The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-07-22
valols answered almost with rever-

nee:
"A nice, quiet gentleman. A man
that liked outdoors and outdoor sports.
Best Of all, he liked TO spend his
evenings at home reading"
mot 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?"
II never heard them. But I do
know there was no love lost between
them, and | know that young John
was always broke"
"Girls cos lots on Broadway"
Miss Donovan suggested, land 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 In
John Cavendish's apartment the day
after his cousins murderl 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 dla-
mondsY' she asked.
"No diamonds" valois returned;
"a ruby, though. A ruby set in a big
platinum ring. 1 saw her hand upon
the knob"
Miss Donovon's blood raced fast.
She knew that woman. II 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 meT"
'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 | might never have
thought of otherwise. And at last l
came to believe that 1t wasn't Mr..
Frederick who was dead at ALL"
Miss Donovan's eyes dilated with
eagerness and amazement.
mot Frederick Cavendish! Mr..
valois, tell me-whyT
The others voice fell to a whisper.
"Frederick Cavendish, miss" he said
holloway. ''had 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.
MIR. valois." she said breathlessly,
"you come and tell that story to my
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 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 lead! BY the Lord, 1t is
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 If
you have to. IN drag Willis off police,
| and you work with him. I'll give you
a week-when you've got something.
come back