Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-02-05

| Il az settled thiug--an assured fact
awaiting only the ripe moment.
True. neither OF them seemed eager TO
hasten the time but IL that time was
ever TO come 1t must now be near at
hand: they could not much longer be
content with some time"
He frowned with annoyance. Why
| couldn't such a sensible girl come
home at the proper time. when all ar
rangements had been made for her re
ception and her family and friends had
every reason 70 expect her? There
was one consolation in the absence OF
those friends from town: he was not
| obliged to invent answers to embar-
RAISING inquiries concerning his dila-
| tory cousin But this was small com
/ pensation for stewing In New YORK by
| himself until Paige chose to notify him
/ Of her whereabouts and intended move
ments lie gave one moment or sober
| thought TO the circumstance that ne
really did not know precisely where
she was, II some sudden emergency
should arise necessitating a cable he
would not know where to reach her.
| But he speedily dismissed this phase
OF the matter; II was no new thing
for Paige to start of on a holiday
jaunt without confding her proposed
itinerary to anybody, and now MN'
Devereaux was with her
Just the same" he unused, III l
knew where to catch her. would send
her a cable that would set her TO
guessing for a while"
Unable longer to remain quiescent'
he bounded from his chair and colnd-
! ed with Alexander, who was seeking
him in his corner-an accident that
did not affect the pages accustomed
composure In the least.
Gentleman to see you, Sir Alex
ander announced
who is it," Van Vechten snapped
| irritably. 81 don't want to see any
| body"
He paused. Didn't he? Alexander
had not presented a card, but whoever
| the caller might be he signified a d.
version. II he tried any longer TO
think he would be raving lunauc In
another hour. And, besides. something
had destroyed the SAVIOR of the sole
pleasurable aspect OF his meditations'
Alexander resolved his doubts. he
caught knowing look in the pages
countenance.
Begin your pardon, Mr.. Van
Vechten. | think you'd want TO see
this gentleman"
Very we'll" Van Vechten weariedly
acauiesced SHOW him in"
He did not know the man who imme
diately followed Alexander into the
lounging-room. The stranger was un
der medium height, slender and un
assuming in appearances but carried
himself with a certain quiet assurance
that commanded attention. He was
as gray as badger, and his lean
smooth shaver face reeembled fooled
leather.
There was conspicuously aler
/ look about his steady gray eyes, Var
/ Vechten also noted, which presently
3 disclosed a habit OF narrowing and re
! veallng a web OF fine wrinkles at thei
r corners. This single change OF facia
+ muscles. Van Vechten soon learned u
J. recognize, possessed the popularity o
+ indicating one OF two moods-concen
tration upon the matter in hand. o
else a smiling humor that made on
warm to him Van Vechten felt tina
his visitor would be chary OF speech
but that whatever he nigh. say woul,
be we'll worth hardening to.
"Mr Rudolph Van Vechten?" nov
H. In, 10
could not have carried a yard beyon
the person to whom 1t was addressed
: Van Vechten nodded and motioned I
a chair.
: my name" he acknowledged AND
with wry mouth You are a deteC
tive. | might have expected it-bu
didn't"
Instantly the steady eyes contracte
and wrinkled at the corners. Tn
young man all at once discovered tha
his irritation was eyaporating. an
that he could smile In sympathy wit
his visitor
Said the quiet voice: 81 am glad {
know that my estimate OF your INTEL
gence was not at fault Flint is m
=. nsme-Phlneas Flint-from Centr;
- Office"
Considering that you have neye
seen me before, Mr.. Flint" Van Vecl
he ten lightly retorted, ut is rather e.
st traordinary that you should posses
he any particulars upon which to has
ef an estimate Of my intelligence"
ry The steady, smiling regard still m,
at the young mans.
ot IN demonstrate Just how simple
matter it is-if you have 7ardoned tn
~ intrusion"
"a The listener nodded. His attentio
'et was already won.
We Have you any idea how the poo
20, chap met his DEATH" he Queried
IN yes" was the prompt reply. '"H
was struck over the head with son
&c kind of blunt instrument II is prett
certain that only one of the blows