Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-01-19
CHAPTER IX.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER lx.-(Contlnued.)
You say that is all you know about
that phase of the matter. Very good.
But what else do you know" Driven
fairly into corner l answered des-
perately:
Il know he had key to the house
While | was sitting with him at the
interview | have just mentioned he
became angry at the thought of I'M
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
l managed to see enough of it to know
that it was a key to this place. l
was somewhat surprised, not know
ing how he had come into possession
of it; but thinking it was his own
business l did not mention it to him
in his then condition of mind. l do
not believe that he knew that | had
noticed it, or was even aware that he
for Immediately after his outburst he
thrust it back into his overcoat peck
ct. | think that | have now without
reservation told you all that | know
concerning his words and actions
within the last few days. He can I'M
doubtedly 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
him.
LeDuc leaned forward with deep in
terest in his face. "Then if there are
but four keys to the front door known
to be in existence, and as your uncle
has his own as well as the one which
you formerly possessed, and as Mrs.
Tebbets still has hers, the only one
remaining to be accounted for should
be in the possession Of your other
cousin, Miss Winton. If she still retains
hers then the one Bruce had must
of necessity be a duplicate, and a
duplicate could not have been made
without the maker having for time
had one of the originals. That phase
of the matter we will take up, If nee
essary, when we come to it, but what
we want to know now is regarding the
originals. And to ascertain that we
must know whether Miss Winton has
parted keepership of hers. l must
see her at once"
PERHAPS it would be well for me
to call her up over the wire and ask
her to come here" | suggested. I'm
Gle will be glad to see her, and
know she will dance with anxiety &c
come when she hears about this" He
nodded his acquiescense, and going TIC
the telephone / briefly put her in pos
session of the news with the request
that she come to us Immediately. In
her excitement and eagerness she
dropped the ear instrument instead OF
renlacing /, upon the hood and
could hear her as she rushed abou'
the room calling upon her mother 1ol
her hat and gloves. Fifteen minutes
later she was ringing at the front
door IeDuc shot me a look full Of
significance.
"Did YOU say that she and Bruce
are engaged. or something to that Ell
foot ." he INQUIRED, referring to re
mark which had dropped few mo
ments before. l nodded.
"So Bruce intimated to me. | knew
they were desperately fond OF eaci
otber and he told me that had he no
Noon vined out he would have married
her At any rate, she does not seen
+o have her key with her thls lnoin
ing" was my answer. Down sIail'
vo heard Mrs. Tebbets opening lh'
door and a moment later with pat
+ar-os {eet and rustic or sklrts Ciai
bo,,nded in upon us. Her eyes "et
s,toted and she seemed almost reao.
RI hurst from suppressed excitement
IIar Rrs+ words were about Uncl'
49,. ord as to whether he was nov
entirely out of danger. assureu Nc
that he was and then introduced lie
D,,c requesting that she seat hersei
,ouent with us before gong lnt'
+be other room. She dropped upoi
the edge of a chair, fidgeting ana ners
ons LeDuc, Immediately an coui'
esv laid aside his cigar
~ will detain you but a mo,nen'
,,,ss winton." ne apologized. his fam
babitual smile breaking into an al
fable one. "But as I am investlsa'lnl
mis- affair in the interests of your un
cIo and in the hope OF recoFelin'
,,oore or less of his money, am soin'
60 assume that you, as one Oh IN
familv will be glad to give me you
assistance. At the present inV
I davotipg my attention 10 ioSa'