The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-08-28
CHAPTER VII.
A Bit Of Steel.

'hSb al YOU going W JuuRe Us
trander's7"
Tomorrow. This is my last free
day. So II there Is anything for me to
do. do tell me, Mr. Black, and let me
get to work at once"
There is nothing you can do. The
matter is hopeless. told you so the
other night. and now. after a couple
OF days of thought on the subject.
am obliged to repeat my assertion.
Your own convictions In the matter,
and your story Of the shadow and the
peaked cap may appeal to the public
and assure you some sympathy. but
for an entire reversal OF its opinion
you will need substantial and incon-
trovertible evidence. Find me some
thing definite to go upon and we will
talk"
7 Doubtfully she eyed him. What
you want" she observed at length, with
sigh, is the name OF the man who
sauntered down the ravine ahead OF
my husband. l cannot give 1t to you
now, but do not despair OF learning
1t. l have got to renew old acquain-
tances; revive old gossip; possibly, re-
call to life almost obliterated mem
ories.'e r.ssll-s :. ay...
Mr.. Black. dropping his hand from
hs vest. gave her bis first look of un-
qualified admiration. '''.se-~-.s,>--
you ring true" said he. II have
met men qualified to lead a forlorn
hope; but never before woman AL
low me to express my regret that 1t is
such forl2El one"
:, Mrs. Scoville rose. Then she sat
down again, with The remark:
Il have a strange notion. It's hard
thing to explain and you may not IN
derstand me, but l should like to see.
II 1t still exists. the stick-my hus-
bands stick-with which this crime
was committed. Do the police retain
such things? Is there any possibility
of my finding it laid away in some
drawer at headquarters or on some
dusty shelf"
Mr. BLACK was again astonished.
Was this callousness or a very deep
and determined purpose.
You shall see the stick If it is still
to be found. l will take you to police
headquarters II you will 90 heavily
yelled. We don't want any recogni-
ton OF you there yet"
MI Black, you are very good. How
soon"
Now" he announced, jumping up
to get his hat
There was one little fact OF which
Mr.. Black was ignorant-that the po-
lice had had their eye on the yelled
lady at Claymore inn for several DAYS
now and knew who his companion was
the instant they stepped into head
quarters. In vain his plausible ex-
cuses for showing his lady friend the
curiosities Of the place; her interest
in the details of criminology was well
understood by Sergeant Doolittle.
Therefore when he saw the small
knocking eye of the lawyer begin to
roam over the shelves, and beheld his
Jaw drop as it sometimes did when he
sought to veil his purpose in an air OF
mild preoccupation, he knew what the
ne1t request would be, as well AS II
the low sounds which left Mr.. Blacks
lips at intervals had been words in
stead Of inarticulate grunts. He was.
therefore. prepared when the question
did come.
ANY memorial of the Etheridge
case?"
Nothing but a stick with blood
marks on II. That, I'm afraid, wouldn't
Be a very agreeable sight for lady's
eye"
She's proof" the lawyer whispered
In the officers ear. Let's see the
stick"
The sergeant considered this a very
interesting experience-quite a jolly
break In the dun monotony of the day.
Hunting up the stick. ne laid 1t In the
lawyers hands. and then turned his
eye upon the lady.
She had gone pale, but it took her
but an instant to re gain her eQuanimi-
ty and hold out her own hand for the
weapon.
And so the three stood there, the
mems faces ironic. inquisitive, won
1ering at the woman's phlegm II not
1t her motive; hers, hidden behind her
WeN, ut esos forward over the weapon