The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-07-29

retained In John Cavendish's service.
even did the work In his apartments,
but when he returned and saw me
there he seemed to lose his temper,
wanted to know why 1 was hanging
around, and ordered me out Of the
place. Flung money at me, he did,
told me to get out, that he never
wanted to see me again. Since then
1 have tried for three weeks to find
work, but 1t has been useless"
While she gave him a word Of SYM
pathy, Miss Donovan was busily think.
ing. She remembered Willis remark
in the apartments. "Are you sure Of
the dead mans identity? His face
is badly mutilated, you knows" and
her alert mind sensed possibility Of
q newspaper story back of young
Cavendish's unwarranted and strange
act.
"Mr. Valois," she said kindly,
would you mind if I asked you
question or two more?"
NO" the'man returned.
"All right. First, what sort Of q
man was your MASTERY?
Valois answered almost with rever-
epce:
"A nice, quiet gentleman. A man
that liked outdoors and outdoor sports.
Best Of all, he liked to spend his
evenings at home reading"
"Not much like his cousin john"
ch
"No, ma'am, God be praisedl
There's a young fool for you, miss,
crazy for the women and his drink
ing"
Il understand that he was dependent
upon Frederick Cavendish."
she was, miss" Valois said disgust.
edly, "for every cent"
"Did they ever quarelr'
II never heard them. But do
know there was no love lost between
them, and 1 know that young John
was always broke"
"Girls cost lots on Broadway"
Miss Donovan suggested, "and they
keep men up late, too"
Valois laughed lightly. "John only
came home to sleep occasionally" he
said land as for the women--One Of
them called on him the day after Mr..
Frederick was killed. One Of those
tall blondes with a reddish tinge In
her hair. He likes that kind"
Miss Donovan started imperceptibly.
This was interesting; woman In
John Cavendish's apartment the day
after his Cousins murder! But who
was she? There were a million car
rot-blondes In Manhattan. Still, the
woman must have had some distin-
gushing mark; her hat, perhaps, or
her jewels.
"Did the woman wear any dia-
monds?" she asked.
"No diamonds" Valois returned;
"a ruby, though. A ruby set in a big
platinum ring. l saw her hand upon
the knob"
Miss Donovon's blood raced fast.
She knew that woman. 1t was Celeste
La Rue. From what Miss Donovan
knew of Miss La Rue, she did not
ordinarily seek men; therefore there
must have been a grave reason for
her presence In John Cavendish's
apartments Immediately after she
learned Of Frederick's death. A thou
sand speculations entered Miss DonO-
vans mind.
'How long was she in the apart
ment?" she demanded sharply.
Fifteen or twenty minutes, miss
until after the hallman came back"
"Have you told any one else what
you have told me?"
"Only JOsette. She's my fiancee.
Miss La Baum is her last name. She
questioned me about losing my job,
and her questions brought things into
my mind that 1 might never have
thought of otherwise. And at last I
came to believe that it wasn't Mr..
Frederick who was dead at ALL"
Miss Donovan's eyes dilated with
eagerness and amazement.
"Not Frederick Cavendish! Mr..
ValOis, tell me-whyY'
The others voice fell to whisper.
SdNcllulSll, Hiss, he Sdlu
hollowly, "had scar on his chest
from football, he once told me-and
the man we laid out, well, his body was
bit burned, but had no scar on his
chest"
Miss Donovan sprang suddenly to
her feet.
"Mr. Valois," she said breathlessly.
'you come and tell that story to nv
city editor, and he'll see that you get
a job-and a real one. You and have
started something, Mr.. Valois."
And tossing money to cover the bill
on the table, she took Valols' arm, and
with him in tow hurried through the
restaurant to the city streets on one
Of which was the Star office, where
Farriss, the city editor daily damned
the doings Of the world.
Farriss, for once, was enthusiastic.
"A great lead! By the Lord, It isl
Now to prove 1t. Stella"-Farriss al.
ways resorted to first names-"you
drop everything else and go to this.
learn what you can, spend money n