Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-04-25

hurried up and down all night long
and there was a uniformed porter
lounging sleepily in the hall. He came
to attention at Mr.. Catesby's tone Of
command.
Il would like to 90 to Mr.. Catesby's
apartment" he said briefly.
The man walked over to the index
board which hung on the wall and sur.
veyed It closely.
"Ain't no such name, sir" he said
respectfully.
Once more Mr.. Catesby's hand went
IN his pocket and a coin flashed be.
tween his fingers.
Sure they didn't move in today2"
be asked meaningly.
"Ain't nobody moved in here today.
SIR" replied the porter looking wistful-
~ at the coin. "Ain't nobody moved
In here for two weeks. All the fats
are taken"
Funny" calculated Mr.. Catesby.
not feeling at all amused at the situa-
ton. He turned on his heel and walk
ed out OF the building with a sensation
that his world was quite upside down.
He had heard of men losing their
wives or their children and calling
upon the police for aid 10 their recov-
cry, but the disappearance Of a family
Of three persons. the furniture Of a
seven room Fat. besides a capable
maid of all work and an active bull
pup was a different proposition. The
janitor of the Alameda must know or
his greedy wife who had sent Catesby
on the fruitless chase to the Freenosia.
Once more Catesby descended to the
JanitOr's abode and pounded on the
door. This time there was no response,
and. after delivering a threatening H.
rade that greatly relieved his overbur.
dened mind, the weary man In search
Of his family tOiled up to his despoiled
home.
At least he was within the walls
that had recently housed his loved
ones. There was no use in searching
for them any further tonight. When
morning came he would begin anew.
1t could not DO that they had been
long gone, for he had noted his own
nam on the bulletin board In the low
err hall. The gas had beer turned of In
the apartment, and after he had burn
ed what little there remained in the
pipes he was obliged to solace himself
with the single beam from his pocket
lamp.
There was a broad window seat In
the little room he had called his ''den,''
and here, with a pile Of newspapers to
soften the hardness, be huddled him
self to wait for morning. The window
gave on an airshaft, and from some
source came the delicious odOr of a
freshly broiled b~eefsteak. He shifted
hungrily, and his mouth watered. BY
rights he should have been eating
broiled steak and mushrooms at this
very moment, and his family would
be rejoicing over the gifts he had
brought them.
The thought of the gifts reminded
him that there was a box Of candy in
there for his wife. Well, he could buy
Fanny another box In the morning.
He was half starved. and his appetite
must be satisfied. He pulled out the
box and munched half heartedly at
the chocolates and bonbons. He
wasn't fond Of candy, and the sweet
ness soon appeased his hunger-fOr
candy. But the steak still smelled tan.
talizingly from some other apartment,
and he heard through the alrsbaft the
distant inkle of dishes.
OF course he could go out and get
something TO eat-fnd a hotel and re-
main until morning should bring a so
luton OF what he thought was the
greatest mystery he had ever known.
He saw in Imagination the papers
headllning the unaccountable disap-
pearance OF an entire family. There
would be pictures OF the twins and Of
his wife and Of himself, and undoubt-
ably a drawing of the fat and little
ovals showing Capitola's broad fea-
lures and the SNUG c-ountenance of
Pedro, the pup.
He yawned sleepily and thought of
the comfortable bed that would have
been his If Fanny had not taken II
into her head TO move. OF course
wherever they were the comfortable
bed was awaiting him. Tomorrow
would divulge its whereabouts. In
the meantime had Fanny received his
messenger Perhaps she had not. In
that case she would not be ~assailed by
such anxiety as he was now suffering.
In the morning he would try to trace
the telegram and see to what address
II had been delivered.
Cheered by this brand new idea, Mr..
Catesby carefully spread the newspa'
per oil the floor, rolled his overcoat
into a pillow and gingerly laid himself
down on his hard couch. He was
chastened In spirit by his fruitless
search for his family, and he knew
that It would be useless to attempt to
find them at this hour Of the night. In
formation would not fiOw readily from
lips yawning with fatigue. His expert
nee with the %janitor had taught him
that. He even thought t%olerantly OF
that despOtic individual. and he felt a
glow Of thankfulness when he discov-