The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-01-15

than most. But she noticed in the
yard an uptilted ash mans cart In the
rear was a rickety stable. She entered
the gate and rang the bell.
A very large. Ill dressed Italian wo-
man opened e~e door. letting ont
tremendous door o. garlic and cheese
She surveyed her caiieS with suspicion
and then beamed.
"Oh. you come looka de papes?" she
demanded.
Estelle merely showed copy OF the
advertisement.
Eyes, my husband be put that in de
pape." the woman said. losing her
smile.
For some moments Estelle tried to
get glimpse of the documents. The
Italian himself came on the scene and
demanded full description. When
Estelle said that they had been lost
from the Manx hotel he nodded and
explained that he had been removing
the ashes therefrom when his eye had
been caught by the folded papers. but
be still insisted on an accurate de
scription. which the maid could not
give. at last she said quietly. THE
papers are of no value TO you. and
am authorized to pay good reward
for them"
At the word reward there was a
change. and the woman demanded to
know how much it would be.
Estelle thought rapidly. 1t had been
impressed on her that haste was nee
eSsary. She decided ON offering a good
ly sum. yet not enough to make the
ash man and bis wife think they were
in possession of papers of extraordi-
nary value. She pulled out her purse
and held out 81. The man was taking
it. His wife interviewed.
Twenty dolla,' she SAID cunningly.
Estclle bargained for some moments
and then said in IL tone that was de-
cisive. If you show me the papers
and they are the ones want I'll give
you SIS and no more"
The deeds We're produced. and a
glance told her that they belonged to
Ruth. She paid the money and bur-
ried away.
Everett and Dorr had gone over the
situation thoroughly together. ami the
broker agreed that he would help out
in putting the Master Key" mine on
it's feet again.
81 think / can do it tomorrow" he
said. Just let me have all the pa
pers. and I'll go over them tonight"
"Ruth has them" John replied.
Wed best go up and get them now"
Ruth received them cheerfully and
promptly went TO her trunk for the
deeds. Her first search was not re-
warded, and she lifted a puzzled face
to John Then she once more went
through all her belongings. 1t was
frnitless. She then remembered the
desk and searched it with the same
result
They're gonep' she stammered.
Impossible" said Dorr. They must
be somewhere here"
No" she mourned. 1--we looked
everywhere"
Everett was the first to suggest that
no time should be lost in locating the
missing property. He sent for the
evening papers and delved into the.
Lost and Found" columns. With the
result that he very soon handed q pa
per to Dorr and pointed out the adver-
tisement which had attracted Wilker-
sons attention.
Half an hour later John Dorr turned
away from the ash mans door and
said to Everett: "Ill bet that was one
of Wilkerson's crowd. We must no
tify the police before he can get
away"
They had soon told their difficulties
to the sympathetic ear at headquar.
tiers and started back for the hotel.
John was in the dumps.
1T seems as if everything goes
wrong when l try to do something for
that little woman" he grOwled.
Il begin to think myself that you
are playing in hard LUCK" was the re-
ply. But | always did like a good
fight, and this promises to be one III
stick, John"
They shook hands. ------.- -