Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-08-05
vaIois answered almost with rever.

yalois answered almost with rever-
ence:
"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"
she ventured with narrowing eyes.
mo, ma'am, God be praised I
There's a young fool for you, miss,
crazy for the women and his drink
ing"
II understand that he was dependent
upon Frederick Cavendish."
HE was, miss" Valois said disgust
edly, "fOr every cent"
did they ever quarrel?" t
Il never heard them. But 1 do
know there was no love lost between
them, and know that young John
was always broke"
"Girls cost lots on Broadway"
Miss Donovan suggested, sand they
keep men up late, too"
Valois laughed lightly. "John only
came home to sleep occasionally" he
said; "and 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; a 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. 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 mailman came back"
"Have you told any one else what
you have told me?"
"Only Josette. She's my iancee.
Miss La Baum is her last name. She
questioned me about losing my job,
and her questions brought things into
my mind that I might never have
thought of otherwise. And at last
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 Cayendish! Mr..
Valois, tell me-why?"
The others voice fell to a whisper.
Frederick Cavendish, miss" he said
hollOwly, chad a scar on his chest
from football, he once told me-and
the man we laid out, well, his body was
a 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 my
city editor, and he'll see that you get
a job-and real one. You and have
started something, Mr.. Valois."
And tossing money to cover the bill
on the table, she took Valois' 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 leadl BY the Lord, it is +! |
Now to prove it, Stella"-Farriss al
ways resorted to first names-'you
drop everything else and go to this,
learn what you can, spend money if |
you have to. I'll drag Willis off police,
and you work with him. I'll give you
a week-when you've got something,
come back! !"