The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-08-15
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
BY WALKER KENNEDY.
Copyright, 1905. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper CO,
CHAPTER XII.-coSr1SuEp.

this Irving at first concluded that he
would pay no attention, but he
thought better of it and went directly
to franklin. He found that gentle
man engaged with Merivale at the
time, but he was cordially invited in.
"What / wanted to see you about"
said Franklin, was paper which
that fool Hillsman stole from this
office. Last night when met you-'
Met me:'' said Irving, in blank
amazement.
''Well, perhaps you don't remember
it," said the colonel, smiling, for l
must confess you were very happy
last night when I saw you. But. at
any rate. l demanded the paper of
Hillsman. He denied having it at first,
but think scared him pretty badly,
and after you had gone he said he
had given it to you. Have you got
the paper??"
81 have not. What was the nature
of it?"
cit is of no Importance, the nature
of it. You have not seen the paper??"
"Possibly | have seen it, but as you
II thought at the time that fellow
was lying, and that he thought of you
as shield for himself
SIS this all you wanted to see me
about?" said Irving, with apparent
disappointment.
''Oh, by the way, you did not spend
the night at your rooms?"
NO." said Irving, indifferently.
Glow was that?"
"See here, colonel, doesn't it occur
to you that you are taking Il vast deal
of interest in my at1airs?'
swell, you see, like you, Warde."
"Thanks."
"And you might find it to your in
terest to know something about the
paper
cit is valuable, them"
care you sure you don't know any
thing about the paper?"
Bother the paper! Why, if had
it in my pocket now, do you suppose
that would give it to you without
having q description of it?"
'I'm sorry that you can't help me
about it, as it is Of great Importance
to some friends of mine"
'By the way" said Irving, sis there
any news in the Wright case?"
The colonel looked at him penetrat
ingly for q moment and then replied:
"Why do you ask? i am out of the
case"
81 thought you took deep interest
in it on account of the family"
II think I ought to ask you the
news about it,"
cts a tritle stale, now, but I sup
pose the people will wake up wher
the trial begins. Have you any ides
what the line of defense will be?"
"None whatever. In fact othe1
business of very important charac
ter has occupied all my attention o.
late"
During this conversation Merivalt
yawned repeatedly and looked i'm
mensely bored, as if he wished Wardt
would go and give him an opportunit.
to resume business with franklin. II,
toyed with a newspaper for a whil'
impatiently, and somehow Irving re
ceived the impression that this i'm
patience was largely assumed for TIL.
occasion.
At last Warde left the two mer
alone. They looked at each other il
silence. Then Merivale spoke with +;
sneeling laugh: That young man
has outwitted you completely, Frank
lin. He has your paper put ava.
safe; probably it is in Eyerett's pos
session. .And there is another thing
that is perfectly apparent tina
young fellow was as sober last nigh
as you are this minute. 1t is nov
ten o'clock. We know that he was il
his room at eight. and at Everett
shortly after, and there is not tn
I'm surprised that you have allowed
yourself to be SO easily deceived
Well, ] have advanced considerabl
money TO YOU to carry out this enter
prise, and have asked no question
regarding the way it was expended
but tell you now l must have SON
resultS.'
"But we are on the very brink o
success. and if you throw it up no,
you will lose everything. Nothin
but a series Of unfortunate event
could have prevented the accomplish
ments of our designs. If you deser
me now I am simply ruined"
"Well, I'll stick to you few month
longer, not because I care anythin
about you. have no time for syn
pathy with Individuals; besides
isn't business. only care for th
success of movements. If you
scheme could be carried through
would save me several millions; tina
would be a clear pickup. If 20
fail 1 shall try scheme of my owl
One thing is sure: Warde must b
got away from here. I'll try and ge
him an opening in New York"
Late that afternoon Warde "a
across Hillsman, who had just e
up. The debauch of the night befo1
had told plainly upon him, his flushe
face and bloodshot eyes bearing COZ
elusive evidence against him. He d
not allude at all to the meeting {
the previous evening, and it was e,
dent that dissipation had drawn
veil over all that had happened al
left in his mind merely blan
Warde was considerably relieved {
this score, for at present he did n
care to complicate matters by havil
to consider Frank as an element
them.
At eight o'clock Warde and Mr.. F
erett were again closeted togethe
and the paper that had caused such