El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-13
The HeraId's
Daily Short Story

ness, and he calls insurance lnSoor
ance'."
He's knave enough observes
Garth. HE didn't have much scrupl
when it was a question of doing yo'
harm. You paid him back timely
though, and I don't suppose he'll eve
! really forgive you. I expect he'll d
pretty well insured
Now for Bradford, and some deli
cafe diplomacy" said Garth, catching
the train with about two seconds tt
spare. 1t was dusk when he got there
He found Northaven Square of small
dull houses, with strips of garden
across the road With the idea of feel
ing his way he knocked at the nex'
door and asked for the name OF
Gibbs" The reply was that the name
was unknown anywhere there
Are you quite sure asked Garth
Next door. for instance. What is
their name?"
Bates"
Keeps dodgers. eh?"
Well, she has one"
"Ah, that's how I got wrong. It's
his name I have got hold of-Giobs,
isn't it?"
mo. you're wrong again He's Mr.
Johnson"
Garth was pulling out his pocket
book, and he glanced into it.
Stupid of me, Of course. My MEM
DRY can't be trusted. It's Johnson I've
got down here. Thanks very much
It's lodgings I'm looking for myself,
you know. I want particularly to be
where there's a telephone?"
you'll be right next door then
There's one there. The ledger had it
put In"
At No. % he asked of little old
woman, presumably Mrs. Bates, If Mr.
Johnson was in.
yes. sir; but he's just having his
supper"
'.shan't keep him two minutes. Tell
him I've got a word for him about our
friend, Mr.. Gibbs.
Garth was ushered into a back room.
where small man with a bushy beard
was engaged on a childlike supper OF
bread and milk.
Thought I'd better come in and
have a word with you said Garth
cheerfully. as he shut the door.
What aboutip said the man blankly.
who are you, and what do you
want?"
you know Gibbsy'
Never heard of the name" said the
"Oh good, very good, Well, you
said you objected to doing business
with a voice at the end of a wire. so
I've come TO have word across the
table with you"
I've never talked with you over
the telephone" returned the man. stis
on his guard.
NO. but you've talked with my boss
about some bizness, Ell? No, I can't
initiate him; but he's got a voice like
a rasp."
When is the money coming?" asked
Mr.. Johnson, giving himself away.
It's already posted It's in five
pound notes. That is stuff easily han
He'd. You'll get the money and the
Instructions, and If you can't guess
something from them you'll be simple.
There's just one thing want to know,
how long will the job take yo'l?"
81 can't quite tell-withln a week.
But perhaps your boss had better go
away for a fortnight"
"Right-ho. I'll come again il neces-
sary. Wen. good night. Don't bother
% let me out Your bread and milk
will get cold"
Garth went out into the passage
llone. Just as he closed the sitting
loor clacked, and two letters Slid
through and tumbled on the mat |
Quick as thought he had them in his
land. They went up his sleeve as The |
rOnt sitting room door opened and the /
widow came into the passage.
"Ah, I was just letting myself OUT |
aid Garth. Sorry to have disturbed |
-ou. Good evening"
Under the light of the nearest lamp |
lie saw that one letter was addressed |
o Mrs. Bates. and the other 70 Mr..
ohnson. He walked back to the house
nd put the widows letter through the
lot again. but the other he kept
TITS theft pure and simple" Garth
aid, when he put the letter before
lick Cultivate late that night. "but
risked it If it is the letter it was
-orth it,
Over the steam the flap of the en-
elope became ungummed. Nick took
ut its contents sheaf of crisp five
ound notes to the total OF 80 pounds,
nd then half sheet of note paper
18th one line typed across it:
Nicholas Cultivate & Co.'S mills"
There was nothing else in the en-
elope Nick's face became grave His
yes met Garth's. The un lerstanding
as common.
The scoundrel It's our mill he's
tanning to Destroy" said Nick, with
snap of his jaws.
-"Of course we are insured, but we'd
2 put out of business for a year, and
18th this new machinery and a BOOM
lg- trade. it would have lost us chances
Id given US setback that we
1ouldn't have recovered from IN
Ear. Put half a sheet of paper in the
-pewriter with a sheet of carbon. and
rite across it, like this is written,
Richard Walsh & Company, Imperial
Ills"
Two nights later smoke was discov-
ed issuing from top window of
ichard Walsh's mill.
At Outhwaites they were working
and the news came to Nick
he was debating letters in the of
e. Garth went out to report. He
me back quickly
The town brigade has gone out to
stockyard fire in the country" he I
id, ''and at present Walsh's mill
oks doomed
where's Walsh?" I
The door of the office was flung
en as his words died away. and his /