Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-06-19
CHAPTER VIII.
A Note, Some Fancies and an Expedi.
ton in Quest of Facts

A Note, Some Fancies and an Expedi.
ton in Quest of Facts.
He started upstairs, his mind full OF
the events and conjectnres of the day
AS he entered the room his eyes fell
upon white envelope at his feet. 1t
had been slipped under the door since
he left the room an hour before.
Terse reminder from the prudent Mr.
Jones His bill for the day He picked
1t up, glanced at the inscription, and
at once altered his opinion. His full
name was there in the handwriting
of a woman. For a moment he was
puzzled; then he thought of Miss
Thackeray. A note of thanks no doubt
unpleasantly fulsome! Vaguely an
noyed, he ripped open the envelope and
read:
"In case I do not have the oppor.
tunity to speak with you tonight, this
is to let you know that the little man
who says he is book agent was In
your room for three-quarters of an
hour while you were away this after.
noon. You'd better see If anything Is
missing. M. t."
He made a hasty but careful exami.
nation of his effects. There was not
the slightest evidence that his pack
had been opened or even disturbed. II
the little book agent spent three-quar
tiers of an hour in the room he man.
aged most effectually to cover up all
traces of his visit.
Barnes did not go to sleep until long
after midnight. He now regarded him
self as definitely committed to com
bination of sinister and piquant enter
prises, not the least of which was tc
know about the mysterious young
woman at Green Fancy.
The next day he, with other dodgers
in the Tavern, was put through an ex
animation by the police and county
officials from ST. Elizabeth, and mott
fed that, while he was not under sus
picion or surveillance, it would be nee
essary for him to remain in the "baili
wick" until detectives, already on the
way, were satisfied that he possessed
no knowledge that would be useful tt
them in clearing up what had now as
sumed the dignity of national prob
lem"
O'Dowd rode down from Greer
Fancy and created quite a sensation
among the officials by announcing thai
| they had a perfect right to extend
| their search for clues to all parts Of
his estate, and that he was deeply in
| terested in the outcome of their in
| vestigationS.
| The sheriff said he would like II
run over the ground a Bit that yer,
| afternoon if it was agreeable to Mr.
| O'Dowd
O'Dowd stayed to dinner. (Dinnel
| was served in the middle of the da!
| at Harris Tavern.) He made q grea
| impression upon Lyndon Rushcroft
who, with his daughter, joined the tive
men. Indeed, the palavering IrishmaI
| extended himself in the effort to max,
! himself agreeable. He was vastly in
| tereSted in the stage, he declared. Al
! matter of fact he had been told ,
| thousand times that he ought to g
] on the stage.
The little book agent came in Will
! they were at table. He sat down il
a corner of the dining room and busiet
himself with his subscription list
| while waiting for the meal to b.
served He was still porting over them
frowning intently, when Barnes ant
| the others left the room.
Barnes walked out beside Mis-
| Thackeray.
1.-THE tailor-made gown is an i'm
provement," he said to her. He wa
thinking that she was a very prett
| girl, after all.
1.-THE frock usually makes the won
an" she said slowly, "but not Away
the lady"
He thought Of that remark NOR
than once during the course of an aft
ernoon spent in the woods abou
Green Fancy.
O'Dowd virtually commanded tn
expedition. 1t was ne who thought o
everything. First of all, he led tn
party to the corner of the estate neal
est the point where Paul was sho
from his horse. Sitting in his saddl
he called the attention of the othe
riders to what appeared to be a mos
significant fact in connection with tn