The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-24
lAKoop

OF this young girl that gave MIN PAUSE
he gazed at it for some time.
by George" said Constitutional
Smith to himself, that's the face OF
queen amongst women wonder what
the old duck, O'Keefe, is dom with TINS
picture; wonder now.
The next day Constitutional Smith
started in in dead earnest. He was no
longer Constitutional Smith. he De-
came Ellington O'keefe.
There were two things that aided MN
Immensely. One, as has been said, was
the fact that he had made extensive
and exhaustive preparation. The other
was that he was completely at his ease
He understood one thing perfectly. He
knew he was bound to make mistakes,
but he knew, also, that to people whose
suspicious are not aroused, even huge
discrepancies seem immateriaL fhey
are unnoticed. He knew that as Bill
lington O'Keefe, the reputed million
aire, but little that he did would be
questioned, and mistakes would be set
down to eccentricity or forgetfulness.
One thing he had to do, and 1t was
the one thing that worried him. though
he assumed that he could raise the
money for the purpose He owed $4,000
cold, hard cash to the two young toughs
who had done his dirty work He had
less than thousand to pay them with.
And If he didn't pay them-that was a
situation for which he was somewhat
unprepared. But he was satisfied that
in the end he could arrange 1t to his
satisfaction and to theirs
He discharged his servants. one by
one. He did this at once. He knew
that in doing it at any early date he
would be unquestioned, and he made
some excuse to each of them. They
went. 1t mattered little to them; they
were sure of good positions elsewhere.
He employed new servants, but only
half as many. He felt he must econo-
nize.
In due time he went to the bank,
drew a check in the sight of the
teller-after six hours study in the
demand presented it for payment. The
teller merely glanced at it.
Little shaky this morning, Mr..
O'Keefe,'' he smiled.
For answer Smith held up his maim-
ed finger.
II see" said the teller, "and too
bad at that There you are, SIR
He received the money. Then spent
some time about town. chatted with
several familiar acquaintances and re-
turned to his home.
Several letters awaited hina-mostIy
bills, for it was around the first Of the
month. There was one check-a very
small dividend upon a railroad stock.
letter, addressed in a feminine hand.
He tore this letter open and read its
contents. They were as follows:
My Dear Mr.. O'Keefe: You are such
very active man and seem to enjoy
doing favors SO very much that am
going to ask you to stop in at the Ii
brary and bring to me the next time
book, The Chilled Soul Peggy, who
usually does these little favors for
me, is not very well. She asks me, by
the way, my dear Mr.. O'Keefe, to beg
your pardon for her rudeness of the
other night. The poor dear child is
not altogether well, and her head was
splitting. I think you understand her,
and understand that she has a deep,
very deep. regard for you, and that
she meant nothing by an outburst
caused only by q slight indisposition
Both she and I, my dear Mr.. O'Keefe,
welcome your visits, and anticipate
them with pleasure. shall post this
with my own hand in the box at the
corner. remain, my dear Mr.. O'Keefe,
very sincerely yours,
Patricia Jelliffe Robson"
The letter contained at its head an
enameled crest-a family coat of arms,
and was addressed from II Southerton
avenue, Monroe. Smith folded the let
ter and put 1t in his pocket
GiSot SCOtlI ne exclaimed TO him.
self, now I am getting into it, for faIr
and with the women, too. And worse
luck, s'pose it's summons. I s'pose
I'll have to 60 Gee, but this man
O'Keefe is tangled up"
Now. 1t must not be imagined that
Constitutional Smith invariably used
this unconventional language. It has
been said that he was consummate
swindler. He was. and he was con-
summate actor. He was q gentleman
among gentlemen. mans man
among all men, woman's man among
women. And he played we'll the part
that he assumed.
On this particular day Mr.. Smith be-
came hopelessly involved, and vet not
unprofltably or unpleasantIy either.
Not half an hour later than his
perusal Of the missive from Patricia j.
Robson, he was blessed with q fem
mime caller. She was ushered into the
drawing room below, and her presence
was Immediately announced. She was
Mrs. Charles ]. Hallowell.
Smith warily descended the stairs and
entered the room. He was nearly TAX
en- off his feet. A plump. medium sized