Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-06-28
CHAPTER WI.
The Gold Locket-

The GOId LockoG
It was after ten o'clock in the even
ing, and Grace Duvall, in her room
at the hotel, was beginning to wonder
what had become Of NJ. Lefevre and
her husband.
Everything that had happened since
the arrival of the Richelieu had been
exactly contrary to her wishes and her
expectations.
She and Richard had planned to
leave at once for Washington, accom-
panied by the prefect, who was to
spend a delightful month upon their
farm near that city, enjoying the rest
and quiet of fate, they were suddenly
whirled into criminal investigation
that bid fair to upset all their plans.
She had at first opposed the idea OF
n. Lefevre's taking up the case of the
purser's death, but Richard had point
Cd out to her that its solution would
occupy at most but a day or two, and
she had been forced to yield as grace
fully as she could.
Now both the prefect and her hus-
band had disappeared. She had heard
nothing of either of them since noon,
and she was beginning to feel distinct
y alarmed. Richard had not confided
IN her regarding his plans.
All that he had said was that he
was assisting M. Lefevre, and would
either return with him at ten that
night or would telephone to her. So
far he had done neither. She sat in
restless silence, trying to read maga-
zine, with one eye on the clock, wait
ing for the telephone bell to ring.
When the booming of bell in the
distance suddenly brought her to a
realization of the fact that it was
eleven o'clock, she jumped up, threw
down the book, and began to put on
her hat with nervous haste.
Grace had too often shared in her
husbands adventurous work to hesi.
tate in the least about going out alone
at this hour of the night. Something
told her that things had not gone we'll
She left a note on the table, explain
her movements, and descended to the
sidewalk.
A taxicab stood waiting before the
door. She jumped in and ordered the
chauffeur TO drive to the Hotel
Rochambeau.
The whole affair alarmed her
greatly. Why had Richard not tele.
phoned her and eased her fears? A
sense of danger, of apprehension
came over her. During the brief
period of their married life she and
Richard had been together almost con,
stantly.
She often said that when any dan
ger threatened him she knew it, sc
closely were they in sympathy. Now
had happened to him.
Her idea in going to the Hotel
Rochambeau was. quite simple. She
knew, from what Richard had told hel
of the case, that Estelle Mercier was
Hkely to be the medium through
which the man Hartmann would be
Traced -
. Just why this was the case, JUS
what Hartmann's reasons for keeping
r. touch with the young French cir
were, she did not know; but she made
Ip her mind to find her and from hel
obtain, if possible the facts.
{. Upon inquiring at the hotel desl
for the maid she was informed tina
the girl had gone out. Grace was al
most frantic upon learning this.
u Where had the girl gone? The no
tel people did not know. She insisted
that she be permitted to go to Mile
Nercier's room.
1t was most irregular, the proprie
TOR, a heavy-set Frenchman, assured
her. His hotel had already received
enough unpleasant notoriety on ac
account of the murder Of Reinhardt
He regarded Grace coldly, and init
mated that he could do nothing TO
her. ..I-- sr.. ..-'-
bThc girl was desperate. you shal
60 with me TO her room," she assur
cd the proprietor 81 am a detectiv
engaged on the murder case. 1t i
absolutely necessary that / shoul
find oct Where Mile, Mercier ha
gone. II is barely possible that ther
may be son,e letter, some paper, Il
her room which viii tell me. Com
with me, please, md see, that i re
move nothing. j ask it in the nam
of the law"
1t was bluff, certainly; but tn
proprietor was impressed. He wa
anxious TO have the murder matte
closed up and done with. There coul
be NJ harm in allowing this youn
wpinAn TO visit Mile Mercier's rooI
upd ;" his watchful eye. He led tn
way up the stairs.
)Thro2 long fiirh,s brought them I
tkc ats. A tiny boxlike room unde
TIE roof proved 10 be that of the mait
Grace entered. followed by the pro
prietor. and glanced about.
ION the chest of drawers whic
served as bureau ishe saw a Iette
lying open. She picked II up an