The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-03
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
John THE FOOL"
BY Chas. Tenny Jackson.


tage, from which spread out ON
each side the long glass green
houses.
Duvall rang the door bell. A
wholesome looking Irish woman,
OF perhaps fifty, opened the door
and. In response to his questions,
told him that her husband, Pat
rick, was out in the garden.
Duvall found him, a short,
heavy-set man, with gray hair
and mustache, busy among a lit
ter of flower pots and bulbs.
What can / do for you, sir?"
he asked. coming forward.
The detective studied the man
intently. The honest and clear
looking eyes told him nothing
that was not favorable.
Il came to ask you few ques-
tions, Mr.. Lanahan. represent
a firm of lawyers in Washington.
My name is Johnson.
"We-my firm-have been ad-
vised that certain Michael Lam
ahan, of Dublin, recently died,
leaving a large estate. We are
trying to find his heirs. Are you
from Dublin?"
ME father was. l was born
here in Jersey"
What was his name?"
Patrick, but he had brother
Mike"
"Ah. 1t may he the same"
Duvall pretended to make a Sc
ries of entries in his notebook.
Now about yourself, Mr.. Lana
han. Have you any children?"
Children, is it? l have two."
"Boys?"
Zone is a boy-a man now.
He's in the city-workin'. His
name is Barney"
What does he do"
Lanahan looked up with a
frown. 1.-THE last i heard tell, he
was tendin' bar-cver at Gala
hans saloon. on the Bowery. He's
wild-wild.'
And the other?"
The old mans face took on a
contented look.
THE other is me daughted
Mary, bless her. She's nurse in
the family of old man Stapleton,
the millionaire"
Duvall closed his book. II
see," he remarked, pleasantly.
She's not married, suppose?"
Mary? Divil a bit! For a
time, she was sweet on a French
chuffer that worked for Mr..
Stapleton; but the fellows gone,
now. Alphonse, it was-Alphonse
Valentin, or some such joke of a
name"
Duvall rode back to the sta
ton, and took the first train for
New York. It was clear Mary
Lanahan's parents had nothing in
common with blackmailers and
kidnapers. Their honesty was as
evident as the blueness Of their
eyes, or the redness of their hair.
But the information about AL
phonse Valentin, the chauffeur,
and Barney, Mr.. Lanahan's son.
seemed more promising.
Duvall went to Callahan's sa-
loon. Barney Lanahan had
thronw up his job and left two
months before. Beyond that,
Duvall could learn nothing.
After hasty luncheon he
called up Mr.. Stapleton's secre-
tary, Hodgman, and inquired
about the chauffeur.
Hodgman informed him the
banker had employed Valuntin In
Paris some eighteen months pre-
vious, and had brought him to
this country, where he had re-
manned In his employ for about
six months. He had been dis
charged, through some dishonesty
in the matter of purchasing sup
plies, and nothing further had
been seen or heard of him.
There was little more that he
could accomplish, now, beyond
writing a letter to Grace, whom
he supposed to be patiently await
ing his return in the country. He
had short interview with Mr..
Hodgman in the evening. and
made careful inspection of the
room which had been occupied
by the nurse, Mary Lanahan, at
the Stapleton house. All the wo-
mans belongings she had evil
IDENTIFY taken with her, on going
abroad. There appeared to be
nothing which would afford the
slightest clue to her character or
habits.
Nothing here" Hodgman
said.
Nothing much" said Duvall,
glancing carelessly at the edge Of
the bureau. This woman, Mary
Lanahan, is evidently an -up-to-
date sort of person."
"Why?"
Smokes cigarets, / see."
THAT so. How did you know"
Duvall smiled. See those
burns on the varish?" He pointed
to a number of spots along the
edge of the dresser. always find
them somewhere about, where
there's a cigaret smoker"
When Duvall arrived at the
Stapleton house on saturday
morning, he found the banker dis
turbed by a cablegram be had
just received. Mary claims at
tempts made to poison her. VIII
recover. Come at once,' 1t read.
Looks as though somebody