Judsonia weekly advance., 1917-04-25

The Apache queen fingered in the outer office until she could think up some trivial thing that would take her within earshot of the conversation. Jack Elliott, superintendent of the fac tory, coming suddenly upon the girl as she was listening, gave her the sur prise of her life.
 Look here, kid" said Elliott gruff1y, 'sI don't know what the old man has you around here for. but I'm sure it's not to listen in on his private con- versations."
 'There's a whole lot you don't know" said Pat.
 When Pat got the opportunity she asked Jackson who his visitors were and was informed that the girl was Mary MacLean, his niece, and that Wallace Drew, the young man who had called with her, was paying court to the young lady.
 "Well, I don't like Drew's looks, if you don't mind my saying so. And furthermore, I'm good to keep an eye on Elliott, your foreman. He may be all right but have my suspicious" The frequent visits Drew made to the factory, unaccompanied by Miss MacLean, further excited Pats watch | fitness. And as he invariably engaged in whispered conversation with Elliott on these occasions, Pat finally conclud- ed that some unusual move should be made.
 eff you could arrange to unexpected l ly leave town on business-to be called | suddenly to Europe, for instance there would be clear field for these plotters," Pat said, one day to her em- ployer.
 Jackson turned in his revolving chair, looked steadily at Pat and re- piled:
 T join in your belief that something unusual is going on around here. Last | night I am sure my private safe was l tempered with. The secrets of my business are there-and you have con- vinced me that the actions of Drew and Elliott certainly do not place them above suspicion" Jackson did not arrive at his place of business the next day, and for two weeks more, nothing was seen or heard of the head of the firm. Finally to l the. consternation of his employees, and to the great grief of his niece, Jack Elliott, the factory foreman re- ceived a cablegram.
 It was sent from London and read: Robert Jackson died here today" Wallace Drew and Jack Elliott | worked fast. Elliott took charge of the business and Drew, acting official l ly for Miss MacLean, urged a speedy | reading of the will.
 There were preliminary difficulties encountered, but Drew retained good counsel and managed ultimately to have the contents of the will disclosed. The result was surprise to Elliott, who had hoped to be among the bene- ficiaries.
 But to his great disappointment, the principal bequest read: ITO my niece, Mary MacLean, I leave the business known as the Jackson Motor company, together with the factory, machinery, inventions and accessories" Not word about Elliott.
 The foreman of the factory, having nothing to lose or gain, decided upon averaging himself because of what he fancied was an injustice.
 Pat, of course, was conversant with the hoax and had explained to the au- thorities the object of the move.
 There was surprise for the girl, however, when Phil Kelly appeared on the scene the next day, retained by Elliott to investigate the disappear ance of his employer. When the Sphinx heard the complete story, all that Elliott could tell him, in addition to the little Drew was able to contrib ute the detective asserted:
 "This is all fictitious. Jackson is alive. He has done this as part of some scheme" And in proof of his conclusions, Kelly was able within the hour to exhibit proof that Jackson had never left the country.
 "He Is hiding out as we say" said Kelly. You tell Miss MacLean not to take possession of what Is not hers."',
 And the story Elliott had to tell Drew was not pleasing to that worthy. For Drew had hoped to marry Miss MacLean and thus get his hands on the Jackson millions.
 Mary MacLean, for girl who had seen fortune swept away as unex- pectedly as it had arrived, took mat .ters rather complacently. After the first shock of surprise she recovered her composure rapidly.
 ''The Golden Cup at the Speedway