Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-09-24

L SnOuid say 50, promptly
a agreed Jack Doogan.
James Quincy jumped up suddenly
as an idea came to him. He ran to
the safe, and as the door swung out
ward in response to his pull he shout
ed:
MY Lord, the safe is open. l won
der IT the bonds are there. All, thank
heaven, here they are"
Jack Doogan knew he had placed the
international Steel bonds in his own
pocket. and he felt in it to find out
whether he had lost them. No: they
were still there. Cluney was handing
a sheaf of papers that looked like the
bonds to DR.. Willoughby.
"Why, 10. These are not the bonds!'
cried the latter. This is the common
stock Mr.. Carr spoke about"
= Jack Doogan began to understand.
"What?" howled Cluney as he looked
at one of the papers which Dr.. Will
louShby had opened. why, so it is.
Well, where are the bonds" He peer
ed into the safe again. "They're gone!
And the sunburst. That's gone too"
He got up and stared wild eyed at
Willoughby. who after an instant's re-
Election advised:
"Well, close the safe, James. They'll
think we took it,"
Yes; close the safe acquiesced
Doogan. They'll think we took it,
Here. James," said Willoughby,
holding out the stock to Cluney. Put
these back"
But just then William Carr entered,
and Cluney. with a despniring TOO
late" pushed the stock away from
him, while Willoughby. anxious to get
rid Of it, tried to force it into Cluney's
hand.
doctor, DOCTOR" shouted Mr.. Carr,
come to my wife quick. She's having
Mysteries. I'm afraid she's going to
faint"
mysteries: I'll have to get into my
medicine bag for some ammonia and
brandy. It's out in the hail." answered
the doctor. Then rs he tried once
more vainly to make tlunry take the
bundle OF stock he whispered: "Oh,
well, I'll slip them into the safe on the
way back. Get the old gentleman out
of the ROOM he added. and vanished.
But Madge came running in. White
faced and terrified, and. Selling James
Cluney's arm. begged him to come tc
her mother, who was terribly i'll.
"1es, yes, dear-right away" replied
Cluney, as Madge hurried distractedly
from the room. Come on. Doogan,
Don't leave me. Stick to me. Don't
leave me" And the two bolted after
Madge Carr.
Mr.. Carr was about to follow, when
his eye Glanced to fall upon the open
safe.
Dear me! That safe is open again.
l must lock it. So careless of me. Hor-
ribly careless"
He locked the safe carefully, when
Joan called to him from the doorway;
Come, father. Mother is calling for
you. She's having hysterics!!'
Meanwhile Dr.. Willoughby hurried
back to the library, carrying his black
leather medicine case in one hand and
the steel common stock in the other.
A"oSN ciiiHl- oIoNNs LIZ
growled. Il must get it back in the
safe before it is found on me- He
pulled at the handle of the safe door
but the door would not move. Hello!
WHAT'S wrong? Good heavens. it's
locked!'
He was still fumbling at the handle,
trying to get the door open and swear
1nr softly, whom \Irsc I'o,u, 1y5> b,<1
recovered from her attack Of illness as
abruptly rs she had fallen into it
stood by his side. with all the others
grouped about her, and demanded
sternly:
CDR. Willoughby, what are you doing
4 at that safe?"
"1-l-was seeing if it was locked"
"What business was it Of yours
whether it was locked or not?" de-
manded William Carr?
All he could do was to stammer, 81
well, you see-James''-
WELL, well? What is the explana.
ton Of this" persisted Mrs. Carr.
You'd better let James explain" sug-
gested DR.. Willoughby, feeling himself
cornered.
what has James to do with it?"
Nothing, %nothing!!" feebly protested
Mr.. Clhney.
"Then what does DR.. Willoughby
mean by asking you to explain?"
"Eh? Oh, you see, Mrs. Carr, that's q
little way he has. You see. he thought
when things began to hide themselves
surreptitiously about the house-he
thought-that is, he %believed-he feared
there might be n thief in the house.
"Well?" questioned Mrs. Carr pitt
lessly.