, 1912-06-13
ALFONSO PAXTON had played

- hiLo ~
IN this game. SO new to MIN
The secretary of the treasury. Mr.
Grantham. was his intimate friend
The newspapers a raised a scandal
from time to time about their assoc,a
ions and had accused the compIaisant
secretary OF sharing in the proceeds
or the ~billionaire's combinations. Moth.
ing. however. was ever proved against
Mr.. Grantham. and ne paid no atten
tor to the attacks or the gossip.
On the very morning of the receipt
Of Payton's letter and after the bil
iionafre had made his decision the sec.
rotary. being in New York. called in.
cognfto at Mr. Grayman's office, The
business that he had been thinking of
was driven from his mind as soon as
his friend began to speak.
Grantham,' said Grayman, 81 am
In terrible trouble. My daughter Helen
mas been carried Off by the sky pirate
Alfonso Payton. who has her conceal
ed somewhere and demands s1OOO0.
OOO
Good Godr cried the secretary
Are you In earnest?"
terribly In earnest. Grantham, and
l want you to help me. The police
trled to trap him n made a misera.
Die hasco. nearly getting me into the
same box In fact, the fellow did car.
ry me of In his aero. but released me
on my promise to meet him again"
MI GraymaD proceeded to relate, de-
tall after detail. all that had happened.
In conclusion he said: you have ask.
ed me what you can do You have all
the government aeros engaged in the
revenue service under your control
and 1 suppose that they are the best
In the world You also have an army
OF trained men n the best detectives
what can you not do to run his fel.
low DOWN.
The secretary reflected
We'll" he said finally. 81 am sorry.
Grayman. that you didn't tell me of
this at the beginning But think
that | can help you n of course, |
VII Luckily. there comes to my
memory a young man In our service
who. ] believe. is just the person we
need. He has proved himself extra.
ordinary capable. has been reported for
promotion several times and has only
been held back by absurd rules of
precedence. made to favor mediocrity
l think I'll put him In charge of this
affair and give him the chance of bis
life"
The reader must not accuse me Of
fmmodesty when I tell him thai 1t was
to me as the sequel will show that
Mr., Grantham referred in such hatter
ing terms, although at the time | was
far from dreaming that | had a friend
and admirer In a high place.
d as you think best said Gray
man. but. for Gods sake. act quick!"
$50 l will. ri think of nothing else
Now. tell me. have you no information
as to the location Of the pirates lair"
mot the slightest. As I told you. he
communicated with me from In the
Air. which you Know may mean any
where on the round world"
Exactly so. But bis letter Is post
marked Wheeling. W. Va and your
daughters Cha. 'otte. N. O. and be
promised that hs would communicate
again"
YES. and l don't know at what mo
ment a ring on my bell here may come
from him. 1t makes me jump In my
chair every time | hear 1t"
Nov don't be nervous. my dear fell
low" said the secretary. "Of course
he will have to communicate again.
and. If l am not greatly mistaken in
my young lieutenant, he will fnd him.
self in a box when he does. I'll take
the Washington special. which leaves
In an hour, and send for my man to
come at once to my office. If you hear
from Payton communicate immediate
ly with me. Make him any kind OF
promise, only don't go to meet him.
PUT him Of and try to az a day
when he shall communicate again. Tell
him that that will be final. and l reck-
on that II will be. Now keep up a
good heart. Grayman. and well get the
girl and save you ten million In the
bargain. Just depend upon me and
my young man
In the afternoon of b same day on
which Mr.. Grayman had his interview
with the secretary of the treasury the
expected telephone call came from
Payton. This time the Millionaire was
primed and nerved for the interview,
As on the hrst occasion. Payton gave
his address 'In the air. and required
"undirected" answers.
my compliments to you. Mr.. Gray
man. l suppose you i've received my
letter."
EYES," said Grayman in far better
humor than he had answered his mys-
terious interlocutor the first time. Il
have received 1t. and It has duly I'M
pressed me"
.u.. 4. .,o,,h p, rap,ied Payton.