Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-05-03
CHAPTER XXI.
pRAwINo THR NET.


less the quest seemed, but dangerous. In
the ordinary routine Of his duties he
would unhesitatingly have rejected an
enterprise Of so obnoxious and disagree
able nature. But the case was becom-
ing desperate and 1t was no longer a
business, no longer even a personal IN
terest. The mournful pleading OF the
big blue eyes Of Stella North nerved him
for the ignoble task. The remembrance
Of some tears which he had seen that
morning trembling on the long lashes
stimulated him to unprecedented effort
He was in that mood where to obtain
success he would stop at nothing short
of crime, He hardly knew himself In
this new role; but he played the spy and
the sneak that day as he never played 1t
before or since.
1t was easy enough to assure himself
Of the existence of the letter.
Fifteen minutes after holding confer
ence with Detective Lamm at the latter's
office, Kinghaan Thomas was walking
boldly to the desk at the Adams house.
Good morning." said the clerk, for
It was not yet Aoon of this eventful
Saturday.
Good morning." said Thomas. Can
you tell me whether Mr.. Stackhouse is
in the hotel?"
mot in his room," returned the clerk,
with queer smile. Hts key is here"
"Curious!" said Thomas, with an as
sumption of troubled reflection. 81
wonder IL he's got my letter. | wrote
him letter last night and rosted 1t at
Swampscott," he continued GY way of
explanation. Can you tell me whether
he has it YETI"
The clerk took a look in the pigeon
hole marked IS" and Thomas caught a
momentaTy glimpse of a square, white
envelope in his hand. But the clerk cast
it back Immediately and turned to the
reporter.
"There is a letter for him here with
the Swampscott postmark," he said. TT
may be yours"
"a square cream white envelope?"
queried Thomas, that looks like a
piece of woman's stationery.
yes"
"Ah, that's the one! He hasn't got it.
Thank you"
Are you going to wait and see him?"
the clerk inquired, with another smile.
"Why?" asked Thomas, seeming
something unusual.
Only there are dozen or SO ahead
Of you; that's all. Thought I'd let you
know"
Indeed! And where are they ALP
"oh, waiting about here"
Business men?"
well, they have that look. Since the
failure Mr. Stackhouse seems to have
been considerably IN demand"
ooh, / see."
Consequently, If it's anything impor-
tant you'd do we'll to hunt him up, as
this letter is likely to be here some
time"
Thomas thanked his informant. AS
he turned away from the desk daring
subterfuge by which he might obtain
possession of the letter came into his
mind, but he dismissed it with impa-
tient horror.
What am l thinking off" he ex-
claimed, mentally. Forgery! Tamper-
ing with the mail! must season my
impetuosiUy with little reason"
He sauntered out as far as the door
way, and stood there in a brown study.
mo, there is nothing for me to dc"
he thought, but to wait here for the
man to claim his letter. however long
that may be. must trust to luck and q
determined effort to get me a glance at
it after he has read It,"
The warning of the clerk made the
outcome look dubious. These men wait
ing about here must be creditors or
business associates who had pressing
reasons to see Stackho0se. The clerks
significant air had insinuated that the
junior partner was avoiding them. He
was not then to be found at the Office
of North & Stackhouse? Evidently not,
or these. men would not come here to
wait for him. Nevertheless II his wife
had sent the letter thither, 1t must be
because he had directed her to do so.
If he deemed 1t matter OF so much i'm
portAnce, as John Lamm imagined,
would he not find some way OF obtaining
his mall without calling?
1t was at the precise moment when
this thought was taking form in the re-
porter's mind that he observed a dis
trict messenger boy leaving the ONCE.
The boy was Just putting his hat upon
his head, and Thomas caught fieeting
glfmpse of a square, white envelope.
In an instant he eomprehended what
must have taken place since he had left
the desk. Thornton StaekhOuse had
sent a reQuisition to the clerk for his
mail A word at the desk confirmed the
reporters suspicious, and in another
minute he was upon the heels OF the
messenger. His task at present seemed
simplicity itself To follow this messen-
ger boy till he was finally led into the
presence Of the man whose commission
he executed WAS task that certainly
called for none of this higher expedients
Of Mr., Thomas genius
The boy took a course southwark and
I to- \