, in the moment of
tense interest and silence that fol-
lowed the denouement.
The scene ended and long-drawn
sigh went up from the audience in the
little theater. Single-handed, the sher-
if had dehed the crowd; with his
menacing revolver he had driven them
from the Jail precincts. What next?
The interval was long and tantalizing,
and every shadowy profile in the audi
ence seemed to disclose a mouth that
gaped for some sensational climax.
THAT is our man," repeated Crewe
with sure conviction.
I was conscious of a sensation of
rising anger. 1t angeSed me to be
made the butt of his fantasies, to sit
beside him and hear him calmly an
nounce his conclusions while my mind
was striving painfully to pass from
one inference to the next.
well, I won't dispute your state
ment," rejoined. "But even if it is
l see no reason why it should be, but
even if 1t is-how are you going to
locate him? His photograph may be
doings stunts on the screen while the
man in person is well on his way to
Alaska or South America, or Tim
bucktoo."
"They always come back" said
Crewe.
"Why. the first instinct of any muir
derer is flight"
mot in crimes of jealousy" Crewe
answered. "And then there Is the
thrill of seeing an innocent man ar
rested and likely to suffer the penalty
for the crime. No, no, Langton, our
friend is not very far from this city.
I should not be surIaised to come
upon him any day, in the court, the
street. Besides, you must remember
that no photograph Of him exists; he
thinks he is secure"
And yet I'm willing to wager" said
I, that, granting your theories are
true, which I do not for the moment
admit, the original of that sheriff is
not within thousand miles of US at
this moment"
A new scene was thrown upon the
screen. The gaping mouths opened
wider; the audience settled down for
it's further installment Of thrill. And
them think my hair verify stood
upon end-as if by some magnetic
compulsion my eyes turned toward a
man seated upon the end bench i'm
mediately across the aisle. There was
the original of the sheriff In the play,
seated with folded arms, b!lt staring as