The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-12-05

DAVIS, after q fixed glance through
the lace curtains.
All three of the lurkers could vague
ly make out a figure at a desk. They
could see the head and arms move
So far at least their prey had not es-
capped them.
he may leave on n of his myster-
o journeys ut any time" spoke the
detective. 80 we had better keep I'D
the watch"
This grew tiresome In two hours.
BY midnight Davis was bored to death.
Marcy fast asleep and the detective
FESTIVE and wearied. He reused up
his dull companions.
See here, you fellows he OBJ
served, Il don't like the looks OF
things. That Barton has been seated
at that desk up stairs there in his
study for hours. I'm going to ven
ture a little closer"
"How?" asked Davis.
I'll show you" and the intrepid
sleuth proceeded towards the house.
The others saw him ascend a trellis
and peer through the window be-
yond.
"Baffed! outwitted." he Kissed
dramatically as he descended.
What now" queried Davis,
That Barton of yours at the
desk"
Yes? yes?"
N such thing-a dummy, an auto
maton. He has fooled US. He sus.
pected we were watching and set UT
n of his clever inventions to deceive
us, come on. The coasts clear
Well get in the house and see if We
can't find some discriminating clew.'
A ladder was set up against the
house. a window forced Open. Jus,
what the detective had announced was
disclosed. There was not the leas,
doubt that Ralph Barton had sum
moned his inventive talent to baffe
his watchers. A stuffed figure sat al
the desk, operated by clockwork.
The invading crew proceeded to pry
into the desk. 1t was with a great
smirk Of triumph that the detective
unearthed a convict's suit.
That settled it," he declared exult
ingly. "Counterfeiter-ex-convict, Al
l have to do now is 10 nab oul
man"
They proceeded to make themselves
at home. Davis gleefully anticipated
the downfall Of his rival. The detec
tive let n end of a pair of hand
cuffs hang conspicuously out of 4,
pocket. Marcy wondered what hi.
august uncle would say when b,
learned that his prospective son-in.lav
was a criminal.
why, what's all this?'' challenged
a sudden voice, and all three Of tn,
watchers aroused from a doze abou
daylight.
That's him-that's Barton" spok,
Davis.
"Ha! Ralph Barton, l arrest you a
a counterfeiter and an escaped con
Wet" grandiloQuently announced tn,
detective, advancing, revolver in hand
1t took five minutes for Doctor Ban
ton to understand how matters stood
He smiled grimly. Then he said:
Il think We had better all go an,
explain this case to a certified Office
Of jStice-Judge Marcy"
Hes a cool one-all these des
perate criminals are whispered tn
detective to Davis.
Misguided sleuth, he sneaked out c
town without wen asking for his fee
and Davis went conveniently to visi
a distant relative, and Eugene Marc
subsidized completely when the explans
lions were made.
Ralph Barton's mysterious visit
had been to an old friend whose so,
had got in with a band of counte
letters, had been sent to a state
prison and escaped.
P%enitent, his health broken, he hal
just been sent safely out OF the cour
try by his sorrowing father, Docto
Barton had attended him and n,
counterfeit bills and the convict's sui
he had brought away from his patien
to destroy.
What wicked people there are il
the world" cried the indignant Lucia
when she was told OF the plot agains
her lover.
And what happy ones," smile,
Ralph fondly, as he placed lovini
arms about her.
Copyright, 1918. by w. c. Chapman.)