The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-11-30
CHAPTER vi.
Disclosures.

ci5, d 1lIIle uOuSo-DTOWu udu sat over
big mahogany desk; little man OF
big affairs, sole steward of one OF
Americas most formidable fortunes.
Precisely at eleven minutes past
noon Cor at the identical instant chos-
en- by Alan Law to catapult over the
edge of cliff in northern Maine) the
muted signal Of the little mans desk
telephone clicked and, eagerly lifting
receiver to ear, he nodded with smile
and said in accents Of some relief:
ASK her to come in at once, please"
Jumping up, he placed chair in in.
innate juxtaposition with his own;
Eand the door opened, and a young
woman entered.
The mouse-brown man bowed. Miss
Rose Trine?" he murmured with a
great deal of Difference
The young woman returned his bow
with show of perplexity: "Mr. Dig,
by?"
you are kind to come in response
to my-ah-unconventio invita-
tion," said the little man. won't
you-ah-sit DOWN."
She said, Thank you," gravely, and
took the chair he indicated. And Mr..
Digby, with an admiration he made no
effort to conceal, examined the fair
face turned so candidly to him.
1T is quite comprehensive" he said
diffidently-"if you will permit me to
say so-now that one sees you, Miss
Urine, it is quite comprehensive why
my employer ah-feels toward you as
he does"
The girl flushed. 'Mr Law has told
you?"
II have the honor to be his nearest
friend, this side the water, as we'll
as his man of business"
He paused with an embarrassed ges-
ture. 80 l have ventured to request,
eptitious appointment in
order to-ah-take the further liber-i
ty Of asking whether you have recentI
ly sent Alan a messenger
Her look of surprise was answer
enough, but she confirmed it with vigl
orous denial: Il have not communi7
Gated with Mr.. Law in more than a.
year,"
Precisely as 1 thought" Mr.. Digby
nodded. None the less, Mr.. Law not
long since received what purported to-
be message from you; in fact-a
rose" And as Miss Urine sat fors
ward with a start of dismay, he aded:
Il have the information over Mr.. Laws
signature-a letter received ten days
ago-from Quebec"
t., A.
in undisguised distress.
HE came in response to-ah-the'
message of the rose"
But did not send it,"
II felt sure of that because" said
Mr.. Digby, watching her narrowly
because Of something that accompa,
MED the rose, symbol of another sig
nificance altogether-a playing card, |
trey Of hearts"
Her eyes we're blank He pursued |
with openly sincere reluctance: y
must tell you, l see, that a trey OF
hearts invariably foresignaled an at
tempt by your father on the life Of
Alan's father"
With a stricken cry the girl crouched
with her hands.
THAT Is why I sent for you," Mr.
Pigby pursued hastily, as if in hope
of getting quickly over most unhap-
py business. "Alan's letter, written
and posted on the steamer, reached me
within twenty-four hours of his arrival
in Quebec, and detailed his scheme to
ON ho limit cd OF rof1
he puts it, by the back door, by way
of northern Maine-and promised ad-
vice by telegraph as soon as he
reached Moosehead Lake. He should
have wired me ere this, l am told by
those who know the country he was to
cross. Frankly, / am anxious about
the boy!"
and II" the girl exclaimed pitifully.
ITO think that he should be brought
into such peril through met
"You can tell me nothing?"
"Nothing-as yet l did not dream
Of this-much less that the message
of the rose was known to any but Alan
and myself. cannot understand" r.
, Then l may tell you this much
more, that your father maintains a !.
very efficient corps Of secret agents"
you think he spied upon me?" the
girl famed with indignation.
Il know he did" Mr.. Digby per-
mftted himself quiet smile. 1T has :
seemed my business, In the service of
my employer, to employ agents of my :
own. There is no doubt that your !;
father sent you to Europe for the sole
purpose of having you meet Alan"
"Oh!" she protested. "But what 9
earthly motive-?"
THAT Alan might be won back to "a
America through you-and So" /,
There was no need to finish out his z
sentence. The girl was silent, pale c
ind staring with wide eyes, ylsibly
her wits to cope with this o
= $3.50 ---- - c
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