The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-19
Continued from PAGE 1.


every feature of the room.
There were two windows fronting
upon an extensive open area, in which
the foundations for a new building
were being laid. The rear wall of that
occupied by Vellum's Office had been
shored up. an adjoining structure hav-
ing recently been torn down, and
rought stagings outside indicated that
work on the rear wall was not com
pleted.
One of the windows was closed, the
other lowered a few inches at the top.
Between the two stood an open desk.
TO the right of il was a stenographer'
table, partly screened in, at which a
strikingly handsome girl of about %
was seated.
Near one wall was a step-ladder and
a paper hangers portable table, also a
bucket half filled with paste on the
floor, which was much Uttered with
waste clippings from the wall paper.
The last strip had been hung, and the
workman was about ready to depart.
IN all done, boss he bluntly an
nounced, when the banker entered.
Donald glanced at him. and saw-the
thin, sandy face, with the nose of a
hawk, the pair of greenish-gray eyes,
and small wart under the lobe of the
left ear.
The countenance of the private detec-
tive did not change by so much as a
shadow. Yet he stepped aside. as il
TO approach the open desk, and, APP
parently by accident, upset the bucket
OF paste.
"Oh, the deucer' he exclaimed. with
a leap TO avoid the splash. Now,
what a mess I have madei 1 hope
you'll excuse me, Mr."
"Slavey-Jack Slavey's my name, "
supplemented the workman, suppress
ing laugh. mo harm done, mister.
'If there Is any expense"
Nothing doing in that line, mister.
My job here is done"
Donald righted the bucket, and quiet
l lS it, Rofsd-thA' the contract was not
'tAnd you are about to go. Mr.. Slav-
ey?" said he, with insinuating suavity.
Yet first-merely a matter of form,
you know-I shall have to look you
over. No offense, understand me-not
the slightest. But l have to make my
report at headquarters. There has been
valuable document lost here. and be-
fore you leave-merely for FORMS sake,
I assure you"
do you mean you want to search
me?" growled Slavey, frowning.
Precisely, Mr.. Slavey," nodded Don
know, for all I regret it. But duty is
duty, and l.
STOW that mister. and search
away" grinned Slavey, now obviously
willing. IF you find anything on me,
I'll give you a medal"
Don't expect to, Mr.. Slavey," pro-
tested Donald glibly. Not doing il
with that idea. Only for form. 1 as
sure you. The, document must be
found. and only you and yOnder girl
were In this room when it was lost. II
not on yOu-dOn't imagine it is, sir,
J, not for a moment-it may be ,On-shoes
off, please! Have to be thorough. One
at a time will do. That's good enough,
Mr.. Slavey. A thousand thanks. Sor-
~ to have had TO humiliate you in this
fashion. Now, you may go when you
please"
Into every pocket and over every
inch Of the mans garments Donald
had, while glibly talking, swiftly run
his slender white hands, and from that
moment he appeared to ignore the
smiling subject of his dexterOus search.
With one swift glance about the room
as If to note every nook and corner
for concealment, he turned to Vellum
and remarked, with startling curtness:
Are you sure the paper is not in
this rubbish on the floor?"
Absolutely. We have searched ev-
cry inch of the ROOM
Your desk?''
Thoroughly"
And you, Miss
Donald swung sharp toward the 81
lent stenographer. She caught her
breath, so abrupt was his movement,
so searching and sinister his gaze.
Kelsey" she gasped Involuntary.
nd lynnuy no hi N
of this lost paper?"
Sure certainly I ann she cried.
with color fading and lipe beginning
10 culver. IT have not seen IL. 1 did
not know Mr.. Vellum had received any
important document. I cannot see his
desk unless l move this screen. 1 was
busy typewriting."
yet, with your permission"
In an instant the girl was upon her
feet, her face crimson, her eyes ablaze,
her hands pressed to her breast
you intend to search mer' she cried,
in tones ringing with mingled fear and
Indignation. I'm not submit It's an
outrage! l know nothing Of the pa
peri"
"Oh, enough Of that?' cried Donald,
with sinister determination. THE pa
per cannot have vanished without
hands. Only you and this workman
were here. He knew nothing of ii and
it's value and can have had no incent-
i've TO designs upon 1t. I'm not so sure
of you, however. You may have known
all about it. If not on your person, 1t
may have been dropped from the win
dow to a confederate. Either confess
the truth, Miss Kelsey, or"
Stop You shall not lay hands upon
met she passionately interrupted, now
CHASTITY white. You are a coward to
suggest it, If you are a man, Mr..
Vellum, you will protect"
"Oh, I say. Donald, this is going too
fart Vellum angrily cried. I'm sure
she speaks the truth"
''SiIence, sir"
'I'n take the case out of your
hands, Numbered Vellum, white with
swelling rage. 'Tll appeal to the regu-
lar police!''
Mr. Morris Donald drew himself up
with a gesture of insuperable scorn.
'Tt is too late for that Vellum!' he
cried, with a voice and countenance
few would have cared to disregard.
Greater interests than yours are in
yolved, and the case already is in the
hands of the police. You shall see how
we handle it, This way, officer, and