Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-08-30
CHAPTER VII.
A Note, Some FaneIes and an EKped
tlon IN ouess Of Faeta

a Note, Some Faneles and an EKpets-
tloR IN ouess OF Facts.
he started upstairs. his mind full Of
the events and cOniectHres Of the day.
As ne entered the room his eyes fell
upon a white envelope at his feet. II
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
IL 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. note Of thanks. no doubt,
unpleasantIy fulsOme! Vaguely an
nOyed. he ripped open the envelope and
read:
"In case / do not have the Opp0r-
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 II anything IL
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. 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 a COM
binatiOn Of sinister and piquant enter
prlses, not the least of which was to
know about the mysterious young
woman at Green Fancy.
The next day ne, with other dodgers
in the Tavern, was put through an ex-
animation by the police and county
officials from St. Elizabeth, and nOti-
fed that. while he was not under sus-
piclOn or surveillance, It would be nee
essary for him TO remain in the ''baill-
wick" until detectives, already on the
way, were satisfied that ne possessed
no knowledge that would be useful to
them in clearing up what had now as
sumed the dignity Of national prob
lem"
O'Dowd rode down from Green
Fancy and created quite a sensation
among the officials by announcing that
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 to
"run over the ground bit" that very
afternoon If 1t was agreeable to Mr..
! O'DOwd.
O'DOwd stayed to dinner. DINNER
was served in the middle of the day
at Harris Tavern.) He made a great
impression upon Lyndon RushcrOft,
who. with his daughter, Joined the two
men. Indeed, the palaverfng 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 a
thousand times that he ought to go
on the stage.
The little book agent came in while
they we're 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 porting over them,
frowning intently. when Barnes and
the others left the room.
Barnes walked out beside Miss
ThackeEay.
4 1.-The tailor-made gown Is an Inn
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. 1t was ne 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 a most
significant fact IN connection with the
killing Of this man.