Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-07-23
CHAPTER l.-continued.

CHAPTER l.-Continued.
Shortly after his determination to
tell Kate half truth. Darlington left
the Office and made an early train into
New Jersey. All the way over to the
Cavenaugh station he was restless and
uneasy. The fatal papers still reposed
in his pocket. He had not dared to
leave them in the ONCE safe; his part
ner. who had had no hand in the in
vestigation. might stumble across
them, and that was the last thing in
the world he desired. He knew not
exactly what to do with them; for
they burned like fire In his pocket,
and seemed to scorch his fingers
whenever he touched them to learn
II they were still there. A thousand
and one absurd suppositions assailed
him. Supposing, for instance. there
should be a wreck: supposing he
should be robbed: supposing he should
leave his vest on the links: and SO
forth and SO forth. 1t was very de-
pressing. II only he stood in the open.
unhandicapped: II only he might
throw the gauntlet at Cavenaugh's
feet the moment they met!
I. All. II he had only attended to his
own affairs! But he hadn't: and his
inquisitiveness had plunged him into
a Chinese tangle from which there
seemed to be no exit. But there was
an exit: only, II at that moment Gas.
sandra had whispered the secret into
his ear, 1t would have appealed to him
as the most improbable thing under
the sun. However, there are no trust
worthy Cassandras these sordid days i:
a single look into the future costs a
dollar: and as for Greek choruses.
they trundle push-carts on the East
side.
He had broken bread and eaten salt
at Cavenaugh's table and now 1t was
decreed that he must betray him. 1t
was not a pleasant thought. And still
less pleasant was the thought of tell.
ing Kate Tin a roundabout fashion.
1t is true) that her father was not an
honest man. According to financial
ethics, what Cavenaugh did was sim
ply keen business instinct: nothing
more. II you or. should happen tc
bend an odd cornice of the majestic
county Jail forthwith: but If we
possessed the skill to smash the whole
fabric, or. rather. to continue the met
aphor, the whole pillar. the great
world would sit up and admire us
What are old laws for. anyhow? Build
you never SO wisely your law, there
will always be some one to come
along and tack on a nice little amend
ment. subtly undoing in a moment
what 1t took years OF labor to accom-
plish. In this instance Cavenaugh hat
been careless; he had forgotten to in
troduce his amendment. An infinites
imal grain of sand will stop the bes
regulated clock. The infallible invari
ably die on the heels OF their frs
victory.
On leaving the train, Darlington es
pied the Cavenaugh station carriage
The coachman was talking to a littl'
wiry old man, whose gray eyes twin
killed. and whose complexion was mot
tied and withered like a wind-fall ar
pie. Seeing Darlington draw nigh
the coachman touched his hat re
spectfully. while the little old man
VINO was ratner SnaDDlly dressed
stepped quickly around the corner O
the platform. Evidently he did no
wish to be inspected at close range
Darlington threw his suitcase an
golf-bag into the carriage. and 70
lowed them. Thereupon the coach
man touched the horses lightly, an
they started westward at n brisk tro
Who's your friend?" asked Caring
ton. who, though never familiar. wa
always friendly toward his interiors.
Hes no friend Of mine. SIR" al
swered the coachman, with well-bre
contempt. Miss Cavenaugh directe
me to drive you straight to the clut
sir
Very WE'LL replied Carringtor
lighting cigar and settling bac
among the cushions.
Immediately he forgot all about tn
shabby old man. and began to inver
tory his troubles. de must hide tn
papers somewhere. All the evidenc
he had, together with the names O
the witnesses. was on his person; 70
in making the whole he had prudentl
destroyed the numerous scraps.
this document fell into alien hands
he trouble would double itseif. 4