La Junta tribune., 1907-06-08

absence of the contract, vet I was un-
, der the impression that I had had !:
IN my hand while sitting there with
him. He. too. believed that he had
seen IL.
The mos. carctui search proved fu-
tile. and we were forced 10 the conclu-
sion that clerk in his employ who
had catered the room during our con-
ference had taken the document for
the purpose Of selling It TO the enemy.
This man was shadowcd with no re-
suit. and II he really sold II both he
and the purchaser were too shrewd for
us. The I.asse!l people continued some
negotiations for settlement, but my
lawyer was OF the opinion that this
was blind AMI that they would
force Us into court eventually. knowing
that we must lose.
But the story told 10y Luc!us Wer-
ner put II different face on the matter.
discussed 1, fully with my secretary.
who is very shrewd fellow. and he
agreed with me that the man seen 10y
MIR. Werner WAS hunting for that con
. tract in my Office
II the I.nsseil people dill not already
hold II. they musr be very anxious to
got IT, and as they had proved them
selves utterly INSCRIPTIONS In thci,
transactions with me WAS quite will.
Ing To believe that they would employ
criminal methods TO win their case.
Aston. my secretary. suggested that
there might have been Il small leak In
my lawyers office sufficient To give the
f.assells the tip that the contract was
not there. They might then have
Jumped to the conclusion that 1t was
worth while to engage In bit OF bur.
giary Mt my own headquarters. My
safe WAS one that my father bought
i many years ago. retained by me
know not why. Certainly cherished
no illusions as to Its security. Beyond
doubt II modern expert could open II
| easily and without trace OF violence.
never kept money in 1t except the
| small sums needed fer daily cash dis
| bursemcnts
| That night watched with Werner In
| his tower, and all conditions We're IA.
yornble for observation, but no light
appeared In my windows. One of two
| conclusions was possibe-the I.assells'
enissary had already found the con
| tract or he had given it up. The chance
| that he had skipped night seemed
| hardly worth considering In view OF
all the circumstances that urged haste.
did not believe that he had given
| mp the search. He had spent only an
| honr each night in my rooms. and this
time seemed to me Insufficient except
| upon the supposition that he had found
| what lie WAS after. The time CORE
| spondcI with certain possibilities for
| catering The building by basement
door communicating with the engi'
ncers department. l discovered that
| a man conld get in that way little
before II and escape little after !
| without much risk of observation
had nan oil watch there that night.
| but without result. No suspicious per-
son attempted to enter.
There were. however, other ways In
which the thing might have been done.
| rs Werner pointed out to me. man
might hnve concealed himself In the
building and remained till morning.
and this seemed the simpler way.
Upon the whole. was driven toward
| the conclusion that the contract had
been found and my lawyer agreed
with me In Il conference which we held
| In my office late in the afternoon of the
day following my vigil in the weather
| bureau's tower. 1t was nearly o'clock
| when this interview ended, and when
came out OF my private office ! was
surprised to find Werner waiting Tor
/ ne in the larger room.
lie expressed desire TO discuss the
case with me. and we spent half an
| hour or more. but he offered only the
advice that I should watch once more
| in his tower noticed. however. that
! he scrutiniZed my room with great care,
examining the desk and especially the
| window. with cool precision proper
TO the man of scientific training. but
what he gained by these observations
| was far from guessing.
| We dined together. and watched
with him again. but my vigil was un-
rewarded. Finally. near dawn. l lay
down to sleep upon couch and
dreamed bad dreams till awoke to
| find Werner standing beside me with
his hand upon my breast.
He provided me with breakfast OF
eggs and coffee. which he prepared
himself upon queer little electric
contrjvance. chiefly his own Invention.
| and then he asked to go with me to my
| Office. We were there ahead OF the
| boy whose duty 1t is to open the rooms.
and the youth was vastly surprised to
find me in my sanctum when he ar
rived. Aston. who Is an early bird.
was also amazed in his own peculiar
and cold fashion.
I made him acquainted with Werner.
! whom he had not previously met. and
he extended his hnnd. Werner looked
at the hand as II 1t had been an object
! Of scientific interest. but he did not