The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-09-12
Insemer," be said indiferentIy.

yer that really was wantedT'
Il never heard. l believe IT was
dropped The young fellow / know
said he couldn't talk about 1t, so I
didn't ask. Say, who was that swen
woman ] saw coming out Of your office
this a%fternoonl 1 was mp at Mr.. Horn.
brooks"
broom hesitated a moment. He SEEM
ed to be carefully weighing everything
he said.
81 suspect it was young Bansemer's
future mother-in-law," he said. Mrs.
David Gable was there this afternoon
about g."
Gee" laughed Eddie. Does she
need a lawyer?'
MI. Bansemer transacted business
for her some time ago. A very small
matter, if remember correctly. Here,
listen to this. Now, here's a little Incl
dent found this evening that interests
Inc immensely. 1t proves to my mind
one Of two points l hold In regard to
Marshal Ney. Listen" And he read &C
length from his book, a dry s%epulchral
monotone that grated on the ear until
1t became almost uncomfortable.
The little clock on the mantelpiece
changed 10 before they laid aside Ma
poleon and began to talk about some
thing that interested Eddie Deeyer far
more than all else-Elias broom him
self and such Of his experiences as he
cared to relate. The old man told
stories about the dark sides of New
York life, tales Of murder, thievery,
rascality high and low, and he told
them with b~loodcurdling directness-
the Walker wife murder, the inside
facts Of the De Pugh divorce scandal,
the Harvey family's skeleton-all food
for the dime novel producer. Eddie
reveled in these r~ecitals even while he
%shuddered at the way in which the old
man gave them.
"Ah, this is a wicked old worIdg
said broom, reflling his pipe and
showing his teeth as he pulled. That's
why have those pictures Of the Ma
donna on the wall-to keep me from
forgetting that there are beautiful
things in the world in spite Of It's
ugliness and hypocrisy. l haven't
much
lie stopped short and listened In
tently. The sounds Of footsteps on
the stairs outside came to his ears.
They dumped upward, paused for a
moment down the little hall and then
approached Droom's doorway. Host
and guest looked at the clock instinc-
lively. Eddie heard Droom's breath
as 1t came faster between puts at his
pipe. Then there was a resounding
rap at the panel of the door. Eddie
Deever never forgot the lcok that
swept over the old mans face-the
look of wonder, dread. desperation. 1t
passed In an instant, and he arose I'M
steadily, undecidedly, to admit the late
caller. His long frame seemed to
shake like a reed as he stood cautious
ly inside the bolted door and called
out:
who's there?"
Messenger" was the mufled re-
Spouse. broom hesitated a moment
looking first at Eddie and then toward
the window. Slowly he unbolted the
door. A small A. D. It. boy stood be-
yond.
What is it," almost gasped Elias
broom, quickly drawing the boy into
the room.
MIR. broom? No answer, sir. Sign
here" The boy, snow covered. drew
a letter from his pocket and handed it
to broom.
Where fromT demanded the old
clerk. the paper rafting in his thin
fingers.
Il don't know. I'm from Chicago
avenue" said the boy, with proper i'm
pudence. He took one look at Droom's
face as the man handed the slip back
to him and then hurried downstairs.
far less lmpudent at heart than he had
been.
broom recognized the handwriting
on the envelope as James Bansemer's.
1t was the first time his employer had
communicated with him in this man.
ner. He tore open the envelope and
anxiousiy read the brief missive.
I've got to go to the Office" he said.
surprise still lingering in his face.
It's important business-a c~onsulta-
ton with-er-with an important east
ern client"
Gee! It's tough to turn out this
kind of a night. Pm going your way,
Mr.. broom. Come on. I'll take the
car down with you"
II won't be ready for some time
yet"
"Oh, well, III say good night then"
Eddie Deever departed, chuckling to
himself as he made his way to the
u building, determined to learn
what he could of this unusual sum-
mons.
But broom was too crafty. Banse-
mer's letter had asked him to come to
Rector's restaurant and not to the
u building. The command was Inn
perative.
Bansemer had been spending the
evening at the home Of David Cable.