Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-02

ging Duvall. Two days ago the senQrl tor disappeared, unaccountably. l put two and two together, and late last evening took the liberty of breaking into his house." r' !. "Alone?" said Elinor, with the courage-worshiping light in the blue; gray eyes. "Yes; 1t didn't seem worth while to, double the risk. did 1t rather clums-i fly. I suppose, and my greeting was q shot fired at random in the darkness the senator mistaking me for bur- glar, as he afterward explained. There was no harm done, and the pistol well come effectually broke the ice in what might otherwise have been rather difficult interview. We had it out in an upper room, with the gas turned low and the window curtains drawn. To cut a long story short, I finally succeeded in making him understand what he was in for; that his confed- crates had used him and thrown him aside. Then went out and brought him some supper"
 Ormsby smote softly upon the edge of the table with an extended fore finger.
 twill he testify?" he asked.
 Rents rejoinder was definite.
 '.He has put himself entirely in my hands. He Is a ruined man, politic- ally and socially, and he Is desperate. While ? couldn't make him give me any of the details in the Trans Vest ern affair, he made clean breast of the oil field deal. and have his state- ment locked up with the other papers in the Security vaults" lid"
 It was Penelope who gave David Kent his due need of praise.
 q am neither a triumphant politi- clan nor successful detective, but recognize both when they are pointed out to me-" she said. ~"Mr. Kent, will you serve these gentlemen up hot for dinner, or cold for luncheon?'
 "Yes," Portia chimed in. You have outrun your pace-setters, and I'm proud of you. Tell us what you mean to do next"
 Kent laughed.
 You want to make me say some melodramtic thing about having the shackles forged and snapping them upon the gubernatorial wrists. don't you? It will be prosaic enough from this on. I fancy we shall have no diff ficulty now in convincing his excel- lency of the justice of our proceed ings to quash Judge MacFarlane and his receiver" ...'..-
 But how will you go about itf Surely you cannot go personally and threaten the governor of the state!" this from Miss Brentwood.
 Cant I?" said Kent. Having the score written out and safely commit ted to memory, that will be quite the easiest number on the programme, l assure you"
 But Loring had something to say about the risk.
 Thus far you have not considered your personal safety-haven't had to. perhaps. But you are coming to that now. You are dealing with a despe- rate man, David: with gang of them, in fact"
 "That is so." said Ormsby. And. as chairman of the executive commit tee, I shall have to take steps. We can't afford to bury you just yet, Kent"
 ."T think, you, needn't select the pall- bearers yet while." laughed the un- daunted one; and then Miss Van Brock gave the signal and the "execu- tive committee" adjourned to the drawing-room. Here the talk, already so deeply channeled in the groove po- litical, ran easily to forecastings and predictions for another electoral year; and when Penelope began to yawn be- hind her fan, Ormsby took pity on her and the party broke up.
 It was at the moment of leave-tak- ing that Elinor sought and found her chance to extract promise from David Kent
 'T must have a word with you be- fore you do what you say you are go- ing 10 do," she whispered hurriedly. twill you come to see me?"
 Certainly. if you wish 1t. But you mustn't let Loring's nervousness in- feet you. There is no danger"
 There is a danger" she insisted, "a much greater danger than the one Mir. Loring fears. Come as soon as you can, won't you?"
 It was a new thing for her to plead with him. and he promised in an access of tumultuous hope reawakened by her changed attitude.