The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-09
CHAPTER IV.-Contlnued.
One Thing Before All.

In the sittlng-room the interior Of the
desk which he had left unlocked as usual,
was equally upset. Paper and envelopes
were scattered. Letters and notebooks had
been opened The hand which had Great
ed all this disorder had had some definite
object in view. 1t occurred to Breakspear
that the intruder, whoever he was, had
desperately desired to obtain thing Of
small size which might have been tucked
away for safe keeping in an envelope, or
between the covers of a volume. Gould
1t have been the photograph or the hair
he was so mad to get hold OFF," Jim Won
dered. mo. for II he wasn't blind he
must have seen them both almost as soon
as he came into the room, before he began
ransacking everything. Jove! 1t must
have been the papers-the memoranda he
was after. They were the only things ]
had with me when I went out. Not salts
fed with all that he took from the port
manteau. and the photograph and hair as
well, he was wild because he couldn't lay
his hands on the papers. There's proof
Of one thing at least. They were Of more
importance than all the rest to him.
At this moment sallie appeared. her
hair in curl-papers. What was it you
was wanting, sir?" she asked "Yor
know there's no service here after eleven
but as 1t was your bell I dressed and
came down. I wouldn't have done 1t II
1t had been anybody else"
Jim thanked her absent -mindedly and
flew to the questions he was burning tc
ask
What sort of looking person was the
Mr.. Brandon-Payne who called on me to-
hight?" he inquired.
"Oh, tall and dark and rather distin-
Buished, SIR"
The real Brandon-Payne was short
light, and insignificant. But that was a
detail now.sa 7.> ues.+ IS o. aasaRzrissaa
ha wall n -
spear, recalling the shabbiness Of Eagle
face. -. sI..r". .-
VERY we'll dressed, sir His clothes
looked quite new, and 80 did the bag he
was carrying"
"Ah! so he had a bag?"
Eyes, sir, quite a big travelling bag
seemed as If 1t had never been used.
advised the gentleman to leave 1t in thu
hall downstairs, where told him it would
perfectly safe. But he would have it will
him. He didn't even let me carry 1t up
Said, very pleasant-like, 1t was too heavy
for me; tho to see the way he held it 70,
wouldn't think 1t weighed much more thar
d feather"
TIL warrant 1t weighed more comint
down." muttered Jim. But Sallie was no
sure that she had heard Alright.
How did you know the gentleman wa
the one he pretended to be?" Breakspea
continued his catechism. -.
"Oh, gracious me, sir, I wouldn't hav
Jet him up to your rooms to sit all alon
by himself for hours If hadn't asked hin
his name and he given one I'd happene,
to see on card in your sitting-room.
remembered that, and knew it must b
all right .....
quite So" commented Jim, drily. I"
say, Is there any other key about tn
house that fits the wardrobe door in m,
room, do you happen to know? It's Al
ordinary sort of lock-
Yes, sir, they key Of the bookcase II
your own sitting-room fits it, tho it dom
go around in the lock very easy. know
because once when the last lodger befor
You was there she lost the key Of tn
wardrobe and was SO put out, and
II see. That's just what I wanted t
know" broke in Jim. '.And-I think that
ALL I'm sorry to have bothered yor
sallie. Here's something for your trou
With this a coin changed hands, an
romantic Sallie decided instantly tina
instead Of spending it, she would hav
the new half-crown made into a brooch