The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-09-23
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL STORY.
AWHITE STREAK OF DISASTER
BY EDGAR FRANKLIN
Copyright Frank A. Mu.sy Cal
By EDGAR FRANKLIN
,copyrisht. ,sa Frank A. Munss, O.,

/ Bmphaticaily the Coison matter would
not be settled on the twenty-hrst.
And for the matter Of that u would
not be settled afterward-until the stolen
saw that very d:stinctiveiy. and he saw,
too, Just what II entailed. The lQans Of
millions which he had obtained were
dr., wing continual ar and heavy int.rs: ;
sons payments no more than covered.
Within week. some thousands would
be due q ! payable. And whore were
they TO soms fromf ,0rafton's credit
remain 30 indefinitely with such a tale
as he must put forward to explain his
Then there was another phase. rather
The honesty Of overy man has It's
limit, whether that limit be great or
small. The man whom 100000 would
pot tempt. might likely enough sverye
u. 000. 900; the man who could retain his
virtue when tempted BIZ q million might
not prove so strong before ten times
Now. in such a condition, what sort
Of man would Colson provef Was It
not altogether conceivable that, having
heard and digested the story, he might
fiatly repudiate the debtf And In thar
event what recourse would he left to
Slowly ne awful truth came upon
him; so far a. documentary evidence
was concerned, John Grafton, the rich:
the admiration of Keuyonville, was .
penniless, an absolutely ruined man!
He found Parker watching him rstn--
er curiously.. and he sat up and faced
"well-the first burglary IN the Graf
ton Building has taken place." he said,
and it's been q record breaking Job.
Ny papers are are. gone. Parksr-thats all
"And what shall we DO. s.rr'
Dor. cried Grafton bitterly. what
on earth 10 there to DOR
The police, SIR: = you were .s e send
station w:teSsd. and the roads and the
livery stables. and 30 on"
Grafton sSowied ct the foo.: :,
hardy S.sy. h ss.. the sss party @so COM
mitted the robbery !: stiif in town
always providing that he meant to
leave It at all. All. I'm AFRAID that
this isn't case for the ordinary po-
thing that we couid> traee-snythins
that any man in town couldn't carry
around IN his pocket for six months
without exciting suspicion-it would oe
"f Parker suddenly held up hand of
Just q moment. SIR
II th :; .,si :, kne" It'll Some ones
"Ehy" Grafton ieaped to his feet.
what makes you think soY''
TIN sure heard steps and-yes.
there's q door closing. He'g walking
down the hall somewhere below"
you stay here. sir. and keep watch.
I'll get him."
The man dashed out into the corridor
and toward the elevator. Grafton. half
nem &. &c but 'assf
I'm cali If I need help SIRE he said
The car dropped out Of sight and
Grafton was alone with his trouble and
vaguely. no wondered whom Parker
, would encounter below, or II the odd
individual who entered Office buildtngs
after o'clock in the morning would
Whoever It might be. there seemed
q good possibility that he could be
connected in some way with the rob
berry; at all events. did Parker bring
him back. they would search him from
top to toe, be the consequences what
The elevator cables, a. he saw. ceased
to move. He Judged that the Waterman
might have reached the nth. or per.
haps the fourth. floor. He waited and
sound Of n Voices ear reached Kim. was
a peaceful meeting down there. from all
Indications; there was no noise OF ar
gument or strife.
sighed heavily at the blasting Of even
the faint hope he had cherished. Doubt
less the individual would prove to be
some one utterly beyond suspicion.
little later the slam Of pm elevator gate.
| He watched as the cables took up their
| smooth motion.
Then the car appeared and stopped.
nn% slssa . ss q pesrS HI Ss s
Grafton's eyes Frightened. OF all the
people In the world, the one he had not.
thought of. and the very one most like
him. ~ II was sIrieish. the retired police
detective who operated the private de-
teetive agency on the NTH door.
The pair was almost at his door. and
he stepped forward eagerly and with
Here at least was a man. honest. fair.
and square In every particular and ia
nous for his astuteness In Just such
said. and his Voice held much OF the
relief with which we greet the belated
Good evening"
Has Parker told you
| II didn't mention II, SIR"
Grafton nodded approvingly.
There has been a robbery here, Bur-
leigh-some papers Of mine which mean
more than can tell you ut the moment.
One thing will say: No man ever had
| greater need OF q thing than I have
need to get those documents back Into
my possession before noon of the z1st.
| VERY we'll" Burleigh's own calm had
its excellent effect upon the dtstraught
man. He mastered an impulse to cling
TO the detective. and led the way into
"They must have been left on tina,
evening"
by whom7''
by myself" confessed Grafton
Now they have vanished entirely
And few other things happened In
between. I suppose 70 smiled Burleigh.
Grafton told the whole STORY ns briefly
as possible, Parker sitting in the iargei
office. Burleigh. tired from q hard day,
work which had ended only with hii
early morning return to his office
smoked and listened In silence, putting
question now and then, but In thu
main allowing Grafton his own methot
OF narration.
When the last Of the meager detaiil
had been told, Burleigh leaned back
stretched his legs. and stared at tn,
ceiling.
We know that your paperp wer,
there" he said thouEhtfuiiy. 1--WE know
| Ix,.o,