United labor bulletin., 1914-01-24

/ have an idea that we shall never
marry-simply. l am convinced, be-
cause l could not insist without forc-
ing myself upon her. No. no; am
much too fond of her for that. And as
for another love affair. what earthly
reason is there for her making secret
OF It? She is not girl given to ro-
mantle fancies or schoolgirl senti-
mentality: she is of age, her own mis-
tress; and were she to learn. as
have. that it is possible for either OF
us to care for somebody else in way
different from our present feelings to-
ward each other, why, she couldn't let
me know 1t fast enough That's Paige
If anybody must be hurt, have 1t
over and done with as soon as pos
sible."
Il am beginning to form pretty
fair idea of your cousin" observed MT.
Flint. Her intelligence. courage and
independent character make 1t all the
more necessary that learn everything
possible about Max Willard. l suppose
that she and Mrs. Devereaux are very
much attached to each other?"
Paige and Josephine? / can't say
they are like mother and daughter
Josephine's heart is much too young
for that-chums would be more nearly
accurate. Yet Mrs. Devereaux has
been a mother to Paige. and the very
strongest ties of affection and conn
dence bind them together"
Mr. Flint slowly nodded his head, as
IL these disclosures were right in har-
mony with whatever theory he was
evolving.
zone thing more" said he 1T is
strange that 1t has never occurred to
you. with your intimate understanding
of your cousin. that nothing at all has
happened to her: that her prolonged
absence without communicating with
relatives or friends is an act Of her
own free will"
But It did occur TO me-" Van Vech'
ten contradicted And II is my knowl
edge of Paige that renders such a
hypothesis wholly absurd
Again MI Flint nodded understand
inely.
Now" eaid he. "I'll answer your
question as TO why | attach SO much
Importance to finding Max willard; al
though what / have already told you
should supply the explanation. want
TO discover the motive that Influenced
Temple Bonner to disregard his OWE
iron-bound system OF doing business
and establish a precedent by interpos
/ ing personally in the case of the house
! across the street IL is remarkable
that he should do such thing for any
body. II Max Willard is alive, the old
friendship would supply that motive
Then II would be high time to get in
touch with Willard and learn what
he's up to-
Perhaps" Van vechten refiectivel,
offered. Temple Bonner's sentiment
about the house extended to preserv
ing everything just as II was when he
Was attentive 10 Miss Henrietta. Bu
he has never come back to it"
THAT was precisely the impression
/ found nothing whatever OF any inter
est to my investigation"
Van Vechten asked carelessly:
II one we're minded TO. could on,
get I'M"
The detective smiled. Are 70,
thinking OF attempting it,"
Maybe ] shall-if the obstacles II
the way are not insurmountable YoS
see. Flint. / may stumble upon some
thing OF value as clue: something
that was meaningless TO you with you
scant knowledge OF family traditions.
The detective passed a nat Ike,
across the table. saying merely: "Th,
back door; you reach It through tn,
alley"
Van vechten pocketed the key.
Turning to Tom. Mr.. Flint had Jus
asked him TO recount his Rocky Gov,
. experience. when the arrival of an
other messenger boy with n fresi
bundle of cablegrams interrupted
him.
These messages were the remaining
replies to those sent by Van vechteI
in the morning. and. in addition, a no
tincation from the telegraph oompan,
OF failure TO deliver the cablegram Il
Paige at Paris.
They proved TO be similar In tenol
to those received earlier in the day
one and all they declared entire igno
rance of Paige Carew's whereabouts.