Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-01-25

Hal Whist was thatf Again rerk
outside. Tor Q moment be listened
brsathlessly. Then he opened his door
again. Good graciousl There was Mr.
Kassaia once more blinking down ths
corridor.
Hastily putting on his dreasine
gown, Mr.. Jones followed with nerves
strung TO their highest tension. This
time the Asiatic walked with no UNI
certain step. He stopped at Mr.. Percy's
door and tapped gently. The light In
the room was turned on, and the door
opened by Mr.. Percy himself. MI.
Kassala entered, and the door closed
noiseIessly behind him.
| For some minutes Mr.. Jones stared
at the door in blank amAzement. Then
he turned around and walked slowly
back to his own room, IS
where is Mr.. Kassala?" were the,
bishops first words on entering the
breakfast room the next morning. Al
though his lordship had betrayed no
consciousness of his existence, Mr..
Jones felt that the inquiry was leveled
at him.
Il do not know. my lord" he an
swered.
i John" said. the bishop to his but
\ lei, hwill you INFORM Mr.. Kassala that
breakfast is on the table"
In a few minutes John returned with
the information that Mr.. Kassala's
room was empty, that his bed had not
!, been slept in, and that nobody had seen
him that morning.
THAT is very. singular" said his
/ lordship. Then, after pause, "One
\ hardly likes to say so; but must con-
4 TESS my confidence in the bona fides OF
Mr.. Kassala has been shaken. You
ppoke about burglars last night, Mar
maduke, in reference to my crozier.
which seemed to have Q peculiar at
traction for Mr.. Kassala. hope It u
safe"
/ II put the case on the top Of my
wardrobe last night, and 1t was there
Eve minutes ago." said Mr.. Percy.
The chaplain was bursting with In
dignation at Mr.. Percy's concealment
4 of his midnight interview with Mr..
Kassala. HE longed to expose him,
but shrank from the necessity OF .
painful scene.
Mildred" said Mrs. Dacre sudden
ly. 'let us look through the. drawing
room silver at once. hope the eQues-
trian statuette Of your father Is safe"
While the ladies were ticking on
their household goods, Mr.. Percy went
to his room to pack, and Mr.. Jones
followed. =.
'May have his lordship's erozier?"
asked the chaplain.
Certainly. Here you are. But you
: do look unhappy, Jones. What is the
matter?"
Mr.. Jones took the case without re-
plying.
: "The key was in the lock last night
he remarked. m
"Was it? Then 1t must have dropped
. out somewhere. Perhaps it's on the
floor" Both Mr.. Percy and the chap
J lain looked very carefully for 1t.
"Never mind" said the former, after
. i've minutes fruitless search. 1T VIII
probably turn up after I've gone. re
member that Ill be responsible for any
: damage"
. The chaplain was very pale. "Mra
t percy" he said II know Of your mid"
right, interview with Mr.. Kassala."
Mr.. Percy fixed, his monocle. DO
9 YOU. old MANI" he replied, Then
i won't be the one to get you into
e trouble over it. You may rely on
me. II you don't say anything J
Z. shant Now, good-by It'll take me
. all my time to get my things To-
gether." =.
|, Mr.. Jones left the room more bewil-
n dered than ever. His lordship, after
leaving stringent instructions regard
3 ing Mr.. Kassala, should he again APP
!, pear, went by the noon train to town
with Mr.. Percy.
y Mr.. Jones appeared singularly dis
. tracted all day, and about IL O'CLOCK
Is at night, with determination on his
d face, he forced the lock of the croziel
/ case His worst fears were realized
In place Of the crozier Of ebony, gold
le and Jewels, there reposed on the purple
o velvet lining common bedroom 20
d. kerI
q Atthat very moment the bishop o.
/ Bister,s crozier lay on the table OF
t. London mansion. Twelve men vert
r. gathered round it, complimenting theii
1t host upon 1t. Their host, by the way
r. was lately his majesty's secretary o.
r. state for Egypt He was now attiret
le in a long blue cassock-like garb, sucI
m as AsIatic priests may wear.
d "By the burglary Of the bishop 2
4 Bister'sr crozier, Lord Rlbston's sub
ut scription has been paid for the neg
ic two years" said one Of the men, max
d. ing cipher note in book.
ls aGentlemen," said the man In IN
priestly garb, rising to his feet amid
!" applause, 81 am proud once more z
he have been able to fulfill the mandat'
Of the Burglars club. With your per
"A I'm ,ovv mark mn the han