The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-10-23

thanks"
Don't mention it."
Norton left the slip and proceeded to
the office of the warehouse. He ap-
preached the managers desk.
Hello, Grannis, old top!"
The man looked up from his work
surlily. Then his face frightened.
Norton? What's brought you here?
o, yes; that balloon business. Sit
down"
What kind of a man is the captain
of that old hooker in the slipf"
"Shifty In gun running, but other
wise as square as a die. Looks funny
to see an old tub like that fixed up
with wireless; but that has saved his
neck a dozen times when he was run
ming 1t into a loose Not going to in
terview me, are you?"
mo. I'm going to ask you to do me
a little favor"
They always say that. But spin
her out. If it doesn't cost me my job.
it's yours"
We'll, there will be a person max
ing inquiries about the mysterious
aeronaut. All l want you to say is
that he left a packet with you, that
you've put 1t in that safe till he calls
to claim it."
Grannis nibbled the end Of his pen
Suppose some one should come ant
demand that l open the safe and de
liver?
"All you've got to do is to tell then
to show the receipt signed by you"
The warehouse manager laughed
Got a lot of sense in that ivory dom,
of yours. All right. But II anything
happens you've got to come aroun'
and back me up, What's Il about?"
THAT / dare not tell you. Thi
much, I'm laying a trap and l wan
some one l don't know to fall into it..
ION your way, James. But If yor
don't send me some prize fight ticket
next week for this, I'll never do yor
another favor"
In reply Norton took from his poke
two bits of ~pasteboard and laid Their
on the desk. 81 knew you'd be wan
ing something like this"
"Ringsidei" cried Grannis. "You r.
porters are lucky devils!"
I'D go myself If there was an
earthly chance Of a real scrap. 70
make me laugh, Gran. You're Away
going, always hoping the next m wi
be a real one. But it's all bunk. TIL
pugs are the biggest takers on top tn
sod. They've got us newspaper me
done to a FRAGILE"
81 guess you're right. Well, couI
on me regarding that mysteriou
bundle in the safe"
AT three o'clock this afternoon
want you to call me up. II no one he
called, why the game is up. But
some one does come around and mai
inquiries, don't fail to let me know"
Z. Tll be here till five. I'd better ca
you up then"
r Then Norton returned home an
1 idled about till afternoon. He wei
4 over to Riverdale. Five times
a walked up and down the front Of IL
Hargreave place, finally plucked l
y his courage and walked to the doc
After all, he was a lucky mortal. +
had a good excuse to visit this houi
every day in the week. And there W;
d something t~antalizing in the risk !
d took. Besides, he wanted to prove
d himself whether 1t was a passing fanc
t or something deeper. That's the VIZ
with humans; we never see a sis
l Fresh Paint" that we don't have
Il prove It.
He chatted with Florence for
while and found that, for all she mig
be guileless to the world, she was
good linguist, a fine musician, al
talked with remarkable keenne
about books and arts. But unless
Il reused her, the sadness of her positi,
always lay written in her face. 1t W
not difficult for him to conjure up h
nj dreams in coming'to the city and t
Re blow which, like a bolt of lightni
er from a clear sky, had shattered the
It ruthlessly.
you must come every day and t
,u me how you have progressed" s
said.
M I'll obey that order gladly, VIII,
M ever / can possibly do it. My Wis
be will always be short"
It, THAT is not necessary"
is NO" said Norton in his heart, "a
1t is WISE"
yer Always he found Jones waiting
or him at the door, always in the shade
Is. "Well?" the butler whispered.
81 have laid a neat trap. Whetl
AZ. this balloon was the one that left
top of this house l don't know. Blu
a there we're two men in 1t, one of tn
lies at the bottom of the sea-"
Ith "And the man found?" The butlt
a voice was tense.
Ice "It was not Hargreave. I met {
do but once, and as he wore a beard II
the captains description did not Il
his with your recollection"
IS; THANK Godl But what is this ira
~; 81 propose to find out by 1t whit
it'll back Of oil this, who Hargreave's
zht enemies are"
ore Norton returned to his rooms, II
out to await the call from Grannis.