The Ely miner., 1916-01-21

that city to assist the local operative
in unraveling a particularly bafiiin
case; a case, it may be added, tina
still remains one among many of TIT
eastern metropolis unsolved riddles
The circumstances tended to shoV
that on the morning of September
David Bardeene, master financier ant
power in Wall street, had beel
stabbed to death by a mysterious
woman who had not as yet been ap
pretended and whose identity wa'
unknown to the police. Bardeenei
widow had enlisted the aid OF th'
Sutherlands not only to find the WON
an, but to clear up an unpleasant
scandal that, since the supposed mur
der, was beginning to cloud the dea(
millionaire's name.
The summons fell In admirably witt
Hazards plans, because his confrert
and friend, Helen Bertel, was spend
ing her vacation in New York, ant
he anticipated some pleasant times il
her company. He reported prompt!
at the New York Office, where he wa:
supplied with full details of the case
by what he considered a 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. 1t 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 a minute or
so later pale and trembling-in fact,
so agitated that certain of the office
force noticed his perturbation and
commented among themselves that
''the old man had been giving Destin
a grilling"
He was much feared "old man"
Then a minute or two later the
veiled 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 it was
Noticed by his subordinates that Des-
tin was uneasy and fidgety He FUN
bled aimlessly and nervously with the
HoPSAo at hio uCohp anu anu NY Do
rose with an air of having steeled
himself to the performance of an un-
pleasant task and went into the pri-
yate Office.
Next instant he came reeling back,
white as a sheet and making queer,
incoherent 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 Berte! and then
devote his attention to the dead finan-
ciers 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 a
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 threat
but wise counsel"
Hazard wheeled upon the boy
Where did you get this?" he sharply
demanded.
Il found it in the letterbox among
the office mall"
HIM. Then anybody could have
dropped it there at any time" He
handed the slip to Heffernan. Some
body wants us to keep hands off; a.
far as you went. did you run agains
any opposition?"
Heffernan studied the uncompromis
ing bit Of paper and slowly shook hi!
head
Regardless of the disclaimer tha
this is threat" he commented. 81
is. nevertheless, nothing else Befor,
you so much further / bet you'll re
ceive another more to the point"
Il believe you," agreed Hazard
The case promises to be interesting
Well, | must be Off"
An hour later he and Helen Berte
were happily facing each other acros
a restaurant table. He told her wha
had brought him to New York, layin
the Bardeene case before her circun
stantially.
"- ere," said she, "endeth my vac;
ton; for l suppose you want me
help you."
MY dear girl" Hazard proteste'
all | ask of you is to be patieT
listener and theI give me the benef
of your luminous. clear-thinking brail