The Jasper news., 1920-09-09


hired her, and this Mr.. Henry Kent,
whose apartment she telephoned to.
Then there's all the rest vf the help In
the house. Any one Of them might be
her pal. Then there's the flighty
Bradford GIRL"
"You don't suspect her, do your
cried, Mortified at the prospect Of his
Investigation taking this turn.
"Be easy," be retorted. 'Tm not
suspecting anyone. I'm only putting
them down. There's the Bradford
girl and her ex-husband. He's a big
amist and that makes him a crook.
Those two men you saw in the park.
one Of them with scar on his face
we'll run them down. You know q
cafe the scarfaced man goes to, so
that's a start. There's the man who
shadowed you-wouId you know him
again II you saw hlmf"
shook my head doubtfuIiy.
"Tm afraid not" I admitted, "yOu
see"
"Don't bother to explain. You either
would or wouldn't, and that's all we
need to know now. There's old Mr..
CASTOR and his wife. It's queer about
their ducking out so suddenly and
leaving no address, but maybe they're
only scared. Let's see who else ls
there-the Bradford servants and the
old mans, the old washerwoman--
and the families who live In the house.
We've got the circle pretty well COW
cred, haven't wet"
More and more had begun to ap-
preciate how valuable the services of
an experienced detective would be
likely to be In helping to solve the
mystery.
Look here, Gorman," 1 said, "why
can't you take charge Of this case for
us7"
whats In it7" he asked.
My face fell, and my enthusiasm
died sudden death. Once more
was confronted by the specter Of my
poverty. OF what use my talking
to high-priced investigator like Cor
man when all the money had In the
world was less than two hundred dol
lars, out Of which I had to live until !
found employment. Yet l must serve
Barbara Bradford.
"If you clear up this case," I an
nounced, "rlI give you every cent I've
got In the world"
He shook his head.
ut amt enough. II take this case,
It won't be for the money that's in It.
For that matter 1 can get all l want
from old CASTOR for getting his pearls
back. Thatll be enough"
"Then you Will take the case," l
cried jublIantly.
"On one condition. That you'll prom
ise to keep everything away from the
police"
'Tll promise that for 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 It
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
Of my own. The recovery Of the Gas
ton pearls would be a nice feather in
my cap to start with"
II see," replied, "but you'll need
money for expenses and that sort of
thing, won't your / have"
Leave that part of It to me-" he
retorted with qulzzlcal smile.
After all the years l was on the po-
lice force l amt exactly broke by a
long shot. All you've got to do Is to
keep your eyes open and let me know
all that goes on In the apartment
house. I'll attend to the rest. Don't
do anything, though, without consult
Ing me first"
"Tll gladly. promise that"
Good enough. We'd better arrange
then to meet here every day at three
sharp. It's as good place as any,"
"lll be here"
"And look out you're not trniled.
They may try shadowing you again"
"Who do you mean by they"
asked eagerly.
Ahem 'haI luleu JOu yeSteEudJ1
replied German with grin. IF you
don't know, don't know elther-yet."
From his manner I was confident
that he already had shrewd suspi.
clon as to the identity Of some Of the
miscreants. The maze in the center
Of which he had placed Miss Bradford
and myself meant far more to him.
undoubtedly, than 1t did to me. More