Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-08-12
CHAPTER discontinued.

1--WE seldom use this" said the GIRL
ieading the vague unspoken question
n his eyes. "The jewel safe Is up |
itairs In my room"
ut doesn't matter in the least" he
replied, smiling, $50 long as l may
safely rid myself of these obnoxious
papers. And if you do not mind, I'll
!eave them there till Monday morning.
I've thought it all out, Kate. A mans
only human, after all. I 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 a
witness when the case comes up in
court, If 1t 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.
81 love you," he said, land I 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
sheets of paper, upon which were
formidable columns of figures and dol
lar signs. He sat back in his chair
and listened. He thought he heard a
door or window close; he wasn't GER
tain. II was probably one of the serv-
ants. He bit off the end of fresh
cigar and resumed his work. Let the
young people play golf, if 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 numeralsl Brigade after
brigade, corps after corps, they
marched at sign from him; an army
greater than that of kings. To sit in
a little room, as in puppet booth,
and juggle the policies of the ma
tons! Yes, Kate should have a duke
and Norah prince; he would show
them all some day. Recollecting Car
rington, he frowned. Did the fellow
know anything, that he felt the power
to refuse an offer such as he had
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 han not de.
ceived him, however, for he had heard
the sound of closing window. A
window had been closed, but none Of
the servants had been at hand.
At precisely IL man came swiftly
but cautiously across the lawn. When
he reached the long windows of tre
dining room he paused, but not irreso
lutely. There was a sharp raspine
sound, followed by the uncertain glare
that makes the light of darklanterI
separate and individual. and window
swung noiselessly inward. The room
was in total darkness. The man wosC
a short mask, a soft felt hat wei
down over his eyes. He cupped his
hand to his ear and strained to catcl
any sound. Silence. Then he dropped
behind the screen, consulted slip o
paper by the light of his lantern, anC
with a few quick turns of the combi
nation knob opened the door of tn,
safe. He extracted the envelope anC
thrust 1t into his pocket. without 81
much as a glance at its contents. II
making his exit, the window strucl
on the sill. In pressing It the loci
snapped loudly. This was the soun,
Cayenaugh heard, The burglar RAJ
: lightly across the lawn and disap
peared beyond the hedges. And nom
too soon.
The CayeAaugh drag rolled over TIL