Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-10-28


ity. Our experiences had been disa-
greeable, but they had not presented
unacceptable consequence. We had a
choice of ways. Now we entered a
way from which there was no es-
cape.
Four days after Jed's return man
came to Hartley house and inquired
for me. He was detective. His
name was Morgan; he was the head
of the Morgan Metropolitan Detective
agency. thought on first seeing him
while vet wondering what his bust
ness with us could be, and yet know
ing instinctively that 1t had to do with
Dravada-that this newcomer had
more than suggestion Of shrewd
malevolence in his face.
Before he was through his inter-
view with me. or rather his Inquiries
Of me. knew that inevitability had
entered our case. We were no longer
progressing at the mercy of opportuni-
ty or chance. Morgan was fate. The
whole aspect had been altered. Nor
gan. muscular. black-haired. sordid.
INSCRIPTIONS man Of action and Oh
viously Of queer action. was pure
Greek tragedy to IFS.
He was curious instrument Of
such abstract Justice. He served fate
as If 1t had sworn out police court
warrant. AS nemesis he was a
clown. or at least beadle or q bailiff.
The manner In which he served newt
ability will appear. Bfr. Sidney's
crime. ! soon saw, whatever manner
or kind Of crime it had been, was one
Of unacceptable consequence.
"A man named Dravada." said Nor
gan. after we had looked at each 9TH
er in interrogative hostility for an in
slant. has come to our agency with
very strange tale. From what
learn of the things he and his disrepu-
table attorney have done. can see
that they are heading directly into the
penitentiary. l understand that the
lawyer is, dead and that all their
schemes are closed. Dravada has
come to our agency. and I have come
directly to you. want you to under
stand our methods of doing business.
They are honest. The paper Dravada
carries about him says that crime has
been committed. Are You familiar
with that paper7"
Il have Aseen what a blackmailing
lawyer said was copy of sheet
in the possession Of Dravada."
II am not much Of literary man."
said Morgan. taking from a black
leather case manuscript which he
handed to me, but I've read The
MoOnstone.' and this looks to me like
couple Of chapters copied out of it.
Probably you are familiar with The
Moonstone'
II have read 1t several times"
'Then what do you make Of that
manuscript"
hooked at several of the pages.
The manuscript was a copy of part Of
1.-THE Mo0nstone."
Il am right, them" said Morgan.
'Afoonshfne' 1t had better be called.
That's the manuscript the maid stole
out Of your man Jed's room and that
Dravada took after the lawyer had
been killed. Here's my reasoning
maybe you will be Interested: This
man Jed and this fellow Dravada
worked for Mr.. Sidney in Montevideo.
Di'avada is thief: Jed isn't much
stetter. Dravada got one sheet of n
manuscript that had something to. do
with a concealed crime. Jed got the
rest of the manuscript. so Dravada
says. Dravada has been trying to
make Jed go $3.50. He has been try
ing to get the rest Of the manuscript.
He'll murder Jed yet.
snow here's the way look at It: A
man like Jed does not go to the trou-
BILE of copying couple Of chapters
Gf The Moonshine' and planting the
copy in his room just to devil tles-
perate fellow like Dravada.. He does
=it~fore a purpose. That proves he has
the real manuscript. That proves
there is concealed crime. Our agen-
cy Is interested in finding out what
that crime was. AS an agent Of the
law I am interested in this case. Are
YOU: Is this family interested?"
Sc, II am not; and hesfamfly is not"
"1'll take your word for: it, but I'll
see Mr.. Sidney
ut is quite impossible. He never
sees callers. am his doctor. I
should forbid it,"
'"Then I'll see Mrs. Sidney"
:''That also is impossible. am her
representative
"Well, I'll talk to Miss Sidpey."
II THAT also is out of the3question."
II suppose you're something to Miss
Sidney, too"
Il am her fance."
".You are little bit of everything
around here. Well, how about seeing
this man Jed?" 80
''That can be arranged" said. and
rang for Jed. When he came in,
said : 'tdrs .--'s ',ls-E,
Jed, this is Mr.. Morgan. of the
Metropolitan Detective agency. He
wants to talk to yOun