The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-04-29

NOrah began to preen hersel1.
An idea came to Darlington. He
wanted to be rid of his document. He
spoke to Kate, who nodded compre-
hensively. She led him into the din
ing room. In one corner, protected
by a low screen, was small safe.
This she threw open, and Darlington
put the envelope into one of the
pigeon holes. The safe was absolutely
empty, a fact which puzzled him not
q little.
I'VE seldom use this" said the girl,
reading the vague unspoken question
In his eyes. "The jewel safe is up
stairs in my room"
1T doesn't matter in the least" he
replied, smiling, so long as l may
safely rid myself of these obnoxious
papers. And If you do not mind, I'll
leave them there till Monday morning.
I've thought it all out, Kate. A mans
only human, after all. 1 could never
prosecute the case myself; I'd be
thinking of you and the bread have
eaten. I'll turn the matter over to
Challoner, and let him do as he thinks
best OF course, shall be called as
witness when the case comes up in
court, if it ever does"
She did not reply, but shut the door
of the safe and rose from her knees.
The south side of the dining room
was made up of long colonial windows
that opened directly upon the lawn.
They were more like doors than win
dows. She locked each one carefully
and drew the curtain.
"Norah is probably growing i'm
patient for u.s." she said.
With an indescribable impulse he
suddenly drew her into his arms and
kissed her. 1t might be the last he
could ever claim.
"John!" she murmured, gently dis
engaging herself.
Il love you," he said, "and l could
not help it. Everything looks so
dark"
The clock in the hall chimed the
quarter hour after II. Cavenaugh was
in his den. His desk was Uttered with
formidable columns of figures and dol
lar signs. He sat back in his chair
and listened. He thought he heard
door or window close; he wasn't Ger.
tain. 1t was probably one of the serv.
ants. He bit OF the end Of a fresh
cigar and resumed his work. Let the
young people play golf. II they wanted
to, and dance and frivol away the pre-.
cious hours; they would never know
the Joy OF seeing one become two, two
become four, and so on, till the add
ing grew into the ransoms of many
kings. Ay, this was to live. Oh, the
beautiful numerals! Brigade after
brigade, corps after corps, they
marched at sign from him; an army
greater than that of kings. To sit in
. little room, as in puppet booth,
and juggle the policies of the ma
tions! Yes, Kate should have duke
and Norah a prince; he would show
them all some day. Recollecting Car
rington, he frowned. Did the fellow
know anything, that he felt the power
made at the dinner table? Bah! 1t
would be like crushing some insect.
He determined that this should be
Carrington's last visit. His pen moved
once more, and presently he became
lost in his dreams of calculation.
But Cavenaugh's ears had not de-
ceived him, however, for he had heard
the sound Of a closing window. A
window had been closed, but none of
the servants had been. at hand.
At precisely II man came swiftly
but cautiously across the lawn. When
he reached the long windows Of the
dining room he paused, but not irreso-
lutely. There was a sharp rasping
sound, followed by the uncertain glare
that makes the light of a dark-lantern
separate and individual, and window
swung noiselessly inward. The room
was in total darkness. The man wore
a short mask, a soft felt hat we'll
down over his eyes. He cupped his
hand to his ear and strained to catch
any sound. Silence. Then he dropped
behind the screen, consulted a slip of
paper by the light of his lantern, and
with few quick turns of the combi-
nation knob opened the door of the
safe. He extracted the envelope and
thrust it into his pocket, without so
much as glance at it's contents In
making his exit, the window struck
on the sill. In pressing it the lock
snapped loudly. This was the sound
Cavenaugh heard. The burglar ran
lightly across the lawn and disap-
peared beyond the hedges. And none
too soon.
The Cavenaugh drag rolled over the
hill and went Gathering up to the
porte-cochere.
On the way home Darlington, his
mind still wavering between this ex-
pedient and that, decided that, after
all, he would take charge of the pa
pers himself. 1t didn't seem quite fair
that Cavenaugh's safe should protect
his ultimate disgrace. So, upon enter
ing the house, he confided his desire
to Kate, who threw aside her wraps
and led him into the dining room.
She had her own reasons for wishing
the papers out of the safe. She Turned