, 1912-03-07
[copyrloht. 1e1o. BY sabb.. M.-rin cemD,nx1

,bbs-Msrriii Company.l
We cant nav this going nm
naVe II Gown Mt once. A fire these
uays IN only n nice touch TO the ma.
hogany." ""
nut you must tell him to nut hack
every brick in its place, said Iaur,
u could not bear TO have anytbing
happen TO that chimney. An tho
same am glad the matter is going f.
De cleared NJ. 1t has been nerve rock.
Ing, II l have been all alone, wait.
ing Tor l know not what"
You haven't been afraidP, said
Fitzgerald.
I'm not sure that I haven't" She
sighed.
"Nonsense!' cried the admiral.
Il am not afraid of anything I can
see, but l do no like the dark. do
not like mysteries"
You're the bravest girl | know.
Laura" her father declared. Now
MT. Breitmann. if you don't mind"
n we begin at once, sir?"
You will copy some of my notes to
begin with. Any time you're in doubt
over a word speak to me. There will
not be much outside of manuscript
work. Most Of my mail Is sorted at
my bankers and only important let
tiers forwarded. There may be a So
cial note occasionally. Do you read
and write English as well as YOU
speak it?'
"Oh, yes"
Laura invited Fitzgerald to the ten
mis- court.
"In these shoes?" he protested.
"They will not matter. 1t is a CO.
ment court"
But l shan't look the game. Ten
mis- without fiannels is like duck with
out apples"
Bother! Well play till the mason
ome up. And mind your game.
I've been runner up in a dozen tour
naments."
overrated her skill. She served strong
ly, volleyed beautifully and darted
across the court with a f~ieetness and
a surety both delightful to observe.
So interested were they In the battle
that they forgot all about the mason
till the butler came out and announced
that the Dissertation had begun.
In fact, the broad marble top was
on the floor and the room full of i'm
palpable dust. The admiral and the
secretary were gravely stacking the
bricks, one by one. as they anne out.
Found anything?" asked the girl
b~reathlessly.
mot yet, hut. Mr.. Donovan here has
Just discovered n hollow space above
the mantel line" The admiral sneezed.
Mr.. Donovan in his usual free and
dropped them on the polished floor.
""There's your holler. SIR" he said,
busting his hands.
Unbidden, Breitmann pushed his
hand into the cavity. His arm went
down to the elbow and he was forced
to stand on tiptoe. He was pale when
he withdrew his arm, but in his hand
was a square metal case, about the
size and shape of a cigar box.
by cracky. What's the matter, Mr..
Breitmann?" The admiral stepped for
ward solicitously.
Breitmann swayed and fell against
the side of the fireplace. at is moth
ing; lost my balance for a moment.
VIII you open it, sir?"
Lost his balance?' muttered Fftz-
gerald. HE looks groggy. WhyT"
This was not a time for speculation.
All rushed after the admiral. who laid
the case on his desk. and took out his
keys. None Of them would turn in
the ancient lock. With an impatient
gesture, which escaped the others the
secretary seized Mr.. Donovan's ham,
mer, inserted the claw between the
lock and the catch and gave a power
full wrench. The lid fell back, crooked
and Scared.
The. admiral put on his mandarin
s%pectacles. With his hands behind his
back he bent and critically examined
the contents. Then, very carefully, he
extracted a packet of papers, yellow
and old. bound with heavy cording.
Beneath this packet was "A medal of
the Legion of Honor. some rose leaves
and a small glove.
"Know what l think? 2" said the ad-
miral, shilling the shake in his voice.
"This belonged to that mysterious
g q