The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-01-16

ever to come 1t must now be near at
hand; they could not much longer be
content with some time"
! He frowned with annoyance. Why
| couldn't such a sensible girl come
home at the proper time. when all ar
rangements had been made for her re-
ception and her family and friends had
every reason to expect her? There
was one consolation in the absence Of
those friends from town; he was not
obliged to invent answers to embar-
RAISING inquiries concerning his dila-
tory cousin. But this was small COM
pensation for stewing In New York by
himself until Paige chose to notify him
of her whereabouts and intended move
ments. He gave one moment of sober
thought to the circumstance that ne
really did not know precisely where
she was; II some sudden emergency
should arise necessitating cable ne
would not know where to reach her.
But he speedily dismissed this phase
of the matter; 1t was no new thing
for Paige to start of on q holiday
jaunt without confiding her proposed
itinerary to anybody, and now Mrs.
Devereaux was with her.
| Just the same" he mused. If !
knew where to catch her, would send
her cable that would set her to
guessing for a while"
Unable longer to remain Quiescent,
he bounded from his chair and collid-
ed with Alexander, who was seeking
him in his corner-an accident that
did not affect the pages accustomed
composure in the least.
Gentleman to see you, SIR" Alex
ander announced.
who is it," Van vechten snapped
irritably. 81 don't want to see any
| body"
He paused. Didn't he? Alexander
had not presented card, but whoever
| the caller might be he signified d.
version. II he tried any longer to
think he would be a raving lunattc In
another hour. And, besides, something
had destroyed the SAVIOR OF the sole
pleasurable aspect of his meditations.
| Alexander resolved his doubts. He
caught a knowing look In the pages
countenance.
Begin your pardon, Mr.. Van
vechten, think you'd want to see
this gentleman"
VERY WE'LL" Van vechten weariedly
acquiesced. SHOW him in"
He did not know the man who imme-
diately followed Alexander into the
lounging-room. The stranger was un-
der medium height, slender and I'M
assuming in appearance, but carried
himself with certain quiet assurance
that commanded attention. He was
as gray as a badger. and his lean.
smooth-shaven face resembled fooled
| leather.
There was a conspicuously alert
look about his steady gray eyes, Van
Vechten also noted, which presently
disclosed a habit of narrowing and re-
vealing q web of fine wrinkles at their
corners. This single change of facial
muscles, Van Vechten soon learned to
recognize, possessed the popularity of
| indicating one Of two moods-concen-
tration upon the matter In hand, or
else a smiling humor that made one
warm to him. Van Vechten felt that
his visitor would be chary Of speech,
but that whatever he might say would
be well worth hardening to.
mr.. Rudolph Van vechtenT now
queried the newcomer In a tone that
could not have carried yard beyond
the person to whom II was addressed
Van Vechten nodded and motioned to
! a chair.
MY name," he acknowledged. And.
with a wry mouth: You are detec-
, tive. l might have expected it-but
didn't"
Instantly the steady eyes contracted
and wrinkled at the corners. The
young man all at once discovered that
his irritation was evaporating, and
that he could smile In sympathy with
his visitor.
Said the quiet voice: II am glad to
know that my estimate OF your intelli-
gence was not at fault. Flint 10 my
name-Phineas Flint--from Central
Once"
\ Considering that you have never
seen me before. Mr.. Flint" Van vech-
ten lightly retorted, cit is rather ex-
traordinary that you should possess
any particulars upon which to base
an estimate of my intelligence"
The steady. smiling regard still met
the young mans.
"ITl demonstrate just how simple q
matter II is--if you have hardened this
intrusionf"
The listener nodded. His attention
was already won.
Have you any idea how the poor
chap met his death?" he queried.
"Yes," was the prompt reply. "He
was struck over the head with some
kind of blunt instrument II Is pretty
certain that only one of the blows
the one on the temple-could have
proved fatal: the other---right behind
the left ,ear--might have stunned him
or produced unconsciousness. But as
to who did it--there's the question.
There are some extraordinary features
about this murder. Mr.. Van vschten."