The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-01-05


mission which you may understand
as well as |, since you know so
much" | said stubbornly Il have
not the faintest idea of returning
20 town until the work which
came here to do is finished"
Then you may go to the devil
as soon as you like" said the
voice behind me. Il wash my hands
of the whole affair"
There was a slight rustic behind
me and ! turned sharply and peered
through the window. lAere was no
one in sight and the station and
the waiting room were empty.
The station agent came up alb
ruptly in answer to my gesture.
rs there any one here from Mr..
Areana's this morning" | asked.
''He lives some distance from town.
does he not?"
He looked at me oddly for
moment. Il have not seen anybody"
he said hesitatingly. but have
been busy all the morning. | viii
ask Jack.
Jack, has the Spider or any of
his people been in this morning."
| started nervousiy The Spider"
calculated
The man flushed little. only
a nickname, sir he said with a
touch of constraint II guess
am most resportible for ID al
though, people generally about here
have taken it up in the last two
or three years. He told me once
that 'Areana' was the generic name
for spider anj-Do you know the
gentleman"
| have not that honor" said
little distantly.
He turned sharply to the boy. rs
Mr.. Areana in town this morning.
Jack?" he asked.
Before the lad could answer
heard the sound of footsteps be-
hind us and turning humiedly |
saw the man whom felt intuitiye.
ly to be the one of whom was
IN search, approaching.
Il beg your pardon" he said in a
voice that impressed me most de.
cidedly in his favor at once. "bu,
| am sure that this must DE Mr.
Reynolds. | had begun to think
That you were going to hail me.
This is the third time | have come
to meet you
1 was out of town when Mr..
Darby received your letter." I said
conscious that / was speaking a lit
tie stiffly. Il did not get your mes.
sage until this morning and left
on the first train"
He smiled a rare sweet smile that
aided the finishing charm to a face
OF singular sweetness. Good, | like
despatch he said geniaIly. 1T
promises well for our plans. Come
the carriage is waiting"
He turned to go out, but wheeled
sharply This pleasure of meeting
Mr.. Reynolds is making me for
getful," he said. Anybody in on
todays train, Simms?"
Nobody but the gentleman, sir"
Very well. You know my wishes.
And now, Mr.. Reynolds, 1 am quite
ready"
He conducted me to the back of
the station where found a car
riage and horses waiting
Il drive myself" he said and then
added pontedly, more especially
this morning, since it will give us a
without any danger of being over
without any danger of beng over
heard"
The words did not seem to call
Tor am answer, so | only nodded.
Mr.. Reynolds, have you any idea
of the nature of the work which
you have come down here to under
take?"
Not the slightest, sir" an
swered quietly.
Very well. Should you mind, |
wonder, if | go into particulars at
once? | have heard much of your
wisdom and cleverness, Mr.. Reyn-
o.ds. | should like to feel that
they were enlisted in my behalf as
soon as possible"
| lighted the cigar which he hand
ed ME and leaned back appreciat-
lively in the luxurious carriage
Il should very much prefer TO
have you do So | said quietly.
You could not have, am sure, a
more favorable opportunity"
He sighed and threw his half