The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-17
(Copyright 1912 by A. c. McClurg 4 Coz

means abated."
ION reflection" Mr.. Flint medita-
lively continued, Il was scarcely JUS
tilted 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
is?"
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. want
first to mention the most serious as
pect of the whole affair, for there is
one circumstance that makes its Grim
inality almost self-evident.
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 a stranger to the adj
vertiser; then, where shall we look
for motive?
This strikes me as the most prob
able one: his scruples baked at the
enterprise; he denounced the crimi-
mails, who were thus threatened with
exposure and arrest if they did not i'm
y1opdicrnIxy ci1nnan tho ct a hln inni-
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.
Frs o. all, there is the extreme
diGc-ity CT doing such thing in any
event-tha lack Of opportunity. But
with your cousin the difficulty is even
| greater: she is IN Europe with trust
worthy companio-, and a number of
unlikely assumptions must be materi-
ally strengtI, e1ed before the kidnap-
ing hypothesis can be accepted as a
working Theory.
If the deco was con n1itted abroad,
how was the young LAZY conveyed to
| America? If she was first lured to
/ this country, how was she persuaded
! to make such ali important move with
out notifying her relatives? And al
| ways there is Mrs. DGvereaux 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
a confederate, Or it must be assumed
tina. she was fcrc:bly taken also
/ eithez. assumption being extremely inn
probable
There is one other idea that &C.
Cured to me, but q pretty far-fetch d
one, I'm bound to admit: we may have
stumbled upon a rendezvous of inter
national thieves. The purse may have
been stolen from Miss Carew, in Eu'
| rope, weeks or even months ago.
/ But Van Vechten decisively shook
! his head. ct has not been out of heI
| possession a week" asserted he; the
significance of which the detective
seemed to understand.
WELL said he, Il have been candid
with you, Mr.. Van Vechten; suppose
you return the compliment"
What do you mean? have nothing
to tell"
Nothing to tell,'" the other echoed
musingly-"precisely The contract
ed eyes favored Van Vechten with {
penetrating look.
Mr.. Van Vechten,' he began quiet
ly after pause, L have not followed
my profession for a score Of years with
out acquiring more or less facility il
certain directions. For example,
know almost intuitively when anybod.
! is keeping something back from me.
knew that you were not entirely opel
and frank while l was talking with yo1
Yesterday"
The young man regarded him witt
an amaZement not entirely free from
discompOsure.
''Of course Mr.. Flint went on, with
out the least emotion, I can't imagin
what your reason may be for ret
cence; but l do know that if you pei
sist in remaining silent upon any poin
Of this case, you are adopting a mos
unwise course. | am not trying t
force your confidence: l am merel
I inviting it, leaving the decision W.
u your good judgment. Bear in min
that I haven't the slightest persona
interest in finding Miss Carew; she
merely incidental to an investigate
l am pursuing"
For a long time Van Vechten pol
dered. At last he said, very soberly
You are right, Flint; haven't bee
perfectly frank with you. My concel
ton Of detectives and police general
has been the haziest, but I believe
can trust you'-with stress upon I'll
, you" Il am going to, at any rate
And then he recounted the episod
or the yelled lady in the taxicab, tt
incident of the girl and the sand
haireI man in the crowd and of h
subse zuent view of the former at
window il Number 1913.