Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-06-11

''Tie knot In that"
SAY that the man was gray haired.
clean shaven, straight, with a scar
high up on his forehead, generally Gov
cred up by his hair"
That's battened down, my lad. Go
on"
Say that you saw MIN enter yonder
warehouse, and later depart without
his packet"
Easy as dropping my mudhook."
That's all" Norton gave the cap
tain the money. "Good-by and many
thanks"
Don't mention it."
Norton left the slip and proceeded to
the office of the warehouse. He ap-
preached the managers desk.
Hello, Grannis, old topl"
The man looked up from his work
surlily. Then his face frightened.
Morton? What's brought you here?
70, yes; that balloon business. Sit
down"
What kind Of man is the captain
of that old hooker in the slip?"
"Shifty in gun running, but other
wise as square as a die. Looks funny
to see an old tub like that fixed up
with wireless; but that has saved has
neck dozen times when he was run
ming it into moose. Not going to in
terview me, are your"
mo. I'm going to ask you to do me
q little favor"
'"They always say that. But spin
her out. If it doesn't cost me my job,
it's yours"
well, there will be person max
ing inquiries about the mysterious
laeronaut All l want you to say is,
that he left a packet with you, that
you've put 1t in that safe till he calls
ito claim it."
Grannis nibbled the end of his pen.
demand that / open the safe and de-
liver?"
"All you've got to do Is to tell them
Ito show the receipt signed by you"
The warehouse manager laughed
SCOT lot of sense in that ivory dome
of yours. All right. But if anything
Happens you've got to come around
land back me up. What's 1t about?"
THAT / dare not tell you. This
much, I'm laying a trap and | want
some one don't know to fall into it.
'On your way, James. But if you
don't send me some prize fight tickets
next week for this, I'll never do you
ianother favor"
In reply Norton took from his pocket
two bits of pasteboard and laid them
on the desk. q knew you'd be want
ing something like this"
'Ringside!" cried Grannis. You re
porters are lucky devils!"
I'D go myself if there was any
earthly chance OF a real scrap. You
make me laugh, Gran. You're always
going, always hoping the next one will
be real one. But it's all bunk. The
ipugs are the biggest takers on top the
sod. They've got US newspaper men
done to FRAGILE"
81 guess you're right. Well, count
on me regarding that mysterious
bundle in the safe
AT three o'clock this afternoon
want you to call me up. If no one has
called, why the game is up. But If
some one does come around and make
inquiries, don't fail to let me know"
"Ill be here till five. I'd better call
you up them
Then Norton returned home and
tdled about till afternoon. He went
over to Riverdale. Five times he
walked up and down the front of the
Hargreave place, finally plucked up
his courage and walked to the door.
After all, he was a lucky mortal. He
had good excuse to visit this house
every day in the week. And there was
something tantaliZing in the risk he
took. Besides, he wanted to prove to
himself whether it was passing fancy
or something deeper. That's the way
with humans; we never see sign
Fresh Paint" that we don't have to
prove it.
He chatted with Florence for a
while and found that, for all she might
be guileless to the world, she was a
good linguist, a fine musician, and
talked with remarkable keenness
about books and arts. But unless he
reused her, the sadness of her position
always lay written in her face. 1t was
not difficult for him to conjure up her
dreams in coming to the city and the
blow which, like bolt of lightning
from a clear sky, had shattered them
ruthlessly.
You must come every day and tell
me how you have progressed" she
said.
I'll obey that order gladly, when
ever l can possibly do it. My visits
Twill always be short"
''That is not necessary"
NO." said Norton in his heart, "but
st is WISE"
Always he found Jones waiting for
him at the door, always in the shadow.
"Well?" the butler whispered.
81 have laid neat trap. Whether
this balloon was the one that left the
top of this house l don't know. But if
there were two men in it, one of them