The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-05-08

and the families who live in the house. |
We've got the circle pretty well COW |
cred. haven't we?"
More and more I had begun to APP /
pr"ciate how valuable the services of ,
an experienced detective would be |
likely TO be in helping to solve the |
mystery.
Look here, German" I said, "why
can't you take charge of this case for
u.s."
whats in it," he asked.
Ny face fell, and my enthusiasm
| died n sudden death. Once more |
was confronted by the specter Of my
! poverty. OF what use my talking
10 high-priced investigator like Cor
man when all the money ! had in the
world was less than two hundred dol
lars. out of which had to live until |
found employment. Yet l must serve
Barbara Bradford.
IF you clear up this case" I an
nOunced. "Ill give you every cent I've
got in the world"
He shook his head.
at amt enough. If take this case.
it won't be for the money that's in ii.
For that matter | can get all 1 want
from old CASTOR for getting his pearls
back Thatll he enough"
Then you will take the case" 1
cried jubilantly.
"On one condition. That you'll prom
Use to keep everything away from the
police"
I'll promise that fer myself and
Miss Bradford, too. That was the
one reason she advanced against my
telling you about things. She was
afraid you'd call in the police"
"Never fear about that. There's
nothing I'd like better than to put il
over that bunch of young reformers
they've got down in Center street. This
hotel work don't suit me. anyhow. I've
= been thinking of opening up an office
Z of my own. The recovery of the Gas
ton pearls would he a nice feather in
u my cap To start with"
81 see" / replied, 'but you'll need
: money for expenses and that sort OF
thing. won't yOu? | have"
leave that part of it to me-" he
retorted with quizzical smile
y after all the years | was on the pc
= lice force l amt exactly broke by
! long shot. All you've got to do is e
keep your eyes open and let me know
all that goes on in the apartment
Ii house. I'll attend TO the rest. Don
y do anything. though, without consult
:, ing me first"
"rll gladly promise that"
I Good enough. We'd better arrang
|" then to meet here every day at tire
sharp. It's as good place as any,"
7 "rn he here"
&c "And look out you're not traiiet
Z They may try shadowing you again.
"WhO do you mean by they?
:" asked eagerly.
10 "Them that trailed you yesterday,
replied German with a grin. IF 20
IT don't know, / don't know either-yet.
DO From his manner l was cOnfideT
X that he already had a shrewd susp
ciCn as to the identity of some of tn
l miscreants. The maze in the centt
of which he had placed Miss Bradfor
IL and myself meant far more to hin
ed undoubtedly. than ii did to me. Moi
h. than likely his vast knowledge of Il
ty methods of criminals and his acquain
onceship with others like Lefty MOOl
had given him clues enough as
n where TO look for the plotters. / rea
his lied that il would be useless to que
n tion him further. He would adm
d. suspecting no one until he was su
en- of their guilt. a quality / admire
of greatly.
al "You can count on me-" I repeate
ie- "I'Il be here at three tomorrow"
mt Yet how foolish 1t was for any
an ne to predict what we will he doing
slv wbere we will be twenty-four hou
,ot from now. Seldom do things napp
In the routine of our lives as we hi
c " antitipated. | was not there The ne
d.v at the time appointed. BY no pt
ith sibiIity could have been there. no
tie ever much | might have wished
Many things had happened in qui
in succession.
We How II came about that my promi
,ir- to meet German went unfulfilled c
,gs hest be explained by narrating
- events of the evening after I return
ers IN the Qranddeck. 1t was nearly II
ms when / left the detective. l stroll
oss leisurely down town and had dinner
rd the cafe where on one occasion
,rk seen the scar-faced man. L linger
he there for long time over my con
). hoping in vain that he might appe
-e,s 7 even ventured to cautiously quest
,e,s tho waiter and head waiter, describi
hat the man as best / could. but both
o. them insisted that they never had Sc
bat any such person. AS walked no
apt 7 kept a wary eye out to make 81
IN 7 was not being followed. but app
, in emily no one was now shadowing
no II was niue-thirty when | reacf
htv home. 1t had been arranged that 4
bara about ten would signal me {
~ I we might have chat from our
his spective windows. AS / sat In
room waiting for the time to come
not was reviewing the case in all lis
ing meets. Indeed there was hardly W
ord ing moment that was not thinking
big- the many mysteries about US.
,ok. wondering If, when the case
ark. cleared up the mysterious whisI
- that we all had heard would also