Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-05-17
CHAPTER ~.

mysterious occurrence must 80
back to some time before the commits
sion of the burglary and the entry OF
LeDuc upon the scene. in order that
you may have all the facts presented
to you as they were to that detec-
tive when he took hold OF the case.
Having made this new start ! think
can proceed chronologically to the end
of the case, detailing events In the
order in which they happened am
now beginning few months before
the robbery:
It was at this period Of my life that
was cast under a spell Hopelessly.
helplessly and blindly ! fell In love
with q woman whose beauty was so
aggressive that no mortal man could
ignore It. while to attempt to describe
It would be almost to insult It. ]
was about twenty-five then and she
possibly four years older. Ny &C
Quaintance with her began through
the irrepressible Bruce.
had dropped into the blue room OF
the Imperial for a bottle Of ale and
cigar after the theater. when ! ran
into my cousins arms. He beamed
upon me.
Delighted, old fellow. Just in time.
Gomez want to introduce you" He
grasped my hand with the grip OF
wrestler. Now, you have to exercise
a little discretion before agreeing to
meet Bruce's friends, and / glanced
around furtively. You can never tell
whether the next minute you will be
shaking hands with the Chinese am
bassador or the latest popular pugil
] ist. SC as the latter gentleman would
express It. spared a moment for
wind.
ITO whomf" inquired. He nodded
toward q nearby table at which sal
two women and man.
ITO Dick Edwards-but ! guess you
know him already-and the two Ia
dies. But especially to Mrs. Dace
If you want good company, you neet
not go any further. for you won't find
any better anywhere" I asked hin
whom the especial Mrs. Dace NIGH
be, and he laughed with what
thought was faint undercurrent o
significance beneath It.
"Oh, / haven't time to tell. Widow
of somebody who died somehow
which Is enough to know all at once
Main thing is she is as beautiful al
q houri and gracious as an empress
but wise. my boy, wise. wise. Ais
apparently is person Of some means
amount of means represented by x
meaning unknown quantity; sourc
Of means problem In higher mathe
MATES very dificult OF solution. Blu
remember this: II you begin to fee
sentimental when you look at her, re
member that life Is only a joke an
laugh at yourself: but when II come
to wine, remember that life is
mighty serious proposition and sta
sober. Come on now" In anothe
moment he was introducing me-
MRS Dace and Miss Lyddon-Ml
Halliday. Cousin OF mine through n
, fault Of his, but nevertheless highl
recommended by me. believe 20
have met him. Dick. and will confirI
| me. Sorry have to go. but he WI
, Ill my place and round out you
party. Good night all" and he wa
J gone.
? / took my chair with a quick menti
, inventory of my new acquaintance
! Miss Lyddon was tall, waspy and goo
/, looking In an indolent blond way
, Edwards was a prosperous lookin
; man of about thirty-five; Mrs. Dae
/ positively startling. From a purel
, physical standpoint her beauty Wa
D gorgeous. But so wonderfully cor
3 pick was II that It could no more I
3 analysed by one glance than can
painted masterpiece. While its ge
!. eral effect was to cause a gasp Of
: light at first sight, when you locke
q again you saw that its perfection WI
q the result Of the exquisite blending
q many tints into an incomparab
! whole. Never had seen a mouth
!. bewitching. lips so rich or smile |
n dazzling. Her hair was changeful |
!" an opal, her brows wonderfully archie
n her eyes royal blue and bordered
' long lashes that screened them
\ ferns shade deep forest pools. 81
: was wonderful. Fascinated by b
a beauty for a moment sat silently
she calmly surveyed me, one perfe
= hand Idly toying with a small go
purse that lay upon the table. Th'
+ far down in the sea depths of her BIZ
: eyes saw faint amusement gatherii
!. and drew myself together with
4 start. Edwards was explaining:
4 you see, we had arranged for
!, theater party and there we're TO
n four Of US. Then at the last no
n Mrs. Dace's escort became slightly
= disposed and she came down alo
NJ and met Miss Lyddon and myself. '
n are now about to have something
" eat. and possibly wee bit to drir
q happened to see your cousin Bru
3 and hailed him to join US, but
n seems he has an excuse. Then
q providentiaIly happened to spy )
e and impressed you into his place
d complete the party. So everybody
,t happy once more"
e. While l am no such gabb'er
II Bruce, I think can hold my own
ID any fairly well regulated conversatit
d / rose to the occasion. The wine oil
to my tongue and Mrs. Dace's little
d plauding laughs and mods Of appro'
m spurred my wit. Edwards seem
Dr. content to remain comparative
ID ouiet: Miss Lyddon was too indolt