The Pulaskian., 1919-07-11
CHAPTER VIII.
A Note, Some Fancies and an Expedl-
 tion in Quest of Facts.

A Note, Some Fancies and an Expedl-
 ton in Quest of Facts.
 He started upstairs, his mind full of the events and conjectures of the day. As he entered the room his eyes fell upon a white envelope at his feet. It had been slipped under the door since he left the room an hour before.
 Terse reminder from the prudent MT. Jones His bill for the day. He picked it 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 moved, he ripped open the envelope and read:
 Tn 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 a 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 nasty but careful exami- nation of his effects. There was not the slightest evidence that his pack had been opened or even disturbed. If the little book agent spent three-quar- ters 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 to know about the mysterious young woman at Green Fancy.
 The next day he, with other Iodgers in the Tavern, was put through an ex- animation by the police and county officials from St. Elizabeth, and noti- fled 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 to them in clearing up what had now as- sumed the dignity of national prob lem.'
 ODowd rode down from Green Fancy and created quite a sensation among the officials by announcing that they had perfect right to extend their search for clues to all parts of his estate, and that he was deeply in- ;r vestigations.
 The sheriff said he would like to run over the groundsa sa bit' that very afternoon if it was agreeable to MT. O'Dowd
 ODowd stayed to dinner. Dinner was served in the middle of the day at Hart's Tavern.) He made a great impression upon Lyndon Rushcroft, who, with his daughter, joined the two men. Indeed, the palavering Irishman extended himself in the effort to make himself agreeable. He was vastly in- terested in the stage, he declared. As a matter of fact he had been told thousand times that he ought to go on the stage.
 The little book agent came in while they were at table. He sat down in a corner of the dining room and busted himself with his subscription lists while waiting for the meal to be served. He was still boring over them, frowning intently. when Barnes and the others left the room.
 Barnes walked out beside Miss Thackeray
 ''The tailor-made gown is an im- provement." he said to her He was thinking that she was a very pretty girl after all.
 "The frock usually makes the wom- an,' she said slowly, "but not always the lady"
 He thought of that remark more than once during the course of an aft ernoon spent in the woods about Green Fancy.
 O'Dowd virtually commanded the expedition. It was he who thought of everything. First of all, he led the party to the corner of the estate near est the point where Paul was shot from his horse. Sitting in his saddle he called the attention of the other riders to what appeared to be most significant fact in connection with the killing of this man.