Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-01

Ohe-SyHnuer SAM, THE Man with
| the 44-Chest," etc.
CHAPTER II.
~. HEDGE, z. E."
| The deep-toned clock in the en-
| trance-hall Of the Brooke mansion
| lacked one minute Of seven. Horace.
the butler, had taken his stand in front
OF 1t, watching the great minute hand
crawl slowly along the last stage Of
It's hourly journey Ere that journey
was completed the master of the
household would be ringing at the
door, probably when fifteen seconds
OF the hour remained. For Mr.. Brooke.
being punctual business man was
an equally punctual father.
There was faint expression of per-
plexity and disappointment on the
rudy countenance of Horace when
There came sharp ring at the bell,
with fully forty-five seconds of the
hour remaining. The butler sensed
! something unusual. The master was
ahead OF time; also, there was a note
Of impatience In his ring. Horace
went to the door with an indefinable
trepidation of spirit.
1t was not John w. Brooke who
stood in the vestibuIe.
| The ringer of the bell was a much
younger person. He glanced at the
| putler sharply, then motioned to n
large grip that rested beside him.
Nine" he said briefly. Take it
in, please"
| lmmedlateiy he stepped past the but
| Ter and entered the Brooke mansion.
Horace momentarily forgot the
stranger In his contemplation of the
grip. somehow the grip seemed por-
tentous. 1t signified mystery to the
putler. He took step forward. The
Brooke limousine was not at the curb.
rms was another extraordinary thing.
Nor was there the least sign /of Mr..
Brooke, who should at that instant.
according to established order, have
peen standing In front of the butler.
saying, Good evening, Horace"
with gasp that was only half sup
pressed, Horace turned quickly and en-
tered the house, picking up the grip s
ne did so. The bag was heavy and
evidently well filled.
Inc stranger was standing in the
nall, contemplating with plain disfayor
a knlght In armor, or. rather, suit
or armor that had no knight within.
He turned as Horace appeared
Where are the children" he asked.
Horace started The familiarity of
the question jolted him. He did not
know this person who asked for "the
chlldren," but he did know that he
was an utter stranger to the Brooke
mansion.
Mr.. Brooke Is not at home yet, sir"
Certainly not. He won't be. WHARF
are the children?"
The stranger whipped off his over
coat and handed that garment, to-
gether with his hat, to Horace, who
received them mechanically, after the
fashion OF an excellent servant Yet
the butler for all kis outward calm,
was an agitated person within. Mr..
Brooke would not be there? Extra
ordinary! Yes, even ominous. Such a
thing had never happened. Where
was he? l.
Horace involuntary glanced down.
ward at the grip. which he still car
RED 1t was strangely heavy. Could
1t be possible that his master Oh.
horrors, mol
The children are in the library, sir
to the right"
Inc stranger wheeled and walked
quickly in the given direction. As he !,
disappeared through the portieres Hor-
ace was still standing in the hall.
clinging to his burden and staring with !
open mouth.
The library of the Brooke mansion !,
was very large room, nearly half of
the width of the house and more than
half its depth. 1t was a real library: !.
that is, 1t contained books Two PAGES
inside the doorway the stranger paused
and glanced alertly about him.
Off in a far corner was a youpp .
man yawning over a newspaper. In =
the embrasure of window was a half
grown girl, staring idly down at the
avn. Near the center of the room. d.. =
rectly in front Of the visitor. sat /,