The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Disappearance of THE Confiden-
tial"

u the world ever W owned to
~ many unwise actions. There
were few better business men than
Jacob Romer, but during these latter
years he had certainly left too much
power in the hands of the "Confden-
tial." For instance. it was by his wish
that Mr.. James Kahn was deputed to
receive and pay over to the vendor
that part of the purchase smoney of
IncubLj & Co.'S business which he was
to receive in cash.
To this Mr., Romer's lawyer objected
and had been met by the retort. you
may know something about law, posi-
bly,, but not so much as Mr.. Kahn
knows about money. He has handled
all mine for fifteen years"
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders
and delivered his headstrong client over
to the freedom of his own will. To go
through the world without legal adj
vice at every step was bad enough. But
to fly in the face of qualified practi-
toner was the next thing to defying
Providence.
And so indeed It proved.
One mornfng James Kahn did not ar
rive at the Incubus offices. The guar
dian doorkeeper ran in and out like a
dog at a fair. Johnemann had been
down to see Mr.. Kahn half a dozen
times. Within the call bell of the tele-
phone was ringing shrewishly. A dozen
aides and foremen stood about expect
ing orders. McKill and Grinding were
there waiting for a conference of the
greater powers. Still James Kahn did
not come.
They were all instinctively watching
the pale lilac strip of road. sparsely
bordered with brick cottages, down
which the big automobile was wont to
rush like a mustard -colored bolt. The
road remained open and empty. Certain
children, removed by careful mothers
at the hours of the masters passing.
trickled out and began to play about
again.
Got something the matter with
him?" said Hector McKill, tentatively,
The second acting superintendent cast
a glance at him out of pale blue eye,
so deeply trenched in his chubby face
that its position seemed the result of
surgical operation.
Something wrong with the till, more
likely" snapped Grinding. who had
been late up for three nights running
Hector treasured this innuendo for flu
ture use). Il give him till II O'Clock
and then"
"What?' said Hector McKill. hoping
that Grinding would give himself
away yet more and worse.
81 will get on a horse and ride TO
The Caravansera,' said Grinding, who
had kind of stubborn courage of his
own; Kahn has been extra careful this
while back that nobody should see the
books-not, that is, to make anything
of them"
Punctual to his word, Grinding
mounted his chestnut mare and rode off
through the village of Kirktown. TAX
ing the road aforesaid, pale lilac
shaving set at an angle up the oppo-
site brae, he was at The CaraVanse-
rail- in a quarter of an hour. He rang
the bell and began to question the boy
in buttons who appeared at the door
in answer to his summons.
Mr.. Kahn?" he cried, out of breath;
.can l see him? Most Urgent
Mr.. Kahn left yesterday afternoon
in the motor sir" said the boy.
WAS Casimir with him?" painted the
stout Grinding.
mo, sir but when Mr.. Casimir came
in twenty minutes afterwards he went
and got the big merciless (Mercedes)
one, the one that goes so fast, and set
off too. He grazed the gate post go
ing out-he was in such a hurry!
''Why didn't Mr.. Kahn take the bet
ter motor?" said Grinding, slipping the
boy half sovereign.
Don know t0aI, SIT. Sdiu inc IVY
in buttons, "'cept p'raps he was more
accustomed to the old one, as it We're
He wasn't near the good driver that
Mr. Casinir had come to be, sir He
was too nervish, to my thinking
"Then Casimir wasn't nervous
ooh. no, sir" said the boy; but that's
what he made us-yes, sir, scared US
sick-everybody about the place-ai-
ways popping off pistols and fiXin, up
AZ, uf1 nF
stable yard. He smacked them every
time. it is true. But then how were
YOU to know when he would miss, and
very likely fetch" you as like as mott?
II see.' said Grinding, che was not
popular, then. this Mr.. Casimir?'
Him" said the boy, with emphasis
and then, recollecting himself, he add
ed, mot that / have anything to say
against any of masters guests-you
yourself. sir, have been here several
times. and ] am sure you would not
wish TO get a poor boy into troubles"
"Certainly not" said Grinding, anX-
ious at all hazards to make MS point
Il think L have seen your faee-son oil
Gregson, butler at CORN Castle, are you
not?" -
jerked bow.
srWell. Master Gregson," said Grind
ling. severely "if you want to Keep
your father in his place, you had better
tell me all you know about Mr.. kahn
and Mr.. Casimir!"
What has that Casimir been doing
sir?"
The cry was quite involuntary, but
the curious Joy that lit the boys race
was the best certificate of the unpopu-
larity of Mr.. John Casimir. strangely
enough. nothing whatever was SAID
about Mr. Kahn, who, among his other
arts. had that of making himself liked
NV his personnelle. This was chiehy
calculated lavishness in the right place
together with a certain habit OF firm
ness and Justice in small things GU
lsnew when you had Mr.. KahnF his
servants said when comparing MN
with the master of CORN Castle
~ don't know much, beyond what
have told you" said young Gregson;
only wish 1 did, II 1t has anything u
do with my father? ,,
"well. tell me everything" said
Grinding. 81 will be the 1uoge OF itf
yalue-miss nothingT
"well Mr. Kahn--he 1unched here
yesterday" said the boy; 'he didn't eal
much. His appetite is noways granu
took IN his meal on o tray to MS
room The door of the big safe wa;
It's II shut now?" cried Walter Grind
ling; "let me seel'
but the boy was, thus far at leas'
faithful to his trust. 4.
He rot the door sufficiently close U
click the chain. Walter Grinding
could get his foot in, but no more.
"sorrv. Mst'r Grindling-yery sor
rv-"said Gregson Junior. but thougf