The Columbus journal., 1908-08-12

game. Dudley Eets his first knowledge OF
Decker who IN Knapp's enemy On the
10 Board. Dudley Visits the home OF Knapp
and Is stricken by the beauty OF Luella,
his daughter. He learns the note was
forgery. He 10 provided with four guards.
Brown, Barkhouse, Fftzhugh and Porter.
He leasns. there 10 to be no trouble about
money AZ All expenses will be paid. the
hire OF the guards being paid BY one
Is committed to the vault Dudley re-
spends TO q note and visits Mother Bor-
ton in company with Policeman COrson.
Giles Dudley again visits the Knapp
home.
CHAPTER xv.-continued
oh, Mr.. Wilton, you'll pardon my
Soldness, I'm sure" she said with an
amiable fiirt of the head. as I seated
myself beside her and watched Luella
melt away into the next room; but
was afraid you had forgotten all
about US poor women. and it's dread
ful thing to be in this great house
when there isn't q man about. though
OF course there are the servants. but
some OF them being Cinnamon. And
we-I-that is, really did want to see
YOU, and we ought to have so much to
talk over, for I've heard that your
mothers first cousin was q Bowser
aud do SO want to see that dear, de.
.,ightful Chinatown that I've heard SO
much about. though they do say it's
horrid and dirty, but you'll let us see
that for ourselves. won't you. and did
you ever 60 through Chinatown, Mr..
Wilton?"
Mrs. Bowser pulled up her verbal
coach-and-six SO suddenly that l felt
As though she must have been pitched
off the box.
oh" said ! carelessly. I've seen
the place often enough"
How nice!" Then suddenly look
ing grave Mrs. Bowser spoke from be-
hind her fan. But hope. Mr.. Wilton,
there's nothing there that a lady
shouldn't see"
L FASTENED to assure her that it was
possible to avoid everything that
would bring a blush to the cheek of a
matron of her years.
Mrs. Bowser at this ratified on with
out coming to any point. was listen
ing to the flow of her high-pitched
voice without getting any idea from it,
when my wandering attention was
suddenly recalled by the words. Mr..
Knapp"
What was that" asked in some
confusion. Il didn't catch your mean
ing"
4 was saying 1 thought 1t strange
Mr.. Knapp wouldn't go with us, and
he got awfully cross when 1 pressed
him, and said-oh, Mr.. Wilton, he said
such a dreadful word-that he'd be
everlastingly somethinged if he would
ever go into such lot of dens of-oh,
l can't repeat his dreadful language
but wasn't It strange, Mr.. Wilton?'
Very" l said automatically; but
i: isn't worth while to wait for him.
then"
-'r ''Oh, laws, no!-he1l be home to-
morrow, but he won't co..
Home tomorrow" l exclaimed. Il
thought he wasn't to come till
Wednesday,"
Mrs. Bowser looked a little uncom-
Portable.
Il guess he's old enough to come
and go when he likes" she said. But
her flow OF words seemed to desert
her.
-. Very true" I admitted. 81 wonder
what's bringing him back In such a
hurry"
Mrs. Bowser's beady eyes turned on
me in doubt, and for a moment she
was dumb. Then she followed this
miracle by another, and spoke in a
low tone of voice.
It's not for me to say anything
against a man in his own house, but I
don't like to talk of Doddridge Knapp"
What's the natter" l asked. "A
little rough in his speech: Oh. Mrs
Bowser, you should make allowances
for a man who has had to fight his
way in the toughest business life in
the world, and not expect too much of
his polish"
oh, laws, he's polite enough"
whispered Mrs. Bowser. 1t isn't that
oh. don't see how she ever married
him"
lOIf0WeO tuc SlduCc l0aI Mrs.
Bowser gave on interrupting herself
with this declaration, and saw Mrs
Knapp approaching us.
oh" she exclaimed cheerily. lis II
settled? Have you made all the ar
rangements. Cousin Julia?"
We'll, I declare! I'd forgotten all
about telling him." cried Mrs. Bowser
in her shrillest tone I'D Just taken
It for q fact that he'd know when to
come"
That's little too much to expect,
I'm afraid" said Mrs. Knapp, smil.
ing gaily at Mrs. Bowser's manage
ment. Il see that I shall have to ar
range this thing myself. Will Monday
night suit you. Henry"
As well as another" sa,l politely.
cOncealing my feelings as a victim of
feminine diplomacy.
You have told him who are going.
haven't you?" said Mrs. Knapp, to
Nrs. BoWseE.