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

tioning me on the way. led me into
his untidy study.
well, you've had rotten time.
remember your fathers name we'll
in financial circles. Never thought
he'd die a pauper. Elton, Oxford,
training for the diplomatic service,
and then beggardom. You've had
facer. Say when?'
He held decanter of spirits IN
his trembling hand, and the liquor
splashed on his table.
"You were engaged to Rachel be-
fore the smash, eh?" he queried. II
thought so. Rachel knows the value
of money. 1t was she who pestered
me to take you. like her. Do your
I'm engaged to her"
I'D forgotten. You'll do. Sit down.
Make yourself comfortable. Take
cigar and another drink when that's
finished. Read this weeks PUNCH
funny drivel. I've some business to
attend to-
He sank into his huge chair, drew
his bag-the fatal bag-on to his
knees, unlocked it, and, plunging in
both hands. drew out pile of let
tiers, bills, documents, and receipts.
which he flung on to his table.
whistling-noisili yet very much out
of tune-hs began to read them.
fnging them one by one into the
waste paper basket.
Suddenly he Extraordinarily
beloved He lifted the bag, peered
into it, turned it upside down, shook
il. banging the bottom with his fist,
then tossed it with a crash into the
crate, and began to run through the
remainder of the scattered papers.
Gone! Scum of Hades One OF
those internal clerks" he roared.
Gone. I'll roast the thief! The"
He broke into a stream of eXple-
tives so obscene, so filthy as to be
I'm. irritable. I glanced at him over
the top of Punch.
you've lost something's l queried
gently.
He looked at me. his eyes blood
shot and bullying. Then suddenly he
laughed-set every ornament in the
room ringing-and hiccoughed:
you're a wag-2 wit; l like YOU
/ like you, say. What d'you think
I've done? Found a pearl? Lost
sCmething-lost something
His laughter ceased. He kept re-
peating the last two words, his tins-
ers fumbling among the papers.
"Stolen." he said, and began TO
sch.
Presently his hand CROPPED for the
Whiskey. Quietly l removed it.
I'm going to bed" he muttered
after awhile. Goo night
He departed For an hour or so I
sat where he had left me; then I
rang the bell. A butler appeared and
advised me to wait
els lordship III be down soon," he
declared. "An hour or sos sleep
does wonders for i'm when 'e's-
seedy."
About eight O'CLOCK that evening
Ruscombe. in perfect-fitting evening
clothes, shaved, tubbed, and emf
rently respectable, put in an appear
ance.
Il must apologize. I've been ill
very ill.," he said, looking at me
frankly in the eyes. you'll excuse
me, my deac Littleton, l know. Rag
ing pain-agon:y. in fact-a little
spirits the only antidotc Let ne
show you your room. You'll stay
the night, of course?"
Not until after dinner di:i he refcc
to the missing papers and the bag.
"Littleton," he began. furious y
putting at cigar and drinkin5:--
rather f1inging dow his throat
glass after glass of priceless ~
port, I'm in trouble-seriou: trouE =
/ carried with me today, from Lor
don, in my bag, some papers coz.
nected with very-a very daring
criminal: a criminal, my dear Lit
Teton, whom every decent member
CT society should pray to be brought
to justice. l paid a price for the let
ters-incriminating which
carried visited shady, disreput
able Terrace. I paid price-ir
gold. | saw thOught I saw was
in pain, in agony, then, Littleton