The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-07
THE EVENING STORY
Mystery in a Box.

dinner door on his right opened. A
girl of 20 stepped into the corridor
holding out 70 him a black box, six
inches square and two inches high.
will you do me great favor?"
she asked in a clear, musical voice.
please throw this into the bay to-
night. And you are not to open it.
Will you do it-for me?"
There was slight pause before the
last two words. Roger took the box
staring blankiy at the girl. She was
we'll dressed, petite, with frank gray
eyes and masses of dead black hair.
But I do not understand"
do you need to understand? Tell
me you will 90 what I ask
'Of course I will do it, and
THANK you! Thank you!''
She turned and re-entered the room
from which ~he had just emerged.
Roger thrust the box into his
pocket and vent slowly down the
stairs. He had arrived at Pine Bay,
summer resort on one of the great
lakes, but two hours before. Thus
far he had met no one at the hotel
whom he knew. What was the mean
ing of the girls strange errand?
He had nearly finished his dinner
when she en-ered the dining room.
With her was a pretty blonde maiden
of about her own age. Ratchet faced
chaperon and a genial, middle aged
man whom Roger was positive he had
seen before. They were seated at a
table near hv. From the greeting
that they were we'll known and social
favoriteS.
When Roger had finished eating he
left the house and sauntered leisurely
down to the shore. wharf ran far
out into the cay. affording stopping
place for the steamers that touched
at the tiny village. The young man
stopped down and gathered his hands
full of the flat stones that covered the
beach AS he walked along the dock
he threw one stone after another into
the water. At last he drew the box
from his pocket, and. after a searching
glance at it, sent it flying after the
stones.
at is tin. painted black, and there
is something in it that rattles, he
said to himself IT feel like the viii
lain in a melodrama. Now I am go
ing to make IT the occupation of my
vacation to form the acquaintance of
the girl who was so anxious to dis
pose of this box
Fate favored him. AS he assembled
the steps leading to the hotel We
randa, where large party was gath
cred watching the sunset flush the
sky and water with crimson, he heard
his name called. The speaker was
Bobby Green and by his side stood the
mysterious girl
sGlad to sec you, old fellow" Bob
by cried heartily. Ladies and gem
tIemen, 1 want you all to be good
to this lad. He is Roger Wayne, the
magazine writer whose work you all
know"
Then Bobby proceeded to individual
introductions. The girl OF the box
was Audrey Fuller, ana the plonoe
was her cousin Mildred. When Roger
heard the name he understood why
their male companion at dinner had
looked so familiar. The man was
Thomas Fuller, the wealthy mine
owner. and the girls were his daughter
and niece.
The group on the veranda chatted
away merrily until the sunsets after
glow had faded from the sky and a
cool breeze swept in from the bay
er fell into step with Audrey Fuller.
did you see, Miss Fuller, that
obeyed your command? ?"
"Eh? What do you mean? oh, you
refer to your accepting the invitation
to go sailing with us in the morning.
You will never regret it, for the bay
is beautiful
1t was evident that she had no in
tention of gratifying his curiosity
Roger compressed his lips; he would
be patient but persistent.
The next morning he managed to
secure a place at the table with the
Fullers. Before the meal was finished
the landlord entered the dining room
to announce II-aC q OOlQ ROBBERY Hdu
been committed the afternoon before.
A small tin box containing valuable
Jewels had been taken from the room
of Mrs. Darrow, a Chicago woman
Already a detective had arrived at
the hotel, and the landlord hoped that
the guests would patiently submit to
any Questioning that seemed necessary,
as the detection of the thief would be
a protection TO them all.
"Oh, papa, let US go home" Audrey
cried.
Roger started when he saw how pale
she was. Mr.. Fuller laughed.
Now, don't be frightened, puss.
You know that insisted that you and
Mildred should leave your jewelry in
the safe. Why, Audrey, how white
you are! You are not really fright
ened?'
She tried TO smile, but it was easy
to see that che was nervous. Her
breakfast was untouched, while the
discussion of the robbery went on
around her.
A reward was offered for the appre-
hension of the thief, but he was not
found. For several days. an officer
haunted the hotel corridors, and his
presence, or even the mention of his
errand, was enough to drive the color