Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-07-24


ters through a process of selection
and rejection. From the lot he
chooses the few which strike him the
most favorably. and makes appoint
ments with the writer's. The house
across yonder was secured a. q base
of. operations"
1T was not rented from the agent"
Van Vechten suddenly interposed. re-
membering feature of the Powhatan
committees call on that individual.
Mr.. Flint raised his brows. "6of
said he. "Wen come back to that
letter. I was going to say. the mere
fact of the advertiser having selected
SO respectable a neighborhood to op-
crate from was no less than a stroke
Of genius. Nobody to pry into his af-
only by accident that suspicion was at
tractsd to him at ALL" Mr. Flint's WIS.,
age assumed a satisfied expression, as
he remarked:
His ingenuity commands my admi-
ration: l apprehend that the case will
prove interesting-most interesting,
indeed"
Don't tell me-" protested Van vech-
ten. that you can find any satisfaction
In the difficulties you are expecting to
encounter. It will be bad enough II
We have to deal with common crooks.
but criminal prodigy3 Lord defend
us!"
I'm afraid. Mr.. Van vechten. that
you have no very keen relish for an
intricate problem"
"Relish!" the young man barked.
with my cousin at the mercy Of a
gang of unprincipled knaves? I guess
noti"
"Oh. WELL" the detective conceded.
II can't, of course. expect you to view
the affair from a professional stand
point; but I assure you, this case is
exceedingly promising. and my enthu-
siasm and determination mount as 1t
grows more battling"
That's something. at any rate"
Van Vechten admitted with a show
of reluctance. Your zeal will lose
you nothing, / promise you. But where
did you find the purse?
The sharp gray eyes swept Van
vechten's earnest face. Mr.. Flint re-
piled soberiy:
Now you have hit upon the circum-
stance that connects Miss Carew with
the affair. / found 1t hanging from a
nail. In a dark corner of an upstairs
closet, across the street-in your pre-
cious house of mystery"
The young mans blank immobility
alone betrayed his stupefaction. After
a pause:
Easy. easy. Flint" said he. un-
steadily. Kindly repeat that; this In
fernal snarl is dulling my. faculties"
The other did so. adding: "Of
by somebody; whether by Miss Ca
rev or somebody else. am not pre-
pared to say"
Van Vechten sat q long time deep in
thought The occasional glance he d.
rected at the detective was eloquent
In contrast with his impassive fea-
tures-of the doubts and fears and
anxieties that were assailing his
mind. and of a conflicting hope that
things were not 30 black as they were
being painted. At last. with a slight
gesture that signified his helpless
ness to cope with the situation. he
leaned back and sighed.
T pass" he said resignedly. THE
things utterly beyond me; It's up to
you. Flint. Go on
We'll. you have all the details that
suggest a possible KIDNAPPING con-
spiracy-first, the uncertainty as to
the young lady's whereabouts; second.
the advertisement; third, the secrecy
and extreme caution observed through
out by the unknown conspirators:
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 II 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. 81 was scarcely JUS
gest the possibility of Miss Carew hnv-
ing been kidnapped; It would be more
accurate to say: If 1t turns out that
she has been, why. then the facts we
now have would dove-tail with the
crime"
"I 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
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 Ia
one circumstance that makes its Grim
innlity almost self-evident-
hot hn r,0n whn waa