Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-28
CHAPTER V.
An Episode.


in the process of evolution, the mole
and the rodents alike take wings. Mr..
Pages office, in dimensions suggested
a big nest; not a particularly tidy one.
He peered down upon the city like
bird looking for titbits; he usually sat
near the window-sill.
He occupied that favorite place now.
A stocky, commonplace man, with
nondescript eyes, was seated in the
center of the room.
We'll, Mr., Bolger, what I'd like to
know is, are you going to get the
bonds?"
Il expect to-"
Expect" Mr.. Pages tone was not
exactly agreeable.
A resentful light shone for an in
slant in the others glance, but he was
accustomed to unreasonable patrons
and answered now steadily: The
case isn't an easy one. There has
been only one real clue to go by; the
fact that in the safety deposit vault
record is kept of every one going in
or out, and the time put down."
Mr.. Page did not reply Immediately;
he was not in the best Of humors.
Bolger apparently had nothing def
mite" to offer him; the old story! The
impatient capitalist felt prone to speak
his mind, but refrained; perhaps he
gagged his man. Mr.. Bolger had a
certain professional independence;
having done his best, he refused to be
criticized. He had, too, number OF
successful coups to his credit. He had
brought the powerful Macduffie crowd
of wire-tappers to Justice; had enabled
the police to convict the celebrated
Major B. E. F. Harold de Mohnville,
Bond Street diamond swindler, and
had landed in prison cell one Angus
tus-Gus, for short-Young, equally
noted express robber.
Mr.. Page by an effort now managed
to suppress the irritation he eXpe-
rienced over the tardy progress of his
own case. We'll, you looked up all the
people who were at the vault at the
same time as myself?'
"As l told you, l investigated their
habits, their haunts, if they had any.
Was there a clique; any connection
between them? l could discover none.
Nearly all belonged to separate and
distinct walks in life. One" thought
fully, moved in the smart circles,
where most of the affairs occurred.
Was at the reception at Morrows-re-
member him, head of the Venezuelan
asphalt deal, some called it swindle
When his wife's emeralds were taken,
Morrow called me in but the only clue
i'm that case was a certificate OF as
phalt stock, value nil, left where the
jewels had BEEN"
The man that took my bonds left
bit of gibberish drawing"
You have that drawing, still?"
Mr.. Page shifted. Thought l had"
he said testify. Locked it in desk
drawer at home, but it's gone"
Gone? You are sure?"
There isn't any one cal tell better
when he's lost anything, than l can"
was the irritated retort.
But who would take 1t in your own
house? What object would any one
have?"
That's it," Mr.. Page made gest-
ure. "I have questioned everybody and
no one knows anything about it."
The detective considered. Mr.. Page
was advanced in years; his eyesight
was poor, and in cleaning out the
drawers of his desk the bit of crude
craftsmanship might have gone the
way of all rubbish. A simple eXplana-
ton was probably the most reasonable.
He saw that the old gentleman. who
had obstinately insisted upon keeping
the paper, was chagrined by the Incl
dent, and changed the subject DO
you happen to know Sir Archibald
Bamford. Mr.. Page?"
II know Of him." was the somewhat
surprised reply.
Rolger answered the unspoken ques-
tion on the others lips. He is among
those who chanced to be at the vault
on one occasion when you were there
He took a box shortly after his arrival
in this country and not long before the
disappearance of your bonds"
"Others took boxes about the same
time, presume"
of course"
Some OF whom were there after
ward wnen l was?"
"Quice true. Please do not infer
Mr.. Page coughed dryly. Sir Arch
ibald has wealth and large estates IN
England: has represented his govern
ment in the Far East in some conf
dental capacity, and"
Bolger waved his hand. His name
came up only incidentally. There's nc
doubt of his prominence. But" rising
quickly, this is neither here nor there
What is more to the point is, am
leaving town for a short time and you
may not hear from me for few days
You are going in connection with
this business of mine?"
Perhaps"
Where"
That. prefer not to say"
The old man looked at him; after
all, Bolger was considered most cap
able. Il believe you know more than
YOU claim to about those bonds OF
mine" said Mr.. Page eagerly; that
you're on the track"
But the detective was not to he Iuret
from his manner; that professional
hearing. impregnable, mysterious the
other had come to detest, would moi
he lightly discarded. Il may nave
an idea" answered Mr.. Bolger. "bu'
ideas" modcstly. aren't what yot
want"
ON that same day about the same
time Mr.. Rolger was departing fol
somewhere. on business known only
10 himself, Chatfield Bruce. on pleas
ure bent. arrived at the picturesque
little village of Comscot. The trir
had been hot and dusty one. but the
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