Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-02

tainly very polite and encouraging. Why
should she not come at once TO the point2
IL hope you will pardon me Tor intruding
upon YOU she began, "but | am very anN-
ious about a mutual friend who brought
letters to us from England We fear he
has met with some accident, as We have
heard or seen nothing of him for a week
1 refer TO Mr.. Hardy Maxwell
Again Mcbride was very sorry, but he
had never heard Of the gentleman. At the
same moment, he was conscious that the
door leading to the sanctum. which was
directly behind Miss Ohlstrom, was opened
about an inch. Mr.. Hartley was evidently
listening
Hartley was more than listening. lie was
getting terribly nervous and running over
I'm his mind thousand schemes 60 put
stop to the conversation in the other room
before It got too far lie perceived re-
turn OF the trap that had been set for him
over the telephone. lie thought the female
detective had arrived
"Have you not heard his name men
tioned2' she said stll thinking Mcbride
might be Mr.. Hartley's SON
Never / am sure none of my family
ever heard OF such person lie was
quoting what Mr.. Hartley had said the
day before.
why YOU astonish me" she almost
gasped. Il mean the friend Of Mr.. May
nard."
81 never heard Of Mr. Maynard" Mcbride
answered quietly although he felt that he
was putting his foot into it somehow.
The door OF the sanctum opened fully
foot, and without looking in that direction,
Mcbride was conscious that Hartley was
shaking his fist at him. and was greatly
excited about something. A casual glance,
moment later. was instantly answered
by Hartley's making motions with both
hands which clearly indicated that he
wished his confidential clerk to throw the
young lady out
Helen stood up presently inserting both
her hands in her muff She looked Mcbride
straight I'm the face as nc rose with her.
The pretty mouth was now a thin red
line.
You will pardon me, sir, but 1 do not
think you are Mr.. Hartley, or you would
know both those gentlemen we'll" The
inner door OF the sanCtum shut quickly
as she stood UP. Mcbride was strongly
tempted to walk over and shut the sound
door as well; but he feared it would at
tract Miss Ohlstroms attention to the inner
room.
why really, you see" he stammered,
II know so many people, 1t is just possible
that l do not recognize the names for
the moment. Perhaps / have not seen the
gentlemen you mention for some time.
Perhaps l am in the habit of calling them
by their first Names"
He did not know exactly what he was
saying. He wished only that Mr.. Hartley
was in Guinea. Then he would come right
oytt NIT bo
farce. Here was beautiful girl, standing
up and talking to him so frankly and he
was lying to her like a horsethlef.
Il really do not understand matters" she
said, unless it is that you are only Mr..
Hartley's son."
"Of course I am" he said instantly
grasping at the straw. You surely didn't
imagine 1 was the PRESIDENT"
The sweetness OF the smile she gave
him as she sat down again was worth a
thousand lies. He could not help acknowl-
edging to himself that he had never seen
such a beauty. She was just what his
fancy had always pictured the perfect cir
TO be, only more so. He was so intent on
looking at her that he entirely forgot what
her errand was.
Had Hartley known what was passing
through the mind of his confidential clerk
no would probably have reasoned that Miss
Right had arrived; but just at that moment
Hartley had troubles of his own, and was
clenching his fists and muttering curses tC
himself as he realized that the interview
in the other room was to be continued
If that girl did not go, he would have
stroke of apoplexy.
Well, Mr.. Hartley" Helen began, no
knowing that the door behind her was
slowly opening again, Mr.. Maxwell anC
Mr.. Maynard are friends of your father
and 1 wish very much that you would ash
your father IL he knows anything of Mr.
MaXwell's present whereabouts, becaus,
we are very anxious about him"
MAXWELL" exclaimed Mr. Hartley L
himself, in the other room. Another nam
for that fellow, / suppose. And this mus
be the girl that Doremus is after, an,
Fletcher has not written to her yet, Ell
, On my word!' pulling the door open
little wider, and forgetting his exctemen
/ for the moment as he, took a good look a
, the figure in the chair-"my word, bu
she's a sumner! Johnsons right abou
that
Mcbride came to himself, as he realize
that the girl was waiting for an answe
to her question.
Ntl fanny Slldll lGli nun All hpbhl IL
, mean, shall ask Mr.. Hartley-my father
, ! mean, about the matter when / see him
And, and where shall l send you word :?
This was said with most engaging smile
' us there no way you can telephone an
3 ask him?'
Helen did not like the idea of giving he
. address She had hesitated about givin
r her right name; but as Mr. Hartley, junior
had not recognized it, II did not matter.
Il am afraid l could not reach him b
p telephone" Mcbride answered very pos
lively. He was determined not to lose thi
opportunity of getting her address Tn
! bare possibility OF never seeing her agal
already alarmed him, Are you quite sur
a that he knows the address?" he asked.
oh, / think so. You see, l telephoned {
7 the club and asked about Mr. Maxwell
e and WAS very much astonished to find the
r did not know any such person. l suppos
y l must have made a mistake in the nam
? Of the club, or something. But / knor
Q your father will be able to tell you some
Q thing, because they were all together
NJ - Al 81,