The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-24

ter. If he were low enough to do that.
he would be low enough TO rob her
of little money. In other words,
grant that John Is blonde, and you
can 20 along and grant that he has
blue eyes and tow hair. II was all
of II false. l told myself, from its
wicked beginning to its wicked end;
false and unfair. But | had faced
1t. Now | could turn and so In an
other direction.
had not realized how deeply !
had been thinking, dawdling over my
work in consequence. until I saw that
Miss Macdonald had taken up the
pork chops. and had them In the
warming-oven, and was making gravy,
as smooth and tasty looking pan-gravy
as | ever saw.
"Good landsv said. "I've GER
tainly come to one conclusion"
at is little early for conclusions,
isn't it?" she asked.
ut is lot too late for this one"
"Please-" she began; but, for once.
| got the best of her.
"My conclusion Is" | said, shat,
by hook or crook, Sam Stanley has
got to get me some efficient help In
this house. When | think of what
I've put up with, all these years In
the way of help. and then see the
way you pitch In, 1t makes me mad
all over"
81 WISH" she said, ''that l might
drop this case, right now, and stay
here for all time, and be your assis-
tant and thoroughly domestic per-
son, and forget that there were crimes
and criminals In the world"
Maybe" | said, eagerly, but know
ing of course that II was too good
to come true. "when you've finished
with this case, you could do that.
You'd be one Of our family. and Sam
would pay-well, | guess anything
you'd care to ask"
"No," she smiled, 1T is tempting
now. But that desire Of mine to give
I'D my profession Is phase that
always pass through at the beginning
of each difficult case. In few days,
when begin to get hold of something,
and when things begin to take shape,
all my love of the work will return.
1t Is only at first, when | seem to be
in q maze of mystery, like this. that
get so discouraged. | always do 1t,
right at first: and always think that
here is the case of which | am going
to make an absolute failure"
slave you ever failed on case?"
| asked.
"Indeed | have, on several. 1t Is
queer, though; In each case that has
been q failure, it has seemed that the
solution WIS written plainly from the
start. Ii was-written all wrong.
Judging from that, should be un-
usually successful in this case"
Poor girl, no wonder that she was
discouraged. She has given me leave,
now that it is all over, to use any Of
her notes that | care to use In the
writing of this story.
'Far be 1T from Lynn Macdonald"
she said, when l asked her about u.s.
ing the notes, "to refuse advertise
ment of one of her banner cases. My
rivals will say that | succeeded in
this because, as often happens, my
luck stood by me. But you and L,
we understand about luck. don't we,
Mary?"
"If you aren't afraid" | said, shat
your notes may give away some OF the
secrets of that luck OF yours, so that
your rivals will be able to lay their
hands on some of the same brand?"
She laughed. 81 never write down
secret. That is safe enough rule
for an honest person, who plans to re-
main honest For dishonest person,
or for one who contemplates any sort
of evil. or admits the possibility of
such course, the safe rule would
be: Never. under any circumstances,
put pen or pencil to paper"
AS Sam would say, at is poor
rule that won't work both ways"
The notes that Miss Macdonald had
made. before this conversation Of ours.
that day In the Kitchen, and on the
evening of that same day. July elev-
enth, are as follows:
July z. Saw body in crematory late
tonight. Cause Of death, strangula-
ton. Probably work of an expert.
Look for japanese on ranch. Broken
fingers on right hand. Beautiful,
costly gown, lingerie, etc., indicating
wealth and good taste.
July 8. Rose. my assistant, who has
Swallowed twin sister, reports nothing
| verging on suspicion. She attended
services at crematory. Evidence of
genuine grief. Returned to hotel. One
telegram sent to Desert Moon ranch.
Received no company. Mailed no let.
tiers. Did no shopping.
received telegram from Desert
Moon ranch engaging me ON case. Elk.
plicit directions concerning train prob.
ably due to Inconvenience of meeting
trains In rural community. and not
due to desire to have me on the
same train with Miss @. However
| note.
Telephoned to coroner and under.
| taker, requesting them TO give me
conference in Telko. Also. had coro
ner verify list of names, as published
In Examiner of all persons present
on ranch at time of murder. Note
absence OF all ranch employees at the
time. NOte-extreme reluctance OF
both coroner and undertaken TO give
information, or to meet me in Telko.
July .. Spent day In shadowlns
Miss Q. myself. RS observations. as
usual, excellent.