Charlevoix county herald., 1914-06-13
CHAPTER XVI.
A Detectives Stratagem.

at looks as if cyclone had struck
it," was the commel made by
Moreaux when he stepped indie Of
his own studio. "The burglar has
gone, officer. We arrived here too
Why, hello! What are you doing
here ?"
Shaughnessy had appeared upon
tn. threshold between the bedroom
and the studio. And the man was
Shaughnessy the operative, not
Shaughnessy the ghost of Shannon.
He nodded CURLY to the artist.
Both the policemen knew him and
saluted.
81 guess you must smell 'em out,
lieutenant" one of the officers re-
marked. "This gentleman comes to
me on post, and he says he seen a
light in his studio window when it
hadn't oughter be there; and l calls
to Thompson, who amt far off, and
up we comes, slick as you please,
and finds you here before US"
81 saw no light, but did see, or
thought l saw, two shadows running
;way from the Blank Street door.
Then found key in the lock of the
door, and, as the shadows had fitted,
| came inside to investigate. |
walked up the stairs, and kept COM
ing till found this. | don't believe
| was in this room five minutes
ahead of you, Sweeney"
"Were there two men here? Mo-
reaux asked.
eyes. Look Both of them wore
sneakers, and both Of them managed
to step on that pastel-dust, which
must have fallen out of the drawer
Of that easel when it was knocked
over. See?"
They did see. 1t was true Two
footprints of noticeably differen,
sizes were plainly impressed side by
side upon the patch of powdered
blue chalk that had fallen with so
many other things from the drawer
OF the broken easel. The corrugated
marks of the rubber -soled sneakers
were plainly in evidence, and lieu
tenant Shaughnessy had been quick
to take advantage of the fact.
Il met Officer Compton outside
just a few minutes ago, Sweeney.
He is your roundness, isn't he ?"
Shaughnessy added by way Of a
clincher. And then, without await
ing a reply, he wheeled upon Mo-
reaux. "And | would Ike to ask you,
sir, how that picture happens to be
here?" He pointed a finger at the
Shannon picture. "knd that one ?"
He pointed toward the sketch of
Crewe.
Moreaux smiled Instead of re-
plying directly, he said:
There was still another which
should be here and is not. Those
Oh, J made a sketch Of that fellow
Shannon at the morgue, and | fell
to wondering what he might have
looked like in good health-so /
made that one. Rather good, don't
you think? And that one? | don't
know that chap. A friend of mine
made that one. She called him
Crewe, I think, or something like
that"
"She did? Who was it ?" Shaugh-
nessy's eyes narrowed, and he fixed
them without expression upon Mo-
reaux.
"A Miss Stacey, who poses for me.
That is her face up there in that
picture I've just begun. There isn't
much done to it as yet, but it's
good likeness of her already"
"Where could | find Miss Stacey
Mr.. Moreaux? I'd like to ask her
about that picture of Crewe she
made"
"Why, you know her. She was
here the last time you were in this
studio. You told me, don't you re-
member that she used to be called
eyes. remember. Never mind
that. Where can | find her-nOw?"
"Shes in bed in her home, most
likely. It's four o'clock nearly, and
it's getting daylight" He gave
bill to Sweeney. Here is something
for you and Thompson to put in the
poor-box next Sunday" he said;
"and / won't keep you any longer.
You won't mind walking down?
How about you Mr.. Shaughnessy
an stay-for a further talk with
you, Mr.. Moreaux."
For just an instant there was a
futter of doubt in the artists eyes
as to the wisdom-or convenience
of Shaughnessy's remaining after
the others had gone. But it disap-
peared as quickly as it came, and he
nodded and passed into one of the
adjoining rooms while the two uni
formed policemen were saluting and
taking their departure. He had re-
turned to the doorway and stood
upon the threshold of it when
Shaughnessy wheeled to confront
him.
"Where's JESSE" he asked.
"My dear fellowl How in the
world should know where she is at
this hour?"
"You do know-and | want to
know"
Moreaux shrugged his shoulders
in gesture which might have been
translated to mean almost anything,
1t seemed to enrage Shaughnessy,
for he came a step nearer, black
frown upon his face.
Things have come pretty near to
showdown between you and me,
Mr.. Birge Moreaux," he said in
cisively. Were alone, and | don't
think we're likely to be disturbed,
and so we might just as well have
it now. Who the hell are you, any
howl"