Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-23

Mr.. Gates, will you do me a favor?" she
asked timidly, with aYerted face. f,4...
Certainly" replied the young man, with
an uplifting Of the shoulders and spread
ing out of the hands. at is my constant
wish to be of service TO you. What is %
why, 1 want TO send a telegram and
want you to write it for me-"
'Ah!" and Gates smiled in deprecatinG
way. Then Miss wolcott wishes me to
act as her amanuensis?"
"Only because I am temporarily dis
abled," she FASTENED to assure him, with
quiverlhg lips.
"How?" queried the young man, with
the ready sympathy that always distin-
gulshed him when she was concerned.
She despised herself for the part she
was playing, but excused it when she re-
membered that the memory of her father
was at stake.
"A nasty rheumatic attack in the arm, y
she explained, putting out her right arm
with painful slowness and making a
grimace. II don't believe 1 could hold a
pen in my right hand"
Certainly; certainly 1 will write it for
your exclaimed Gates, pulling out tele-
graph blank. 60 ahead; I'm ready"
She gave him a name and address and
dictated:
You need not come to the house. 1t will
not be necessary now.
THAT was easy" laughed Gates, as he
handed her the telegram. Give me some
thing harder next time"
In five minutes the telegraphic blank was
in Barnes hand. AS he read it he gave a
whoop of joy.
us 1t important" she asked, anxousy.
l., In,
valuable!"
The chief called Clancy at once. and the
two men started away to beard the junior
partner in his den.
Wen give him the third degree" said
Barnes grimly, as they tapped on the
door.
Come in called a querulous voice.
Gates looked up in angry surprise as the
two men entered.
what do you want?" he asked in sullen
tones.
Mr.. Gates" said Barnes persuasively, as
he seated himself without an invitation,
Il want you to tell me just what you know
of the taking OF of Mr.. Wolcott"
"The taking of" cried the other with a
nervous jerk. What do you mean by
that?"
AS he spoke, a little red flush appeared
on each sallow cheek.
Precisely what l say" retorted the In.
spector. Then he added Perhaps we
can talk better II we smoke"
Gates looked him in the eye and won
dered whether to order the man out OF
submit TO his cross-examination. While he
hestated he was lost.
Have you a cigarette to spare?" asked
Barnes, stlll in a kindly voice.
Certainly was the response and a
box was held toward him with a trem.
bling Outstretched hand.
He took one out of the receptacle and
held Il in his hand Gates noticed the
movement
''You'll find It good" he said in tone
intended 10 be cOnciliaung, 1T was made
In Constantinople. l never use any bui
the Turkish cigarettes"
Il thought So" cried Barnes. his voicC
rising.
"Why2" asked the junior partner.
Because" said the chief, deliberately
''the stump / picked up in the library
where Wolcotts body was found was the
butt end OF a Turkish cigarette That's
all"
The pink spots disappeared from Gates
checks. leaving his face perfectly white.
rs that ann he asked finally.
NO" said Barnes Look at this" anS
he handed Gates the telegram that ha,
been written for Miss Wolcott only a few
minutes before. The junior partner woul,
have torn II up II the chief had not re
covered it almost instantly.
We'll" he cried. filled with rage an,
fear, what are you doing with that tele
TaRT'