Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-05-03

'em lit up. Bobbie weeping because
the girls had to miss the theater, and
his mothers at me all evening to
keep it out. Whatll do"
Brand leaned back and smiled.
swell, it was on her account we kept
out his partial elopement with her
French maid and the time he kissed
the head waiter at the st. Honore hotel
in lieu of a tip, and guess-well, print
this one. 1t may help brace him up"
"Oh. and that disappearance case,"
reminded Downs. THE girls come
back-old gag, visiting her friends in
Jersey, but she's been off on the suit
case circuit all right"
"Home nowY jerked the managing
editor.
yep"
"Think she'll stay there?"
"She might"
"Wen, she can't if we print this. so
let's forget it."
But we've had man on it two
days." persisted Downs. Were the
only paper that's got it,"
well, we won't be the one to kick
her down." pronounced Brand. turning
his head away to end the conversation.
"All right, just as you say"
The telephone bell rang. Brand took
off the receiver.
Hello! Tell Mr.. Dupuy I'm busy!'
he cried after taking the message.
"What? Send him in. That's all,
Downs. See that they take care of
Dillon, will you:"
The night editor nodded in the af-
firmative and gazed rather curiously
at Brand as he went out.
Dupuy came into Brands Office with
most circumspect and deferential air.
Dressed in evening clothes. carrying
his silk hat in his hand and With a
boutonniere of dollhouse violets in his
lapel, he gave every indication Of be,
ing the society figure that his name
ard wealth had made possible for him.
The lawyer lobbyist walked directly
to the desk ut which Brand was seat
ed. In reply to the managing editors
salutation he bowed stifiiy and leaned
forward over the desk.
Several moments elapsed before Du-
puy spoke. He was trying to put his
opening words in the most judicious
language, and well he might hesitate
when one considers the nature Of his
evil errand.
''The gentleman who was coming to
see you tonight" at last he said care
fully, "has had to go to the opera with
his daughter He has asked me to
come in his stead
An expression of complete bewilder-
ment spread over the others face.
"A gentleman? What gentleman
he interrrogated.
Dupuy was momentarily nonplused.
why, the gentleman who-ah, with
whom you made an appointment for 8
o'clock this evening -here-at your Of
fee"
Brand still refused TO show his hand.
II should be very glad to hear what
you have to say, Mr.. Dupuy, but,
frankly, l don't know what you are
driving at"
The visitor was annoyed. He was
positive that Bartelmy would not send
him on a wild goose errand. Surely
the judge and Brand had come to
terms regarding the silence Of the Ad-
vance as to the Lansing Iron case de-
cision. The editor was playing with
him now, he knew-dangling him on a
verbal hook to tantalize him.
"Ch, come. you know who mean
Bnrtelmyw snapped the judges despi-
cable tool.
Judge Bartelmyw exclaimed Brand
in surprise. well, what about him?''
Dupuy produced card. which the
editor glanced at.
whats this?" he asked. Then he
read: "'Dupuy will represent me- In
what?"
He started to put the card in his
pocket.
perhaps you would better let ne
have that so l can return it to him.
Dupuy reached eagerly for the card,
which Brand slowly extended to him.
s.'rhis refers to that transaction Of
which you and he were speaking this
afternoon" continued the lawyer.
Brand laughed loudly.
"Well. Dupuy. I'm a poor hand at
guessing riddles. give it up. What's
the answer?"
The lawyer became impatient.
1.-THE transaction involving the-ah-
the investment-of certain-sum OF
money!" he explained haltingly.
l,,,cinacS InaI WAC gpoinp intr,
with the judge" in amazement.
Precisely"
"If had any business with the
Judge, Dupuy. would prefer to do it
with the judge"
But am his plenipotentiary."
"AIhm, mhmr' grunted Brand mega
lively.
You are rather unreasonable,
Brand" A wearied and hopeless look
began to show in the lawyers visage.
The young editor noted this and re-
solved to temporize with and eXasper-
ate this man whom he despised above
al others, even above Bartelmy him
self Bartelmy, believed Brand. even
If he was Il scoundrel, actually had
superior mental ability, was u brilliant
thinker and acted boldly in many of
his dishonest transactions on the bench.
But Dupuy-he was to Brand the hang
er-on, the skulker, the vandal jackal
that devoured corpses in the night that
Drawer animals had fought and killed
by day. His eyes blinked in the light.
did Dupuy's. 1t was in the under
ground runways that he coursed the
swiftest. And as these thoughts sped
through his brain the editor looked
away absently.