Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-10-11

10 bring home for him; and shouldn't
want anything to happen to It."
The Major looked up at the roof Of
the dingy shed. He did not care to
have Reynolds note the flicker Of ad.
miration in his eyes. The cleverest
woman Of them ALL The positive
touch to the whole daredevil affair!
And he would not have thought Of II
had he lived to be a thousand. zone
might as well dlsembark in a stable"
be said aloud. "Ah! We are ready to
90, then"
They entered the limousine and
went of buzzing and zigzagging
among the numbering trucks. The
agent drove the car himself.
Where is Jones now" he asked
the Major, who sat at his left.
Haven't had line from him for a
month"
Just before We sailed" said Mrs.
Chedsoye through the window, over
The Majors shoulder, he went into
he desert for fortnight or so; with
a caravan. He had heard of some fab.
ulous carpet"
Touch number two The Major
slinned. Jones is one of the best
judges | have ever met. He was of.
at a bound. only hope he will get
back before We leave for California"
The Major drew up his collar. It was
a cold, blustry day.
The agent was delighted. What luck
a fellow like Jones had! To wander
all over creation and to meet charm.
i-g people! And when they invited
him to remain for luncheon, the vic.
tory was complete.
Mrs. Chedsoye strolled in and out
of the beautifully appointed rooms.
Never had she seen more excellent
taste. Not too much; everything per.
foctly placed, one object nicely bal.
anced against another. Here was a
rare bit Of Capo di Monte, there a
piece Of Sevres or Canton. Some
houses, with their treasures, lcok like
museums, but this one did not. The
owner had not gone mad over one
subject; here was a sane and prudent
collector. The great yellow Chinese
carpet represented a fortune; she
knew enough about carpets to realize
this fact. Ivories, fades, lapis-lazuli,
the precious woods, priceless French
and japanese tapestries, some fine
paintings and bronzes; the rooms
were full of unspoken romance and
adventure; echoed with war and trag-
edy, too. And Fortune might have
married a man like this one. A pos.
sibility occurred to her, and the ghost
Ct a smile moderated the interest in
her face. They might be upon the
Desert for weeks. Who knew what
right not happen to two such roman
tic simpletons?
The butler and the first man (who
was also the cook were impeccable
types of servants; so thought Reyn-
ODDS. They moved silently and an
ticipated each want. Reynolds deter
mined that very afternoon to drop a
line to Jones and compliment him
upon his good taste in the selection
of his friends. A subsequent press of
office work, however, drove the deter
mination out of his mind.
The instant his car carried him out
OF sight, a strange scene was enacted.
The butler and the first man seized
the Major by the arms, and the three
executed a pascal. Mrs. Chedsoye
eyed these manifestations of Joy ston.
lily.
Now then, what's been done?"
asked the Major, pulling down his
cuffs and shaking the wrinkles from
his sleeves.
Half done!" cried the butler.
Fine! What do you do with the
refuse?"
Cart it away in an automobile ev-
cry night, after the gun starts down
the other end Of the street"
! "Gun?" The Major did not quite
understand.
Gun or bull; that's the argot for
policeman"
Thieves argot," said Mrs. Ched-
soys CONTEMPORARY.
The butler laughed. He knew Gio-
conda Of old.
Where's that wallsafe?" the Major
wanted to know.
Behind that sketch by DetaIIle."
And the butler, strange to say, pro-
nounced 1t Det.i.
Can you open TT"
Tried, but failed. Wallace is the
man for that"
He'll be along in an hour or So"
Where's Ryannei"
Don't know; don't care" The Ma.
jor sketched the predicament Of their
fellow-conspirator.
The butler whistled, but callously.
One more or less didn't matter in such
an enterprise.
When Wallace arrived he applied
his talent and acquired science to the
wall-safe, and finally swung outward
the little steel door. The Major
pushed him aside and thrust a hand
into the metaled cavity, drawing out
an exquisite Indian casket OF rose.
wood and mother-of-pearl. He opened
the lid and dipped a hand within. En-
eralds. deem and H0ht and ebadad ON,