The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-10-29


,hunks."
Don't mention it,"
Norton left the slip and proceeded tc
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
Q, yes; that balloon business. Sit
down"
What kind Of man is the captain
OF that old hooker in the slip?"
'Shifty in gun running, but other.
wise as square as die. Looks funny
to see an old tub like that fixed up
with wireless; but that has saved his
neck dozen times when he was run
ming it into moose. Not going to in
terview me. are YOU"
No. I'm going to ask you to do me
a little favor"
They always say that. But spin
her cut. If it doesn't cost me my job,
it's yours"
We'll, there will be person max
ing inquiries about the mysterious
acronaut. All l want you to say is,
that he left a packet with you, that
you've put it in that safe till he calls
to claim it,"
Grannis nibbled the end of his pen.
Suppose some one should come and
demand that l open the safe and de-
liver"
"All you've got to do is to tell them
to show the receipt signed by YOU"
The warehouse manager laughed.
Got lot of sense in that ivory dome
OF yours. All right. But if anything
happens you've got to come around
and back me up What's it about?"
THAT l dare not tell you. This
much, I'm laying trap and I want
some one l don't know to fall into it."
ION your way, James. But if you
don't send me some prize fight tickets
next week for this, III never do you
another favor"
In reply Norton took from his pocket
two bits OF pasteboard and laid them
On the desk. II knew you'd be want
ing something like this"
"Ringside!" cried Grannis you re-
porters are lucky devils!"
I'D 60 myself if there was any
earthly chance Of real scrap. You
m@ke me laugh, Gran. You're always
going, always hoping the next one will
be a real one. But it's all bunk. The
pugs are the biggest takers on top the
sod. They've got us newspaper men
done to FRAGILE"
81 guess you're right Well, court
on NE regarding that mysterious
bundle in the safe"
AT three O'Clock this afternoon
want you to call me up. If no one has
called, why the game is up. But if
some one does come around and make
Inquiries, don't fail to let me know"
"Ill be here till five. I'd better call
fou up then"
Then Norton returned home and
died about till afternoon. He went
,ver to Riverdale Five times he
walked up and down the front of the
iargreave place, finally plucked up
lis courage and walked to the door.
after all, he was lucky mortal. He
lad a good excuse to visit this house
very day in the week. And there was
omething tantalizing in the risk he
ook. Besides, he wanted to prove to
imself whether it was a passing fancy
r something deeper. That's the way
18th humans; we never see sign
Fresh Paint" that we don't have to
rove it.
He chatted with Florence for a
lille and found that, for all she might
e guileless to the world, she was a
God lingust, fine musician, and
alked with remarkable keenness
bout books and arts. But unless he
oused her, the sadness Of her position
ways lay written in her face. 1t was
OF difficult for him to conjure up her
reams in coming to the city and the
low which, like bolt of lightning
ON a clear sky, had shattered them
lthlessly.
You must come every day and tell
10 how you have progressed" she
lid.
I'll obey that order gladly, when
yer I can possibly do it. My visits
ill always be short"
"That Is not necessary"
NO" said Norton in his heart, but |
is WISE"
Always he found Jones waiting for
m at the door, always in the shadow. /
"Well?" the butler whispered.
II have laid a neat trap. Whether |
is balloon was the one that left the /
p of this house don't know. But IL /
ere were two men in 1t, one of them /
% at the bottom of the sea-"
"And the man found?" The buffers \
ice was tense.
1T was not Hargreave. I met Orts
It once, and as he wore q beard then, ="
9 captains description did not tally
til your recollection" !,
Thank God! But what is this trap" =,
sT nr0noso IN find out NV n u,ho Ia "