The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-11-25
CHAPTER xlv-continued,
Copyright BY George H. Doran Co.

sOoSSN - IAN ~ - |
to see whether he was reaching any
hidden spring which if touched and
sprung would open the secret. He
did not believe l was truthful.
Mr.. Sidney's life is open, honorable
n full of nothing but good for fifty
years back" Morgan continued. 1--WE
nave investigated very thoroughly.
But fifty years back, Mr.. Sidney dis
appears, evaporates. There i, no Mr..
Sidney that can be found. We find
q young man Of twenty, and nothing
back of him. There we stop. 1t is
a blind alley. You come to nothing
but a wall. That stopped ihvestiga-
ton.
Nov, I 20 a good deal by lunches
call 1t intuition, guessing. inspiration.
1t Is not good detective method. l
don't claim it's good detective work.
l never work on a bunch and neglect
a rational method. but frequently
When / do work on a bit of guessing
we get results.
1--WE been working, around here, on
a guess that was so wild when 1t first
staT'sd that it seemed too preposter-
ocs even for me. I'll tell you that we
are not Investigating Mr.. Sidney any
more. We are looking Cor another
person, and I believe we are going to
find him. Then we are going to find
some n else. Doctor, I tell you, If
you don't know it, as you say, it is
the strangest case I ever have known.
1t is n of hate. Mind, I'm only
guessing"
That touch was so impressive that
] betrayed an emotion. He saw it.
II had you there" he said.
"Mr. Morgan. said. "you will not
believe me, and for that reason it is
useless for me to say and keep on say
Ing that I know Of nothing here /
could help you on. You suggested
81 netting to me just now, and you
saw that you had done so. But that
was because of a coincidence imma-
terial to what you call q case"
every WELL" said Morgan. II did
not expect to get ahead by coming
here, but I want to be fair and reason
able. You do not know anything, but
I am not allowed to talk to any one
who might know"
you have talked to jed" l said.
"You cannot reasonably expect to be
allowed to annoy the ladies of the
house or to fiutter the servants. Mr..
Sidney is very i'll and very weak.
Even you would refrain from introduc.
ing your case to him If you saw him.
If we seem to avoid your inquiries,
1t is unfortunate. We have nothing
to avoid"
II follow my hunch," said Morgan,
getting to his feet. IF l am right.
something will be revealed hat even
I could not compromise. I am afraid
you must prepare yourself for some
publicity"
II have told you before that you
must select your w COURSE" I re-
piled, and Morgan took his leave, driv-
Ing away through the snow.
We had our Christmas eve in Mr..
Sidney's room. He was very feeble
physically and could be raised on pill
lows in bed but nothing more. But
he was the spirit of joviality. He
had Jed sit in a great armchair by his
bed, and early in the evening he had
a bottle Of claret opened for him.
Nothing would do but Mrs. Sidney and
isobel should have a bottle of MADEIRA,
and l had a whisky toddy. A great
punch-bowl was brought in. and Jed
mixed gallons Of liquor and many
spices in it.
Four of the men servants came in
with a great log for the fire. and had
large cups Of punch before they went
out. Mr.. Sidney evidently was deter
mined to corrupt the whole household.
I'll never be able to give. an ade-
quate idea Of the joviality of that
Christmas eve in the sick-room. Mr..
Sidney and Jed had %conspired for
some months to make a festival.
, Our dinner, served in Mr.. Sidney's
room, brought a boar's head, carried
by a laughing maid. Wine was sent
to the servants. 1sobel found a pearl
necklace in what had seemed to be a
baked sweet potato. I found a gold
watch in a box under a few leaves of
lettuce. Mrs. Sidney found merely a
note in a bunch of violets which was
given her with ceremony.
She read it and had difficulty to re-
main wholly composed. She arose and
went to her husband. taking one of
his hands and putting ar arm about
ihis shoulders. Then she kissed him
and stood a moment before the fire
before she. trusted herself to come
back to the table.
When the dinner was don. and the
covers were removed, more wine was
brought in. A large Christmas tree
was lighted. and all the servants were
eslled. Each found q valuable present