The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-06-25

consul at Leghorn? / 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"
At that moment tall, thin man, who
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
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 and
then to listen for the ripping of the
stream.
At last, after some difficulty, we dis
covered it, and searching along the
bank with our three powerful light, |
presently detected the huge moss
grown bowlder whereon l had stood
when the pair of fugitives had disap-
peared.
Look" cried. There's the spot"
And quickly we clambered down the
steep bank, lowering ourselves by the
branches of the trees until we came
to the water into which | waded, be-
ing followed closely by my two CON-
panions.
On gaining the opposite side l clam
bered up to the base of the bowlder and
lowered my lantern to reveal to them
the gruesome evidence Of the second
crime, but the next instant cried:
why! It's gone!"
"Gone!" gasped the two men.
"Yes. 1t was here. Look! this is the
hole where they buried it! But they
evidently returned, and finding it ex-
humed, they've retaken possession OF
1t and carried 1t away!"
AS we stood there dumfounded at
the disappearance of the body, the
Highlander's quick glance caught
something, and STOPPING he picked it
up and examined the little object by
the aid Of his lantern.
Within his palm | saw lying a tiny
little gold cross, about an inch long,
enameled In red, while in the center
was circular miniature Of kneeling
saint, an elegant and beautifully exc.
cuted little trinket which might have
adorned lady's bracelet.
This is pretty little thing!" re-
tL-
bly, lead us to something. But. Mr.
Gregg" he added, turning to me, "are
you quite certain you left the body
here?"
"Certain?" l echoed. why, look at
the hole / made You don't think I
have any interest in leading you here
on fools errand, do your"
mot at ALL" he said apologetically.
"Only the whole affair seems SO very
inconceivable-I mean that the men.
having once got rid Of the evidence Of
their crime, would hardly return to the
spot and reobtain possession Of It."
Unless they watched me exhume It,
and feared the consequences II 1t fell
into your hands," suggested.
"Of course they might have watched
you from behind the trees, and when
you had gone they came and carried
1t away somewhere else." he remarked
obviously; "but even II they did, 1t
must be in this wood. They would
never risk carrying body very far,
and here is surely the best place Of
concealment in the whole country"
1.-The only thing remaining is to
search the wood at daylight" | sug-
gested. 'If the two men came back
here during MY absence they may still
be on the watch in the vicinity"
Most probably they are. We must
take every precaution." he said deci.
siyely.
At dawn Mackenzie. with four Of NJ