River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-01-11
SYNOPSIS

gone to summon his friend, DR.. Cumberly.
Detective Inspector Dunbar is summon.
ed and questions Leroux, DR.. Cumberly
his daughter, Helen, and Mr.. Excl, a
friend. Mrs. LerouX is away, supposedly
on a visit.
Dunbar suspects the butler, Soanes, who
has suddenly disappeared Helen recog-
nizes the dead woman as an acquaintance
Mrs Vernon.
Dunbar visits Mrs. Vernon's solicitor
and learns that Vernon, recently dead,
had quarreed with his wife on account Of
her occasional disappearance.
continued from last week.
You have no right to reruse, she
said softly. Don't you see that?"
DR.. Cumberly frowned. Then:
You are right. Helen" he agreed.
Il should know your pluck we'll
enough. But if Inspector Dunbar is
gone the police may refuse to admit
u.s.
Then let us hurry!' cried Helen. 81
am afraid they will take away
Side by side they descended to Henry
[4eroux's fat, ringing the bell which an
hour earlier the lady Of the civet furs
lad rung.
A sergeant in uniform opened the
:joor.
rs Detective Inspector Dunbar here?"
inquired the physician.
Eyes. sir
Say that DR.. Cumberly wishes to
speak to him. And"-as the man was
about to depart-"reQuest him not to
arouse Mr.. LerouX."
Almost Immediately the inspector
appeared, a look of surprise upon his
face, which increased on perceiving
the girl beside her father.
'This is my daughter. Inspector
explained Cumberly. "She is con-
tributor to the Planet and to various
magazines, and in this journalistic ca
pacity meets many people in many
walks Of life. She thinks she may be
Of use to you in preparing your case"
Dunbar bowed rather aWkwardly.
"Glad to meet you, Miss Cumberly,"
came the inevitable formula. Entire
ly at your service"
81 had an idea, inspector" said the
glrl, Iay1ng her hand confdentially
upon Dunbar's arm, that | recognized
when | entered Mr.. Leroux's study to-
night"-DuEbar nodded-"that | recOg-
nized-the-the victim!'
"Good!' said the inspector, rubbing
his palms briskly together His tawny
eyes sparkled. "And you would wish
to see her again before we take her
away. Very plucky Of you, Miss Cum
berly! But then. you are a doctors
daughter"
They entered, and the inspector clos
ed the door behind them.
Don't arouse poor Leroux," whis-
pered Cumberly to the detective. Il
left him on a couch in the dining
room"
HE is still there" replied Dunbar.
Poor chap! 1t is
He met Helen's glance and broke off
shortly.
DR.. Cumberly stopped and raised the
fur from the CHASTITY face of the dead
woman.
Helen, her hand resting upon her ia
theirs shoulder, ventured one rapid
glance and then looked away, shudder-
ing slightly. DR.. Cumberly replaced
the coat and gazed anxiously at his
daughter. But Helen, with admirable
courage, having closed her eyes for a
moment, reopened them and smiled at
her fathers anxiety. She was pale.
but perfectly composed.
WELL Miss Cumberly?" inquired the
Inspector eagerly, while all in the room
watched this slim girl in her charming
dishabilIe, this dainty figure so utterly
out of place in that scene of morbid
crime.
She raised her gray eyes to the de-
tective.
81 still believe that l have seen the
face somewhere before. But / shall
have to reflect awhile-I meet so many
folks, you know. in q casual way-be-
fore I can commit myself to any state
ment.''
Very proper, Miss Cumberly," Dun
bar said, very proper and wise on
your part. don't wish to hurry you
in any way But her name doesn't
happen to be Vernon
Vermont cried the girl, her eyes
lighting up at the sound of the name
Mrs. Vernon! 1t is, it Is! She was
pointed out to me at the last Arts ball.
where she appeared in a most mon
StrOuS Chinese costume"
'Chinese" inquired Dunbar. produc.
ing the bulky notebook.
Eyes. Oh, poor, poor soul!
You know nothing further about
her. Miss Cumberly?"
Nothing, inspector. She was merely
pointed out to me as one of the stran-
geSt figures in the hall. Her husband.
| understand. is an art expert
He was!" said Dunbar, closing the
book sharply. "He died this afternoon.
end a paragraph announcing his death
appears In the newspaper which we
found in the victims fur coat"
SRut howl