Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-07-31


the alley the small crowd had van
ished, but a big one was collecting
up the street very near my home.
always think of my books when I see
anything suggesting. fire, and natural
ly | returned, and equally naturally,
when l heard what had happened, fol-
1 lowed the crowd into the court and SO
up to the poor woman's doorway But
my curiosity satisfied, returned at
once to the street and went to New
York as had planned"
i do you mind telling us where you
went in New York;"
mot at ALL went shopping.
wanted certain very fine wire, for
an experiment l had on hand, and j
found 1t In little shop on Fourth
| avenue. If l remember rightly, the
name over the door was Grippus. Its
oddly struck me-
| There was nothing left to the In
| spector but to dismiss him. He had
answered all questions willingly, and
| with a countenance inexpensive of
guile He even INDUCED in parting
shot on his own account, as full of
| frank acceptance of the situation as 1t
was fearless in It's attack. AS he halt
ed in the doorway before turning his
back upon the room, he smiled for the
third time as he quietly said:
Il have ceased visiting my friends
apartment in upper New York. If you
ever want me again, you will find me
amongst my books"
He was halfway out the door, but
his name quickly spoken by the in
spector drew him back.
! Anything more?" he asked.
/ The inspector smiled.
you are man of considerable
| analytic power, as take it, Mr., Broth
erson. You must have decided long
ago how this woman died"
rs that a question, Inspector
You may take it as such"
Then / will allow myself to say
that there is but one common-sense
| view to take of the matter. Miss
Challoner's death was due to suicide;
so was that of the washerwoman. But
there | stop. AS for the means-the
motiye-such mysteries may be with
In your province but they are totally
outside mine! God help us all! The
| world is full of misery Again | wish
you good-day."
The air seemed to have lost its vi
/ tally and the sun it's sparkle when he
| was gone.
Now, what do you think, Gryce?"
The old man rose and came out of
his corner.
This: That I'm up against the hard
est proposition of my lifetime. Moth
ing in the mans appearance or man.
ner evinces guilt, yet I believe him
| guilty must Not to, is to strain
| probability to the point of breakage.
But how to reach him Is problem
and one of no ordinary nature II he
is not innocent as the day, he's as
hard as unquarried marble. He might
be confronted with reminders Of his
crime at every turn without weaken
ing or showing by loss of appetite or
interrupted sleep any effect upon his
nerves. That's my opinion of the gen.
| tleman. He Is either that, or a man
of uncommon force and self-restraint."
I'm inclined to believe him the lat
ter
And so give the whole matter the
go-by"
What do you want? You say the
mine is unworkable."
Yes, in day, OF In a week, DOS
sibly In month. But persistence and
a protean adaptability TO meet his
\ 10 oh tel
don't say will. only say might. If
Sweetwater had the job. with unlim-
tied time in which to carry out any
plan he may have, or even for
change of plans to suit changed idea,
success might be his, and both time,
effort and outlay justified"
THE outlay? | am thinking of the
outlay"
Mr.. Challoner will see to that.
have his word that no reasonable
amount will daunt him.
But this Brotherson is suspicious.
He has an inventors secret to hide. liz
none other We can't saddle him with
a guy of Sweetwater's appearance and
abnormal loquaciousness"
Not readily, / own. But time viii
bring counsel. Are you willing to help
the boy. to help me and possibly your
self by this venture in the dark? The
department shant lose money by 1t;
that's all / can promise"
but it's big one. Gryce, you shall
have your way. You'll be the only
loser If you fail; and you will fail;
take my word for it,
Il wish could speak as confidently
to the contrary, but I can't. can give
you my hand though, inspector, and
/ Sweetwaters thanks l can meet the
boy now. An hour ago didn't Know
how was to do it."
CHAPTER XIV.