The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-11-20

round hole in the forehead Of the grisIy
human relic TO the dilapidated trunk, lying
where 1t had fallen from a pile OF its
kind Its certainly not suicide" he re-
fiected somberly. Then TO the woman:
Just what happened? How did you
find it?"
Il was house cleanin'.r she muttsred.
First time I'd touched this room fl flye
years-ever since l bought the business.
The trunk fell down and-that-rolled
cut She shuddered violently.
Who'd you buy it from ?" asked Cado-
gan.
"A Frenchman Henri Theophne He
showed me the attic then, and the trunk
was there. Honest to goodness. mister.
that's all know about it," and she start
ed 10 cry.
The chief OF detectives soothed her with
rough kindness and went out with her.
taking the skull Grant started to follow
and hesitated Another look at the trunk
wouldn't hurt. His nerves were good.
There was very little TO see. however.
A faded inscription on the side showed
that IL might have belonged to one "A.
d.. Rouen," but that was absolutely all
until the police reporter investigated a
bulge in the lining and found the faint
photograph of a pretty young girl in a
ball dress with absurd puffs on the shout
ders. He turned it over and on the back
was. "A mon cherie, Aiphopsa Darnsc.
Your Babette Mar. 5 1905.
''Alphonse Darnac. Ell ?" muttered Grant
''And "A. D. Rouen. HIM. I rather think
this Is q find, But how the deuce is one
TO solve a mystery maybe ten years old
with only three names to 80 on?"
Thoughtfully he Joined the others down
stairs, and shortly after was back at The
Chronicle office with the photograph Ca
dogan knew that IT was safe In the care
/ of the young reporter. Grant laid the
matter before Mansfield, the city editor,
and chased an Office boy to the .'morgue
where photographs, cuts and clippings are
kept filed in every newspaper Office. Pres
emily the boy returned with an envelope.
| Grant studied the faded clipping in it
eagerly, then passed It to his chief with
| n satisfied grunt There you are, Dated
April 10, 1906. Henri Theophile boarding
4 house keeper, reports the disappearance
Of Alphonse Darnac. boarder And the
guy was reported engaged to Theophile's
daughter. Babette--who had disappeared
+ too.
Mansfield nodded thoughtfully. Yes,
but how are you going to catch 'em?
+ The reporter drummed the desk for
a moment, then rose to pace the floor.
Suddenly he stopped with an exclamation.
I've got it," he cried. "A personal! It's
worth trying anyhow. And I'll get Cado-
gan to keep the story out Of the papers.
Next day The Chronicle bore the follow
ing in the agony" column:
"Babette Theophile: Your cherie, whom
you thought dead has returned to renew
his vows of constancy, and Will meet you
Wednesday noon at the old Able Inn on
the Turnpike Road. Alphonse Darnac.
On Wednesday at noon a handsome IL
mousine drew up in front Of the ancient
road-house and smartly gowned young
matron stepped out She was evidently
greatly agitated
Isis Monsieur Darnac expecting me?'
she asked the bowling proprietor in d
shaky voice.
Yes. madame" returned the innkeeper
and ushering her into the building indi-
Gated a man sitting at table with his
I back turned.
The young woman hesitated and Their
approached with faltering steps. As she