Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-24

u uuu-
"A friend-a very dear friend"
"Win you not tell me her namef"
inquired. I.
mo, it would be unfair to her" she
responded decisively, an answer
which to me was particularly tanta-
lizing.
1t was quite dark when took leave
of my bright little companion, who,
tired out and yet accomplishing,
pressed my hand and wished me good
fortune in my investigation.
At half-past nine that night / pulled
up the dogcart before the chief police
station at Dumfries, and alighting at
once sought the big fair Highlander
Mackenzie, with whom | had had the
consultation on the previous day.
When we we're seated in his room
beneath the kissing gas jet, / related
my adventure and the result of my in
v~estigation.
"What?" he cried, jumping up.
you've unearthed another body-a
~woman's?"
81 have. And what is more, ] can
identify her" l replied, Her name
is Armida, and she was wife of the
murdered man Olinto Santini."
Then both husband and wife were
killed."
without a doubt-a double trag-
edy."
But the two men who concealed the
body! Will you describe them?"
1 did so, and he wrote at my dicta-
ton, and calling in one of his sub
inspectors, gave him instructions for
the immediate circulation of the de-
scription to all the police stations in
the county, saying the two men were
wanted ON a charge of willful murder.
His lips were pressed together in
distinct dissatisfaction as he asked:
1.-THE body is still in the glen, where
you left it?"
Eyes. If you wish, l will take you
to the spot. / can drive you and your
assistant up there"
Certainly. Let us CO." he ex-
claimed, rising at once and ringing his
bell.
Get three good lanterns and some
matches and put them in this gentle
mans trap outside" he said to the
constable who answered his summons.
"And tell Gilbert Campbell that I want
him to go with me up to Rannoch
wood"
He asked: when do you expect to
get a telegram from your friend, the
consul at Leghorn? l am anxious for
that, in order that we may commence
inquiries in London"
"The day after tomorrow, | hope.
He will certainly reply at once, pro-
viding the dead mans father can still
be found"
4 AT that moment a tall, thin man, who
1 proved to be Detective Campbell, en-
tered, and five minutes later we were
\ all three driving over the uneven cob
\ bles of Dumfries and out in the dark
n ness towards Rannoch. When we
reached the wood we all descended
!, and, with Mackenzie and Campbell
carrying lanterns, walked on carefully
. keeping straight on in the direction OF
the glen, and hating every now anc
then to listen for the ripping OF the
stream.
At last, after some difficulty, we dis
covered it, and searching along thu
, bank with our three powerful light,
NJ presently detected the huge moss
ny grown bowlder wherein l had stoot
Nj when the pair of fugitives had disap
NJ peared.
"Look!" / cried. There's the spoil
And quickly we clambered down thu
steep bank, lowering ourselves by tn
- branches of the trees until we CAM
Z to the water into which | waded, be
" ing followed closely by my two com
panions.
ILL., On gaining the opposite side clan
bered up to the base of the bowlder an
~ lowered my lantern to reveal to ther
Nc the gruesome evidence Of the secon
In crime, but the next instant l cried:
Ut "Why! It's gone!"
ne "Gone!" gasped the two men.
is Eyes. 1t was here. Look! this is tn
ou' hole where they buried it! But the
or evidently returned, and finding 1t e.
ve- humed, they've retaken possession
me it and carried it away"
But AS we stood there dumfounded
My the disappearance Of the body, Il
md Highlander's quick glance caugl
the something, and STOPPING he picked
cir up and examined the little object |
ood the aid Of his lantern.
rly Within his palm ! saw lying a til
hat little gold cross, about an inch Ion
the enameled in red, while in the cent
In was a circular miniature of a kneelil
i, saint, an elegant and beautifully ez
OF cuted little trinket which might ha
was adorned a lady's bracelet.
a This is a pretty little thing!"
also marked the detective. st may pos
on. bly, lead us to something. But, n
who Gregg" he added, turning to me, "a
of you quite certain you left the DO
here?"
Their Certain" 1 echoed. why. look
ritz" the hole | made, You don't think
ross have any interest in leading you he
on a FOOLS errand, do your"
d to mot at all" he said apologetical
"only the whole affair seems so vs