The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-01-22

, by the window while James Wept near
! him he was pursuing the only logical
course. He felt that he must take the
| chances.
What nervous force he was compelled
| to exert in order not to manifest the
perturbation he felt during those hours
of the night nobody but himself could
ever know, and when he left the club
in the full light of the early morning
in the company of one of his compan-
ions in the game it brought the first
moment of relief he had had from the
terrible strain.
At his own door he left his friend
and, saying that he would get two or
three hours sleep, entered the house
where he lived. He knew that he w3a
in position to prove an alibi for every
hour that had passed since he parted
with PendletOn except those that were
really the most vital-between and
10 o'clock the preceding evening-and
for those he must trust to nerve and
chance in case the question should
arise.
AS soon as he was in lis own room
he carefully examined the papers that
he had taken from the safe and in the
interest he felt in them for the time
partially forgot the awful reason for
the examination.
From them he selected several which
he concealed. The others he destroyed.
But after he had bathed and refreshed
himself, thus destroying all outward
appearance of the effect of the events
Of the past night upon him, he return.
ed to the club for his breakfast.
He had found among the papers the
key to many things that he did not un
derstand. and he felt certain that as
soon as he could have a protracted talk
with old James he would be enabled tC
see his way clearly before him. The
mystery by which Pendleton was sur
rounded was beginning to unfold.
Al the club he met Carleton Biggs, a
found in almost every club of pcomi
hence in New York. They belong to
the has beens" in that they are among
tho oldest 'nnmhnrS ara ALWAYS Snrvin"
Oh some committee and have lrO-.l
some mysterious source income suffi
Client to pay their dues and purchase
an occasional meal. But they are al
ways ready to accept an invitation to
breakfast or dine and regard their
abilities to entertain as sufficient equiv
alent for the favor. More than that
they are ever ready to perform any
slight gentlemanly service which will
place one Of their benefactors under
obligations to repeat the invitation at
the first OppOrtune moment. Wynd-
ham desired Biggs to perform just such
n service for him, and for that reason
invited him to take breakfast.
When they had lighted their cigars,
WInsihum pat out his feeler.
'Dy Jove." he said. ut is too bad
that PendetOn has not come in. Did
you see him last night, Carleton"
''No l heard that he was back, but l
did not see him."
"He was to meet me here during the
evening and did not come. Then |
supposed he would blow in for his
breakfast. I really ought to get word
to him before go down town, and yet
| haven't the time. I'll have to write
a line and send it down by q messen-
ger boy
Biggs fidgeted an instant in his chair
and then took the bait.
'I'm going down that way presently"
he said. 81 had it in mind to drop in
and see Burr anyway, SO if can carry
a message for you, old man.
"Would you? That is just the thing.
1t will be a great favor. Carleton, if
you will take the trouble"
'No trouble at all. 1 intended to stop
there anyhow, you know. Will you
write the message, or shall'-
Certainly not. Just tell him that
it is very important that he should