The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-11-18
-. BY....
CHARLES a MUM
s copyrisbf. 1900. by LEE "a SHEPARD ::


NOW. l believe John Mason is not en-
tirely happy In his home relations and
that q certain young lady receives a
share of his attentions. While they are
never seen in public together. gossip
links their names. What | want is for
you to find out through your a%cquaint-
ance with the Nasons just what bond
there Is between the elder Mason and
the youn, lady and report to me. | do
not intend to use the knowledge for
any Illegal purpose. but merely as a
leverage to retain Nason's business. ]
am aware that to prosecute your In
quirics discreetly by means Of your In
tiuacy with young Mason will require
more money than l am paying you,
and therefore. If | can depend on you
to do a little detective work, | shall
from now on increase your salary from
So to $1T5. What do you sayy'
The first impulse that Page felt was
to absolutely refuse there and then to
have anything to do with Fryc's me-
farious 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 d
moment he reflected, trying hard to
see a way out of the dilemma. and then
said:
1T is rather a hard task you ask. Mr..
Frye. for | am not accustomed to the
role of detective. but | am in your en-
ploy. and as long us ! am | will do The
best | can for your interests"
1t was Il temporizing reply. and Frye
so construed 1t at once.
Il must insist If you acc = 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 a game of extortion-
a question of do the other fellow or lie
will do YOU" Then arising and hold
ing out a skinny hand to grasp Pages.
he added. Il 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 vas preoccupied and
morose. and Frank, noticing his frame
of mind. tried to cheer him.
You look as X you had been given
a 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 a clean
breast Of it and relieve his feelings
was strong. but he did not.
Il do not like Frye" he said in
stead, "and the more | see of him the
less | like him. At times lie makes
me feel as if he was Il snake ready to
uncoil and strike. Have you ever no
ticed lis eyes and the way he has Of
rubbing his hands when talking?"
Il have" was the answer. and he
has the most hideous eyes | ever saw
in a human being. They look like a
eats in the dark. Dad told me once
he saw Frye look at a witness lie was
cross examining in such a way that
the poor fellow forgot what his lame
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 a witness"
They make me feel creepy every
time | look at them" said Albert, and
then. as If anxious to change the sub
ject. he added: Lets leave here.
Frank. and you come with me to my
room. where we can have Il quiet talk
together. | am In the dumps tonight
and want to unbosom my troubles to
YOU"