Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-04-19
(c0pyrlGhI by The cslsoli Publisbing Col
CHAPTER xv1II.-CoNr1NUrD.


"oh! my dear Mr.. Policeman" said
Aunt Comfort, Fastening to open lit
tie reticule which she carried at her
eide, as soon as her eyes fell on the
inspectors portly form. "Ohl my dear
Mr.. Policeman--if you are the proper
man-yes, thank you'll have found
the most awful thing In the house,
and, though -M,s. stackhouse said Il
was all nonsenss, could not rest till
had brought it 10 you"
You come from Mr. North's, 1 be-
heve?" said the inspector. You were
ais sisteF-in-law?"
Yes, indeed, sir; poor mani And
to thins kaat he should have such
frightfuI communications as this sent
~ him, aNa should keep them Sc
Vet from everybody In the house,
when his own wffes sister--but It is
lost Ike himl He was so thoughtful
OF everybody except himself"
She had already excitedly thrust in
the inspectors hand an envelope, Of
which the seal was broken.
A glance showed him that It was
postmarked Boston, May TO-" of this
same year, and that it was without
any distinctive mark to betray its au-
thorship. 1t was superscribed in a
feminine hand, paul North, Esq,
Marlboro Street, Boston, Mass" The
envelope contained a sheet Of COM
mon notepaper, on which was written
in the same chirography as that Of the
superscriDtion, the following:
MY Dear Sir: Pardon the freedom of a
complete stranger, but believe in me you
have a well-wisher It Is / who should
warn you against trusting fortune or char
acter in the hands OF Mr.. Albert Runyon.
At least before doing so, permit that ad-
VIE you to investigate the history Of his
past. He IL a serpent In the grass, who
has ruined systematically everybody who
in him conhded, and will ruin you In the
came way l beg you will not treat this
warning Nightly, for II you disregard it
you will surely come to grief sooner or
later, and will remember when 1t is too
late. my good advice. A word to the wise
Is sufficient
"a FRIEND"
The Inspector read this letter
through twice very carefully before no
uttered word. Who was Albert Run
yon?
Mr.. Applebee was sure that he had
mover heard the name before.
Well" said the inspector, you did
Ftry right 10 bring this to me. Where
did you find it?"
Aunt Comfort explained after q deal
OF circumloGution, which It is unnec-
essary 10 reproduce, that she had &C
cidentally come across 1t In examining
some papers Of her late brother-in-law,
which until recently had reposed I'M
der lock apd key in his writing desk
at the Marlboro street house.
9he inspector Quieted her agitation
by assuring her that she had done her
full duty in Immediately referring this
matter to the police, and that they
would take steps to investigate 1t.
AS soon as Miss Harwood had gone,
the inspector showed the letter to mis-
chief.
This is one of that kind of matters
In which the newspapers are of the
most service" said that potentate,
after brief reelection. 1--WE, might
keep this thing in our possession for
dogs age, and never know any more
about it than we do now. If, however.
the newspapers publish It we stand
an even chance of hearing something
about this Mr.. Runyon-if the cIew
amounts to anything at all, which is
doubtful. BY the way, did you ask
the old lady If she had ever heard OF
any person Of thar Manner
ITO be sure / did" said the in.
spector, "and she expresses complete
ignorance. / think Ill make some In.
quiries of Staekhouse as to whether
there was any such man to his knowl.
edge associated with North In bust
ness, before giving the thing to the
newspapers"
ITO be sure, said the inspector;
"but It's doubtful Apparently North
attached no Importance to the COM
munication, for II he had made any
talk about Il, We should have heard
Of the thing before"
With the letter in his pocket, In
spsetor Applebee set out az once In
quest OF the junior partner
Inspector Applebee, however, had
some difficulty in finding Thornton
Stackilouse.
The fact was that at this moment
10 was engaged In an earnest confer.
ence With Detective John Lamm at tho
latter's Office.
II have come to you. Mr.. Lamm.
MIR. Stackhonse had said, as soon as
ldr Lamm had closed the door OF tho |
1nneF office. Tor the purpose Of Civ
lng you a little information With ref.
erence to personal matters, which / |
ought, perhaps. to have mentioned to !
you before"
stackhouse looked rather perturbed,
and refrainec from meeting she steady
eazs Of the man whom he addressed.
Il trust, said Lamm, that It Is not
too late now"
mo" reioined staekhouse, nervous
W MOTT Is not too late Tor you: for
mo 4 may he.
FIql. a. a.. N