Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-23

apartments was kept closed at night
When ne opened it the next morning on
his way down TO breakfast, be uttered
q sharp cry of dismay aud spraug for
ward into the room excitedly.
During the night bis desk had been
ransacked and it's contents strewn over
the floor. Paine made hurried search
through both rooms, but nothing else
not even his watch and money, had
been disturbed Moreover, when be had
carefully rearranged his disordered pa
pers they were all accounted for, with
this exception-every scrap Of writing
which related to John Navy had been
stolen.
Early that afternoon Perkins return
ed. He appeared depressed and discon-
Certed, and his changed mien excited
Paine's wonder.
did you like my story?' he asked.
Eyes, it is a good story" Perkins
slowly responded. "It is something of
an advance on the other. Still DONE
find that it contains all expected.
why, what did you want?' Paine
was on bis mettle now. "You would
hardly expect three volume novel for
the price you offered"
Il didn't bid high enough, that's q
fact the publisher confessed. "But
want the rest of it--badly. 1 am think
ing of making you a big offer for all
you know about Navy"
I'm series of short stories like the
Otherss''
"Oh, anyway you like-yesi'' Per-
kins got up and walked the floor impa-
tently. Il can't explainl It's this way
You have what want, and if 1 can
make deal with you we won't dicker
about the price. Now, what can you do
for me?'
81 can supply the demand" said
Paine confidently. but you must give
me time for this. Unfortunately all my
notes were stolen last night -
THAT was all you knew about Navy?"
asked Perkins hopelessly.
Everything 1 had. Stay-there is
Navy's own story, but 1 have already
dipped into that for few of his peculiar
ideas.
"Navy's own story" the publisher
echoed IN strong excitement. Whats
that?"
Paine made brief explanation, and
upon learning the fate of this story
Perkins drew long breath as if tanta-
lied almost beyond endurance.
but you say that you copied ii, +" be
exclaimed, with a CLEAN of hope
Where's the oopy?"
ut is still at my old home, packed
away with trunkful of old letters up
in the attio.''
"TLen you could get itf'
Certainly. If it is of value to you :"
Strangely enough. the publisher
eagerness was quickly allayed by this
reply. 1--WE will let the matter rest
awhile, he decided after a moment of
abstraction and then quietly withdrew.
A few days atterward Paine received
letter and paper addressed In his
mothers handwriting. With n pleasant
anticipation of home news he opened
the letter, but its first paragraph drew
from him q cry of surprise. His old
home bad also been entered by a bur
elar. 1t was a matter Of slight impor-
lance, but in the light of his own recent
experience it was suffic emily disturbing
Further details made it very clear
that both Of these trivial robberies had
been committed by the same mysterious
person AS in the former cass, nothing
Of value had been stolen, bat the CON
tents CT an old trunk had been found
scattered over the attic floor.
II send you The Gazette, which has
Just arrived, Mrs. Paine wrote in con-
clusion. 81 see that the Penniweii mon
ey has been recovered and that one of
the burglars is in custody. Possibly
this is the man who entered our house. F"
A sudden light broke in upon Paine $
mind. There was but one man who
knew of the papers in his trunk-one
man who had shown an insatiate ouri-
Osity about John Navy. Snatching up
the Gazette, he quickly ran over It's
prolix account OF the arrest.
The last paragraph was especially in
teresting co Kepler Paine:
The prisoner registered at the Union
House as Perkins of Chicago. His con-
nection with the Navy gang has been
clearly established, and it appears that
be discovered the long hidden booty by
means CT cipher message from his old
chief. Part of this cipher was contained
In certain obscure phrases of story en-
titled John Navy's Confession, which
was recently published in The Max
ina