The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-01-06
wide-awake young man, and
granted him an interview.

k1dutcO u1M I'LL 1utCAtACW'
"Shall I announce your en-
gagement to Judge Hoyti" he
asked, gravely, but with intense
interest.
emo, indeed!" said Avice,
with spirit.
"You're not going to lose all
that fortuneY'
'Not necessarily. But I OBJ
ject to having my engagement
announced before it has taken
placed Oh, do all these things
have to be in the papers?''
Certainly they do; and that's
why you'd better tell me the
truth than to have to stand for
all the yarns I'd make up
ooh, don't make up a lot of
stuff, please don TIP
"Well, I won't, if you'll give
me a few facts to work on. First,
do you think that Swede killed
your unclef"
ooh, I don't know what to
think! But I'm going to get the
best detective I can find, and let
him find out all he can. [ be-
ieve uncle was killed by some
robber, and his reference to Cain
was merely the idea Of a murder
er. Uncle often talked that
way
Look here, Miss Trowbridge,
[ don't want to butt in, I'm sure !;
but I'm a bit Of a detective, my
sell, in an anna teur way Don't
you want me to,-but l suppose
you want PROFESSIONAL -
II think I do want a profess
sional," began Avice, slowly;
still Mr.. Pinckney, if you have
taste for this sort Of thing, and
know how to go about it, 1 might
work with you more easily than
with q professional detective.
I'm going to do lot myself, you
know. I'm not just going to put
the matter in an expert s hands. "
II hardly know what to say,
Miss Trowbridge I d like to take
up the case, but I might muff it
awfully. I suppose you'd better
get the real thing"
We'll, until I do, why don't
you have try at it? If you dis
cover anything, very well; and
if not, no harm done.''
Jim Pinckney's face glowed.
"That great Of you'll" he cried;
"I'd like to take it up on that
basis, and if [ don't find out
anything of Importance in a few
days, engage any Sherlock
Holmes you like
But a few days later when
Pinckney again called on Avice,
he was in a discouraged mood.
II can't find out anything"
he said. "sThe whole ease is baf-
fling | went to the scene Of the
crime, but could find no clues.
But, what do you think, Miss
Trowbridge? When I reached
the place where they found Mr..
Trowbridge, there was that
young office boy, looking over
the premises
"That Fibsy, as he calls him
sclf?"
eyes; I asked him what he
was doing, and he said, oh, just
pokin' around, and he looked so
stupid that | feel sure he had
found something"
He just smart enough for
that" and Avice smiled a little.
eyes, he is. I asked him to
come here today, and I thought
you and I would both talk to
him, and see if we can learn any
thing Of his find. IL not, I ad-
nit / am at the end of my rope,
and if you choose, perhaps, you d
better get real detective on the
case.
II spoke to Judge Hoyt about
that, and he agreed. But Mr..
Landon doesn't want detective.
All, here's Fibsy, now. Come in,
child"
The boy had appeared at the
door with beaming face, but at
Avice's calling him child" his
countenance fell.
8 I amt no child" he said, in
dignantly; 'and say, Miss Avice,
/ found some clues!"
"Well, what are they?'
A shoe button, and a hunk O
dirt
" Interestingly" comm en- ted
Pinckney. "Just what do you