The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-12


practical manner.
It was Jessie whom Van Vechten
md Tom had seen arrive at the Silent
House, Sunday, in taxi-cab.
The death of O'Neill was the first of
a sequence of accidents that plunged
Max Willard into hot water almost
at the moment when he saw success
for his undertaking. O'Neill had an
swered the advertisement blindly; but
as soon as he stepped across the
| threshold of Number 1913 he had been
| recognized as the traitorous employe
of Wizards who had surreptitiously
sold the time-lock drawings and metal
| formulate to Theodore Van Vechten
| In the fight that followed Calls struck
| a blow from which O'Neill, only a few
minutes later, had been rendered un-
conscious. In falling. he had frac-
tured temple, and thus received his
death wound.
|
Tom had drawn Paige off to the
embrasure of one of the ibrary's cur
tanned bay windows.
What in the world is the matter
with you?" the girl demonstrated in
amaZement. You are as rough as a
pirate"
Tom did not heed. His eyes were
unnaturally bright and he was breath
| ing heavily.
Listen" he cautioned in a whisper
He could not repress his excitement,
That's Flint talking to Jessie-to
! ri
Devereaux came with us from the
Kohinur. :. Hang it all, Don't make
SO much noise. l want you to hear
what they are saying
Jessie looked trifie frightened She
and the detective were standing by
one of the big tables. He was hold
ing in one hand a pocket memoran-
dunn book, and talking in his quiet
way
Paige, with her head close to TOMS
peered through the curtains. They
heard Mr.. Flint say:
Il am not often controlled by inn
pulses, Miss Willard. but at the time
it struck me that the occasion might
come when this would form rather
interesting document"
What is it?" demanded Jessie.
You brighten me-
IF l have your permission, / will
read you something" said he; then
he fixed his attention upon the memo
randum book, and continued:
Nothing in the world could be
more absurd than to imagine the girl
l saw being engaged in anything Grim.
inal. or even entertaining a suspicion
that she may be surrounded by a
criminal atmosphere. She is young;
she is beautiful, she is refined and
gentle; the stamp Of purity and ad.
herence to right ideals is unmistak.
able in her countenance. Whatever
comes of your investigations, you will
find to be unqualifiedly true all that
now assert concerning her."
He methodically closed the book
snapped the rubber band around It
and returned it to his pocket, while
Jessie stared at him in blank amaze
ment
That" Mr.. Flint pursued, his eyes
, crinkling in smile, ''is what Mr. Ru
dolph Van Vechten told me at a time
when I honestly believed you to be 4
crook"
i After reciting the circumstances. hs
went on:
"You see, hadn't Mr.. Van. vecht
ems faith. l had never seen you, and
appearances were all against you.
: might say, the odds were against the
: correctness Of his estimate-in which
case I meant to show him these
words"
Jessie was breathing fast; her eye:
. were very bright and their regard wa:
: very steady.
"And If you had been wrong?" sh.
+ asked.
The creases at the corners of Mr.
n F1int's eyes deepened.
! "Why. l felt that he would need
champion, and I determined to bring
- the memorandum to you. You know
now, that from the very first, at leas
one person has retained firm belle
in the innocence and purity of you
: motives
The two in the bay window coult
see the color rush to Jessie's cheeks
!, she blushed furiously
Have you,' she said falteringly
Shown this TOTO him.
''He doesn't even know that I pos
sess such thing"
The girls eyes were dewy. He
voice lowered.
Then" said she, this is your wa,
of telling me that all your doubts ar
removed. Thank you"
WELL" returned the impassive dc
tective, that's one way of looking a
the matter. If Mr. Rudolph's jude
ment had been in error, / would jus
as freely have shown the reminder t
him. Here he comes now"
Van Vechten came eagerly forwar
and took the girls hands into his. Nj
IL Flint slipped unobtrusively away.
IL "Jessie-Jessie Willard" said Va
a, Vechten, eve do not have to wait tn