River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-17

knew. A moment later Alice Cle-
ment, home again from many thou
sands of miles spent in tracking Grim
inals in the foreign countries OF Eu-
rope, was at my side.
Now are you going to tell me what
took you across the ocean?" | asked.
She smfled that sphinx-like little
smile of hers and nodded in the mega
tive. We had taken taxicab for up
town.
Once BEFORE" she said, 81 told you
that | was on a secret mission, but
still it must remain secret.
1t piqued me bit that she could
not tell me what had sent her on her
long trip or what the result had been.
For some time she remained in 81
lence Then as we left the cab and
started up Thirty fourth street for a
telegraph Office, before going to
luncheon, she looked up at me with a
light in her eyes.
DO all stories have to be the ones
that just happen?" she asked.
why do you ask that?' | returned.
Because | saw something back
there in music store window which
interested me-"
She took me by the arm and led me
to a musical display. Before us was a
dulcimer, a stringed instrument used
in foreign countries, but little in Amer
ica | gazed at it for a moment IN
half surprise. Alice Clement was
smiling to herself and she continued
to smile as we turned again toward
luncheon Twenty minutes later over
the consomme | leaned toward Miss
Clement and fashioned question
which | had resolved not to ask.
well" / said, "since you won't tell
me the story of what took you to Eu-
rope, would you mind telling me the
one behind the dulcimer?"
Il wouldn't have mentioned it if
hadn't been ready to tell you the
story" she answered in that rougish
way which nettles one and yet
makes the little woman who has
tracked so many criminals, so 'likable.
THE captain and l were sitting one
morning in detective headquarters in
Chicago talking of nothing in particu-
lar when a station orderly entered.
There's a death reported from
over here on Clark street, he said.
Nothing to it in the way of a case,
but the whole place is SO destitute
that thought maybe you might want
to just look things over
The captain pressed button. I'll
send Williams he said. Want to go
along, Miss Clement?' he said. You're
always missing around in this slum
stuff
"A little time after that Williams OF
the Central Office and myself were as
cending the steps of rickety build
ing on lower Clark street. The gaunt
inhabitants stared at us as we passed
floor after floor of the building, dodg-
ing in and out of doors like rabbits in
a warren. 1t was a place of misery and
heartbreak. Finally, arriving on the
top floor, we came to room where
face stared upwards with unseeing
eyes toward the ceiling. An embar-
raised janitor stood awaiting us.
It's just case of typhoid he
said, moving toward Williams. This
little girl came here about six weeks
ago looking for work. She didn't find
it. About two weeks ago she got
sick. We did everything we could for
her but there wasn't much money and
we couldn't find out where her folks
were, and that's about all guess
Williams looked casually around
the room and started to leave. 1 can t
see where the police department has
anything to do with this he said.
Going back, Miss Clement?
I had stopped to regard an object
which l had found partly concealed
bes:ind trunk in a corner of the
room. l brought it forth. 1t was a
dulcimer.
Who does this belong tor l asked
of the janitor.
Little Miss Perry. l guess, he an
Swered.
The dead girl?' l remarked
'Yessum. l never noticed it be-
fore but l guess it belonged to her
because l. used to hear music from up
here once in awhile
4 had picked the instrument up and
was running my fingers up and down
the strings. Suddenly / stopped and
reflected on the roughness of them.
No rust was apparent. l looked closer.
Then took my magnifying glass from
my handbag and made a most min
ute examination.
"A moment later l handed the in
strument to Williams.
Take this to the microscopic /
ordered, and then fine out the name
of the city physician who has been
treating this little girl
Williams stared at me-
Now what have you got up your
Sleeves? he questioned.
A murder case and a good one
was my answer. Hurry up and get
that stuff to headquarters
LAS l spoke the janitor uttered a lit
tie cry and started down the hall. /
called him back.
you've got a good deal of talking
to do / told him, and you might as
we'll do it right in here while we are
waiting for the coroner. l want to
know where that dulcimer came from.
THE eyes Of the weazen faced man
became wide and staring at my de
termined question, and he started for
ward.
why, you don't think" he be
gan.
"sTt Il NOT much of vorr business