The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-03-02

osity had filled my mind as to what
his researches would be in that di.
fectlon |, had gone to Mrs Dace's
with the mention OF LeDuc's name
That she might understand why | had
repeated to him conversations which
mad occurred between herself and
myself. that she might not feel that
1 had tattle-taled our private talks
without explaining the reason to her.
But though l had paved the way by
which he might have had confiden-
t,al business chat with her, il he had
awaited himself OF the opportunity 1t
mad not come to my knowledge. That
LeDuc might now have full informa-
ton of what I had done and feel at
| liberty to interview her should he
| desire. l now told him of my talk
upon the subject with her; telling him
| that she had denied absolutely having
repeated my half condolences to any
one. and had seemed to be amused at
the idea that Janet was anything more
or less than an automaton. This in
formation he received without com
ment beyond the paradoxial remark
that he could not remember that he
had forgotten anything. What else
have you got to tell me?" I urged in
finishing. He closed his lips so
tightly around his cigar that it re-
sembled nail driven into crack
and appeared to be filing himself to
his toes with smoke as he reflected.
Presently he expelled the smoke from
his mouth after the manner of a nur-
sery dragon.
Il don't know whether am acting
wisely or not, but under your promise
to divulge nothing you may learn
from me without my consent am go
ing to risk it. / know that you be-
lieve in your cousin Bruce's honesty"
'Implicity.'
'But do you happen to know that
he has somehow or other managed to
come into active control of enough
money to resume his operations on
change on a rather liberal scale?" he
queried with thin smile / was as
tonished and told him SO.
well, he has," he pursued assert
lively. Furthermore, he is carrying
on his operations under some name
which does not sound at all like his
own. You look surprised. That's the
way / felt when ] first found this
out"
/ ruminated. But certainly he
would not be fool enough to openly
and VIGOROUSLY and under our very
noses begin the use OF money dishon-
estly obtained almost the day after
the commission OF a crime which
he knows he has not absolved himself
OFF" cried. LeDue looked at me
queerly.
That is what almost any one
would think under first impulse. But |
when you are dealing with criminals |
you must remember that they do not
reason and act just as do honest men.
When sane man takes his life and
liberty in his hand and commits
desperate crime, he is Of necessity |
more or less regardless of conse-
quences, as well as being driven by
strong pressure. And in nearly all
cases 1t is because of this reckless
ness that we catch him. He may
commit the crime itself with a skill
and caution that is almost more than
human, yet the next day Is apt to go
out and do something so foolish that
1t instantly attracts attention to him.
For instance, having had no money
before, he now begins to spend it
lavishly: or becoming under the In
fluence Of liquor boast or let things
drop that sound queer If It were not
for these peculiarities OF the criminal
make up, and the fact that he general
ly makes confident of some woman
who betrays him, the road Of the
criminal would be comparatively safe
and that Of the detective an unhappy
one"
"But cannot believe that there is
anything crooked about Bruce. De-
,eit is foreign to his whole nature"
My friend thrust one hand in his
pocket.
Docs he ever smoke cigarettes?"
re smiled.
Frequently
ANY particular brandt"
I paused to reflect. Il think SO. AS
remember, those that have seen
we're invariably Turkish abomina
ion with serrated gilt band for a
nouthpiece. What is your reason for
asking me that?" He withdrew his
land from beneath the table and
ossed half-smoked specimen of the
species which had been describing
IN the table before me- cooked at
Tim inquiringly.
Il found that in the hallway of
your house near the closet where
,our uncle had been confined. Per-
laps you noticed at the time that I
picked up something which I did not /;
how YOU
Silently I sat trying to read his |
blank eyes. But as for divining what