The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-02-22

satishcd 10 continue that arrangement,
and l am forced to find some way to
beng 81 little pressure to bear on him
in orIor that he may see it is for his
interest 10 still retain me.
NOW, I believe John Mason is not en-
tirely happy in his home relations and
that q certain young lady receives q
share Of his attentions. While they are
never seen in public together, gossip
links their names. What I want is for
YOU to find out through your acquaint-
ancc with the Nasons just what bond
there IS between the elder Mason and
the young lady and report to me. I do
not intend to use the knowledge for
any Illegal purpose, but merely as n
leverage to retain Nason's business. l
am aware hat to prosecute your in
Quirics discreetly by means of your in
timacy with young Mason will require
more money than I am paying YOU,
II therefore,, If l can depend on you
TO do q little detective work, L shall
from now on increase your salary from
$40 to S1T5. What do you sayI"
The first impulse that Page felt was
to absolutely refuse there and thcn to
have anything to do with Frye's me-
forious scheme, but the thought of his
situation, the unpaid debt at home and
the certainty that n refusal would
mean n loss OF his position onQucrcd
his pride and kept him silent. For Il
moment he reflected, trying hard to
see n way out of the dilemma, and then
said:
1T is rather a hard task you ask, Mr..
Frye, for l am not accustomed to the
role OF detective, but / am In your en-
ploE, and as long as l am l will do the
best L can for your interests"
1t was n temporizing reply, and Frye
so construed it at once
II must Insist if you accept nv 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 Il game OF cXtortion-
a question of do the other fellow or lie
VIII do you" Then arising and hold
Ing out n skinny hand to grasp Pages.
he added, ~ 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 giyon
n facer, old man." he said. "Wbot
is The matter? Has FRYE been cali.
ing you down for something's"
rage locke at his friend n moment.
and the impulse to max Il clean
breast of 1t and relieve his feelings
was strong, but he did not.
II do not like Frye" he said in
stead, and the more L see of him the
less like him. At times he makes
me feel as If he vas n snake ready TO
uncoil and strike. Have you ever no
uced his eyes and the way he has OF
rubbing his hands when talking?"
Il have" was the answer. "and ho
has the most hideous eyes L ever saw
In a human being. They look like n
cats In h dark. Dad told me once
he saw Frye look at n witness he wos
cross examining in such n way that
the poor fellow forgot what his name
was II swore black was white
Ihose eyes are vicious weapons, they
say, n he uses them to the utmost
when he wants to scare n witness"
"Ihey make me feel creepy every
time i look at Them" said Albert, and
then, MS If anxious To change the sub.
1ect, he added: Lets leave here,
Frank, and you come with me to INV
room, where we can have a quiet talk
together. / am in the dumps tonight
N want to unbosom my troubles TO
you"
(To BE GoNTINuED.)