The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-11-18

might nave Deen unuulg Suspicious
and had fled from harmless citizens;
and | was ashamed that | had lacked
courage to return 10 Henry's room as
| made my way thither for a change
Of clothes. thought better of my de-
cision, however. as / stepped within
the gloomy walls of the house of mys-
terry and my footballs echoed through
the chilling silence of the halls. And
! lost all regret over my nights lack
of courage when l reached my door.
1t was swung an inch aiar, and as
approached | thought saw it move.
I'm certain l locked it," was my
inward comment.
stopped short and hunted my re-
yolver from my oyercoat pocket.
was nervous for a moment. and angry
at the inattention that might have
cost me my life.
who's there?" demanded.
No reply.
gave a knock on the door at long
reach
There was no sound and | gave it a
push that sent II open while
prudently kept behind the fortihcation
of the casing As no developments
followed this move. peeped through
the door in cautious investigation. The
room was quite empty. and l walked
in.
The sight that met my eyes was as
tonishing Clothes, books. papers,
were scattered over the floor and bed
and chairs. The carpet had been
partly ripped up. the mattress torn
apart, the closet cleared out, and
every corner of the room had been
rausacked.
1t was clear TO my eye that this
was no ordinary case of robbery. The
search, It was evident, was not for
money and jewelry alone, and bulkier
property had been despised. The men
who had torn the place 10 pieces must,
l surmised, have been after papers Of
some kind.
| came at once to the conclusion
that | had been favored by visit
from my friends. the enemy. AS they
had failed to find me in. they had
looked for some written memoranda
of the object of their search.
/ knew well that they had found
nothing among the clothing or papers
that Henry had left behind. | had
searched through these myself and
the sole document that could bear on
the mystery was at that moment fast
in my inside pocket. was inclined to
scout the idea that Henry Wilton had
hidden anything under the carpet or
I'm the mattress, or in any secret place.
The threads Of the mystery we're car.
ried in his head, and the correspond.
ence, If there had been any, was de-
stroyed. ~
As / was engaged in putting the
room TO rights the door swung back.
and ! jumped TO my feet TO face a
man who stood on the threshold.
"Hello." he cried. "House-cleaning
lgnin?"
II was Dicky Nahl. and he paused
with a smile on his face.
"Ah, Dickyl" l said with an effort
TO keep out of my face and voice the
suspicious l had gained from the in.
cidents of the visit TO the Borton
place. Entirely unprecedented, as.
sure you"
well. you're making a thorough
job Of it," be said with a laugh.
Fact IS" said ruefully, "rve been
entertaining angels-of the black kind
-unawares. 1 was from home last
night, and find that somebody has
made himself free with my property
while | was away
"Whewl" whistled Dicky. Guess
they were after YOU
/ gave Dicky a sidelong glance in
vain effort to catch more OF his mean.
ing than was conveyed by his words.
shouldn't be surprised" / replied
dryly, picking up an armful OF books.
I'D expect them TO be looking for me
in the bookshelf or inside the mat.
tress-cover. or under the carpet"
Dickly laughed joyously.
well, they did rather turn things
upside down." he chucklod. Did they
get anything?" And he fell to helping
lit LtaAOholys
mot that / can ind out" replied.
Nothing of value, anyhow"
Not any paper, or anything Of that
sort?" asked Dicky anxiously.
"Dicky. my boy" said l; there are
two kinds of fools. The other is the
man who writes his business on a
sheet Of paper and forgets to burn it."
Dicly grinned merrily.
Cad, you're getting a turn for cpl
grant You'll be writing for the Argo-
maui first we know"
We'll, you'll allow me a shade OF
common sense, won't you?"
IL don't know" said Dicky, consid-
ering the proposition doubtfully. 1T
might have been awkward If you had
left anything lying about. But II you
had real good sense you'd have had
the guards here. What are you pay
ing them for, anyhow"
| saw difficulties in the way OF ex-
planning to Dieky why | had not or
dered the guards on duty.
"Oh. by the way" said Dicky sud
n. -. n a