The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-15

out by the unknown consplrators'
fourth the callers at Number 1913;
fifth, the purse"
Van Vechten breathed another sigh.
one of relief.
"Mystifying it all is, to be sure" he
said; "but that array might sound
more formidable if it were more GER
tain and positive. At the same time,
my anxiety about my cousin has by no
means abated.
"On reflection" Mr. Flint medita-
lively continued, Il was scarcely JUS
titled in asserting that the facts sug-
gest the possibility of Miss Carew hav-
ing been kidnapped; it would be more
accurate to say: If it turns out that
she has been, why, then the facts we
now have would dove-tail with the
crime"
81 was thinking of Mrs. Devereaux,
cut in the other-"you know who she
ISL"
The detective nodded. Van Vechten
asked:
Gould she have been kidnapped
also?"
Dismiss Mrs. Devereaux for the
present" returned Mr.. Flint; she is
an item against the possibility. Iwant
first to mention the most serious as
pect of the whole affair, for there is
one circumstance that makes It's GRIM
inality almost selfevident.
Assuming that the man who was
killed went to the house In answer to
the advertisement-and there is no
reason to believe otherwise-in all
likelihood he was stranger to the ad-
vertiser; then, where shall we look
for a motive?
"This strikes me as the most prob
able one: his scruples baked at the
enterprise; he denounced the crimi-
nails, who were thus threatened with
exposure and arrest if they did not i'm
mediately silence the intractable indi-
vidual. They chose the second alter
native, which would indicate that they
are desperate enough.
"Now let us consider the facts sup
porting the improbability that Miss
Carew has been kidnapped.
First Of all, there is the extreme
difficulty Of doing such thing in any
event-the lack of opportunity. But
with your cousin the difficulty is even
greater: she is in Europe with trust
worthy companion, and a number of
assumptions must be materi-
ally strengthened before the kidnap.
Ing hypothesis can be accepted as a
working theory.
If the deed was committed abroad,
how was the young lady conveyed to
If she was first lured to
this country, how was she persuaded
to make such an important move with
out notifying her relatives? And al
ways there is Mrs. Devereaux to be
considered. If Miss Carew was sep
arated from her, how is her silence to
be explained? If she was not sepa-
rated from Mrs. Devereaux, then the
older lady either must be regarded as
4 confederate, or 1t must be assumed
that she was forcibly taken also
sither assumption being extremely i'm
probable.
There is one other idea that oc-
cured to me, but pretty far-fetched
one, I'm bound to admit: we may have
stumbled upon rendezvous of inter-
national thieves. The purse may have
oeen stolen from Miss Carew, in Eu-
'cpe, weeks or even months ago."
Hut Van Vechten decisively shook
lis head. 1T has not been out of her
possession a week" asserted he: the
significance of which the detective
scene. 10 understand.
Well" said he, Il have been candid
With YOU, Mr., Van Vechten; suppose
iou return the compliment"
What do you mean? | have nothing
o tell"
Nothing to tell the other echoed
nusingly-"precisely." The contract.
ID eyes favored Van Vechten with a
look.
Mr.. Van Vechten," he began quiet.
y after a pause, Il have not followed
ny profession for score of years with.
'ut acquiring more or less facility in
certain directions. For example Il
Know almost intuitively when ANYBODY
8 keeping something back from me. |
Knew that you were not entirely open
md frank while | was talking with YOU
The young man regarded him with
IN amazement not entirely free from
of course" Mr.. Flint went on, with
tut the least emotion, Il can't imagine
What your reason may be for reti.
'ence; but do know that IL YOU per.
list in remaining silent upon any point
u this case, you are adopting a most |
lnwise course. l am not trying to
orce your confidence; am merely
INVITING it, leaving the decision with !
our good judgment. Bear in mind
nat haven't the slightest personal
interest in finding Miss Carew: she Is
merely incidental to an investigation
am pursuing"
For lnrr tix,.. H.