The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-02-20
A KnaVe Of
Con SCience
By FRANCIS LYNDE.
Copyright 800, BY Francis Lynds.)
CHAPTER XVII.


sfH'n which Margery Grierson had
asked her father for bread and got
q stone-was fraught with other
happenings to more than one of
those whose trivial tale this is. The
Grst of these fell upon Jasper Grier-
son, as we have seen, and was little
short of a rebellion in his own house
hoid. The next was of import to one
Andrew Galbraith.
The president of the Bayou state
bank was spending a very pleasant
vacation in the quiet Minnesota sum-
sner resort. The people at the hotel
were chiefly from New Orleans, aud
hence congenial; the cooking was
good, the weather perfect, and the
few social doors of the town that Mr..
GalSFaith cared to enter were opened
'Side to him. Moreover, Mr.. Jasper
eirlerson had been exceedingly kind
TO IA Grabbed old man who was with
out kith or kin to make much of him;
and Miss Margery had quite neglect
ed t}ie younger men to be gracious
"a him.
NJ yas in the forenoon of this day
al happenings, while Mr.. Galbraith
was smoking his after-breakfast CT
gar on the great veranda which over
books the lake, that a caller was an
bounced. A bellboy brought the card
from the Office, and Mr.. Galbraith adj
fuxted his glasses leisurely and read
che name.
"'Ar. Kenneth Griswold,' Ell? |
don't recall the name. Stop bit
Ses,I do. He is Miss Maggie's writ
ar friend. Ask him if he will step
nut here, where it's cooler"
HE bellboy disappeared, and pres
emily returned, towing Griswoid.
The old man rose with the courtly
good breeding of the. elder genera
zion and shook hands with his visitor.
81 am glad to met you, Mr.. Girls
void. Miss Grierson has often spoken
of you. Sit down-sit down and be
comfortable. If you could only have
our Louisiana winters to put with
your summers, this would be Para
disc itself"
Griswold made shift to make some
acknowledgement, sat down, and be-
gan to tumble for his cigar case.
What ne had come prepared to say
60 Mr.. Galbraith was not made any
easier 10y this instant Juggling in of
4iargery Grierson as his social spon-
SoT.
"A cigar?" said the banker, inter-
Eogatively. Try one of mine; they
are Cubans with pedigree, and if
may toot my own pipe a bit. I'll say
they are not to be duplicated this
side of New Orleans"
Z Griswold took the proffered cigar
aud was still more ill at ease. While
he hesitatcd, not knowing exactly
Aow 20 begin the tale which should
&wist itself into warning to the
Nould-be purchaser of worthless pine
sands. the old man leaned back in his
.shair. regarding him with kindly in
1ercst. But all at once he sat up
very straight, and the kindly gaze
Became a sharp scrutiny.
'-Have you ever been in New Or
Reaas, Mr.. Griswold2" he asked, alb
ruptiy.
Griswold was instantly on his
guard, but in the thick of it he set
bis teeth upon q sudden resolve not
20 lie.
III have; but not very recently"
HIN; may l ask how recently?"
81 was south for a few weeks last
spring, and spent part of the time in
New Orleans"
Andrew Galbraith sat back in his
chair, and for all his apparent lapse
into disinterest, Griswold could see
the long upper lip twitch nervously.
Him; last spring, you say? We
had quite a bit of excitement last
spring. Mr.. Griswold. Did you chance
Go hear of the robbery of the Bayou
baTsk while you were there?"
Now Griswold knew that, notwith-
standing the seeming abstraction of
his questioner, he was under the
Gharpest surveillance that a pair of
WeH-trained old eyes could bring to
beat; knew this, and made sure that
Che slightest hesitation, the merest
1ui<ering of a muscle, would betray
hiua- So, though his lips were
parched and his tongue clave to his
hated nonchalance:
81 read Of it in the newspapers on
my way north" he said, with exact
and literal truthfulness. 81 remem-
BIER thinking it was the most brazen
thing had ever heard of. presume
you know all the parties concerned?"
This was said with the mildest pos
eible shading of decent curiosity, and
was very master stroke of evasion,
(which did lis work effeetuaily for the
2iEc Andrew Galbraith smiled a
sous. fittlc smile. and confessed that
hc kneu cue Of the parties sery well