The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-06-01

do you" he asked anxiously.
'Yes, but why is it that you never
do call on me any moreY' she aues-
toned reproachfully.
"Well-because"- he became very
uncomfortable. She must never know
the true reason for his avoidance Of
her.
do you think it's fair to use a wo-
mans weapon against herr You know
it's a womaA's birthright to say be-
cause when she''-
~ meant i.
"what?'
"oh-ah-what were we talking
about?"
"As to why you don't call on me
any more"
Valentine struggled to think Of a
successful mode of escape from an
swering the question.
"Weii, now-don't you see," he STAN
mered. "of course you do" He was
becoming more involved every mo-
ment.
The girls smile began to fade.
Rather grimly she interrupted him.
mo. l don't see at ALL" was her an
nouncement. She moved away from
the desk.
well, Miss Lane. r.
The telephone bell rang at his desk.
BE bent forward and put the receiver
to his ear. AS he hung up the re-
ceiver clerk entered.
win you have the cash nowp the
employee asked.
j I'm a few minutes"
No sooner had the clerk made his
exit when messenger boy entered.
bearing telegram. Valentine tore
1t open, apologizing to Rose as, he did
SO. The girl saw that the assistant
cashier was very busy. She deter
mined to leave him for the present.
AS Valentine dismissed the boy she
announced that If the press of bust
aess would not continue all day she
would return. Valentine assured her
that in half hour he would be at
leisure and that he would sacrifice
everything else in order to talk TO her.
She started toward the door, assuring
him that she would return. AS she
opened the door she turned and cast
u smile in the direction of the assist
ant cashier.
But Valentine did not notice 1t. He
did not see it. His eyes were glued to
the slip of yellow paper that he held
in his hand. The girl saw that as he
read the telegram an expression OF
tenseness, of unsubdued excitement
crept across his face. Wonderingly
she softly closed the door. A few
steps carried her before Valentine,
who looked up in surprise, thinking
she had gone.
What is ft-that telegram" she
gasped. ''1t's bad news for you-very
bad" she went on. Il must know"
Valentine. undergoing pronounced
shock owing 10 the contents of the
message which he held in his hand
| was almost completely unstrung by
The interruption of the girl he loved
Was it not fate that prompted her tc
appear before him at the very moment
when
ooh. 1t is nothing" he said weakly
Merely a little business tangle-tha
is all"
He stepped out from behind hi
desk, crumpllng the fateful Telegram
in his hand, and gently led the girl t,
the door. Remember" he said, "
have an engagement with you in
half hour"
II Will remember"
Unconvinced, mystiied and thor
oughly agitated by his nervous man
ner, Rose Lane went out of the Office
Valentine. smiling as best he coulC
under the circumstances. closed thu
door behind her. He crossed to he
chair, sank into it and flattened til,
wrinkled telegram before him. Again
he read it from end to end:
Look out" he read. Doyle will b
in town this afternoon at 4 to sec yo,
about an important matter"
The assistant cashier dropped hi
chin into his palm and stared vacant
ly at the opposite wall.
Doyle" he muttered : "Georg,
Doyle. He said he'd get me if it too,
ten years-a lifetime. Well. perhaps
he can; then, again. perhaps he can
not. At any rate, ne can probably ruiz
my career. my hopes, my standing here
Where have friends who believe ii
me-"
Valentine leaned hack meditativel,
in his chair. The fatal telegram drop
ped unheeded to the floor. His moutl
set determinedly. A new fire blazet
In his eyes, the fire that had consumed
him and had spured him on when ii
J the days and nights of the past be hac
ventured forth on desperate enter
prise.
he would give George Doyle race
that he would. He would match hi
wit against that of the skilled sleuth
He already had laid the basis for what
now must be his course of procedure
and he believed that it would with
stand even the cunning and force Of
L George nnyIa AZ o11, NO. a. H. as..Il