The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-16

on is mind, SO g as, yet e Is a-sleepin'
like 'ealthy hinfant."
Another pause.
II understand-some time tomorrow
night. | was afraid for while that !
could not find an opportunity to call
you tonight; his coming ome so early
and unexpected like, don't y'know, and
his being that concerned quite took me
breath away"
Barnicle replaced the receiver as
noiselessly as he had taken 1t down,
and after switching off the lights stole
away to regions best known to him.
self.
Next morning, bright and early, Ru-
dolph Van Vechten was seated at his
writing table, while Barnicle, tall,
white-haired, cadaverous Of counte-
nance, but extraordinarily efficient,
moved quickly about his morning
tasks, and so quietly that the young
man was not aware of his presence.
Van Vechten was compiling list
Of his friends and acquaintance in
London, together with such names of
Pages friends as he could recall Hav-
ing completed this to his satisfaction,
he next directed his attention to the
composition of cablegram which, he
trusted, would elicit news of Paige or
Mrs. DevereauX without occasioning
too much comment on the part of the
recipient.
1t was we'll after ten o'clock when
he finished his labors and departed.
The instant the door closed Barnicle
left off what he happened to be doing
at the time, and stood listening to the
footballs growing fainter in the hall.
Presently he heard his masters voice
utter sharp Down." an ensuing
clank and clatter Of the elevator door,
and Barnicle broke into activity again.
fastening over to the writing.table,
he went deity through number Of
papers. Van Vechten had left sew
eral rough drafts Of the cablegram and
also one or two complete, but badly
scratched list Of names. One each Of
these Barnicle selected, carefully fold.
ed and placed in his pocket.
In the meantime taxi cab con-
veyed Van Vechten to the nearest
telegraph office. where he filed the
following message, directed to each
person on his list:
Have lost my Cousin Paige Carew's
address. She will not write until she
hears from me- Fear she is i'll. Can
you supply her present address,"
He .efS instructions that all replies
be delivered at he Powhatan, whittier
he betook himself to wait.
barely had he made himself comfort.
able in front of one of the windows
overlooking the street, when the hall
door again opened. He looked round
and beheid Tom Phinney. Reserving
his greeting until Tom drew nearer, he
was about to turn away again, but
something in Toms appearance and
bearing abruptly struck him as being
a bit cold. He gave the truant sharp
glance.
For one thing, Toms noiseless en-.
trance was in marked contrast to his
customary hoisterous arrival; a grave
and thoughtful cast now sat upon his
usually good-humored countenance.
and he was contemplating Var Vechten
with preoccupied stare which plain.
ly took no note OF his surroundings.
Seeming all at once to become aware
of the figure over by the window, Tom
halted. uttered faint "Hullo, Ruddy."
then proceeded 20 chair beside Van
Vechten's into which he sank DELHI.
erately. He sat gazing dreamily into
the street, as inert as protoplasm.
Van Vechten surveyed him from
time to time, growing more and more
puzzled, as the minutes passed with.
cut sound or movement from his com.
panion.
"Well?" he dryly broke the silence
at last. ut was an invigorating show.
er We had last night"
A grunt from Tom was the sole re-
Spouse. He didn't even trouble to look
around. Then Van Vechten injected a
note of cheerfulness into his next
speech.
But it has turned delightful today
"Uh-huh," from Tom.