Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-05-05

IN order that he may see it is for his
interest to still retain me.
Now, believe John Mason is not en-
tlrely happy in his home relations and
that certain young lady receives a
share of his attentions. While they are
never seen In public together, gossip
links their names. What l want is for
you to find out through your acquaint-
ance with the Nasons just what bond
there is between the elder Mason and
the young lady and report to me. 1 do
not intend to use the knowledge for
any illegal purpose, but merely as a
leverage to retain Nason's business. I
am aware that to prosecute your in
quires discreetly by means Of your in
tlmacy with young Mason will REQUIRE
more money than l am paying you,
and therefore, if 1 can depend on you
to do a little detective work, shall
from now on increase your salary from
SIS to $175. What do you say?"
The first impulse that Page felt was
to absolutely refuse there and then to
have anything to do with Frye's ne
fartous scheme, but the thought of his
situation, the unpaid debt at home and
the certainty that a refusal would
mean a loss of his position conquered
his pride and kept him silent. For
moment he reflected, trying hard to
see way out of the dilemma, and then
said:
sit is rather hard task you ask, Mr.,
Frye, for l am not ustomed to the
role of detective, but am in your EN-
ploy, and as long as am l will do the
best l can for your interests"
1t was temporizing reply, and Frye
so construed it at once.
Il must insist if you accept my Of
fer" he said, "that you give me your
promise to do your best to earn the
money. 1t doesn't pay to be too
squeamish in this world" he continued
in a soothing tone. "All business Is to
a certain extent game of extortion-
a question Of do the other fellow or he
will do you" Then arising and hold
ing out a skinny hand to.grasp Pages,
he added, 81 shall expect you to keep
faith with ME, Mr.. Page" and the in
terview ended.
When Albert met Frank at the club
that evening he was preoccupied and
morose, and Frank, noticing his frame
of mind, tried to cheer him.
''You look as if you had been given
facer, old man." he said. what
is the matter? Has Frye been call
ing you down for something's"
Page looked at his friend a moment,
and the impulse to make clean
breast of it and relieve his feelings
was strong, but he did not.
II do not like Frye" he said in
stead, land the more l see Of him the
less l like him. AT times he makes
me feel as if he was a snake ready to
uncoil and strike Have you ever no.
ticed his eyes and the way he has Of
rubbing his hands when talking?"
Il have" was the answer, land he
has the most hideous eyes ever saw
In human being. They look like
cats in the dark Dad told me once
be saw Frye look at a witness he was
cross examining III such way that
the poor fellow forgot what his name
was and swore black was white.
Those eyes are vicious weapons, they
say, and he uses them to the utmost
when he wants to scare witness"
"They make me feel creepy every
time look at them," said Albert, and
then, as if anxious to change the SUBJ
ject, he added: Lets leave here,
Frank, and you come with me to my
room, where we can have a quiet talk
together. I am in the dumps tonight
and want to unbosom my troubles to
you.'