The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-23

IA modern santa Claus; rerambuls
ating the fire escape with his
white whiskers waving intheeariy
morning breeze. That note simply
asked him 10 got into the other.
apartments when he was sure the
OCCUPANTS were gone. and search
for traces Of a certain chemical
compound"
"But we'd only Just loft Miss
Shaw's apartment: We hadn't seen
either Grlswold's or Ladd's thent''
Craig exclaimed beneath his
breath, you don't suspect her.
John?"
Barry smiled, but a trifle dryly.
Barry waited until, the younger
sergeant's footsteps had died away.
in the quiet night ar and then
turned To the guard.
"Doane, do you know who 1
amp
The patrolman nodded.
"All right" Barry broke in, II
take It that your orders tonight,
Doane, arc to keep guard outside
the apartment here in which the
woman was shot unless you hear
any suspicious sound within, or see
something which you think should
be investigated. Is that so?"
Fright, SIR" Doane responded.
Very good. You're going 10 see
and hear something suspicious
within fye mlnues. and that some.
thing Is going to be me! Under
stand?"
II don't, sir" Doane replied.
But what you say goes. You
mean you want to have another
look around the Place? I've orders
not to let anybody iii, but as long
ms you're taking the responsibility.
the lock is smashed and I can't see
every shadow in this dark hail."
Barry pushed open the broken
door. which swung drunkonly on
its hinges. and entering the per.
fumed, Uttered living room, he
found his way to the wall switch
and turned on the oDalescent
lamps. y
The little writing desk was
open. It's profus'on Of papers scat
tered on the floor, and ths drawers
of an almost priceless Chinese
cabinet had been forced. An
preaching the latter, Barry OBJ
served that its contents were
mainly scraps of drawing paper
on which tiny figures had been
scrawled, each with a few deft
lines, and picking one up he whis-
tied softly.
1t was a miniature carteature,
cruel n its sharply defined charac-
ter deliqeation, Of pompous, good
natured Theodore Vansittart. lIus.
band OF the woman whose unfinish-
Led portrait stood on the easel m
the studio. and glanctng over the
others Barry found like caricatures
of several people prominent in the
social and political life Of the city.
He was turning away from the
cab net when he noticed something
which 1t was obvious that the de-
tectives had overlooked a small
compartment at tho top. with a
handle formed by q tiny red-gold
dragon. remained undisturbed.
Barry tugged ut the little dragon
but it was immovable, the single
gilt eye above its snout-like nose
seeming to wink mockinEly at the
fut'lity OF his efforts. Something
about that eye and the curious
formation OF It's socket gave the
sergeant a sudden Inspiration. and
taking a blunt pencil from hts
pocket he pressed sharply upon
the globule Of gilt as upon a bell
button.
Instantly the dragon turned in
ward as upon a spring, the front
Of the compartment dropped for
ward on n~oiseless. unseen hinges
and the interior OF the small, secret
| space was exposed.
Mentally congratulating himself
that Doane had elected to remain
outside. Barry drew forth the con-
tents Of the compartment In both
hands and carried It carefully to n
small table. It was evident enough
at last that somewhere beneath the
hard. surfece brilliancy and devil
ishly clever, bitter humor Of the
dead woman there had lurked a
humanity sentimental regard for
enisodes in her life that had van
ished from the sophisticated pres
ent, for there beneath his handa
were clearly mementos of the past,
the foolish, faded objects, near
inGless to anyone else, which every
woman treasures until memory
ceases TO have value.
A faded blue satin ribbon, stiff