Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-06
At THE VILLA ROSE
sYMoPsrx,

sxMoPsm.
Ricardo, = wealthy widower Is At Air.
les-Rains on n Of his frequent visits.
he meets Wetherrnill, who is. lucky at
gambling. and sees him with q sirl
whom he calls Celia, who is not 40
lucky IN her ventures. Celia's conipan-
an. who lives at the Villa Rose, is mur.
oered, and her famous Jewels are stolen.
Her maid is chloroformed, and left un,
conscious. Celia Is no whore to be found
wnen the murder is discovered.
CHAPTER n-conttnued.
She was young, she was pretty, she
had a charmi-of freshness, but-but
against it as he would this
picture In the recollection neean
more and more to wear a i a.,
aspect He remem bered some words
spoken by a stranger. .iShe is nret-
ty, that little one. It is regrettabie
that she has lost
MI. Ricardo arranged hts tie with
even q greater d~eliberation than he
usually employed.
And Nine. Dauvay?" he asked.
she was the stout woman with
your young friend went away
EYes," said Wethermill.
Ricardo turned round from tho
mirror. -
.Hanaud is at AK. He ia the c,ev.
crest Of the French detectives. You
know him. He dined with YOU onca.'.
It was Nj, Ricardo's practice to
collect celebrities round his dinner
aole, n at one such gathering
Hanaud and Wethermill had beer
present together.
You wish me to approach him ?"
"At once"
A Delicate Position.
1T is q delicate position said
Ricardo: Here is a man in charge
OF a case ofFmurder, and we are
quietly to go to him"- .
To his relief wetherrnill interrupt
ed him.
NO, no." he cried; "he is not III
charge Of the case. He is on his
holiday. | read Of his arrival two
days 8 in the newspaper. It was
stated that he came for rest. what
l want is that he should take charge
of the case"
The superb confidence Of wether-
mill shook Mr.. Ricardo for a mo-
ment. but his re%collections were too
clear.
You are going out of your way to
launch the acutest Of French de-
tectives in search Of this girl. Are
you wise, Wethermill?'
Wethernd1l sprang UP from his
chair in desperation.
You, too, think her guilty! you
have seen her. You think her guilty
like this detestable newspaper, like
the police"
Like the police?" asked Ricardo
sharply.
"VaC" cold 3a~>r U7>%I>-1 11Ha-.1
lenly. "As o as I saw that. rag
I ran down TO the villa. The police
are in possession. They would not
let me into the garden. But 1 talked
with one, of them. They, too. think
THAT she let in the murderers.'
Ricardo too a turn across the
room. Then he came to a stop in
front Of Wethermill.
Ricardo's Points.
Listen to me-" he said solemnly.
II saw this girl half an hour before
I saw you. She rushed out into the
garden. She flung herself on to a
bench. She could not sit still. She
was hysterical. You know what that
means. She had been losing. That's
point number one."
Mr.. Ricardo licked it off upon his
finger. ..
She ran back into the roms. You
asked her to share the winnings OF
your bank. She consented eagerly.
And you lost. That's point number
two. A little later, as she was going
away, you asked her whether she
would be in the rooms the next night
yesterday night-the night when
the murder was committed. Her face
clouded over. She hesitated. She
became more than grave. There was
a distinct impression as though she
shrank from the contemplation of
what it was proposed she should do
on the next night. And then she
answered you. No, we have other
plans That's number three" And
Mr.. Ricardo licked off his third
point.
Now" he asked, do you still ask
me OF launch Hanaud upon the
case e.
Eyes, and at once" cried wether-
mill.
Ricardo called for his hat and his
stick.
you know where Hansud is stay
Yes replied Wethermill, and he
led Ricardo to an unpretentious lit
tie hotel in the centre of the town.
Ricardo sent in his name, and the
two visitors were Immediately. shown.
into a small sitting-roem, where M.
Hanaud was enjoying his morning
chocolate.
He was stout and broad-shoulder-
ed, with a full and almost heavy
face. In his morning suit at his
breakfast table he looked like a
prosperous comedian.
An Old Friend.
He came forward with a smile of
welcome, extending both his hands to
Mr.. Ricardo.
"Ah, my good friend" he said; lit
is pleasant to see you And Mr.
WethermilI," he exclaimed, holding
a hand out TO the young inventor.
you. remember me. them" said
Wethermill gladly.
ut Is my profession to remember
people," said Hanaud, with a laugh.
You were at that amusing dinner
party Of Mr.. Ricardo's in Grosvenor
Square"
"Monsteup' said Wethernill, Il
have come to ask your help"
The note OF appeal in his voice was
loud. M. Hanaud drew up a chair
by the window and moNoned to
Wethernain to take it. He pointed
to another, with a bow of invitation,
to Mr.. Ricardo.
Let me hear he said sgravely.
TT Is the murder OF Nine. Dau-
vray," said Wethermill.
Hanaud started.
.And in what way, monsieur" he
asked, .are you interested in the
murder OF Nine. Dauvray?'
Her companion" said Wetherr.ill,
the young English girl-she is a
great friend Of mine"
Hanaud'ss face grew stern. Then
came a sparEle Of anger in his eyes.
A WILD Plea
And what do you wish me TO do.
monsieur he aaked coldly.