The Springfield herald., 1912-03-29

the mention of Mackay's name, curl
osity had filled my mind as to what
his researches would be in that d.
rection. / had gone to Mrs. Dace's
with the mention Of LeDuc's name
that she might understand why had
repeated to him conversations which
had occurred between herself and
myself. that she might not feel that
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 a confiden-
tial business chat with her, II he had
availed himself of the opportunity it
had not come to my knowledge. That
LeDuc might now have full informa-
tion Of what l had done and feel at
liberty to interview her should he
desire, I 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
had forgotten anything. What else
have you got to tell me?' l urged in
finishing. He closed his lips SO
tightly around his cigar that 1t re-
sembled nail driven into n crack
and appeared to be nlling himself to
his toes with smoke az he reflected.
Presently he expelled the smoke from
his mouth after the manner Of nur-
sery dragon.
"I don't know whether I am acting
wisely or not, but under your promise
to divulge nothing you may learn
from me without my consent I am 60
lieve in your cousin Bruce's honesty"
implicitly"
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. I 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 I felt when l first found this
| out"
I ruminated. But certainly he
would not be fool enough to openly
and notoriously and under our very
noses begin the use Of money dishon.
estly obtained almost the day after
| the commission Of crime which
he knows he has not absolved himself
Off" I cried. LeDuc 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 a
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 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 1t
lavishly; or becoming under the in
fuence of liquor boast or let things
drop that sound queer. II 1t were not
for these peculiarities of the criminal
make up, and the fact that he general
1,, NJ
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-
ceit is foreign to his whole nature"
My friend thrust one hand In his
| pocket
Does he ever smoke cigarettes?
he smiled
Frequently
ANY particular brandt"
paused to reflect. II think SO. AS
/ remember, those that l have seen
were invariably Turkish abomina-
ton with serrated gilt band for a
mouthpiece. What is your reason for
asking me that?" He withdrew his
hand from beneath the table and
tossed a half-smoked specimen of the
species which l had been describing
on the table before me. looked at
him inquiringly.
81 found that in the hallway Of
your house near the closet where
your uncle had been confined. Per-
haps you noticed at the time that
picked up something which l did not
show you"
Silently l sat trying to read his
blank eyes. But as for divining what
lay behind them / might as well have
gazed at windows back of which the
shades were drawn.