Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-04-09
CHAPTER Xxx.

MY lalhrf ~ not at nome, irene an
swcrcd. ''lf it is important"
at is Of the utmost Importance. l
must speak with you alone"
Miss Athcrton closed the door. end
stood in the entrance.
There is a friend in the house. What
you have to say, make brief, please"
My name is Dunn. Miss Atherton, n
detective. ! am a friend Of your fathers,
and am, at present. as you will learn by
aud by trying to serve him. a hoy
brought you note to-day-for your faith
err" he added quickly, as he thought
Irencs face grew cold and severe in its
expression.
"As you say you are detective, you
will excuse me If ! do not answer"
Mr.. Dunn smiled, and he also cast an
admrng glance upon the ready-witted
Irene
"A girl who knows when to speak,
when to be silent, and how to speak,"
thought Mr.. Dunn as he looked at her.
lie was turning away when he reconsd-
cred.
"The boy-Bob Walters-has told me he
brought note to you, and that he
brought it from Mr.. Grpp."
He was moving away now, when Irene
spoke to him.
you will pardon my seeming distrIst.
| am obliged to you for the interest you
manifest; and since you cannot stay until
my father comes, where can he see your
Mr.. Dunn gave the number of Lawyer
Nickerson's office, and in the same in
slant small boy shot out of an alleyway
and approached Miss Atherton. AS Mr..
Dunn moved away, he heard the small
boy say:
Miss Atherton, Bob Walters Is holed
up-he hasn't left the house since"
That will do for the present" said
Irene. Come back again in an hour, #
you are not needed at home"
The small boy sped away, and Irene
returned to her visitor, apologizing for
her long absence. Mayberry looked at
her closely. Whatever the detective had
to communicate, it did not distress or
alarm her. He was treasured. Dunn's
tones were so familiar that he soon plac-
ed the owner of the voice. Then, when
the door was closed, he speculated on
Dunn's errand there. And now" he
said to himself, II must not go without
in some manner conveying to Irene the
assurance that | may be able to assist
and counsel her in case anything happens
to her father"
When she looked at him smilingly, he
did not know how to go about it. He
blurted out the truth, as men often 1o.,
"Miss Atherton-Irene!-I want you to
call on me-to send me word-in case
anything happens"
What do you meanT said Irene. Her
manner changed so quickly that he was
angry with himself for his lack Of tact.
II know the person who called. His
name is Dunn"
"He told me he was detective"
"There is nothing you need be afraid
of. | know Mr. Dunn-if l had cared
to, l would have asked you to bring
him in, but do not like to NEEDLE, or
know more of other peoples affairs than
is absolutely necessary"
"1'hen you think it is nothing about
my father-nothng that threatens him,
or will give him trouble?"
ION the contrary, | think Mr.. Dunn is
inclined to be friendly"
Irene thought of the mysterious note.
Would she confide in him? No! 1t seem
ed to be destroying the little romance of
her life already. No! Decidedly not.
She would not permit the disagreeaDles
| of life to occupy her thoughts. Disagree
able things were the wasps of daily life,
because people permitted them to come
uppermost Irene Anterior kept the pet
| ty annoyances, all things that could not
be helped, but must be endured, in The
background.
"Ther l will not fret myself over it."
you need not. You have in Inc a
friend at all times hereafter, Irene"
~ believe YOU" she said, simply.
| Arthur Mayberry at that moment
would not have exchanged Irene Ather-
toms entire trust in him for a million
dollars. All the world could not have
bought the conviction he experienced
the sense of being loved for himself alone
trusted as she trusted in him.
"No matter what happens, that a wom-
an may confide to man, you must come
to me- Irene. next to your father"
II will" answered Irene. 81 think
father must have met some of his friends
or he would have come back. He rarely
goes away a whole evening without tell
ing me-"
Mayberry thought of Dunn, but said
nothing. A laundering knock at the dool
surprised both
Another visitor" thought Mayberry
as he rose and reached for his hat.
Irene opened the door, and Mr.. GripI
entered. He carried roll in his hand
which he handed her, saying, with {
smile designed to be winning, and a benz
of the body indicating graciousness:
"You made a trihing mistake, Mis-
Atherton. You gave me the wrong par
eel. am sure it was not intentional oil
your part
There was a CLEAN in Mr.. Grips eye
that caused Irene to shiver. Her sensa
tons were similar to those excited by tn
presence of a toad or lizard. Why wa
it2 Mr.. Grips features were regular
he was a fine-looking man in the ord
nary acceptance of the term. Why d.
he produce this impression.
. ~ was in a hurry when l gave it t
you, Mr.. Grip. | did not, as | shout
have done, open and look at it,"
"Ah! well, will beg you to look fo
the right papers, then
= you had best come in and wait unit
my father returns, when he will be sur
| IN criva Won what Won want -