The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-07-28

the unfolding of these proposals, nut
/ the mention OF the code brought Ia.
stantiS 70 my menory the image or lit.
tie Mr. Spratt, presenting ms with his
famous code Take this volume
my lfe-work com
piliation of love you will need
It abroad the little man had gasped
as handed 1t to me And now in every
crisis OF my life. 1t seemed the vision
OF Mr. Spratt was destined 10 arise like
some specter confronting me- / be
came suddenly silent
Charles carried out his program.
Upon our arrival at the terminus he
hurried me along maze OF small side
streets. up narrow staircase aud into
the presence Of the registrar There
we complied with the formalities
which the famous code prescribed We
were betrothed--an incident merely.
IN Anglo Saxon countries but here a
matter OF severe formality aud neces
| sary preliminary TO marriage
But leaned happily upon h}s arm
as We descended the narrow staircase.
The happiness the perfect joy in The
ifreYocaoIlity OF the step thrilled me.
Winnipeg seemed Ike a distant mem-
ory OF some former dmly femem.
bered existence az that moment
And now. should anything befall
me hshall be content he said ae we
! descended to the street
oiten those words reourred TO me
afterwards
We arrived at the banh and sent I'M
our cards could nor avoid a thrill
| OF expectation as 10 the outcome
would Marniu refuse TO SIZE me but
he did not lie would sre both Of as.
ne said and we We're ushered almost
Immediately into his private Office
There he eaI halt buried among his
ledgets as ON the occasion OF my for
mer visii to him but this time he was
attended by couple OF seyerelookng
tuucuonarios in semiuniform He
bowed dtstantly TO Charles and bade
Us be seated
The theyalier DIVES attends /
take H. as an interested party" said
MaEulu. looking at me through his
gold glasses. There was q peculiar ex-
preston upon his features a sort OF
cunning triumph. as though he held
she situation perfectly IN hand
We bowed our acknowledgment to
The suggestion Then at summons
by bell messenger brought in the
agreement which had Bigned three
weeks before.
Your name is Anne Ives Magnif
said rapidly. glancing over the docu-
ment You claim TO be the grand.
daughter of the Comte DIVES, OF CHI
chy Normandy. and the possessor Of
certain bonds now in one Of our safes
You have sold these to mo for $1,000
francs. payable upon delivery"
AS admitted each OF these several
propositions the banker handed tho
document TO the funotionaries. who
glanced at It, swiftly. and then at mo
and Charles
The Duplicate key has been fash
ioned Magnltf continued. "and these
gentlemen are the government officials
" hose presence al the unlocking OF
the safe is required under the Code
Napoleon"
The pale and studlous face OF little
Mr. Spratt stood out before my eyes
with startling clearness
Then let w proceed to the vaults"
said Magnln and We all rose fol
lowed him The uuctonaries closed
IN around us in a significant manner.
almost az though we were prisoners.
thought and as though the vaults were
destined to be our dungeon.
We proceeded By subterranean
stone stairway into the depths OF the
earth emerging through an iron door
way into huge room. lighted by elec-
trlc light. around which innumerable
safety compartments were arranged
Nobody else was there. except iaui.
tor who stood at a door at the far end.
which communicated by flight OF
steps. with the street outside Mag
nin led us to the safe aud handed tho
KEY TO me
~ has not been opened for thirty
years he said "You may md tho
hinges stiffened Nevertheless tho
Code Napoleon prescribes that you
Yourself shall open g. II II IS beyond
your power doubtless. the cheyalisS