The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1918-01-30
By James knenand Shawvan

thought OF early boyhood's days
and skating on one foot, as the sole Of
one shoe struck a fiat piece of banana
peel. and / went sliding irresIstibly to-
ward Il wooden crate cover set over u
manhoie In the sidewalk.
Bang My feet met II. sending 1t
spinning halfway around on the un-
fastened pivot and down shot through
the half-moon aperture,
Thumpl i landed ten feet down
amid utter darkness across an up
turned tub. knocking out its bottom,
and bringing hoops and slaves about
Inc In flying sections.
The shock was brief. my bruises tri-
vial. Then l congratulated myself.
II the under-sidewalk space into
which | had been precipltated connect
ed with the main cellar OF the struc-
ture abutting upon II would hail my
misadventure us stroke of genuine
good luck. That grim old time-shat,
tered three-story building had been
center Of considerable interest to me
during the past week. had haunted
Its vicinity persistently. 1t was to lit
tie purpose. however. Its rear was a
blank brick wall. Its sides were
guarded by heavy iron shutters. The
front had but one entrance, a double
doorway. and beyond II was store
space shallow and narrow. more Of a
hall entrance than room. barred
closely nights. and In the daytime.
seated behind bench hammering
"A. 81
u lOw-browed, keen-eyed man. evident
ly the guardian Of the place.
wns on still hunt for u missing
friend, and had been for over u month,
That was how ] came to be Interested
in what had yerItnbly become TO me u
house OF mystery.
Acton Meserve had been a fellow
worker and close friend for something
like two years. We were both of US
expert engravers and earned good
wages In the service of leading bank
note engraving concern. 1t was Just
after he had married and was gone
on his honeymoon that trouble began.
You must know that the working
economy Of confidential and impor-
tant business such us we were engaged
In calls for strict integrity on the part
OF those employed. II was about
week after my friend Meserve had left
on his memorable vacation when u dis
coyery was made that some govern
ment paper. some denomination dies
und II kit Of fine engraving tools were
missing from the vault When
search was made In the office there
was found in Meserve's desk some Of
the paper. The company awaited the
return OF Meservc to charge him with
Irregularities. possibly theft. But
neither he nor his wife returned to the
city at the end Of two weeks. nor four,
nor six. In fact. although II detective
was employed to seek to gain a trace
of their whereabouts, Acton Meserve
and his wife had disappeared rs efrec-
tually Ms though the earth had swal-
lowed them up.
One day was summoned to the pri-
vate office of the president of the com
pany. | knew that my close compan-
ionship with Meserve had aroused sus-
picion in the mind of the detective ms
to II possible knowledge on my part rs
to what had become OF Meserve. The
disappearance of the well-guarded
property of the company pointed to a
probable scheme to do some outside
plate work. This surmise was empha-
sized by the strange absence of Me
serve.
ave shall require your services no
longer. Mr.. Ilsley." spoke my superior.
definitely and with sternness.
81 am sorry" I sad simply. II will
not ask you the reason of this unwar-
rantable discharge, for / can guess.
You are wrong In attributing what you
Imagine to as good Il man as Acton
Meserve. shall make II my business
to prove 1t to you soon"
II hope So" coldly remarked the Of
icial. ''and l further hope you will
take care OF yourself"
There was significance. almost In
suit, In this last remark. and did not
resent it In words. | had made up my
mind that would find Acton Meserve
If 1t took all l had saved up and a
year of my life to accomplish ii. There
was something wrong not only at the