Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-04-01

awaiting only the ripe moment
True. neither of them seemed eager to
hasten the time. but If that time was
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 he
really did not know precisely where
she was; If some sudden emergency
should arise necessitating cable he
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 off on a holiday
| jaunt without confiding her proposed
itinerary to anybody, and now Mrs
Devereaux was with her.
Just the same" he unused, IF |
knew where to catch her, l would send
her cable that would set her to
guessing for while"
Unable longer to remain quiescent.
| ha da1 no IL
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. Il don't want to see any
| body"
He paused. Didn't he2 Alexander
had not presented a card. but whoever
| the caller might be he signified a di-
version. If he tried any longer to
| think he would be raving lunatic 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, l 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 IN
assuming in appearance, but carried
himself with a 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-
veallng a 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 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 Vechten?" now
queried the newcomer in a tone that
could not have carried yard beyond
the person 20 whom il was addressed
Van Vechtcn nodded and motioned to
chair
MY name. he acknowledged And.
/ with q WHY mouth you are "A detec.
I tive. ! might have expected it-but
didn't
Instantly the steady eyes contracted
and wrinklcd at the corners. The
/ young man all at once discovered that
his irritation was evaporating. and
/ that he could smile in sympathy with
I his visitor.
Said the quiet voice. az am glad to
/ know that my estimate OF your iutelIi.
gencc was not at fault. Flint Isl my
name Phireas Flint-from Central
once"
Considering that you have never
seen me before. Mr. Flint" Van Vecb.
/ ten lightly retorted. ct is rather OK.
/ raordinary that you should pos sess
amy particulars upon which 10 base
am estimate Of my Intelligence"
The steady, smiling regard stilI met
I The young mans
'Ill demonstrate just how simple a
1 matter it is-if you have ardoned this
intrusion"
/ 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
! -Ln L-.L 1919