Charlevoix county herald., 1916-10-06

my loan of fifty-pus interest at the
rate-per week. Total payment due
sf5-Signed Jos. Bro
Mary puzzled over the fragment In
stark perplexity To her, it meant
nothing And she could not under
stand how her darling should have
happened to possess such a thing or
why she had tried to burn it. But as
she placed the morning newspaper on
the table, for June, a few minutes
later, the old woman's gaze fell on
these staring headlines:
YELLED WOMAN IN BLACK
ROBS LOAN BROKER GRANT
Notes of Clients, Owing Money, Are
Missing-Thief "Borrows" Vic
TINS Auto and Escapes.
Mary let the newspaper fall to the
fioor from her inert hand Again she
examined the charred note. And now
she knew what it was.
Mr.. George Grant had come late to
mis- office that morning. He was in tho
sort Of humOr that makes a poisonous
snake bite itself and die.
There was but one CLEAN of comfort
in Grants sour heart this bright morn
ing. And that was his belief that the
men whose names were signed to the
missing documents would not know of
the theft
The task of bluffing these poor delin-
quents promised to be absurdly easy.
And presently, as he sat mOrbidly
gIoating over such scenes, Grants first
opportunity came. A name was brought
III TO him Joseph Brown had called,
begging for a word alone with him.
Grant smiled happily.
Tell him to come in" said Grant,
gleefully, as the caller was announced.
Brown came into the inner office, clad
IN his working clothes. Generally on
such visits, he paused at the threshold
and meekly waited his masters leave
to advance toward the desk.
But today he walked confidently up
to Grant, his tanned face one broad
/ grin Without troubling to say Good
morning" he handed Grant a folded
letter. Then:
That's al" he remarked, "Bye-bye.
you Shiny old moneyspider. I'm out Of
your dirty net-for keeps
lie turned and staggered out Of the
room before the astounded Grant could
so much as swear at him. The letter
was typewriter and very brief 1t
ran:
Mr.. Joseph Brown: The notes
which you gave George Grant for
loan at outrageous interest rates have
been destroyed. Therefore, your debt
is cancelled.
One Who Pities the Poor.
Grant was still raging, wordlessly,
When Saals came in TO announce one
John Peterson; an elderly, stoop Shout
dered man, who entered on the heels
| OF his announcer.
Mr. Grant" said the old man, offer
ing the loan broker a letter, This
came by the morning mail. | thought
/ it was only fair 10 show II 90 you
Grant, his eyes blurred with fury,
was barely able TO note that this let
ter was a typewriter duplicate Of
/ Browns.
"Its-its lie," he stormed "A
trick! I have your notes safe in my
desk here"
Il will take that chance, Mr.. Grant
replied the old man, turning to go.
The loan broker lurched dizzily to
| his feet Just then Saals intruded
again.
Mr.. Grant" said the clerk, there's
seven or eight more people in the out
or office; all of them with type
written letters from"
"Kick them out" howled Grant.
In five minutes, he was bustling into
a downtown office whose outer door
/ glass bore the legend:
MAX Lamar, crime specialist"
Mr. Lamar" began Grant as soon
as he could get his breath THAT
yelled woman has cinched her theft
by this-and this slamming the
Brown and Peterson letters on the
desk in front of Max, land by a lot
more of the same kind. Get her for
me. Get her. To blazes with the ex-
pense! Get her!"
June Travis emerged from her bed
room, heavy-eyed from sleeplessness,
and in pretty negligee, entered her
sitting room. Mary was standing
there, awaiting her. June, as she had
done since babyhood, went over to
kiss the old woman good morning.
Then, and only then. did she notice
that Mary made no move to meet her
as she came forward; that she did not
speak, and that her face was blank
with grief.
why, Mary" cried the girl, what
is it? What's the matter? Is moth
err"
Mary cut short the queries by
thrusting forward the charred promis-
sorry note.
This is the matter" she said grim
ly. "Dearie, you must tell me what it
means
June stifled little cry Of fear; then
impulsively snatched the burnt paper
from the nurses hand and made as
though 10 hide il.
"TaII mo dearip " rnurnurpd the old