The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-07-17

II gave him a notebook" she ex-
planned naively. HE was quite pleas
cd, think, to get possession Of it.
No one can read my shorthand but
me, anyway, so one book did him as
much good as another He tried to
make me tell him why | had done
that--why had taken down the words
of q private conference OF his with
q visitor. / could not think what |
should say, so / kept silent. For an
hour he bullied and questioned me,
but he could find out nothing and so
at last he let me go. If now | could
get my hands on that Billy
Never mind him. Blaine interrupt
ed. "Rockamore didn't threaten you,
did he?"
HE said he would fix it so that l
obtained no more positions in Hing
ton the girl responded, sullenly. He
will tell Miss Lawton that am deceit
full and treacherous and should no
longer be welcome al abb He
said-but ! will not your so
valuable time by repea ais stupid
threats Miss Lawton will under
stand Shall not I read the notes to
you? have had no opportunity to
transcribe them and indeed they are
safer as they are"
Yes. Read them by all means,
Miss Hefferman, if you have nothing
more to tell me. | do not think We
are being overheard by anyone, but
remember to keep your voice lower
ed"
II WILL Mr.. Blaine
The girl produced the notebook
from her bag and swept practised
eye down it's cryptic pages
Here it is. These are the first
words | heard through the opened
door. They were spoken by Mr.. Rock
amore, and the other Paddington, re-
piled This is what ] heard:
81 don't know what the devil you're
driving at, tell you.
"'Oh, don't you, Rockamore? Want
me to explain? I'll go into details If
you like
I'm hanged if I'm interested. My
share in our little business deal with
you was concluded some time ago
There's an end of that. You've a
clever enough man TO know the people
you're doing business with, Padding
ton You can't put anything over on
us
I'm not trying to. The deal you
spoke of is over and done with and l
guess nobodyll squeal. We're all
tarred with the same brush. But this
is something quite different. We were
pretty good pals, Rockamore, so nat
urally, when | heard something about
you which might take lot of explain
ing to smooth over II it got about, |
kept my mouth shut. | think good
turn deserves another at least among
friends, and when | got in hole
remembered what did for you, and
thought you'd be glad OF a chance to
give me leg up
"'In other words you come here
with vague threat and try to black
mail me. That's it, isn't it?'
'Blackmail is not a very pleasant
term, Rockamore, and yet its is some
thing which even you might attempt
Get me? OF course the others would
be glad to help me out, but thought
I'd come to you first, since well,
] know you better
How much do you want?'
"'Only ten thousand. I've got a
tip on the market and If can raise
the coin before the stock scars and
buy On margin, I'll make fine little
coup. Want to come in on it, Rocka-
more"
"'Go to the devil. Here's your
check--you can get it certified at the
bank. Now get out and don't bother
me again or you'll find out I'm not the
weak-minded fool you take me for.
Stick to the small fry, Paddington.
They're your game, but don't fish for
salmon with a trout-fly.'
Thanks, old man. I always knew
] could call on you In an emergency.
| only hope my tip is straight one
and | don't go short on the market. If
| d.
Don't come to me! l tell you