The Tomahawk., 1916-01-27

New York offices of the Sutherland
detective agency to come at once tc
that city to assist the local operatives
In unraveling a particularly banning
case; case, it may be added, that
still remains one among many or the
eastern metropolis unsolved riddles
The circumstances tended to show
that on the morning of September =
David Bardeene, master financier and
power in Wall street, had been
stabbed to death by a mysterious
woman who had not as yet been ap'
pretended and whose identity was
unknown to the police. Bardeene'
widow had enlisted the aid Of the
Sutherlands not only to find the WON
an, but to clear up an unpleasant
ecandal that, since the supposed muir
der, was beginning to cloud the dead
millionaire's name.
The summons fell in admirably with
Hazards plans, because his confrere
and friend, Helen Bertel, was spend
ing her vacation in New York, and
he anticipated some pleasant times In
her company. He reported promptly
at the New York office, where he was
supplied with full details of the case.
Almost at once Hazard was struck
by what he considered suggestive
factor; this was the ease with which
the mysterious woman had gained &C.
cess to Bardeene's private office.
Guarded by an army of clerks and
office attendants, the financier was
one of the least accessible Of men.
Unless by previous appointment, sell
dom if ever was anybody admitted to
his presence; strangers were barred
utterly.
The unknown woman, it would
seem, on the presentation of her card,
had been instantly ushered into the
inner sanctum.
And here arose another singular cir
cumstance. It was no other than the
chief clerk himself who took the card;
but he could not recall the woman's
name, and the card itself could not
be found. AS for her appearance, she
had been stylishly gowned, she seemed
to be young, or not more than middle
aged, but her features were concealed
by heavy veil.
She remained with Bardeene per-
haps thirty minutes altogether. Some
thing like five minutes before she de-
parted the buzzer rang for George
Destin, the chief clerk, who went at
once into the private office. He reap
peared in the outer Office minute or
so later pale and trembling-in fact.
80 agitated that certain of the office
force noticed his perturbation and
commented among themselves that
"the old man had been giving Destin
q grilling."
He was a much feared "old man."
Then minute or two later the
yelled woman reappeared and passed
at a normal gait through the outer
room, where the office force was en-
sconced. That was the last seen of
her
During the next few minutes 1t was
noticed by his subordinates that Des-
tin was uneasy and fidgety. He fun
bled aimlessly and nervously with the
DdpSI5 at OCOAS e1AU Ny ebAN W AAS
rose with an air Of having steeled
himself to the performance of an I'M
pleasant task and went into the pr1-
vate office.
Next instant he came Keeling back,
white as a sheet and making queer,
lncoherent noises in his throat. The
office was thrown into confusion; but
presently the others made out that he
was trying to cry "Murder!" And
then it was that the fatality was dis
covered.
Having ascertained all the details
from Heffernan, the New York opera
tive who had charge Of the case for
the Sutherlands, Felix Hazard meant
first to find Helen Bertel and then
devote his attention to the dead finan-
cier's Wall street offices. He was just
starting for the elevator when an
office boy came up and handed him a
sealed envelope bearing his name.
Hastily tearing it open, he found, on
slip of paper, the following typewrit-
ten message:
David Bardeene met only his just
deserts. If you value your peace Of
mind don't, from a mistaken notion
of duty, try to bring retribution upon
the miserable instrument Of vengeance
who killed him. This is not a threat,
but wise counsel"
Hazard wheeled upon the boy.
'Where did you get this?" he sharply
demanded.
81 found it in the letterbox among
the office mall"
"H'm! Then anybody could have
dropped it there at any time" He
handed the slip to Heffernan. Some
body wants US to keep hands of; as
far as you went, did you run against
any opposition"
Heffernan studied the uncompromis.
ing bit of paper and slowly shook his
head.
Regardless of the disclaimer that
this is a threat" he commented, 1T
is. nevertheless, nothing else. Before