The Van Buren press., 1894-12-22
/ MODERN CONSPIRACY,
nY MRS. M. I. RArNE


people paid tho most reverence being
y noun of quantity conveying unity
of idea-in other words, he was mil
lionaire, word that Is becoming alb.
surdly familiar to democratic ears,
now that we can count them no long
or as phenomena, but ideals to which
every poor young man IL expected to
attain.
Perhaps at this moment this particu-
lar millionaire was inspiring some
such thought in the mind of his book
keeper and confidential clerk, who was
looking at him occasionally through q
window with lattice easement set
into the wall between the elegant
inner Office Of the employer and the
outside room where the bookkeeper
stood or sat on high stool at his ledg-
or. He had no business to be watch
ing his employer-it was his EN-
ployer's privilege to watch him; but
their occupations were reversed Just
1T present. and the sharp eyes of the
accountant pierced and Rimleted and
corlscrewed into the passive figure of
the multo-millionaire. Powell Plum
mer. as II they were instruments In the
service of an inquisition.
There was nothing extraordinary to
go. A hsndsome old man with a
pink complexion, snow-white hair and
: plaoid face, which was just now wear
Ing puzzled rather troubled look,
without losing any Of It's sweetness--a
face that inspired confidence and made
men ont TO be liars who called him
cold. crafty, unscrupulous.
He was pacing the velvet-covered
aoor In that peculiar, listless, mel.
ancholy way which old men have
when they emulate tho excitement of
youth and the impulses of hot blood
: spurt Of speed. in racing phrase,
which Is the death-knell Of fulfillment.
His long, slender hands were clenched
until the senilo veins stood out in re-
lief. and he threw back his white hair
from his brow with gesture which
had been natural one fifty years
earlier.
why will she not decide?" he said,
aloud, and the bookkeeper pricked up
his ears and peered through the lat
ticed window at the unconscious
figure before him.
s'She loves me. know 1t. Why,
thcn. does she trifle with me and keep
Philip dangling about her? Sometimes
God help mel hate him-I even
wish him dead, such Is my mad, un.
reasoning love for her."
The ear at the lattice distinctly
caught every word, and . look of su.
preine satisfaction crept into the face
of the listener as the monologue con-
unued,
'sBut she does not love him-nol no
she loves me, bless her sweet presence
was harsh to Philip and cruel.
must write to my old friend and ash
forgiveness. The love of q lifetime
must not bc overset In day. Hal
will send him q souvenir
He touched . silver call-bell and q
boy in buttons stood At his elbow.
"Ralph, go over to the house and ask
Lssher to give you-wait, will write
= line to him."
he sat down at his olivewood desl,
and hurriedly penned brief note to
his butler. The man on the other side
of the lattice nearly strained his eyes
out Of his head to read the rapidly
written words, but he could not. 1t ia
only necessary to say that 1t was In
structions to the man Lasher to send
NJ, x~.,<, 1,<,k<1o. - ,~,t.c @.>.s. :.
small cask In his wine-cellar. The
boy took the message, and in the
course OF half an hour returned with
the wine. 1t was beautifully decanted
In bottles that had been prepared fol
Chianti, ornaments in themselves. To
make sure that It was the right wine
Mr. Pinmmer took II from tho boy
who retired to his post, within call
Then taking glass from IN ebony
sideboard the millionaire tested it. A
that moment the bookkecper though
thatShe was struck by lightning.
The mahogany slide which shut hin
ont from the millionaire's presence
whenever such process was desirable
fell with click on the other side O.
the lattice, and was not lifted agail
that day.
The bookkeeper did not mind littl,
shutrof of that kind There wer,
other peep-holes equally available, ant
he took advantage Of them, with the
result that few moments later h,
called up a messenger and sent him of
at breahneck speed with note direct
ed to philip Armitage. Esq" ant
marked ''private and confidential.
At the close Of the same day a a.mal
called at the. Brotherton Detectiv,
agency, and asked to see the superin
tendent.
II want = reliable man sent to th,
Central European hotel tonight t,
stay there for couple Of hours IL,
is TO ask for room II, which is the mex
one to the suite named parlor b
There Is door Of communication be
tween the rooms, and your man is +,
station himself at this door-whicl
will be closed and locked-in orde
that he may hear the conversation II
parlor B, and Of which he will talk,
accurate notes, Have you the man W,
need3"
Eyes, answered the superintendent
1--WE have just the man you need. II,
will go disguised as tourist, or In an,
,JkaEnNtaIhszsish."
THAT is not necessary. The hote
people will give him the room. and i
Is simply his testimony that we ma,
want afterward. A great crime is at
tempted. and must be frustrated
Fee in advance" suggested the su
perintendent THAT is customary
when we don't know the parties with
whom we are doing business"