Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-10

nary discernment could see that It was
specimen of card and type sent out by an
engraving and printing house. The only
traits required TO trace Il were Industry
and infinite patience, and fiatter myself
that have both. 1 visited the establish
ments OF sixteen printers today. Some had
type like this and some had cards like this;
but not until / struck the sixteenth man
did | find the combination OF card and
type. He readily recognized 1t as one of a
number of samples he had sent out during
the week He had a list OF ten persons to
whom the samples were mailed. When
saw your name among the number didn't
bother with the others"
VERY clever" said Buckingham, with
the Characteristic curl OF the lip. But
there is nothing about it TO show that
have this-this wonderful letter book"
"oh you have the book all right"
chuckled the chief.
WELL" with a sudden burst OF eager,
"even IL had you don't suppose I'd be fool
enough 90 keep II on the premises, do your"
During this unexpected show of feeling
Barnes eager eyes had been searching the
apartment Finally they rested on sew
eral rows of shelves, filled with books. by
the side of the fiat top desk. A little
three-step footstoo such are found in
libraries, was on the floor next 20 the
shelves. At the sound of Buckingham's
voice died out, the chief took hurried
stride and walked up the three steps OF the
stool. Before his companion realized what
he was doing. he reached up to the fifth
shelf and from between two volumes OF
Macauays essays pulled out a thin, black,
Official looking document.
1t was Frank Lanes letter book.
yes" said the chief triumphantly, an
ewering 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 plumbers. Why, you
even directed me to the hiding place Of
this little book"
The expressionless eyes gave no sign of
intelligence. Barnes continued:
"You were looking at the book when
came in the house. You might have de-
stroyed II and possibly ruined this young
man; but the same faulty which induced
you to send back the suit case and to
enclose the visiting card also prompted
you to hold on to this book and to gloat
over the mere possession of It, When
your servant came upstairs followed him,
and 1 heard the scraping sound of the
footstool when it was moved next to the
book case in order to permit you to con-
ceal this valuable bit OF property on the
top shelf. The more haste the less speed
used 'em, and IL didn't require any won
derful amount of brains to know that
shabbily bound book of this kind out
of place between two aristocratic looking
copies of Lord Macaulay."
Buckingham dropped his eyes He was
nearing the end of his rope He looked
up presently with the air of a man about
TO plead for mercy. But those eloquent
hands told a different story. They twtched
nervously. opening and closing repeatedly
Barnes was standing by the side of the
footstool Buckingham approached him
with an air OF great humility. Suddenly
the fat hands shot out and the stubby
fingers closed about the neck of the Gus
toms official Just when Barnes was be-
coming purple in the face the villain gave
him a shove and threw him. head FIRST
over the footstool where he lay all in a
heap the floor. Buckingham grabbed
his hat and hurried down the stairway.
two steps at time. In the hallway he
met with an unexpected obstruction.
Something glistened omlnously in the dim
light. and something cold. touching the tip
OF his nose. sent shiver down his spinal
column. The ever faithful Clancy was
back OF the shining barrel. and when he
smoke Il was through his closed teeth
IF you dare 20 move I'll shoot. and IL I
do you'll be sorryl"
There was a convincing earnestness about
these words. While Buckingham was
thinking them over Barnes, deeply morti-
fed at having been caught unawares.
slipped downstairs and deftly fastened a
pair OF handouts upon the wrists of his
late antagonist.
1t did not take long to prove the guilt OF
Mr. John Buckingham. When he first
prompted the charges OF the Consolidated
company against Lane he was actuated
solely by business motives; but when he
discovered that the young consul general
e was engaged to his ward his aim became
$ vindictive as well as merceaary. He had
gone to the wharf to get a clandestine look
at the man who was his personal and
Y business rival. He noticed the jealousy
with which Lane guarded his suit case
2 shrewdly guessed it's contents. and when
the young man rushed over to greet Helen,
buckingham on the spur OF the moment,
) conceived the idea OF stealing the bag It
was a bold act but he was a bold man and
: succeeded. He jumped into waiting cab,
and for want of a better direction ordered
: the man 10 drive TO the Grand Trunk rail-
9 way station. On the way there he broke
: the lock of the suit case and distracted the
letter book. Swapping the bag up again
he deposited II in the package room Of the
! station.
destroy the book. but he became deeply
interested In the letters and thus, fatally
: for himself, postponed its destruction. The
: possession of the brass check suggested
some sport at the expense OF his victim.
He put 1t in a typed envelope and just as
h Barnes had surmised. noting the John
Smith visiting card on his desk. slipped
! that In the envelope also.
: Bucklnghams arrest proved to be for
= tunate thing for Helen Thomson in more
I ways than one. While publicly pretending
. TO lead the life OF a retired merchant. he
e was secretly a confirmed stock market
y gambler. lie became heavily involved, and
a In order 10 tide himself over crisis began
( TO use the money he held in trust for the
o girl. His proposal OF marriage had been
made to Helen purely for the purpose OF
4 covering up his financial transactions. The
5 failure TO ruin young Lane and his own
detection uncovered all OF his other delin-
quencies. The guardianship. fOolishly ar
ranged by her father with a man he had
only lruovyr In a buqfpaas NAV KNaa farunfn-