The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1916-11-20
THE TRUNK MYSTERY
An Adventure of
Grant, Police Reporter
By Robert Welles Richie
Redd

Story by Redffeld ingalls,

neared him the man arose suddenly and
turned. IL was Tommy Grant
The woman started back. But you are
not Monsieur Dar-I do not know you!'
she cried.
Monsieur Darnac viii not return Pos
sibly YOU can explain the reason why?"
said Grant pleasantly. but with hint of
sternness
''sir, you-you're insuitingg' gasped the
LADY. and turned blindy for the door. The
reporter did not try 10 stop her-but Ca
dogan was in the doorway.
Il guess you'll have to come across,
ma am, he remarked showing his shield.
The young woman staggered and nearly
fell Gently the chief detective escorted
her back to the table. we don't suspect
you of Darnac's murder" he said, cycling
her keenly. but you'll have 70 tell US
what you know about it
The young woman wrung her hands.
ooh, 1t is all so terrible," she cried. And
so long ago! Now am married and have
children Of my OWL thought it was for
Eottenr'
Murder will out, you know" Grant re-
marked, and after hesitating a little longer
the woman began.
"Alphonse was poor artist who had
studio in the attic of my fathers boarding
house, she said, playing uervously with
her gloves. IL loved him. nlessieurs-
loved him with the infatuatton of young
girl. But my father wanted me to marry
a rich man that 1 hated.
so in secret Alphonse and I became en-
gagged We were to be married as soon
as he should sell his masterpiece The
Sunset Girl for which / posed. 1t was
beautiful painting, rnessieurs. But my IA
Their was angry because I would not
marry that rich man, and suspicious.
Then one day our secret was discover
ed-he found me posing for Aiphonse. All,
messieurs, what a scenel They fought.
NY father threw me with fury to the
floor, and then Alphonse. enraged, did
likewise to my father. And then-ah, then
my father placed his hand in his pocket,
so; there came burst of flame from the
revolver in his pocket, and my Alpnonse
fell-dead."
The young woman shuddered and wiped
her eyes II left nay father that very
day" she said. II would not live with
him longer. And I have not seen him
since"
Cadogan's face fell "You don't know
where he is?' he was saying. when sud-
denly the girl staggered to her feet
] clutching at her throat, her face even
whittier than before.
"oh, mon Dieu, mon PEREZ" she scream
ed
Grant turned in q flash, to see a bag
gard. evil face, married by years Of dissi-
| patton, glazing at them from the door.
"Hai A trap?' snarled the newcomer.
and whipped out revolver. You won't
| catch me as easily as that
He whipped the key out of the door and
/ backed out, locking It behind him. Cado-
/ gan rushed to struggle with it, just as a
cry OF alarm came from before the inn,
1 where the young woman's chauffeur was
waiting for his mistress. Grant spranz to
! the window and out. and ran around in
/ front just in time to see the limousine
| speeding away with the terrified driver
crouching back from the haggard man s
weapon.
The reporter raced around TO the shed
behind the building and found a motor
cycle. BY the time Cadogan had managed
to get the door open he had got the ma
! chine running and was speeding after the
| vanished auto.
4 "A stern chase is a long chase. as the
| young man knew. 1t would be no easy
matter to catch the fugitive on straight
away run, but he knew the district and
| there were short cuts. On a bare chance
he took one of these. shot into the main
road again not two minutes ahead of the
auto, then, climbing swiftly to the seat OF
the motorcycle, he leaped. caught the
overhanging limb Of a tree and let the
| cycle crash into the bushes. Then as the
auto sped underneath he dropped.
A few minutes later he was explaining
to Cadogan, back at the inn. Il got him
all right but he shot himself" He nod
ded at the weeping girl beside the body OF
the murderer in the Limousine Her IA
Their. you know. Perhaps it's just as well.
He must have seen that personal and
dropped around to verify 1t without ask
ing questions"