The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-03

Bruce got the address and hastened out Twenty minutes later he was in ducted into the presence, of the detec- tive, whose remarkab ble successes had made two hemispheres ring with his name. He was credited with second sight and seventh sense and all sorts Rf things. He told reporters that there was nothing in his career but hard work, common sense and remembering that two and two always make four and never four and a half or three and three-quarters.
 After they had shaken hands Bruce gazed at the great crime expert curi- ously. He saw man of possibly forty years, who looked younger. He was shaved with scrupulous care, his hair was brushed until each hair seemed to it into it's exact spot, his clothes fitted him perfectly and he looked as if be had been groomed for hours. His eyes were either brown or black, but they glowed or smoldered or sparkled so constantly that no one could tell. His nose was well formed, but not promi- nent, and the same was true of the line OG jaw and chin. The mouth was at once strong and sensitive. The ex- pression was one of placid repose, as if 1t had been cultivated to-concea1 the whir of the volcanic mind behind it., just ag his subdued manner but im4 perfectly concealed the tireless energy of the man.
 "I am sorry I can give you only a few ninutes,'' he said in soft, pleas ant voice without waiting for Bruce to state the nature of his errand. 'fYou want to consult me about that terrible affair of your father. Did you want me to look into it?
 "Yes," Bruce blarted out. The de- tective nodded.
 ''T see,'' he said ''very well. have 8arte blanche as to expense?"
 :'Certainlys," replied Bruce instantly. eff you can throw any light on this awful thing you can spend all the money you please"
 MT Kayton's lips twitched very slightly There is never any difficult ty under those circumstances, Mr. Ar gyle,'' he said. 'sThe trouble is in get ting people to pay expenses when they can't see results. I furnish no guar antees.''
 Bruce gazed directly at him for a moment and then said slowly, ''In ask ing you to take this case, MT. Kayton, I was fully prepared to pay all of the expenses of the investigation and pay you whatever fee you consider reason able"
 wen talk about the fee when de- liver the goods. .. replied the detective quietly. ''I am sorry to dismiss you, but, have to catch train"
 +'But I wanted you to begin at once," he protested. @.
 "Impossibler' said MT. Kayton short 1y, buttoning his gloves.
 "But-but-when''-
 "I will be at your house at 9 o'clock in the morning. returned MT. Kayton. Bruce drew a long breath of relief. you're not going far, then ?"
 '.Only to Albany" replied MT. Kay ton. 'T will return on the last train tonight"
 Bruce sighed. Well, I suppose it's the best we can do." he said, as they vator. But I did want to choke those morning papers off some way"
 Again that faint smile f1ickered across MT. Kayton's face.
 Don't worry about the morning pa pers, MT. Argyle he said There will be news from Albany tonight that will make them forget about you"
 *H
  air the room, are ye not?" sl
 It 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 MT. Kayton, and Topp was objecting.
 ''Appen I am,,' he retorted sullenly. '.But do lave to do it alone, MT. Fin ley, or do I lave 'elp7"
 s'What ails ye, Topp?'' demanded the butler, though he knew well enough. They stood at the open door of the H. brary.
 'sThe same thing that's atlin' you, likely grow1ed the footman- ''I hain't goin' alone into the bloomin' tomb"
 Finley eyed him in scorn. LAW, we're worse than the wimnin Whats to hurt ye? Come on in wit ye!''
 He strode Bravely into the gloomy apartment and in the dim light stun- bled over chair. Topp suppressed yell, and both stood shivering.
 whats that?'' demanded the foot man in quavering voice.
 'Tt's chair responded the butler, in vain to speak unconcerned- Iy "Sit down on it."
 Topp shook his head and shivered again as he gazed about the darkened, 1 room 'T hain't the sort Q bloke who sticks. at a thing" he de- clared, .tbut I 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.
 SMiSfer Argyle WAS as good a mas ter as iver lived" he said cheerily. 'sWhy shud ye be afeared O the place where be died?''
 "'E may have been a good man, Mister Finley-but 'e died a hunnat- uraI death.'' Finley snorted. ''I'm thinlzin' yer sin abilities are too refined for yer walk 1 In life. Ye may be called upon to do worse things than to nnen the yZindieS 1