The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-25

remembers clerk put the papers
into my bag. l locked it. 1t has a
Rrahma lock- The lock has not been
tempered with. But the papers are
not within it. Mr.. Littleton, I'd give
my soul-if I've got one, and If i>s
mine to give, and If I've not given
it already--to get those letters back
again"
your SOUL" I observed, would
not be of much value as a reward.
perhaps. One would hardly know
what to do with it."
He laughed-the feeblest effort
made him laugh.
Zone could sole ones boots with
tits hard enough, and black
enough" he retorted. But I'm
scrious-serious. Hades in purgatory.
is there no stronger word? It's life
o: death, Littleton, 1t means more
than l car say. Littleton, are you
man of the world?'
81 can't say. Try me-
"a coward?"
81 hope not
"Then I've an errand for you. Go
up tomorrow and see these Sound
reilly solicitors. Get those papers by
hook or by crook. You don't drink,
Littleton-not to excess, l hope? l
can't have a secretary God, the
mans dawdling over his first glass
now! Get those papers. Say you
want the Ruscombe papers-four
letters. Bring 'em to me; threaten
'em, bully 'em. the thieves' The day
you put 'em into my hands. Littleton,
make you my secretary at 1--WE
hundred a year; and lin offering
a reward besides of a thousand
guineas for the letters. Follow me?"
81 do" l said slowly. "The letters
are connected with the prosecution
c. some criminal?"
Exactly A fiend, Littleton, whom
no man can pity"
The door opened. The footman-
the one he had called a fool-en-
tered.
Mr.. and Miss Langley are in the
drawing room, my lord" he said.
"What?"
"You asked them in to bridge, my
lord. Mr.. Langley says murmured
the footman.
''Forgetful fool" roared Rus
combe. Come, Littleton. Leave your
wine, man. God, would you keep
the lady waiting for a drop Of port?
Whatre young men thinking about
eli, John?"
He stopped in front of the foot
man and glared at him.
Il can't say, my lord"
"No! You're a fool-but you're
nice and Clean" said Ruscombe, and
led the way to the drawing room.
Ida had a headache. 1t was with
the greatest difficulty I induced her
T. come" declared Langley-a little
bullet-headed, gray-haired man -
ncisily in.
INTERNALLY kind of Miss Langley,
clustered Ruscombe. Langley, this
is Littleton. He may become my new
Sc cretary. Littleton-Langley.L Lang
ley's my estate agent. Not very
brilliant-had swine-fever last year
not himself the pigs. And how's
Miss Ida-beautiul as ever? Cut the
cards."
He beloved the command, anc
subsidized into chair. Halfway
through the second game Ruscombe
began to tell Langley of his loss.
The Ruscombe letters. You know
what I mean. man.
Langley suffered Yes" and added
that he was very sorry.
II think" I said slowly, that
can lay my hands or the letters"
Ruscombe roared some astonishec
comment But i was watching Miss
Langley's face. She glanced at me
Our eyes met. A pallor spread ovel
her face and her lip, shock.
The day yol hand 'em me there's
a thousand guineas in your poke
and a fat job here al five hundred {
year, said Ruscomha. What make:
you SO confident. Mr.. Littleton?"
Miss Langley has revoked" l oh
served. ooh, / don't know"
The Langleys We're going. Rus
come and old Langley were drink