Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-04-17


Hustle. old man. This thing is get
ting prettv ripe over here. And, re-
member. this is personal business; it
isn't official | may want to cover the
whole matter up"
The man is no good, guess" said
the voice.
81 don't care anything about the
man" reioiued Elmendorf, "or the
other one either. It's the girl I'm
interested in. Nothing is too good for
her or ever was, and if the worst
comes want to be in a position to
wiring somebody's neck and wiring it
hard. | don't know whose it will be
yet. How about the records?"
Nothing in sight"
"WeIl, there must be somewhere. Mr.
Tantalus has got to be accounted for
Much obliged to you. Goodby."
Elmendorf rejoined Alden. who in the
meantime had engaged hanson.
your secretary, Robinson, seems to
be handy man." said Elmendorf after
some desultory conversation.
Hes very obliging," replied Alden.
Perfectly honest, | supposeT
Never knew anything to the contra
ry," said Alden "He doesn't handle
any money"
"He handled $500 the other day."
suggested Elmendorf.
"But he didn't know it." replied Al
den. Il don't mean to imply anything
against Robinson. but | know very lit
tie about him, and never trust man
7 I
trust a man with money unless l know
the money side of him. 1t is possible
to be good, straight fellow about ev-
erything else and have a weakness
there"
81 should think you ought to be
pretty good business man," said Elmen-
dorf.
81 suffer from the same trouble that
you have" replied Alden; I'm too hon
est"
"There's nothing honest about me-"
protested Elmendorf gloomily. ITS
my luck; | never have n chance. By
the way" he added, changing his tone,
"Robinson knew Miss Miller quite well,
didn't he?"
"Only through me-" answered Alden.
81 used to get him to take messages to
her house quite often. 1t was conyen-
lent; he lived near by"
eyes" said Elmendorf. '"They told
me at the house that he came quite Of
ten. DO you remember the first note
with her name on it that you ever gave
him? Well. happen to know that he
took it to your bookkeeper, Willett, and
asked who Miss Miller was. He SEEM
ed to be quite interested. Afterward
he told Willett that he was mistaken in
supposing that he knew Miss Miller.
1t was another girl of the same name"
"If you are trying to work Jack Rob-
inson into this case" said Alden, 'you
IRE long way off the track"
Elmendorf protested that he had no
such intention. adding that he had no
rational theory of the case and never
expected to have one.
When they entered st. Winifred's,
they met DR.. Kendall who had just
come from a visit to Elsie. He led
them into his own room.
"I'm sorry to tell you," he said to
Alden, that Miss Miller is not quite so
well just now. | wouldn't advise see
ing her. Mr.. Robinson delivered your
message"
"What message? When?" demand
ed Alden
"He was here about half an hour
ago." said Kendall with increasing
alarm as he noted the manner of the
others "He said it was something
very important from you, and after
consulting with Miss Maclane let him
speak with Miss Miller in private for a
few minutes. | thought she seemed
somewhat disturbed afterward but she
told us that the matter was of small
consequence"
81 know nothing whatever about it,"
exclaimed Alden. II did not send him
here and had no idea he was coming"
He turned to Elmendorf with
sharply questioning glance.
"Well, you can search me-" said the
detective.
"You mean that you know nothing
about it?' asked Kendall anxiously.
LESS than nothing" responded Ell
mendorf, land I'm giving you straight
goods too"
There was a knock at Kendalfs door,
and he admitted n nurse. who said that
Miss Maclane wished to see him. He
did not wait to speak a single word,
but hurried away. Alden tried to get
an explanation from the nurse, but she
professed to have none.
For nearly an hour the two men
waited with impatience, which finally
passed Alden's p swer of endurance.
81 must get some word from her." he
said after much pacing of the floor.
'There must be serious danger or he
would not stay so long"
Elmendorf pointed out the obvious
possibility that Kendall might long
since have answered Miss Maclane's
summons and have gone upon any of
a hundred other duties, but Alden
would not be thus quoted. He went
out to the office to ask in what way he
could commYnicate with the doctor,
and within Il minute after his depar-
ture Kendall entered the room.
He had large glass jar in his hand,
which seemed to contain milk. This
he set down upon the table and imme-
diately touched an electric button.
How Is she" asked Elmendorf in
tone betraying the most earnest sollcl-
tude
Better, better" replied Kendall. II
think there's no longer any danger.
Where Is Mr.. Alden?"
"No longer any dangerw exclaimed
Elmendorf ignoring the question.
Has there been anyF'
"Well," said Kendall, "she tainted
again"
"Aganv
""The first time was Just before YOU
came up" said Kendall. Don't say
anything about this. We had just CIV
en- her a little luncheon, and ] thought
perhaps she might have had some small
stomach trouble; oppresses the heart
sometimes. you know. But l don't like
this second attack Heart failure after
the injury and the nervous exhaustion
wouldn't be the most unlikely thing in
the world, you know. All! Come here.
George"
4rhe hast words were addressed to