The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-08-06
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
BY WALKER
Copyright, 1908. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER XII.-CONTINUED.

At the office he found a note from
Franklin requesting him to call upon
him as soon as he received it. To
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 1 wanted to see you about"
said Franklin, was a paper which
that fool Hillsman stole from this
Office. Last night when I met you"
Met me?!" said Irving, in blank
amazement.
well, perhaps you don't remember
t." said the colonel, smiling, for 1
must confess you were very happy
last night when 1 saw you. But, at
any rate, I demanded the paper of
Hillsman. He denied having it at first,
but 1 think scared him pretty badly,
and after you had gone he said he
had given it to you. Have you-got
the paper?"
Il have not. What was the nature
of it?"
st is of no Importance, the nature
of it. You have not seen the paper?"
POSSIBLY have seen it, but as you
9lave not told me what it is"
Il thought at the time that fellow
was lying, and that he thought of you
as a shield for himself"
is 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, inditferently.
GLOW was that?"
See here, colonel, doesn't it occur
to you that you are taking u vast deal
of interest in my affairs?"
We'll, you see, 1 like you, Warde."
"Thanks.''
and you might find it to your in
terest to know something about the
paper"
1T is valuable, them"
Are you sure you don't know any
thing about the paper?"
Bother the paper! Why, if l had
it in my pocket now, do you suppose
NAV Noblo S1NS ~ " lou WITHOUT
having a description of it,"
I'm sorry Thai 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
my news in the Wright cases."
The colonel looked at him pcnetrat-
ingly for a moment and then replied:
why do you ask? I am out of the
case"
Il thought you took a deep interest
in it on account of the family"
u think 1 ought to ask you the
alcws about it."
Its q trif1e stale, now, but l sup
pose the people will wake up when
the trial begins. Have you any idea
what the line Of defense will be?"
None whatever. In fact other
business of a very important charac-
TN. has occupied all my attention of
latA"
During this conversation Merivale
yawned repeatedly and looked inn
mensely bored, as if he wished Wardc
would go and give him an opportunity
to resume business with Franklin. He
toyed with a newspaper for a while
impatiently, and somehow Irving re-
ceivcd the impression that this i'm
Patience vas largely assumed for the
occasion.
At last Warde left the two men
alone. They looLeA at each other in
silence. Then Merivale spoke with a
sneering laugh: "That young man
has outwitted you completely, Frank
lin. Hs has your paper put away
safe; probably it is in Everett's pos
session. And there is another thing
that is perfectly apparent that
young fellow was as sober last night
as you are this minute. 1t is now
ten o'clock. We know that he was in
his room at eight, and at Everett's
shortly after, and there is not the
daintest sign of dissipation about him.
I'm surprised that you have allowed
yourself to be SO easily deceived.
Well, 1 have advanced considerable
money to you to carry out this enter
prise, and have asked no questions
fegal ding the way it was expended;
but tell you now I must have som .
cesults."