Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-06-12

perfectly concealed the tireless energ,
OF the man.
81 am sorry | can give you only IA
few minutes" he said in soft. pleas
ant voice without waiting for Bruce
% state the nature OF his errand
You want TO consult me about that
terrible affair of your father. Did you
want me to look into it?"
"Yes," Bruce blurted out. The de.
oDctive nodded.
II see," he said Very we'll. have
0arte blanche as to expense?"
Certainly" replied Bruce instantly.
FL you can throw any light on this
owful thing you can spend all the
0oney you please"
Mr.. Kaytons lips twitched very
slightly. There is never any difficult
q under those circumstances. Mr.. Ar
gyle," be said. THE trouble Is In get
ting people to pay expenses when they
emit zee results. furnish no guar
antees."
Bruce gazed directly at him for a
moment and then said slowly. I'm ask
tng you to take this case, Mr.. Kayton.
] was fully prepared to pay all Of the
expenses OF the investigation and pay
you whatever fee you consider reason
able"
"We'll talk about the fee when l de-
liver the goods" replied the detective
quietly. 81 am sorry to dismiss you
but / have to catch train"
"But / wanted you to begin at once"
he protested.
~Impossiblew said Mr.. Kayton short
~, buttoning his gloves.
"But-but-when"-
al will be at your house at 8 o'clock
m the morning" returned Mr.. KaytOn.
Bruce drew long breath Of relief.
you're not going far, then?"
"Only to Albany" replied Mr.. Kay
tpn. 81 will return on the last train
tonight"
Bruce sighed "Well. I suppose it's
the best we can do" he said, as they
shook hands at the foot Of the ele-
vator. "But did want to choke those
morning papers of some way"
Again that faint smile fiickered across
Mr.. Kayton's face.
Don't worry about the morning pa
pers, Mr. Argyle" he said. There
will be news from Albany tonight that
will make them forget about you"
"Well. ye're to draw the curtains and
air the room, are We notT'
1t was the morning after the inter
ri,In oil
butler Of the Argyle household, glover
ed upon young Topp, the cockney foot
man. Bruce Argyle had given orders
that the library should be opened and
made ready for the reception Of Mr..
Kayton, and Topp was Directing.
"Appen l am" he retorted sullenly.
"But do ave to do it alone, Mr.. Fin
ley, or do ave 'elpT'
what ails We, Topp?" demanded the
butler, though he knew well enough.
They stood at the open door Of the IL
brary.
"The same thing that's ailin you.
likely" growled the footman. 81 hain't
goin' alone into the bloomin' tomb"
Finley eyed him in scorn. saw, ye're
worse than the wimmin What's to
hurt We? Come on in wit ye"'
He strobe bravely into the gloomy
apartment and in the dim light STUN
bled over a chair Topp suppressed
yell, and both stood shivering.
whats that?" demanded the foot
man In q quavering voice.
"It's q chair" responded the butler,
striving In vain 10 speak unconcerned-
~. "Sit down on it
Topp shook his head and shivered
again as he gaZed about the darkened.
massive room. IL hain't the sort o
bloke who sticks at thing" he de-
clared, but don't fancy a room
where errors ave 'appened."
The older man had recovered his
poise, and he boldly drew back the
curtain and opened window
mister Argyle was as good mas
ter as liver lived" he said cheerily.
"Why shud We be afeared o. the place
where he died?'
"'E may have been a good man,
Mister Finley-but e died hunnat
ural death.
Finley snorted. I'm thinkin' yer sin
sibllities are too refined for yer walk
IN life. Ye may be called upon to do
worse things than to open the windies
on tn scenes Of murder-God will
lin'p'
Topp, in the meantime, had opened
another window, and the draft from
the two caused the door into the hall to
swing softly to and shut with click.
Both men wheeled as II a pistol had
gone off behind them.
That's inn yelled Topp. And the
next instant he was down the hall, al
most upsetting Bruce Argyle, who was
coming to inspect the library.
whats the matter with Topp," he
demanded Old man Finley gulped
hard.
Its his nerves, sir" he said un-
steadily. Hes got the fear o. the
room"
Young Argyle glanced about uncom-
fortably. "Oh! he said slowly. Let
In all the sunlight you can, Finley.
There never were windows enough