Mexico Missouri message., 1914-06-25

I Rudolph's condition that had so agi.
! tated her on the night she went to
the Claremont accompanied by Phil
Mercer.
The intelligence that Paige had
brought back to Jessie, already re-
morseful and anxious over her aban-
donment Of Van vechten to Calls. had
driven the girl distracted
When Paige's purse was missed aft.
er the fight from Number 1913. Jes-
cover II. II possible. as being the one
least likely to attract attention or to
be interfered with. Calls. who had
been annoying her with his attentions.
and whose headstrong. ruthless ma
ture had all along been a source OF
anxiety and alarm to Willard, had fol-
lowed her.
The death OF Jim O'Neill, and Tom
Phinney's subsequent accidental in
truslon at Rocky Cove-whence the
conspirators had fied-had finally
thrown them all into a panic. Paige
had been the only one to keep her
head. and she, after recognizing Tom.
had resolved the difficulty in the most
practical manner.
II was Jessie whom Van Vechten
and Tom had seen arrive at the Silent
House. Sunday. In a taxi-cab.
The death OF O'Neill was the first of
a sequence Of accidents that plunged
Max Willard into hot water almost
at the moment when he saw success
for his undertaking. O'Neill had an
swered the advertisement blindly; but
as soon as he stepped across the
threshold OF Number 1913 he had been
recognized as the traitorous employe
OF Wizards who had surreptitiously
sold the time-lock drawings and metal
formulate to Theodore Van Vechten.
In the fight that followed Calls struck
blow from which O'Neill. only few
minutes later. had been rendered un-
conscious. In falling. he had frac-
tured q temple. and thus received his
death wound.
Tom had drawn Paige of to the
embrasure OF one Of the library's cur
tanned bay windows.
What In the world Is the matter
with your" the girl demonstrated in
amazement. you are as rough as q
pirate"
Tom did not heed His eyes we're
unnaturally bright and he was breath
ing heavily.
LISTEN" he cautioned In a whisper.
He could not repress his excitement.
That's Flint talking to Jessie-to
Miss Willard. I mean. She and Mrs.
Devereaux came with us from the
Kohinur. :. Hang 1t ALL Don't make
so much noise! l want you to hear
what they are saying"
Jessie looked trifie frightened. She
and the detective were standing by
one of the big tables. He was hold
ing In one hand a pocket memoran-
dunn book. and talking in his quiet
way.
Paige. with her head close to Toms,
peered through the curtains. They
heard Mr. Flint say:
Il am not often controlled by i'm
| pulses, Miss willard, but at the time
it struck me that the occasion might
come when this would form a rather
interesting document"
What Is it," demanded Jessie.
You brighten me-"
IF l have your permission, will
read you something" said he; then
he fixed HIS attention upon the memo
randum book. and continued:
Nothing in the world could be
more absurd than to imagine the girl
1 saw being engaged in anything Grim
fnal. or even entertaining a suspicion
that she may be surrounded by a
criminal atmosphere. She is young;
she is beautiful. she is refined and
gentle; the stamp OF purity and ad.
herencs to right ideals is unmistak-
able in her countenance. Whatever
comes of your investigations. you will
find to be unqualifedly true all that
now assert concerning her."