The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-08-02

The blue orbs wandered .eebly in the
direction of tae card that was still
cmtched in the strong hand. again the
words. short. sharp and crisp:
You're in the wrong shop: l know moth
ing of CUSTOMS
But let me tell You my story"
Without waiting for his assent. Barnes
went on and rehearsed the theft of the
suit case down to the minutest detail. All
the time he watched the face of the man
before him. 1t betrayed merely a Ian
guild interest until the chief told about
the reception of the visiting card with
the compliments of John Smith" and
then, to his astonishment, Mr.. John Buck
1ngham leaned back in his chair and gave
vent to a series of very loud and very dis
agreeable chuckles. Barnes had been
standing all this time. Now he quietly
siid INTO a chair opposite Buckingham. He
concluded his narrative by saving:
And that black letter book is still miss
ing"
Ihe unwilling host yuwned openly to
signify hat the interview was becoming
wearying. Barnes showed no ennui. He
leaned across the table, and, lowering his
voice to make it more impressive, said:
"Buckingham. l want YOU to give me
Frank Lanes letter book.'
The chief waited anxiously for the effect
of his words, but the fabby face opposite
MN was a perfect mask. Those stupid
eyes had a look of blind innocence. The
cuf OF the lip was unchanging. But the
hands. Barnes could have shouted for
JOY. His startling request scarcely came
from MS lips when Buckingham's left
hand twitched ~convulsively and the card
he was holding tluttered to the floor. AT
the same instant the stubby fingers on the
other hand became nerveless and the pen
between them fell on the fat desk.
earnes felt instant confidence at these
unm:sta]lable manifestations. But he was
fencing with a clever man, and a single
Ih2splay might spoil the game. He waited
1or Bucklnghaln's response.
There came that disasreeable chuckle
again. The reply was almost languid in
tone.
IF you're quite through with this non
sense IN bid you good night"
Not quite. BY the way, you wear a
very becoming red cravat.'
The upper lip curled.
"There are 10000 men in this town wear
ing red c~ravats.'
You are sim a stakeholder in the Con-
solidated C%oeoanut company"
No news in that-to me-
u You trieu to keep it a secret"
Did I?'
Yes, and YOU made the corporation file
the charges against young Lane. 1t cost
me three hours of my time to find this out
yesterday"
"lndeed.'
Yes, indeed" snapped Barnes, in dan
ger of losing his temper.
Inc cynical smile about the other mans
mouth deepened.
You say this-this suit case was re-
turned to you with the compliments of
John smith"
That's what l said"
Well. then, it seems to me-if such a
bright person will condescend to take a
bit of advice-that what you want to do is
to get John Smith,
II have him"
You have
The establishment that accompanied this
exclamation could not be mistaken
Yes repeated Barnes, 81 have"
"Where?Y And the voice was loud and
commanding
The chief arose from his chair and
walked quickly to the other side of the
desk. He clapped his right hand on the
other mans shoulder.
Here" he shouted. You are John
Smith,
B~ucklnsham's hands Embossed them
selves and hung Imply by his side. His
face showed no emotion. When he smoke
it was with less energy than before.
You seem positive"
Sure: you have betrayed yourself by
your sense of humor.''
B~uckingham's stare was a stimulation
of innocence.
When YOU decided to send the suit case
BACK you made a mistakc,'' said the chief
And when You put the visiting card i'm
the envelope with the baggage check YOU
sealed your own fate. Any man of ordi-
nary d4scernment could see that 1t was a
specimen of card and type sent out by am
engraving and printing house. The only
TRAITS required to trace it We're industry
and infinite patience, and | fatter ,nvseif
mat | have. hnih IriS;tnI H. ~, 4. &,
inents of sixteen printers today. Some had
type like this and some had cards like
TINS; but not until l struck the sixteenth
man did | find the combination of card
and type, He readily recognized it as one
OF a number of samples he had sent out
curing '1e week. He had . list of ten
persons to whom the samples were
mailed. When ] saw your name among
the number / didn't bother with the 9TH
ers."
VERY clever" said Buckingham. with
the characteristic curl of the lip. but
there is nothing about it to show that /
nave this-this wonderful letter book"
oh. You nave the POOL all right"
chuckled the chief.
Well with a sudden burst of anger.
even if ] had YOU don't suppose I'd be
fool enough to keep it on the remises
do you?" ~
During this unexpected show of feeling
>'S tH Vs. Iltu DtCll searching the 4
apartment. Finally they rested on sew
eral rows of shelves, filled with books. nv
the side of the fiat top desk. A little
three-step footstool. such as are found in
libraries, was on the floor next to the
shelves. AS the sound of R~uckineham's
voice died out, the chief took a hurried
stride and, Wake up the three steps of
the stool. Before his companion realized
what he was doing, he reached up to the
NTH shelf and from between two volumes
OF Macaulay's essays pulled out a thin.
black, official looking document.
1T was Frank Lanes letter book.
Yes said the chief ~triumphantly. an
swering Buckingham's query. You were
fool enough to keep it on the premises. For
a normally shrewd man you have COM
mitted all kinds OF blunders. Why. YOU
even directed me to the hiding place Of
this little book"
The eXpressionless eyes gave no sign of
Barnes continued:
You were looking at the book when 7
in the house. You might have de-
stroyed it and possibly ruined this Young
man; but the same fatality which induced
you to send back the suit case and TO
enclose the visiting car also prompted
you to hold on to this book and to. gloat
over the mere possession of it. When
mn nry- n1at n n 49,