The evening world., 1915-12-24

Of tabulated pigeonholes. And every
D array of promissory notes. Of mort
y documents.
hobbiea. His desk was always kept In
apple-pie order. But his very first
glance now revealed that II was In a
condition that would have shamed his
most incompetent clerk
Papers were scattered In every d.
recton; and drawers and pigeonho les
were open-and emptyl Feverishly,
Grant looked from pigeonhole 70 pig
eonholo.
Every last ono Of them had been
ransacked: and every document had
been stolen from them.
Cleaned outl" croaked Grant, daz-
edly Robbed Twelve been
robbed"
The Robbery.
Then the numbed brain reawoke.
These stolen documents were the
proniissory notes, the drafts, &C., that
gave him his limitless power over an
army OF debtors. Without such evil
dence he had no legal hold over the
poor wretches who had 30 long been
in his power. He could not collect
one penny from them That Is. not
II they should learn OF his loss.
The yell OF horror had summoned
his employees. They still stood crowd
ing the doorway. not daring to ad-
vance nor TO ask what was the mat
ter. yet tensely curious to know what
had happened. At sight OF their queA-
ticning faces Grant fought to gain
some sort OF control over himself.
(which OF you has been In this room
In the last half hour2" he asked, as
unconcernedly as he could force his
dry throat TO voice the query.
For n moment no one answered
Then Saals timidly volunteered
81 was In there, sir. about twenty
minutes ago. Maybe twenty Ave min
What in blazes were you doing in
here7"
Il Just stepped inside the door
sir" quavered Saals. ito show in the
lady"
The lady1" snapped Grant. "wha;
irdy?"
why. why, the lady who had the
appointment with you, sir. She said
she'd met you In the hall and you'd
told her TO walt In your own office.
She"-
hall" denied Grant, and didn't tell
any one 10 wait here for me. What
was her manner"
"she-she didn't say. sir. I sup
Young or old7" deeanded Grant
II don't know, sir. She"-
You wall-eyed IDIOT" roared
Grant. "a ye mean to tell me you
haven't sense enough to know wheth-
err a woman Is young or old7"
mot when she's all swathed up in
haa oh hof 10 Cd,
answered Saais, "and with a big
loose, black coat that hides her fg-
ure."
"A yelled woman-in my private
officer Where did she gof Where Is
she7"
II don't know. sir. DIDN'T
II seen her. Mr.. Grant" shrillec
the office boy. II didn't see her come
in. But I seen her go out. Bout Ave
minutes ago. II was. She had bunch
OF papers she was carryin'. They
were strapped together with one OF
them long rubber bands, like you
keep on your desk. thought may
be she'--
Grant waited 70 hear no more
Snatching his hat he sprinted for the
street.
He had left his automobile at the
curb In front of his office. Followed
by Saals, he now ran across the side.
walk 10 fling himself into the car,
depths. The order, ITO police head
quartersl Rush." which he intended
20 shout TO his chauffeur, was trem,
bling on his thin lips. But tho order
was not TO be given.
Half way across tho pavement
Grant halted. mouth ajar. Tho car
was not there. Neither was tn,
chauffeur.
George Grant turned in rage upor
the buildings special policeman whC
was standing In front OF tho en-
trance.
"Blake!" ne demanded. "where II
blazes Is my carr I told Garvice Il
stay here TIL came out. Did yol
move him on2"
"Me7" said the policeman. NO
indeed. Some one else did, though
Bout five minutes back. A woman
"A woman"
I'm a long black coat and blacI
veil"
"The-the Yelled womanl" bab
bled Grant. aghast,
'Yes. Yelled woman, all right
Ehe"-
"And you mean 70 tell me she mad,
Carvice take her away In my car
How'd she do III"
IT don't know. First Z noticed sh,
was Just finishing speaking 10 hin
and he held open the door for her e
get aboard. Then they started Off"
Grant did not wait to hear the enc
OF the account. He summoned q pass
NJ IN ssd tanabisd shnaeA =.