The Washington herald., 1907-12-15
CHAPTER xxx.
The Disappearance of "the CoEhden.
tiaI,v

!
Dental" For instance. It was by his
wish that Mr.. James Kahn was deputed
to receive and pay over to the vendor
that part of the purchase money OF Incu-
! bus & Co.'S business which he was to
receive in cash.
To this Mr.. Romer's lawyer objected.
and had been met by the retOrt, You
may know something about law. possibly.
but not so much as Mr.. Kahn knows
about money. He has handled all mine
for fifteen years.
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders, and
! delivered his headstr0ng client over 10
the freedom of his own will. To so
! through the world without legal advice
at every step was bad enough. But to
fly in the face of a qualified practitioner
was the next thing to defying Providence.
And so indeed it proved.
One morning James Kahn did not ar
rive at the Incubus offices. The guardian
! doorkeeper ran in and out like a dog at
a fair. Johnemann had been down 10 see
Mr.. Kahn half dozen times. Within
/ the call bell of the telephone was ringing
| shrewishly. A dozen aids and foremen
stood about expecting orders. McKnl and
| Grinding were there waiting for a Con-
| ference of the Greater Powers. Still
James Kahn did not come
They were all instinctively watching the
pale lilac strip of road, sparsely bordered
with brick cottages. down which the big
automobile was wont TO rush like a
mustard-colored bolt. The road remained
open and empty. Certain children. re-
moved by careful mothers AT the hours
of the masters passing. trickled out and
began 10 play about again.
Got something the matter with him. D"
said Hector McKnl. tentatively
| The second acting superintendent cast
a glance at him out of a pale blue eye
so deeply trenched in his chubby face
that its position seemed the result of a
surgical operation.
Something wrong with the till. more
likely snapped Grinding. who had been
up late for three nights running (Hector
treasured this innuendo for future use)
i give him until y o'clock and then
What" said Hector McKin. hoping
that Grinding would give himself away
Yet more and worse.
I will get on a horse and ride to
The Caravanserai.' said Grinding, who
had a kind Of stubborn courage Of his
own Kahn has been extra careful this
while back that nobody should SEQ the
bOoks-nOt. that is TO make anything Of
them
Punctual to his word. Grinding mount
ed his chestnut mare and rode off through
the village Of KirktOwE. Taking the
road aforesaid. the pale lilac shaving
set at an angle up the opposite brae, he
was at The Caravanserai' in a quarter
Of an hour. He rang the bell. and began
10 question the boy in buttons who ap-
peared al the. door in answer TO his
summons.
Mr.. Kahn" he cried, out OF breath;
''can I see him? Most urgent"
Mr.. Kahn left yesterday afternoon in
the motor. SIR said the boy.
Was Casimr with him." painted the
stout Grinding.
mo. sir; but when Mr.. Casimir came in
twenty minutes afterward, he went and
got the big merciless (Iercedes) one, the
one that goes so fast and set of. too
He graZed the gate-post going out-he
was In such a hurryi'
why didn't Mr.. Kahn take the better
motorg' said Grinding. slipping the boy
half a sovereign.
Don't know that, sir" said the boy in
buttons. Cept p'raps he was more ac-
customed TO the old one, as Il were.
He wasn't near the good driver that Mr..
Casimir had come 70 be, sir! He was too
nervish, to my thinking
Then Casimir wasn't nervOus?'
"Oh. no. SIR said the boy; but that's
what he made us-yes, sir, he scared us
sick-everybody about the place-aIways
popping off pistols. and fixin' up iron
targets the size Of your hand in the sta
bic yard. He smacked them everytime
fc fv-rra DIT
know when he would miss, and very
likely fetch YOU as like as nOt?"
Il see" said Grinding: ''he was not
popular, then, this Mr.. Casimir?'
Him" said the boy. with emphasis
and then, recollecting himself, he added
mot that 1 have anything TO say against
any Of masters guests-you yourself
sir, have been here several times, and
am sure you would not wish to get a
poor boy into trouble"
Certainly not" said Grinding. anxious
at all hazards to make his point Il
think have seen your face-son Of Greg
son. butler at CORN Castle. are you not?'
Yes, sir-thank'ee. sir,' the boy jerked
a bow
Well Master Gregson," said Grind
ling, severely, 'if you want 10 keep
your father in his place. you had better
and Mr. Casimirr'
What has that Casimir been doing.
sir?"
The cry was quite involuntary. but the
curious joy that lit the boys face was
the best certificate OF the unpopularity
Of Mr. John Casimir Strangely enough,
nothing whatever was said about Mr.
Kahn, who. among his other arts. had
that of making himself liked by his per-
sonnelle. This was chiefly a calculated
lavishness in the right place. together
with a certain habit of firmness and JUS
tice in small things. ''You knew when
you had Mr. Kahn," his servants said
when comparing him with the master Of
CORN Castle.
L don't know much beyond what I
have told you" said young Gregson; II
only wish I did, if it has anything TO do
with my father!'
Well, tell me everything" said Grind
ling. Il Will be the judge Of its value
miss nothing"
We'll, MIR Kahn-he Iunched here yes
terday," said the boy; he didn't eat
much. His appetite is noways grand. 1
took up his meal on a tray to his room.
The door OF the big safe was open
Is 1t shut now?" cried Walter Grind
ling; ''let me Sect
But the boy was. thus far at least.
faithful TO his trust.
He got the door sufficiently close to
click the chain. Walter Grinding could
get his foot in, but no more.
Sorry Mist'r Grindllng-very sorry
- said Gregson Junior, but though
in way you are friend of masters. I
haven't the right. Put it to yourself
now, have /? 1 am left here in charge
till master gets back. or a proper officer
OF the law comes along with a warrant
Oh. l know all about warrants and Open
in the name of the law They are all