The Washington times., 1912-10-04
CHAPTER XIV (continued).

i i Collins and gave a number Of
directions. He sent for Jen-
nison. and readjusted certain mat
ters OF rent and taxes in connec-
uon with the apartment houses and as
tonished the chief clerk by not men
uoning or even limiting at the great
mystery.
When the last personal detail had
peen disposed Of Grafton found himself
wstching the clock. 1t was I now. He
mad shifted the burden for a good two
hours, but now 1t was piling up again
on his shoulders and Burleigh should
nave returned perhaps to tighten II.
Where was Burleigh. anyway? Graf
ton meditated trip downstairs to the
agency; he had risen to carry out the
aesign when the boy entered with word
that the detective wished to see him.
GRAFTON. his eyes glowing with ex-
peetancy, returned to his chair.
burleigh was In state rather Pc
Gunar fnr % fGr one one Of his usual stolid bear
ing: His face shone and there was a
spring In his walk that bespoke nervous
animation. He closed the door quickly
and sat down.
'Well?" Grafton incurred,
I'm back. sir!'
p,nasa And you have brought news--what
Several kinds, Mr.. Grafton. I'm
plest II know precisely what good has
other remarkable coincidence
Let's hear It."
4. First Of all, sir. and you may think
FOOLISH, l sent out the four men who
We're waiting in my office when / left
70 try and get some track OF Colson,
hustled them of and told them to be
BACK at Z sharp"
And did they find him?'
Oh, iney located no trace whatever of
tne man! Between them. they visited
every place where he was likely to be-
"a
ana asked particularly after him. Since
ne walked out of that cafe last evening
NOT hot soul has seen hide nor hair OF
rection he walked. for that matter. He
left the cafe alone and he appears to
may nave IN made de-, one jump and gone clean
That's disappointing" %,
@ working on that part myself. My joh
You found him out?"s .e
Il did, indeed He'd gone out Melya,e
way TO see about some of his contract
work and there was nobody In the
Stiise on but but his & KID: This one happened to
q only been In his employ for a day or
: Two, and he couldn't have been a bet
ter one for my purposes"
Burleigh chuckled
We'll, sir. being sure that Jim was
gone, l marched in and asked for him.
The boy announced that he had left and
Wou'uH IetuIn until o CLOCK. j said
ia wait, anyway, and he didn't object.
1 sat down In the outer office for a
while, and then ! began to fuss about
the draft from the door. The Kid was
sorry. but he couldn't do anything to
remedy II, SO ] suggested that I could
walt In the private Office. and, suiting
the action to the word, I stalked in ard
sat choST,. down In Jim's own shair."
Next I gave the door a gentle kick.
and It almost closed. Then went at
his desk. 1t happened to be locked and
one Of my skeleton keys happened TO
At It, In about three minutes slid the
top up without a sound and went about
the job of investigating Jim;s business
Risky" commented Grafton.
ALSO necessary added Burieigh. II
went on turning things over carefully
for about fve minutes. I suppose. There
Of clue. i Then Sa save little tne a,sen ay
tion to the waste basket. Wasn't much
on top. but I was patient and kept on.
Swn wa at the the bottom" "mBurleigh leaned
dow, at the bottom. I found an envel-
what"
Yes; sir. a long, iegal--size envelope"
walt. Mr.. Grafton. On the upper
left-hand corner was printed your regu-
lar business address.in short, II was
one of the envelopes from this office"
""The odd one from that package?"
cried Grafton. eagerly.
Il won't swear to that" concluded
Burleigh, with more than a little tri-
umph In his voice. but there's another
detail that would make 1t look very
much like the same"
Eyes, yesi What's that7"
"The postmark. sir. That envelope
was stamped from station A. our down
town station here. and the date was
May 10, a. m. How's that?"
Grafton leaped from his chair.
Fine. Burlegh! BY George. It's more
than fne! Where is the thing? You
never left II behind?"
writing on it?' chucRled Rurleigh.
"weil. I guess not Here she is. sir,
ar It's the best clue OF all that we
could have asked"
He glanced at the door and put a
hand In his inner pocket. moment
later II appeared again bearing a crush
ed and bruised legal envelope.
He held II aloft.
There she is. sir! Your own en-
velope, one Of the same size that the
thief used, mailed so that II was COL
lected and postraarked at o'clock this
morning-and bearing sample OF the
crooks hand, Just examine It for y ARr-
Grafton's eager fingers clutched the
and sat down quickly. He held up the
envelope and Razed hard at II. Bur-
leigh watched him complacently from
across the office
But soon the detective took to star
'-o for Grafton's face had paled and
he hands were trembling.
well, SIR" asked Burleigh. TT is
Addressed
''To James J. Brady-yes."
"And the writing? Do you know