The Monticellonian., 1918-08-09
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A VILLAGE SLEUTH
By WARREN L. TREsHAM.
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certain dcriSiye residents of Brookdale. ae had won the appeIution fairly, for inquisitiveness and q habit uf follow ing up that characteristic with prying ways had become part of his nature.
 Dolph had finally eRgendered q dis tlnct detective ambition. but the local scope was limited and he was com pelled to accept what offered, which was Il half-Salaried position as q con stable on the staff of the sheriff.
 Here Dolph shone, or fancied he did, At all events he worked up a deep mystery about once a month. It usual ly ended In smoke. but the amateur man catcher was dnigent. He invest ed ordinary civil cases with n tinge of uniqueness and importance, discerned purposes of arson i'll q common bon fire and the occasional thefts of tramps us the operations of leagued clique of bandits. bent upon devast- ing the district.
 Dolph confessed to sneaking fond- ness for Margaret Dunn, who thor. oughly despised him and his meth ViS. Jtg iLitltiN SDQhG ullI lOUiUh never ventured to go further than that. He had high hopes, however. of some day coming across Il mystery, tragedy, where his professional acu men would arouse the interest and ad miration of the pretty daughter of old farmer Dunn.
 .That'S str1nge!" muttered Dolph one afternoon, as, near to the Dunn home, he observed young man enter the yard of the little farm and lift his cap to Margaret. A conversation ensaed. Dolph dared not venture near enough to overhear il. He could only trace that Margaret WIS fairly cor dial to the stranger. She went around to the barn, reappearing with old Dob bin hitched to a light wagon.
 The young man carried one arm in sling. They drove down the road for about a mile. Then the young man alighted. He went in among some bushes, reappeared with Il suitcase. placed it in the wagon and the trip back home was made.
 The young man was evidently in- vited by Margaret to ten. Dolph, sneaking closer to the house, observed them both seated at the table in the dining room. Dolph edged his way around to the front porch. The mys- terious suitcase had been left there by the stranger. Dolph observed that 1t was only strapped. His inquisitive temperament urged him to get glimpse of its contents. He niftily re leased the straps, opened the satchel and
 "A spy-worse :" he breathed. his eyes sparkling, his face eager, inspir- tied. At last famous catch !" Then he restored the suitcase to it's orig inal condition and made off down the road In feverish haste
 The stranger of military bearing, arm in sling as though some returned war hero, had politely addressed Mar garrett He told her that he was due in the village at seven o'clock, that he had made q mistake Tn leaving the trolley and had been unable to carry the suitcase more than a mile on ac- count of his injured arm. He told enough of how it's transient useless ness came about to not only interest, but to enthuse Margaret. who at once offered to recover the abandoned ob- jeet, give him his supper as well, and then drive him to the village, for was not she to meet her father there and accompany him to the war meeting in behalf of the Red Cross at the town hall?
 Meantime Dolph Barclay raced down the turnpike, never letting up on his speed until he had reached the office of the sheriff. i've made marvel ous discovery" proclaimed Dolph, and told his story graphically to the point where he had opened the suitcase.
 "Weel, weel, go en-" urged the sher- if impatiently. What did you find l in it?'
 "The outfit of a regular spy, dy- namiter," :" declared Dolph in ponder ous tones. T found in that suitcase"
 "Yes. yes; go onn'
 "An enemy flag, an enemy helmet i anu tlh tAIlipNlNC plittts A9siS IL NOdlu turn you pale to see its deadly size. Oh, I've made q catch this time, be- lieve mel"
 Come on." said the sheriff, well find this mysterious stranger and ex- plore the contents of that suitcase"
 "There they are n' announced Dolph, as half mile down the turnpike ke saw the wagon approaching, and on the front seat, chatting and laughing, Margaret and her stranger guest.
 "Haltl" ordered Dolph, springing into the road Sheriff, I denounce this man as a spy and the proof of 1t will be found in that carpet bag!"
 Margaret uttered slight laugh. Her companion broadly grinned. This somehow discomposed the sheriff.
 May I ask" he inquired, what you have in that suitcase?'
 Surely" answered the stranger with prOmptness, "an enemy flag, a helmet such as our foes wear, and sample of the explosive shells we use on the front. I have just come from there, and am assisting your lecturer at the war meeting tonight by exhibiting these trophies of warfare"
 "Why, yes, MT. Barclay" added Margaret sweetly, "and we invite you. as public official, to have seat on the platform"
 So the great discovery of the ama- teur sleuth went up, as usual with his cases, in smoke, but it brought about