Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-16

lAbANh EuACt SnGolGi hGul ulODDtu
down ut the door of the Nook one wild
afternoon without warming AS al.
ways, he was impeccably clad, though
his stout boots showed the usage of
recent hard wear. Throwing open the
door, he called his friends name.
Instantly the artist came looping
down the stairs and had him by the
shoulders.
I've got caller up above" he said
after the usual greetings and ques-
tionings were over.
YES? Have you gone in for local
society?"
Not exactly local. It's Alexander
Blair"
"Hel-lo!" said Kent in surprise.
what brings him?"
"Why, he came down to Hedgerow
house to look after certain books and
papers and ran over here to make his
amende honorable in form, Chet,
hate being apologized to-"
"Of course. Every one does New
ertheless, it's good exercise for Mr. A.
Blair, Esquire"
Hes the grim jawed, hard bitted
Blair Of old. just the same, he made
his apology as handsomely as need be-
I'll bring him down here"
The fabric magnate descended from
the studio and greeted Kent briefly
then turned to his host. "YOu will ex-
cuse me If ask MIR. Kent to step out.
side, have some business With him"
Stay here" said the artist "Ill go
back to my studio" Which he did
81 need your assistance. Some one
has been tampering with my sons
grave" said Blair.
"You mean the grave at Hedgerow
house?"
"Yes Gansett Jim reports that there
are signs Of recent digging 1t looks
as If ghOuls had been at work there
with the idea Of getting the body ana
holding it for ransom. They would
have had fine surprise If they had
got the coffin outw
Because they'd have found no body
In it, you meanT
Certainly. But suppose they dlscov.
cred that there were no remains, moth.
ing but punctured sand bag? DO you
see the potentialities Of backmailT
"Do You know Of an old lady named
Orcutt in AnnaIuka?" asked Kent,
NO"
"She owns the house just next to
AmalNka churchyard, where your son
was buried rs Jane Doe. She is very
worthy old lady. But she suffers Sc.
yerely from asthma. In fact, II keeps
her awake most OF the night, SO some
interested persons have subscribed
money and sent her south to II sanato.
rum. ia like to get you interested IN
her case"
"YOu wish me to subscriber"
"Oh, more than that. think il would
be a good idea IL you were to assume
the entire expense of the proceedings, "
You mean reimburse the subscrlb.
ers?'
Exactly"
For a few seconds the millionaire
studied Kents candid face "Vcry
we'll" he agreed, How much?"
sheriff Schlager can tell you He
is keeping the accounts. You see, It
was necessary to get her out Of the
way Her windows overlook the
churchyard."
80 you took occasion to indicate be.
fore"
"Repetition Of a really relevant point
Is eSCusable. She left two weeks ago,
very much myslhed but pathetically
thankful, poor old girl
when she was safely out Of the
way and no longer overlooking Anna.
uka churchynrd by night from her
window Schlager, Adam Balm and |
paid visit to the place What lay,
nameless, in Annuluka churchyard now
rests in its own place at Hedgerow
house. wish that you might have
heard the little prayer made by that
simple country lawyer over your sons
grave"
Alexander Blnirs clnchod hands
went to his temples In a singular ges.
ture and dropped again. "What inter.
est did Schloger and Balm have In the
matterY he added I'm Il low tone.
"Why, Schlager had done some dirty
work for you and wanted to even nc.
counts with his own conscience. As
Nor Balm, we needed n third man we
could trust asked him and got him.
It was no small risk for him. II you
felt that his risk IL worth some reward
you might
YES yes| interrupted the other
eagerly. "Do you think Il thousand
or perhaps more
Kent smiled. "By thinking hard !
could think thousand he said, "but
not more In this case. It wouldn't be
safe. Balm might not survive the
shock. Thank you very much, Mr.,
Blair"
CHAPTER XXI.
Reward.
" A ND now" said Blair 81 am still