The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-02-20


fiiSg the mouth-piece with one hand.
he held long conversation-all in
mysterious undertone-in the course
of which he replied to numerous Ques-
tions on the part OF his unseen inter
locutor.
Followed several minutes of intent
listening by Barnicle, then he said:
"Mr. Rudolph is not gentleman
that shows is feelings, don't y'know,
and that is what makes me sure that
whatever is bothering him is serious. i
can tell when anything Is a-worryin'
him." And, in a resentful tone: "'E
called me satire. e as something
on is mind, so e as. yet e is a-sleepin'
like 'ealthy Infant"
Another pause.
II understand-some time tomorrow
night. l was afraid for while that l
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 it 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 Ba4 ri"'e. tall,
white-haired, cadaverous of co"cta-
nance. but extraordinarily efficient,
oil
tasks, and so quietly that the young
man was not aware of his presence.
Van Vechten was compiling list
OF his friends and acquaintances in
London, together with such names OF
Paige's friends as he could recall. Hav-
ing completed this to his satisfaction,
he next directed his attention to the
composition of a 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 well 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 a 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 deftly through a 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. Ono each Of
these Barnicle selected, carefully fold
ed and placed in his pocket.
In the meantime a 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 left instructions that all replies
be delivered at the 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 beheld 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
bit cold. He gave the truant sharp
glance.
For one thing, Toms noiseless en-
trance was in marked contrast to his
customary boisterous arrival; a grave
and thoughtful cast now sat upon his
usually good-humored countenance,
and he was contemplating Van 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, Rudy"
then proceeded to a 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
out sound or movement from his com.
panion.
"Well?" he dryly broke the silence
at last. 1T 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
note of cheerfulness into his next
speech.
"But 1t has turned delightful today"
"Uh-huh," from Tom.
Great Scott" cried the other i'm
patiently Whats the matter with
you? Are you i'll? Or is 1t money
or debts?"-although he knew Tom to
be a marvelously healthy animal, and
that neither of t,as other two possibili-
ties had power 20 disturb him in the
least.
Tom now sls-fy revolved his head
and looked at Van Vechten. classify.