Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-12-13
CHAPTER XIX,

the day on which the body of the muir
dercd woman was found hanging to Il
hook In her room. to the evening of the
day he delivered a note from Gripp 10
Miss Anterior. Bob Walters had haunt
ing fear of trouble.
Mr. Grip seemed to be so rcsolutc, go
severe was his eye, and 50 impressive his
charges concerning dead silence. that the
boy began TO think Mr.. Grip was either
the master mind of some unlawful cen
spiracy or scheme. or chief of a band of
cOuntcrfciters. lie confessed to his
mother an hour before she called OH
Grip.
This was the direct result Of Irene
Atherton's action. There was something
In the manner Of Grips messenger that
excited distrust and suspicion. She had,
the moment the messenger disappeared,
regretted she had not adopted some
means of discovering whence he came.
| Accident enabled her to accomplish this
object later In the day. a lad she well
knew referred. In her presence. to the
boy who delivered the mysterious note.
Calling this boy aside. Miss Anterior
said:
do you know the name Of the boy you
met coming herci"
ut was only Bob Walters"
Then I want you to follow Bob-find
him, IL you can, but don't let him see you
watching him. Follow him wherever he
goes. II he goes home. stay near the
house as much as you can, until 1t grows
dark. or you have to come home. Then
see what ! win give you, II you do as I
tell you"
This was one Of Bob Walters alarms.
His sometime playf was more TO be
dreaded than ghost. Mr.. Grips dollar
felt like ton In his pocket.
| The other worse than khost was In re-
atty a detective. a man who had no
good reason to appear on the street, In
that neighborhood. every other hour. A
man Bob Walters had accidentally dis.
covered was a detective on the regular 30.
lice force. The presence Of this man In
the neighborhOOd proved too much for
Bob. lie took his mother into his conf.
dence In sheer misery.
When lrene's trUsty. agent reported
progress she gave him half a dollar,
whereupoS he stood upon his head. Irene
was glad she had discovered the where.
abOuts Of the boy, on her fathers nc
count. He had betrayed such alarm ind
agitation. that she surmiscd II must be a
matter of the utmost moment to him.
She had washed and put the dishes
away. swept the hearth. and made the
living room tidy. when rap ut the door
Ian unexpected visitor evidently--sulIi.
moned her to the parlOr.
When Irene opened the dOar she was
surprised to ind Mr.. Mayberry stand.
ing there. She did not. however, bctrny
surprise. She placed a seat for her >is-
itOr, made some passing remark about
the weather, and instantly Arthur May.
berry felt at home.
"Was her father in?"
mo. but he would be In probably In
half an hour"
Mr.. Mayberry talked about the i'm.
prOvemcnts In that portion Of the city,
Of the last tragedlan who visited the
city, of the fashions. the pulpit orator
whose name was uppermost. and sudden.
~, without the slightest warning, plung.
ed into the subject nearest his heart.
"Miss Atherton"-he had turned his
face toward her. was gazing carnes1ly
into her eyes--"I am indebted to tou
more than l can express. Mr.. Mead was
30 impressed by your statement that he
has told me he will give me the first hear.
Ing. In case ever have any enterprise to
suggest that promises WE'LL"
Irene was silent. What could she say
She could not promise him the same her
! father had promised him. Nor could
she refer to the unfortunate agreement
She was debating In her mind whether
she should endeavOr to excuse her faith
er's action. Then she reflected that thu
advice contained In the old saying, 9Th,
least said the soonest mended," shOult
be her guide. 80 she remained silent.
III you will not be offended" said Ar
thur Mayberry, II will reciprOcate; III,
kindness you have shown demands som,
return on my part"
II think" she said, with a smile, "it 1,
} best not to endeavOr to balance this nc
count. One or the other will persist IL
returning the favor"
But she was secretly gratifcd that tn,
matter had taken a less disaHreeabl.
turn.
~ suppose Mr.. Mead understands, ant
appreciates the value of my fathers in
ventionT' she said presently; hut Mr.
Mayberry evaded the question skillfully
He had II two-fold object. 10 So,
Anterior, possibly; but he was glad o
the excuse to call on Miss Atherton, I,
see and talk to her. 10 see IL her In
, telligence and manners We're as charm
. ing as her features. He was head an,
heels in lOve-he confessed 1t to himsc
but he thought he was able TO rcsis
the efforts of Cupid to inveigle him be
yOnd his depth until he was prepared I,
take the irrevocable plunge.
And all the while his eyes were devour
ing Irene. And Irene's color betraye,
her as plainly. 1t was just as IL thes
two had said to each other: "You know
1t Is absurd for me to pretend you ar
nothing to me-"
: The young man often avoided the WON
ans eyes. The young woman as Oftel
averted her eyes. They caught each 9th
er's glance, as 1t We're by chance, to turf
away again.
/ Arthur Mayberry was talking Of man.
things, subjects suggested ut haphazar,l
. and dismissed, while his heart was thrOb
/ bling with love. His eyes, his name
conveyed his feelings but now his lip
! were framing words he had not dreame'
of uttering. He found himself suddenl.
I looking into Irene Atherton's eyes AS Ia
said:
miss AthertOn, do not misunderstan,
! me, or think ! am simply impulsiye. bu
ever since first beheld you, have BEEF
, unable to dismiss You from my mind
Ever since ] beheld you, as l thought
D doomed to instant destruction. ! hav
thought Of you so much In the little tim
I that hOa aaaaI thot I will oak vOt D.