The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-08-20

mo. sir: nc One-eXcept myself"
The very fact that in the final phrase
the butler had omitted the customary
"sir'' caught Wainwright's attention
1t was suspicion that suggested his
ncxt question:
WAS The person who called left
alone in this room""
Andrew met the issue with the enOr.
nudacity that was characteristic
of him when it did not run counter to
his scherning. Now. according to his
plans. the hour for unmasking was
come. He spoke TRANQUILITY:
mo. sir. He was not alone in this
room at any time. | am quite sure.
sir" He paused to give emphasis to
his question. "Why. sir? Has my.
thing been taken?"
NO." Wainwright replied carelessly
nothing has been taken"
But Andrew was not yet content
with the situation. He a in fact.
minded to implicate himself more ex
plicitly. though not by a distinctly
overt act. He selected as his agent in
this the detective. who had been scru.
t~inizing the butler with professional
clOSeneSS.
May ! venture an observation. sir?'
Andrew asked his employer. Then. as
Wainwright nodded assent. Its only
this. sir. that the next time Mr.. Mar
shall see me he will be sure to know
me- With the saying he went softly
out Of the room. while the detective
prise at the impertinence.
Wainwright spoke in ii low tone. yet
most emphatically:
"MarShall." he said. 1.-The next time
your brother officers boast of their ac.
quaintance with prominent men you
may say that. face to face. you have
met the Master Mind"
Marshall said not a word. only re-
garded the speaker with Amusement.
He threw a quick glance toward the
doorway through which Andrew had
disappeared
You don't mean-him?" he exclaim-
ed.
PRECISELY.
In a second Marshall was On his
feet. his eyes swapping with eagerness.
all energy and alertness.
Its the chance Of my life!"' he ex-
claimed gleefully.
What do you intend to dO?"
The detective grinned triumphantly
What do / intend to do?" he repeat.
ed, why. | intend to slip the brace
lets on him inside Of two minutes"
Permit me to ask. on what charger
His eagerness dropped vis!bly.
ION what charger" he quoted help.
lessly. "Why"- He halted, at a loss
Yes; on what charger" Wainwright,
snapped. oh, ONE man." he exhort.
ed, Just sit down and think it over
a bit. AS a matter of fact, we're help.
less against this fellow. If you have
anything else to suggest
The detective threw up his hands in
a gesture eloquent Of despair. His
voice was angry:
Il don't know
Wainwright walked slowly up the
stairs and along the upper hall to the
door Of his wife's boudoir. where he
knocked gently. He entered in re
Spouse to her call, Come in." and
went tO her where she was standing
%expectant and took her hands She
was dressed in a blue negiige that EN-.
phasized the purity Of her pearly skin
and enhanced the sapphire radiance of
the eyes, Now she looked at her hus.
band i%ntently as he approached her,
and it seemed to him that a faint
trace of anxiety lay beneath her sur.
face greeting. He had need to put
forth the full strength of his will to
conceal the Indebtedness Of his
thoughts.
I'm sorry if l disturb you, DEAR
He regarded her searchingly. "iou
are looking u little tagged"
Il have a right to be tired" Lucene
answered brightly. "for I've been help
ing-mother with her packing"
Now. what does that mean?' the
husband inquired. surprised. Are your
estimable parents planning to leave
us?'
YES" the wife replied. Il didn't
know that you hadn't heard the sad
news"
Wainwright's lips frightened. To
him. mindful of the symbolism of the
black card, this swiftly arranged
partial breaking up Of his household
appeared as a confirmation of the worst
fears.
"And Andrew"
"Oh. yes; he goes with them, OF
curse. since he was really only loan.
ed to u.s."
Then he added, c%uriously: Its all
n bit sudden, isn't it,"
Yes Lucene said contentedly. III
all came up and al decided-like
that" She snapped her fingers airily
He spoke very gravely:
"Lucene. | came to you to say some.
thing of a certain important natter
The wife drew her hands from his
and moved a little away from him. de.
jectedly.
"Please. Cortland" she pleaded