The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-23

look or interest, and then his eyes
smiled.
"One thing at a time. gentlemen"
said he, "one thing at a time. You
can't excite me. Let US first get
through with the point we were dis
cussing"
ct is entertaining enough for me-"
agreed Van Vechten. II trust it will
prove profitable. You see, while
am acquainted in a general way with
Josephine Devereaux' history-as one
is in way familiar with the unevent-
full history of a friend-for that very
reason am rather hazy as to details.
In other words, there never has been
any reason why one should want to
plumb her past. She is almost a men,
Der of our family, and has been for SO
long a time that whatever affects her
also touches u.s."
PRECISELY" said Mr.. Flint, 60 brisk
ly that his augmented interest caught
Van Vechten's attention.
"Well?" the latter encoufaged.
ut is in the close relationship
among the different families con-
cerned that I hope to find the key to
the puzzle. And there again | look
for your help.
Consider, Mr.. Van Vechten: it's
far cry from the murder of an OBJ
scure, unimportant young man here
in New York to Temple Bonner in
England, whose name in any language
means unlimited wealth and power.
He and his family own no inconsider-
able portion of the worlds second
city. He is inaccessible to all ordi-
nary methods Of approach, and by
virtue of his position and affiliations
force to be reckoned with even by
the ruler he has elected to owe allie
glance to. But it has become unmis-
taxable that a binding cord leads
through the maze of intervening
events, uniting Temple Bonner and
Jim O'Neill as surely as if they walked
hand in hand.
Nov you are privileged to associ-
ate with such people; you are one of
them. l am not. That's how you can
help me-"
The young man surveyed him curl
ously, perhaps a little admiringly.
There was a noticeable tone of re-
spect in the question which he pres
emily asked.
Flint, how did you come to be bur
rowing into the past, and raking up
old dead, forgotten romances?"
"You supplied the hint" was the
quiet answer. when you said that
the house had not been rented through
the regular channels-that is to say,
by application at the estates Offices
a moments reflection told me that
possession of the house could have
been obtained only in one other way,
namely, by direct authority of Mr.
Bonner himself. Rather extraordinary,
Ell? 1t was while trying to verify this
conclusion that l stumbled upon the
rest"
eff your information is exact, the
old place over yonder-Lord, what
would Josephine think is she knew
how it had been exciting the clubs
curiosity for 10, these many moons!-
If you are correct then it is her old
home-her birthplace-the house
from which she was married. Well,
we'll, WE'LL"
The marriage had not been a happy
one, and the speaker paused. There
was a quality in the detectives silence
and intent attitude that seemed subtly
to encourage the young mans remi-
niscent vein, for after giving the un-
fortunate union a brief mental turn
ing over, Van Vechten dismissed it
and went on.
Josephine had a twin sister-Hen-
rietta-been dead for years and years.
She too made an unlucky match, | be-
lieve-people, you know, don't talk
about such things. l know next to
nothing about it. Must have been
some gay times in that old house"
Mr.. Flint Of a sudden leaned for
ward and fixed Van Vechten with a
look that arrested and held his atten-
ton.
Nov then, Mr.. Van Vechten." he
had grown all at once compelling, "if
the yelled lady you saw Sunday after
noon-the one who came in the taxi
If she did not resemble Miss Carew,
then wasn't it Mrs. Devereaux that
you were reminded Off"
wait, Flint, wait" the other
checked him. She was young lady,
mind"
STILL" insisted the detective you
thought at first glance-before you
saw that she was a young lady-that
she was Mrs. Devereaux-isn't that
so?' ii
For long time Van Vechten sat
scowling at the table. By and by he
looked up and his regard encountered
the detectives.
Il believe you are right, Flint" he
admitted at last. at was the difference
In years that fooled me- Until real
lied my mistake / believed the yelled
lady to be Josephine Devereaux."
Continued Tomorrow