Evening star., 1896-12-05

to feel that he was in for an adventure.
He was not absolutely comfortable.
The young man came back. stood in front
of him. and letting his r5Eht hand swing
round toward his hip picket, remarked
with great deliberations: II have nothing
to do with any estate. have never been
of the subject of which you speak"
Perhaps" returned Goodenough, little
lameIy. but acting on the Inspiration Of the
moment, ut may have beeH your wife who
Is the person interested"
The young mans expression showed a
trace of irritation. but his Goodness did not
forsake him. II have no wife, and never
had one. VIII you please to state at once,
who the devil you are. ana what the devil
you are after?"
These questions were ptU savagely, and
were rendered unduly. or at least unpleas-
ingly emphatic by his drawing a small
"six-shcoter' from his pocket with busi-
ness-l.ke manner He held 1t with his
finger on the trigger.
II am afraid" said Goodenough. feeling
movement Of temper himself. but striv-
ing to retain his comrosure. that 1 am
a tremendous fool. You may help to con-
vince me of 1t. But first. do you object to
telling me what that box of documents is
doing on top Of your folding bed?"
He was SO confident that Mr.. Wheeler
had seen the box. from the fact that 1t
had been moved, that he hoped to force
his hand by showing thus abruptly his own
knowledge of it. Despite the young mans
control. his counteEance betrayed the most
utter surprise. Recovering himself quickly
he raised the revolver. covered Goodenough
with it, and said sternly: Take the key
out Of my pocket and open that bed room
door. Take down the box and bring it
here. If you make the slightest move
will shoot. and there will be great likeli-
hood of my killing you. That would be
highly disagreeabe at this hour Of the
night. and here. Especially as 1 am more
ho halt RI 70 fok kn
word and believe that you are only fool"
II can assure you that I have no doubt
on the subject now" replied Goodenough.
with conviction. But il you will allow me
to explain
Il shall assuredly do that" the other re-
piled, emphatically But later. First, this
box. How came you to know 1t was
there?"
enough. shecpishly. He had opened the
door. and as he glanced at the box, which
seemed to his excited vision even nearer
the edge than when he had first seen it,
he said. boldly: You must know that 1t is
there. for 1t is much closer to the side than
where l put It,"
The young man glanced quickly at the
box His nostrils fared. and though he re-
tanned his astounding GOODNESS, the color in
his cheeks grew fainter.
I'VE will discuss that later" he said. in
cisively. Since you put it there you can
take 1t down and throw 1t into the street
through the bed room window. You have
as much interest as | in handling ii care
fully"
Goodenough got the chair. climbed up and
possessed himself of the box. Impressed
as he was by the other mans manner he
was not without distinct sense of foolish
ness. The box was nearly foot nearer
the side of the footboard OF course it
could rot have Travelled there by itself 1t
might all be splendid bluff on the part of
this cool young man. for some reason best
known to himself.
He took the box carefully. however being
as much concerned with carrying out these
second explicit directions as to its DISPOSE
ton as he had been the first As he took
1t he felt d little crawling movement under
his fingers. which were srasping the bottom
of the box.
In his wound-up condition it was almost
enough to make him drop ii: but the set.
white face of the young fellow and the