The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-12-17
Book II.

CHAPTER Ivan vechten calls on his
uncle, Theodore Van Vechten, big man in
wall street and known as the Man Of
Iron" In search of information regarding
tho whereabouts Of Paige Carew
CHAPTER II--Detective Flint shows
Van Vechten gold mesh purse found in
the House Of Mystery Van recognizes It
a. belonging to Paige Carew.
CHAPTER III-The sweet-voiced girl
helps Tom Pl1lnney escape but refuses To
disclose her identity. Tom declares he
Will meet her again.
CHAPTER Tv-Detective Flint tells Van
vechten he has a theory that Paige has
been KIDNAPPED. Van goes to lay the case
before his unclr.
"You said that the girl who conduct
ed you from the Rocky Cove house, in
timated that you might indeed see her
-soon-under some strange condi-
tions. Have you any idea what she
meant?"
"Not the least" replied Tom; "only
wish did. But she was mighty seri-
GUS and solemn about it, can tell you
that"
After much more consideration of
the difficulties confronting them, Van
Vechten offered the following pro.
posal:
Although you are bound not to
search for the Rocky Cove house, am
not under any such restraint. There
is no reason why Flint and | should
not run over there and have try at
it."
"Ruddy, | can't stand for it." Tom
quietly, but none the less firmly, OBJ
jected.
Look here, Tom" Van Vechten all
at nee grew very grave, and there
was a new tone in his voice that
caught Toms attention. 81 am as In
terested in one of those girls as you
are in the other. Perhaps"-hesitant-
1--WE are both interested in the
same one"
This was the most astonishing dis
closure that Tom had yet heard.
"You?" he almost shouted his
amaZement.
Van Vechten nodded. 81 saw lsor IN
the crowd at the alley, Sunday, and
again at a window across the street
while we were returning here. Wheth-
er she is the girl in the oaIk or jessie,
| do not know; but"
Describe her" Tom eagerly inter
rupted.
"She is slender, her hair and eyes
are dark. She is very beautiful"
But Tom was emphGtcally shaking
his head. "1'hat-eXcept for the beau
tiful part of it-could not be the girl
who came to me in the dark. | don't
know why | know it, but | do. But
20 on with what you started to say"
81 was going to say that | am con-
fident of this girls innocence OF any
wrongdoing, or even a suspicion or
wrongdoing. Such being the case, no
harm can befall either OF them from
anything Flint and do.
'It's the sandy-haired chap that /
want to get at; | suspect he's the
handspring of the whole affair, and in
dubitably Flint thinks so too. Flint's
a pretty clever chap; | respect him
more every time we talk. | believe he
is thoroughly dependable.
"At any rate if that hulking bruiser
knows anything about Paige, he must
be made to tell it; Flint can do what
ever he pleases with regard to the
murder"
Their talk wandered far into the
realm of speculation, carrying them
over the luncheon hour and back to
their seats in the lounge. 1t was profit
less, and the entry of messenger
with a sheaf of cablegrams for Van
yechten came as a welcome diversion,
although anticipation lent the incl
dent an unwonted excitement.
He took them with trembling hands.
The first proved to be from Bobby
Massinger, who made it a point to pro-
nose to Paige every time he met her.