Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-06-26
awful thing you can spend all the
money you please"

gyle." he said. The trouble is in get
ting people to pay expenses when they
can't see results. | furnish no guar
anteeS."
Bruce gnzed directly at him for a
moment and then said slowly. I'm ask
ing you to take this case. Mr.. Kayton.
| was fully prepared to pay all of the
expenses Of the investigation and pay
you whatever fee O consider reason
able"
wen talk about the fee when I de-
liver the goods" replied the detective
GH.tly. II am sorry to dismiss you,
ii!; have to catch Il train
"!:'t wanted you to begin at once"
hr is""trsteh.
"luposSiblr." said MIR. Kavton short
~. i%ruttoning his gloves.
But but when
II will be ut yonr house Mt 9 o'clock
in the morning." returned MIR. Kayton.
Bruce drew Il long breath of relief.
you're not =oin. far. them"
Only to Albany" replied Mr.. Kay
ton. 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 ut the foot of the ele-
vator But | did want to choke those
morning papers off some way"
Again that faint smile fickered 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 not?"
1t was the morning after the inter-
| view just narrated, and Finley, the old
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 objecting.
"'Appen l am" he retorted ~sullenly.
But do l ave to do it alone. Mr.. in
ley, or do I ave 'elp?"
"What ails We, Topp" demanded the
butler. though he knew we'll enough.
| They stood at the open door Of the Ii
brary.
"The same thing that's ailin' you.
likely growled the footman. II 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 a
veil, and both stood shivering.
"What's that?" demanded the foot
man in a quavering voice.
"It's a chair responded the butler,
striving in vain to speak unconcerned-
ly. 'Sit down on it,"
Topp shook his head and shivered
again as he gazed about the darkened,
massive room. II hain't the sort o
bloke who sticks at a thing" be de
clared, but 1 don't fancy a room
where 'orrors ave 'appened."
The older man had recovered his
poise, and he boldly drew back the
curtain and opened a window.
mister Argyle was as good a 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 a hunnat-
ural DEATH"
Finley snorted. I'm thinkin' yer sin
sibilities 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
linz!
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 a click.
Both men wheeled as if a pistol had
gone off behind them.
"That's 'im!" yelled Topp. And the
next instant he was down the hall, al.
most upsetting Bruce Argyle, who was
coming to inspect the library.
"What's 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
here" He turned to another door that
opened into the farther part of the
house. SIS this door unlocked"
mot yet, sir"
Bruce unlocked it. The door opened
Immediately into a pretty sunlit morn
ing room, and a soft voice hailed him
from the window seat.
"Are you there. Bruce?'
Eyes. Come in, Nan"
In obedience to his summons there
entered a dainty. blue eyed damsel OF
about twenty-five. so finely and ex-
quisitely nodded that she looked like
porcelain. She gave a timid glance
about the interior Of the room.
Having this room opened"
Finley approached. what time am
l to expict the defective, sir?" he in.