The state herald., 1915-10-29
CHAPTER VII.
A Bit Of Steel,

when are you going to Judge Os-
tranders?"
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 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
Tor an entire reversal of its opinion
you Will need substantial and incon.
trovertible evidence. Find me some
thing definite to 30 upon and we will
talk"
Doubtfully she eyed him. What
you want" she observed at length, with
a sigh, is the name of the man who
sauntered down the ravine ahead of
my husband. 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."
Mr.. Black. dropping his hand from
his vest. gave her his first look of un-
qualified admiration.
you ring true" said hc. Il have
met men qualified to lead forlorn
hope: but never before n woman. AL.
low me to express my regret that II is
such forlorn one"
Mrs. Scoville rose. Then she sat
down again, with the remark:
Il have strange notion. It's n hard
thing to explain and you may not un.
derstand me. but should like TO see.
II II 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.. BlatS was again astonished
Was this callousness or very deep
and determined purpose.
You shall see the stick n II is stiii
to be found. | will take you to police
headquarters II you will go heavily
yelled. We don't want any recogni-
ton OF you there yet"
'Mr Black. you are very good. How
soon"
Now" he announced. jumping up
10 get his hat
There was one little fact OF which
Mr.. Black was ignorant-that the po-
lice had had their eye on the veiled
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
eiriosities OF the place: her interest
In the details OF criminology was well
understood by Sergeant Doolittle.
Therefore. when he saw the small.
mocklng eye OF tho lawyer begin to
roam over the shelves. and beheld his
Jaw drop ns II sometimes did when he
sought to veil his purpose In an air OF
mild preoccupation. he knew what the
aext request would be. M well as II
the low sounds which left Mr.. Blacks
lips at intervals had been words In.
stead OF inarticulatc grunts lie was,
therefore. prepared when the question
did come.
ANY memorial OF tho Ethcrldgo
casc7"
Nothing but stick with blood.
marks on H. That. I'm afraid. wouldn't
bc very agreeable sight for a lady's
eye"
She's rroof" the lawyer whispered
In the officers ear. Let's see the
stick"
The sergeant considered this very
interesting oSperloncc-duito Jolly
break In the duh monotony OF the day.
Hunting up the stick. ne laid II In tho
lawyers hands. and then turned his
eye upon the lady.
She had gone pale. but II took her
put mn instant to r. gain her slunnlmi'
" and hold out her avn hand for the
weapon.
And so tho three stood there, the
mems faces ironic. lnquiultiyo won
dering at tho soman'H phlegm II not
al her motive. hers, hidden behind her
welt but ben, forward over the weapon