Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-05-27

chooses the few which strike him the
most favorably. and makes appoint
ments with the writer's. The house
across yonder was secured as base
Of operations"
1T was not rented from the agent, >
Van Vechten suddenly interposed, re-
membering a feature Of the Powhatan
committees call on that individual.
Mr.. Flint raised his brows. "So?"
said he. wen come back TO that
letter vas going to say. the mere
fact of the advertiser having selected
SO respectable a neighborhood to OF
crate from was no less than a stroll ,
Of genius. Nobody to pry into his az
fairs; nobody to suspect hint was
only by accident that suspicion was at
tracted to him at ALL" Mr.. Flint's Wis
age assumed a satisfied expression, as
he remarked:
His ingenuity commands my admi.
ration: | 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 1t VII. be bad enough If
we have to deal with common crooks,
but a criminal prodigy? Lord defend
u.s."
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? ! guess
mott"
"Oh, WELL" the detective conceded.
81 cant. of course, expect you to view
the affair from professional stand
point; but I assure you. this case is
exceedingly promising. and my enthu-
siasm ana 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. l promise you. But where
did you find the purse?"
The sharp gray eyes swept Van
| Vechten's earnest face. Mr. Flint re-
| piled soberly:
Now you have hit upon the circum.
stance that connects Miss Carew with
the affair | found 1t hanging from a
nail. In dark corner of an upstairs
closet. across the street--in your pre-
cious house of mystery"
The young mans blank immobllity
alone betrayed his stupefaction. After
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
| course It was left there overlooked
by somebody; whether by Miss Ca.
rev or somebody else. am not pre-
pared to say"
Van Vechten sat long time deep in
thought The occasional glance he di,
rected at the detective was eloquent
In contrast with his impressive fea.
tures--of the doubts and fears and
anxieties that were assailing his
mind. and OF conflicting hope that
things were not so 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
Il pass" he said resignedly "The
things utterly beyond me: it's up 10
you. Flint. Go on"
Well you have all the details that
sugges. possible kidnapping con
, | F,,eV 4.
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
1 nth. the purse
e Van Vechten breathed another sigh
a one of relief.
r "Mystifying it all IS, to be sure" h
) said; but that array might sount
more formidable II IL were more Ger
Il tain and positive, At the same time
t my anxiety about my cousin has by nj
e means abated"
/. ION reflection" Mr. Flint meditg
J. lively continued. 81 was scarcely jus
: titied In asserting that the facts sul
z I NEAA Tue HAfNSlbtAAA1 vi MISS NshTtW Hh'
T. ing been kidnapped; 1t would be NOR
s accurate to say; II It turns out tina
she has been. why, then the facts W
n now have would dove-tajl with tn
n crime"
u Il was thinking Of Mrs Devereaux
y cut in the other-"you know who sh
is?"
d The detective nodded. Van Vcchte
x asked.
!. Could she have been kidnapc
@ also2"
a Dismiss Mrs Devereaux for II
g present" returned Mr. Flint; she
ID an item against the possibility / WA
-g first to mention the most serious q
H. pect Of the whole affair. for there
pr enc circumstance that makes its cril
r. inRlity almost self-evident
r Assuming that the man who ";
killed went to the house in answer
Is the adyertisement-and there is I
) The room was shut OF from Il
haoffnv r,Ipuf ~ sha hrti1fug .rV.a,