The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-06-14

was wondering considerably wat
he was up to, and was DESTROYS OF
questioning him as to progress. Bruce
l had hunted up on one occasion AFTER
my interview with the detective, and
had found him in seemingly far bet
ter spirits than when l had last seen
! him upon the day after the burglary.
He did not seem to hold 1t against ne
that I had charged him with having
had the key, telling me he had no
/ doubt but that was honestly mista'
ken. But when I made slight al.
fusion to his operations on the board
| he shut up tight as clam. which OF
course was unusual for Bruce. There
fore did not feel warranted in pur
suing the matter further He was op'
Grating openly now and thought az
recklessly as ever, but whether his
deals were being made on his own &C.
count or on behalf Of some client !
had no information beside what tho
detective had given me. Clare while
equally uncommunicative about his
business affairs, still remained deor
antly loyal to him.
II don't believe there Is crooked
hair In Bruces head; won't listen to
anything that anybody may say
against him, and have my own opin-
ion OF those who do" she asserted
! strenuously. l sincerely admired her
! fealty and told her SO as emphatical-
ly Endorsed her views. Still could
not help secretly acknowledging that
there were very ugly looking features
about the case that would have con-
sidered him wiser had he explained.
But he seemed rather inclined to
avoid me since the affair Of the safe.
and as It was his business after all,
| and as I did not care to be snubbed,
went my way and allowed him to 30
his without disturbance.
A few evenings later happened to
be standing In front Of one of tho
leading hotels. had nothing in mind :
that cared to do, and was Idly watch.
ing the passers-by when some one
gave me a poke in the back and !
turned to find LeDuc grinning at mo.
We shook hands and sauntered OF
together as ( piled him for the latest
information. He was mystically eva
sive
TALK about hustling," he said
with a short laugh. "A fly on ban
quet table is idle beside the way !
have been buzzing around. II there
has been any buster man in town I
would like to stand somewhere and
behind something and watch him 60
by. He'd whizz like bullet. | have
run down every possible clue that I
could get hold of and tried out every
reasonable theory that could conjure
up, and at last know pretty near
where to put my fingers next. Any
way, know who stole the money. ]
stopped short, Selling him by tho
arm.
"Who?" demanded. He pulled mo
along with him, gently shaking bio
head.
Cant tell you just yet. 1t is al
ways bad judgment to let cat out OF
a bag until the right time comeA
But l know who he is and ! will tell
you soon enough" Burning with ina'
patience to know whom he referrea
to, but restrained from further que1'
tioning by the manner Of his refusal
to enlighten me, we continued our
way for some distance without fuls
Their conversation. In certain sense
his statement was a shock to me, an4
could not rid myself of haunting
impression that when he made hie
disclosures there would be Disagree
able facts revealed Yet my curiosit!
could hardly have been at higher
point.
Are you positive?~ ventured after
a while. If there was any doubt Ii
Ibis mind as to the identity Of tho
| criminal his voice did not betray it.
"As absolutely sure in my own minA
! as though / had been hidden in the
room and seen him. But you know
tproving these matters to the satisfao
ton of other people Is quite another
proposition, and 1t is the proof that
| will convince those who do not wish
to be convinced that l am after now"
He turned to me with slow scrutiny
of my face. "But ! am going to got
that proof tonight, and want you to
help me-"
| pondered his proposition over
briefly. could see no objection to
acting upon his suggestion. and 1t
might give me an inkling of whom he
had in his mind. Therefore after Q
short reflection / agreed. VERY well.
I will give you any assistance that ]
can. Where are you going and what
do you want me to do?" He pulled
out his watch.
1T is nine o'clock now and IS al
dark as 1t is going to be tonight. We
can take q stroll around and inspect
the place want to visit. II the coast
!; is clear we will 60 ahead; If not We
can wait until 1t is." He uttered
I little chuckle. "For your information.
] l will say that am going to commit
| burglary on my own hook" I must