The Washington times., 1907-06-02

quite dark and empty as Dunfrey
himself had found il. He listened: there
was no hint Of any one walking Ia the
immediate vicinity. Puzzled, he re-
turned leisurely. The gate remained
as tightly closed as before: an atten-
tive ear pressed close against the oak
disclosed nothing whatever.
II Dunfrey really had entered. he
must have gone up in smoke. Grand
Sellers felt a chill run through him-he
had been shotl Could that he the ex-
PLANTATION of the one report? IL was
unlikely. he concluded. after little
consideration. If such a thing had oc-
CURED. Dunfrey was probably the man
behind the gun. He had left with It
In his hand, and he was certainly
quick enough 20 use II.
And now Sellers was at the corner
and still debating when suddenly the
only true explanation strOck him.
He was. first by nature and later by
reputation. a chronic skeptic. That
fact had brought him 70 disaster be-
fore this In making him the butt OF
more than one practical joke at the
club. With vivid mental illumination
he recalled now the AFFAIR OF the
anonymous letters a year back; he re-
called other occasions, too, in which
he had been made the subject Of prac -
teal jokes
Now he understood Helped on by
such egotism as he possessed. he saw
that the entire AFFAIR was a huge
plant! Probably drawing the idea
from Maltby's tale. they were endeav-
oring 20 use him as the means OF much
amusement He would be expected to
call In the police tomorrow and raise
most entertaining hullaballoo. after
which Weldon. Carr and Dunfrey
would have the best and richest joke
OF years upon him. Well. he could
put spoke IN that wheel. and a very
neat one. too! He could and would
refuse to bite the bait!
With cheerful whistle Sellers
struck of for the trolley line. just
succeeding IN making the car down
town, and his passage TO more cheerful
regions was marked by sundry little
grunts OF sly satisfaction. He had a
dim suspicion that he would be able
to carry the matter about as far as
the other side. and with much less in
convenience.
But as the next day wore on his
conscience grew ever weaker and
weaker. He found himself meditating.
once or twice. whether IT might not
be better to pass a cautious word TO
the authorities. In the end he decided
TO await such Developments as the
evening might bring forth
"Er-I say. Faylesr' Penrose re-
marked.
'WelI2' Fayles smiled at him
across the blue smoking room.
rs Weldon drinking man?'
'What?' Fayles threw back his
head and laughed. why, you couldn't
get liquor into Weldon with a funneI!''
''Humph-queer!"
Not particularly. Tastes differ"
Il didn't mean that. 1 was wonder
ing what on earth had become of him,
that was all. For pretty nearly three
days now I've been waiting for him to
turn up and settle three or four mat
ters down town. He hasn't been
around, he hasn't been here, and not
sign OF him has appeared anywhere
else in town. so far as | can learn.
l beg his pardon, OF course, but "a
spree was. the only thing 1 could think
of TO account for IT."
He's home. sick probaly."
He's is nothing of the kind. I've
been there. and they are quite as
much in the dark as any one eIsel
Why, everything belonging to him has
been lying undisturbed for days
unanswered personal letters. and
don't know what else. No word what
ever has come from him. The mana
ger Of his house seemed to be getting
decidedly uneasy today"
And he hasn't been heard OF at his
Officer
Not a solitary wordP'
Fayles scratched his ear, medita-
lively.
Then by thunder. he must have
eloped with Carrr'
Carr? Why. he hasn't been around
either. has hep
Not since early day before yester-
day evening. He was here for little
while then And the same fate seems
10 have overtaken him. Just about as
you have. I've been trying to find
friend Carr"
AS absolutely as If his genial smile
had never blessed this town." SAID
Fayles. dryly.
Tn two men faced each other and
the faint smiles died away. DO YOU
suppose anything's happened to emp
Penrose inquired.
Il don't know what could hapen."
Fayles said. thougbtfully He stroked
his mustache for a while. Perhaps
Dunffey might know something of
Weldon. He sees a sead deal of him
down town, you know"
Perhaps. Where's Dunfrey to-
night. anyhow"
Across the blue room paper dropped
with a tracking rustic. From behind
IL Sellers countenance appeared, lined
with very genuine apprehension. Gen
tlemeni" he said suddenly. well never
see those three again.
What" cried Fayles and Penrose.
together. staring at him in open
moutked horror and amazement
Sellers crossed to them. Three
nights ago, 1 have the best reason in
the world 20 think, Weldon went TO