The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-06-24


YES, here is the address" fluttered
the other lady, and then her words
ended in a sharp cry. She had placed
a card with writing on it upon the
table. AS she did 30 her eye fell upon
the letter Rodney had Just addressed
She turned white and faint. She seized
the arm Of her companion, swaying
weakly, as though about to faint.
"Oh, Ethel" she gasped, some new
mysteryl Quick! get me away from
here"
81 am not" began Rodney in dis
claimer, but the two visitors had
FASTENED from the room. He was al
a loss to understand the motiv, of the
strange call. The fact. that the super
scription on the envelope on the table
had caused the elder woman distress
was palpable. He tried to study II
out as he placed the letter in his
pocket. Then he hurried into the hal
intent on o%vertaking the two women
but they had evidently already left
the floor on the elevator.
The incident gave him food fol
thought. There was a ~curtained al
cove at a bay window at one angle o.
the room. Turning off the light, Rod
ney seated himself there and looked
down at the street. Perhaps he might
see the two ONE leave the hotel
The face of the younger one had i'm
pressed itself indelibly upon his mem
ory. Suddenly he was aroused. TIVE
men had entered the room. The cleo
trio light was switched on.
mo word at the office of the hotel,
spoke one.
"Oh, well, we shall still hear from
them by morning" returned the other
Here, are the papers," and he ex
tended a package. -
And then the men INDUCED in {
brief, but enlightening conversation
Rodney Blair had led a quiet, unevent
full life. The disclosures of the tive
men fairly Mortified him. They wer'
professional blackmailers. They hat
discovered some scandal against thu
dead husband of the elderly woman
VIM Idu CdllCu Will AGl ulCSCs lhC.
had come to the town to demand al
the poor woman had for a return o
the discriminating documents.
1t was then that Rodney realized
that he had been shown to the wroni
room by the bellboy. The villain.
of the two conspirators stirred him VI
intensely. They parted without dis
covering him. One of the men place.
the package and some other belong
ings under a pillow of the bed, pu
out the light and retired for the might
1t was a breathless experience tina
Rodney Blair went through befor'
midnight, so foreign to the usual hum
drum system of his life that he wa
burglar, fugitive and hero, all in one
according to story-book process. H
was resolute to protect a defenseles
woman, however. He regained hi
own room, the precious packet in hi
possession, grandly exultant.
More so, when he sought out Mrs
Mary Winslow the next day and CAV
her the papers that prevented a bio
OSh6 PAoNCt uPOh NhO hohlO Va Oi
dead, who had not been to her. a goo
husband, but whose name she felt
disloyal not to protect.
And then Rodney Blair made a dis
covery-why the sight of a letter d
rected to his uncle had SO startled tn
woman. He made a second within tn
two ensuing weeks-that he loved he
pretty niece, Alice Durant.
Il have found what you sent m
after, uncle" he announced, reappeal
ing on the home scene one day.
Found a wife, have your" chuckle
the old man. "All right, let me Sc
who she is and I'll give you my bless
ing"
So they made the journey together
And then there came to Abel Drak
the surprise of his life, as his nephev
had foreseen.
For Mary Winslow was his boyhoo
love. 1t was natural that the old-tim
counting should be renewed. 1t wa
inevitable that it all eventuated in
double wedding.