The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-06-05
VIII.
A Note, Some Fancies and an Expedl.
ton 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 oonjectures of the day.
AS he entered the room his eyes fell
upon a white envelope at his fee. Il
had been Slipped under the door ~ince
he left the Don an hour before.
Terse reminder from the prudent Mr..
Jones! His bill for the day! He picked
it up. glanced at the inscription, and
ut once altered his opinion. His full
name Il there in the handwriting
Of a woman. For Il moment he was
puzzled: then he thought of Miss
Thackeray. A note of thanks. no doubt.
unpieasantly fulsome! Vaguely an
noyed, he ripped open the envelope and
read:
'1n 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 taree-quarters Of an
hour while you were away this after
noon. You'd better see if anything is
missing. NJ. 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-
tiers Of ar hour in the roo 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 q COM
bination Of sinister and piqnant cn.er-
priScs. not the least of which was to
woman at Green Fancy.
The next day he. with other loigers
in the Tavern. VAS put through an ex-
animation by the police and county
officials from ST. Elizabeth. and noti-
fed that. while he was no under slls-
ricfon or surveillance. 1t would he 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 wha, had now as
sumed the dignity of a 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
terestetl in the outcome of their in
~veS'igations.
The sheriff said he would like to
"run over the ground a bit" that very
afternoon if it was agreeable to Mr..
O'DOwd.
O'DOwd stayed to dinner. DINNER
was served in the middle Of the day
ut Harris Tavern.) lie 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 a
thousand times that he ought to go
on the stage.
The little book agent came in while
they were ut table. He sat down in
a corner Of the dining room and busted
himself with his subscription lists
while waiting for the meal tn he
served. He was still porting over them.
frownins intenlly, when Barnes and
the others left the room.
Barnes walked out beside Miss
T%hackeray.
1.-The tailOrmade gown is an i'm
provement." he said to her. He was
thinking that she was a very pretty
girl. after all.
1.-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.
ODowd 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 he a most
significant fact in connection with the
killing of this man.