The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-09-13

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT Is, MISS vosE?"
man she had seen ia a lifetime because
he did not dispute her statement that
/ Beethoven would have written ragtme
if he had known how.
When supper was announced it was
Isabel Nose who led him in triumph to
the bank parlor, in which the banquet
/ was spread. She was Il sensible young
woman and exceedingly attractive
withaL She had passed the ultra ro-
mantle period of young womanhood,
but she found it difficult to suppress
the rather harassing and wholly unac-
cOuntablc interest she was beginning
to take in this mysterious and very
agreeable musician. During the repast
he talked much and most appreciative-
ly of rural life and its reStfulness and
capacity to supply the true musical in
! spiration. Although he avoided the dis
CussiOn of personal matters with what
seemed to Isabel an exaggerated deli
cacy, she had almost persuaded herself
before they returned TO the lodge room
that he was a composer who had come
to CroSskill in search of the proper at
mosphere for Il mastery effort
As they We're rising from the table
the professor took from the pocket Of
his low cut vest slip Of paper and
began to unfold it. This is something
l picked up from the floor after | had
been talking with your father" he
said, handing the slip to Isabel. 1T
seems to be a cabalistic design of some
sort. 1t probably has some connec-
ton with the order DO you know
what it is, Miss NoseE
Yes, | do" she answered hastily.
1T belongs to my father. He must
have pulled it from his pocket with
his handkerchief. He will be annoyed
when l confront him with the evidence
of his Carelessness."
Then | should advise you to defer
the matter. He seems TO be enjoying
himself, and it would be cruel to dis
turb him." the young man said, with
soft laugh.
Isabel laughed a little too. Il guess
l will take your advice" she said, put
ting the slip in the belt of her gown
and at once forgetting all about it.
On the way home the Voses discuss
ed the professor. Mrs. Vose, always
charitable to the verge of absurdity,
startled the others by a positive dec
laration that she did not like him and
that she was afraid of him. Her hus-
band ridiculed her fears and protested
that the man was genius who had
gone astray in Crosskil. Isabel with
held her opinion if she had one When
they arrived at home she went direct
~ to her room, leaving her parents
still engaged in fixing the probable
social status Of the stranger
About daybreak she awoke from a
distressing nightmare in which the pro-
fessor seemed to be standing over her
in Il threatening attitude demanding
the combination which would open the
banks safety vault Then she remem-
bered the slip Of paper which she had
tucked in her belt for safe keeping
She sat up in bed affrightedly, and the
first object that met her eye was the
piece of paper, which lay upon the spot
where it had fallen when she removed
her belt
Only a horrible Dream she wills
pered with a great sigh of relief. But,
really. papa is the one that should have
had it, If he will carry that combina-
ton around in his pocket he deserve
! TO take the consequences.
She composed herself and went to
sleep.
Nevertheless the professor robbed the
/ bank. With the combination in his pos
session and with his expert knowledge
Of the ways and means of doing such
things it was an easy effort. When
| they opened the concert grand it
/ proved to be a hollow sham-no sound
ing board, 10 strings, no anything APP
/ pertaining to the interior of the noble
| instrument it simulated; only a tumble
| If weights and ballast and burglars
sundries, among them a complete set
/ Of bank lootlng tools and even q care
/ fully protected vial of the illuminate
/ with which Professor Pierre Lucien
/ Gerard had expected to achieve the
end which chance developed so unex-
! Dectedly and so soon.