The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-09
CHAPTER VI.
Disclosures.


big mahogany desk; a little man Of
big affairs, sole steward of one of
Americas most formidable fortunes.
Precisely at eleven minutes past
noon Tor at the identical instant chos-
en- by Alan Law to catapult over the
edge of cliff in northern Maine) tho
muted signal of the little mans desk
| telephone clicked and, eagerly lifting
receiver to ear, he nodded with smile
and said in accents of some relief:
ASK her to come in at once, please"
Jumping up, he placed a chair in in
innate juxtaposition with his own;
and the door opened, and young
woman entered.
The mouse-brown man bowed. Miss
Rose Trine?" he murmured with a
great deal of Difference.
The young woman returned his bow
with show of perplexity: Mr.. Dig
by?'
"You are kind to come in response
to my-ah-unconventional invita-
tion," said the httlo man. Won't
you-ah-sit down.
She said, Thank you," gravely, and
| took the chair he indicated. And Mr..
Digby, with ar admiration he made no
| effort to conceal, examined the fair
face turned so candidly to him.
| 1T is quite comprehensive" he said
difidently-''if you will permit me to
say so-now that one sees you. Miss
4 Urine, it is quite comprehensive why
| my cmployer-ah--feels toward you as
he does"
The girl flushed. "fr. Law has told
you?'
Il have the homer to be his nearest
friend, this side the water, as well
as his man OF business"
He paused with an embarrassed ges-
ture. 80 have ;ventured to request
his-ah--surreptitiou appointment in
order to-ah-take the further liber-
ty OF asking whether you have recent
ly sent Alan message?" -
Her look of surprise was answer
enough, but she confirmed it with Wig
orous denial: Il have not communi-
Gated with Mr.. Law in more than a
year,
Precisely as thought" Mr.. Digby
nodded None the less, Mr.. Law not
long since received what purported to
be a message from you: in fact-a
rose And as Miss Urine sat for.
ward with start Of dismay, he AIDED:
Il have the information over Mr.. Laws
Signature letter received ten days
ago-from Quebec"
Alan in America" the girl cried
in undisguised distress.
He came in response to-ah-the
message Of the rose"
But did not send it,"
II felt sure of that, because" said
Mr.. Digby, watching her narrowly
because of something that accompa-
MED the rose, symbol Of another sig
nificance altogether-a playing card, q
trey Of hearts"
Her eyes were blank. He pursued
with openly sincere reluctance: Il
must tell you, l see, that trey OF
hearts invariably foresignaled an at.
tempt by your father on the life OF
Alan's father" @
With a stricken cry the, girl crouched
back in the chair and covered her face
with her hands. y e&G
THAT is why sent for you," Mr..
Digby pursued hastily, as If in hope
| Of r,utoL1ry mi,
py business. Adams letter, written
and posted on the steamer. reached ME
within twenty-four hours Of his arrival
in Quebec, and detailed his scheme to
enter the United States secretly-as
he puts 1t, by the back door, by way
Of northern Maine-and promised ad.
vice by telegraph as soon as he
reached Moosehead Lake. He should
have wired me ere, this. am told by
those who know the country he was to
cross. Frankly, l am anxious about
the boy."
And T." the girl exclaimed pitifully.
ITO think that he should be brought
into such peril through mel"
you can tell me nothing?"
'Nothing-as yet did not dream
of this-much less that the message
of the rose was known to any but Alan
and myself. l cannot understand"
Then may tell you this much
more, that your father maintains a
very efficient corps Of secret agents.
you think he spied upon me?" the
girl famed with indignation.
Il know he did" Mr. Digby per.
mitted himsek a quiet smile 1T has
seemed my business, in the service OF
my employer, to employ agents of my
own. There is no doubt that your
father sent you to Europe for the sole
purpose Of having you meet Alan"
| OH" she protested. But what
earthly motive"
That Alan might be won back to
America through you-and So"
S There was no need to finish out his
sentence. The girl was silent, pale
and staring with wide eyes, visibly
mastering her wits to cope with this
emergency.
Il may depend on you." Mr.. Digby
suggested, ito advise me if you find
| n,,t onytl,tpro's