Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-04-20
Under False
Colors
By
GEORGE ELMER COBB


/ 's sOo SPY
Paul Willis.
He had been sitting at q writing ia.
BILE in his hotel room, fumbling nerv-
ously with a glass paper weight. With
the words spoken he let fly at small
framed photograph of himself. hang.
Ing on the opposite wall.
Rage and contempt were in his
tones. The picture glass shattered
and the frame fell to the floor. He
sprang to his feet. gave the wreck a
kick, and paced up and down the room,
red and furious with emotion.
Then he cooled down, but savagely.
A letter lay on the table. He tore
open its envelope. Inclosed was a
check for $50, and a single line:
you are doing well, Keep it up"
The letterhead was that Of a city
detective agency and Willis was it's
legalized representative, for he wore
star of authority on-his vest lapel,
and in his pocket was a warrant for
the apprehension of one Sidney Clare.
BY profession, Willis was not q de-
tective. He was less than an amateur,
In fact, and had no heart in the bust
ness to which circumstances had forced
him. A chief clerk In the office of a
firm of leading lawyers, he had been
pressed into service at the suggestion
Of the detective concern which did the
secret-service business of the firm.
There's young Willis" the chief of
the agency had remarked. Bright,
young; will enjoy the vacation. Give
him one; We'll post him, and put him
on the Glare case. He's just the fell
low to discover the quarry we're after,
md Wen pay him WELL"
The chief explained to Willis what
there was to do. 1t was case of EN-
bezzlement. Sidney Clare, young
clerk, had been suspected and charged
with the crime, but had disappeared.
The amount missing represented sew
eral thousand dollars. 1t was known
that young Glare had been listening
1t half-Open door while the heads
IF 1.-THE firm We're discussing their dis
cOveries and deciding what cOdrse
they would take. Later, when they
sought him, he was nowhere about
and he had evidently left the city.
The detective agency was given the
case. The head had sent men out, but
no trace of the fugitive had been dis
covered. The case was given no pub
licity for the present, as the firm
hoped to recover some of the missing
money. Then they would prosecute
the culprit.
mind. The Clare people lived at the
quiet little town of Durham. 1t was
altogether probable that the family
might receive some word from the fu-
gitive.
go down there in your natural
character of young lawyer on a va
cation" advised the sleuth. Get in
with the Clares. They won't for a mo-
ment suspect a clipper, hOnest-faced
young fellow like you. There's girl
In the family; you'd ought to take
with the girl"
"The poor fellows sister?-I don't
like it," observed Willis.
There's the element of right and
justice as well, may remind yOu," OBJ
served the detective tersely. "Come,
don't be sQueamish. The successful
lawyer is half detective anyhow, and
the experience will put a new edge
to your wits"
"All right. I'll try it to please the
firm" somewhat reluctantly consent
ed Willis. although l don't think l
have the detective instinct in any
sense of the word. Bet I'll bungle"
And now a week had gone by at
Durham, and Willis had smashed his
picture. All he said about himself he
believed. He had acted an unmanly
part He had been welcomed with
open arms by the good people of Dur
ham, who saw in his face only truth
and honor. He had met Rachel Clare.
He was invited to the house. and now
he recognized an unmistakable fact
he was in love with her.
Twice during his espionage on the
Clare family he had made q discovery.
Once the mother, another time Rachel
herself, had left the house by a rear
exit, bearing parcel. In each in
stance the bearer took route through
the woods and was gone about four
hours. To visit the son and brother in
Willis wavered between love and
duty. He was minded to return at
once to the city and throw up his COM
He fairly despised himself.
Then he realized that such procedure
would hurt him with the firm. Again,
It was hard to leave without at least
once more seeing the girl he had
learned to love. He retired that night,
TO toss restlessly the long hours
through. He was pale and distraught j
the next morning, as he left his hotel,
and irresistibly his steps led him into
the direction of the Clare home.
1t was too early in the day to think
Of presenting himself as a caller, but
he could not tear himself away from
the vicinity. He strolled to the out
skirts of the wood, he penetrated the
timber, losing himself in thought. His
were vain to dissipate the
Juggling wretchedness at his heart.
Resting at length in the shadow Of
great oak tree, he was reused from
reverie by the sound of voices. He
the vicinity, to make an I'M
discovery. Near. to an old
hut, which he had not noticed before,