The Iola register., 1901-12-27

signature to an official doc
ument and swore with gentle earnest
ness that he would not do any more
work until Tuesday. His assistant,
Dr. Hale who had just entered the Of
fee from the laboratory, remarked that
everything seemed to be in shape to
take care of itself for awhile and forth
with removed long apron, stained and
ragged, which he viewed with stern
dissatisfaction as he rolled 1t up and
thrust it into drawer.
Hale was dark visaged young man,
with picturesque shock of black hair
and eyes as fierce as pirates. He
had a deep and rumbling voice, a COM
pact and rugged form, and he went
about the simplest duties of this life
with an air of ruthless determination
as If they were crimes.
"What are all those things" he ask
ed, indicating a great number of par
cells on Lafarges broad fiat topped
desk.
Lafarge, who had been bending over
the parcels, Strengthened his tan ngure
and pushed back the silky blond hair
which would always fall over his fore
head when he stopped.
"Chrlstmas presents" said he.
you've got more friends than l
have" said Hale.
more and better friends than l de-
serve" was the reply, land not great
many at that. I'm lonesome, unami-
able brute. There's no reason why
ANYBODY should care for me-"
"Well, somebody does,' growled Hale.
Lafarge became interested.
do you think so, old manp he ask
ed, with an eagerness that was very
youthful. 81 can't get a line on her
myself. But you're mighty shrewd,
and you've seen her quite a number of
times down here. These little things
and he swept his hand over the pack
ages-"are intended for the Christmas
tree at her house."
Whose houseP
"NIiss Mallory's," answered Lafarge.
perhaps you didn't mean
Her? No, confound it! meant my
self. Idiotic thing to say, of course,
but was sparring for an opening. You
see, I've got a little thing for you here,
and l didn't know how to EXCISE my
self for giving 1t to you. Here; take
it," pulling package out of the drawer
beside him. It's nothing but box of
cigars, and they're pretty rank, guess.
Cheap, anyway. But they'll do for Wis
itors."
He tossed the package upon the desk
and stood moment, his bow legs apart
like u sailorman's, and his manner as
awkward as Il schoolboy's who has for
gotten his piece" and can neither go
on with it nor get back to his seat.
Lafarge. also, was considerably en-
barrassed, for he had neglected to buy
anything for Hale, or even to think Of
him in such connection.
Upon my word, old fellow" he be-
gan, extending his hand, but at that in
stant the queer little scene was inter
rupted by the sudden entrance of Dis
trict Attorney Blake Wallace.
The district attorney had n package
in his hand about the size of an ordi-
nary cigar box, wrapped In brown pa
per and tied with a red string. He car
ried 1t in a peculiar way, with his fin
ger anu upOh Ollc VI IL
and his arm extended in front of him
almost grotesquely. He did not say
word until he had put down the pack
age on the desk. Then he backed to-
ward the door, at the same time say
ing:
"Come out here, Lafarge. want to
talk to you"
q nNNh nj kInk
DIR. Hale can't hear itY' demanded the
chemist in surprise.
mo. mop exclaimed Wallace. LET
him come, too, and the quicker the bet
ter"
Wallace seemed to breathe easier and
to recover something of his official dig
nifty when he had passed the door. He
put hand upon n shoulder of each of
the others, and, with the imperceptible
dexterity of the practiced trickster in
law, kept them between himself and
the office as he said:
'That thing is an internal machine
at least believe that it is. You know
about Kensley"
"The Wall street manT' said Lafarge.
YES" responded Wallace. "This
thing was left at his house scarcely
more than half an hour ago. He has
been receiving threatening letters for
some weeks, and the police have had a
good many men out on the case. This
is the result of It,"
'Id like to know what you fellows
will load off on to me next" grumbled
the chemist. For heavens sake,
haven't l enough to do In my own de-
partment without monkeying with your
dynamite bombsp
"If you feel any hesitancy about
touching it, began Wallace. But La
farge interrupted him.
"I'm not afraid Of it, If that's what
you mean," said he. "If you think l
am, just watch me-"
''Thank YOU" responded Wallace. II
think I'll just run down to my office,
and-and you can make your report to
me there"
"You may hear my report before you