Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-06-17

your house of mystery"
Van Vechten stared in wonder at
the slip OF paper. Tom abruptly ex-
claimed: How the dickens do you
MAKE that out? ?"
But Mr.. Flint was not TO be hurried.
While there may be nothing so
very mysterious about the house IL
self" he pursued evenly. nevertheless
il Is by way of promising US very
pretty problem indeed. Does the name
| 'Withypool' signify anything in paruc-
ular to your"
Nothing definite; it is familiar.
that Is all"
whirlpool" repeated Mr.. Flint,
musingly. 4 have had occasion to look
it up"
You have!" shot from Van vech-
ten in his surprise. What do you
know. Flint? Tell itp'
Its little village in Somerset
on the edge OF Exmoor forest--per-
maps one of the prettiest regions in
rural England Still does the name
convey nothing to your mind? Think"
Here Tom Phinney interjected:
"Ruddy thought it was confoundedly
familiar when he read the message"
While Van Vechten tried his best to
recall the associations which the name
all but evoked, Mr.. Flint sat shrewdly
contemplating him.
Il give it up" declared the young
man at length. GO on and tell it,
why you jumped so when you read the
mes @.ge. What's the answer"
Il said that it was pretty spot
the mans deliberation was provoking
AN ideally desirable location for
home-regular old-fashioned English
country home, you knc~-gables.
chimney-pots. ivy, deer-park. hedges,
and all that sort of thing. For in
stance"
"Confound you, Flint! Out with it,"
"Mr. Temple Bonner's."
For moment the two young men
sat staring speechlessly at the I'M
moved detective. Then Van vechten
smote the table with his fist.
by Georgei" calculated he, vehe-
mently but not loudly. That's it,
The very thing that's been chasing
round in my skull!" He proceeded
more calmly:
But. Flint. admitting that one Of
the two ladies mentioned here is my
cousin"--tappine the cablegram-"th
fact that you found her purse in
touse which happens to belong to
Temple Bonner. and that also she has
been mysteriously sojourning near his
home In England, presents only a CO.
INTERPRETATIONS. perhaps. but inn
material"
Maybe so; but do not lose sight
of the other lady--her companion. She
was a Schuyler, believe"
True"
DO you know that before Number
1913 came into Mr.. Bonner's posses
sion 1t belonged to Compton Schuyler.
Mrs. Devereaux's fatherg
The expression that now fitted
across Ven Veehten's face was one of
Sewildsrment. He had no comment to
make.
Furthermore" continued Mr.. Flint.
instead OF the present owner being
ignorant that such a shabby parcel of
property is a part OF the estate, its
purchase was prompted by a senti-
ment growing out of a romance more
than thirty years old. SO. you see, the
coincidence begins to assume proper
tons that must signify something
something that would be of value %
us If We could only grasp its meaning.
There is where l hope you may help
me-"
This is rather staggering, Flint"
said Van Veehten, as soon as be had
collected his wits, "but still the cir.
cumstances are merely coincidence
to me. l can read no meaning into
them, nor are they Informative. | fail
to see where can render the slight.
est help. Tom here is in a position to
supply you with something much more
to the point for by the purest acci-
dent he stumbled upon our sandy-com-
plexioned man--to say nothing of q
ripping adventure. His name Is John
Calls"
The detective favored Tom with a
look Of interest. and th3n his eyes
smiled.
One thing at time. gentlemen"
said he. "one thing at a time. You
can't excite me- Let us first get
through with tho point we were dis
GUESSING"
1T is entertaining enough for me-"
agreed Van Vechten. Il trust It will
prove profitable, You see, while
am acquainted in a general way with
Josephine Devereaux' history--as one
is In way familiar with the unevent-
full history of a friend--for that very
reason | am rather hazy as to details
In other words, there never has been
any reason why one should want to
plumb her past. She Is almost mem
her Of our family. and has been for so
long a time that whatever affects her
also touches us"
Precisely" said Mr.. Flint. so brisk
iy that his augmented interest caught
Van Vechten's attention.
Well?" the latter encouraged.
/ 1T is in the close relationship
among the different families con
cerned that hope to find the key to
the puzzle Aud there again / look
for your help
Consider. Mr.. Van Vechten. it's
far cry from the murder Of an OBJ
seure, unimportant young man. here
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