Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-04


him to rise above all obstacles and
conquer in spite Of circumstances. He
must forget everything else and rise
to- the occasion.
From that moment the dancing
the glittering silver and cut glass
OF the table began to settle into or
der; and slowly, n by one. the con-
glomeration of faces around the board
resolved itself into individuals.
There was q pretty. pale hostess,
whose gentle ways seemed hardly to
fit with her large. boisterous.. though
was written craftiness which passed
for geniality among his kind.
There were two others with faces
full Of cunning. both men Of wealth
and culture. One did not think Of the
word refinement" in connection with
them: still, that might be conceded
also: but It was all dominated by the
cunning that on this occasion, At least,
was allowed to sit %unmasked upon
witted an enemy. and they were
openly eAultaEt
OF the. other guests. one was very
young and sic EEK, with eyes that had
early learned tn evade; one was old
and wenry-!ookinG, with a hunted ex-
preston; one was thick set, with lit
tie eyes set close in a fat, selfish
face. Gordon began to understand
that these three but did the bidding
of the others. They listened to the
conversation merely from a business
Standpoint and not with n person
al interest. They were there because
they we're needed. and no because
they were desired.
There was n bond which they
seemed to hold in common; an alert
readiness to combine for their mu-
tual safety. This did not manifest
itself in anything tangible, but the
guest felt that it was there and ready
to spring upon him at any instant.
Az this came gradually to the
pleasant formalities began. AS yet
nothing had beer said about the rea-
son for his being there.
Did you tell me you were in a
wreck?" suddenly asked the hostess
sweetly, turning to him, and the table
talk hushed instantly while the host
asked: "A wreck! Was it serious?"
Gordon perceived his mistake at
once: With instant caution, he re-
piled smilingly, "oh, nothing serit
p ltSIAS III ol AA6Ah
ahead, which required time to patch
up. 1t reminded me- and then
he launched bodily into one of the
bright dinner stories for which he
was noted among his companions at
home. His heart was beating Wild
ly, but he succeeded in turning the
attention of the table to his joke, in
stead Of to asking from where he
had, come and on what road. Cues
tinMo okNvtt hiNaaolf urAwA AaaoA,4N,ya
he plainly saw, il he would get pos
session of the valued paper and
get away without leaving a trail be-
hind him. He succeeded in one-thing
more, which, though he did not know
it. was the very thing his chief had
hoped he swould~do when he chose
him instead of a man who had wider
experiences; he made every mar at the
table feel that he was delightful, a
enjoyed: who would never suspect
them of having any Interior motives
in anything they were doing.
The conversation for little time
lrippled with bright stories and repair
tee, and Gordon began to feel almost
as If he were merly enjoying a social
dinner at home, with Julia Bentley
down the table listening and haught-
tly smiling nil her snt approval pr "a! AL For the
l SAAAA0 AO AiiS4uSItS u VIC Jug anu t1G
newsboy were forgotten, and the
young man felt his .s~elf-respect rising.
His heart vas beginning to get into
normal action again and he could
control his thoughts. Then sudden
ly, the crisis arrived.
The soup and fish courses had been
disposed Of, and the table was being
prepared for the entree. ; The host
leaned back genially in his chair and
l oai@ dpvr <hA rrravy NJ D,~~A.- AZ
you know | had an axe to grind in
asking you here this evening? That
sounds inhospitahle. doesn't it7 But
I'm sure we're all grateful to the axe
that has given IL the opportunity of
meeting you. We are delighted at
having discovered you.
Gordon bowed, smiling at the com
pltment, and the murmurs Of hearty
assent around the table showed him
could keeptit UP! But how. how, vas
he to get possession Of that magic bit
Of paper andStAke ii, away with him ?
mfr. Durham, I was delighted to
learn through a friend that you arc
an expert In c~ode-reading. I won
der. did the message that my friend
Mr.. Burns sem you this morning give
you any intim alton that I wanted YOU
to do mo \ favor ?'.t
1oAOOA DoWEo dS<l. y I 0S. IL WA
intimated to me that you had some
message. lou would, like deciphered,
and ! he also q letter of introduce
ton from Mr.. Burns."
Here Gordon took the letter of In
PRODUCTION from his pocket and hand
ed it across. the table to his host, who
opened it genially. as IL it were hard
ly necessary to read. what was writ
ten within since they already knew
SO delightfully the man whom it in-
troduced. The duplicate. cipher writ
ing in ,Gordons pocket cracked
knowingly when he settled; his coal
about him again, as II 1T would say,
"My time is coming! 1t is almost here
now"
The young man wondered how he
wAS to get it out without being seen,
in case he should want to use it., but
he smiled: pleasantly al his host with
no sign OF the perturbation he was
you Gee; went on Mr.. Holman;
I'VE have an,important message which
we cannot read, and u expert who
Understands all these matters siss out
OF town. and cannot returnefor ONE
time. It is nece9sary that We know
writing"
While Ne vas speaking Nj. Holman
drew from his pocket : Ions, soft
folded paper which Gordon at once
~recognized - the duplicate OF the one
he carried In his pocket His. head
seemed TO reel. and al the lights 20
dark before him: % he .rsachedSa cold
hand out for the paper. He NV Ia II
his sown advancement coming to his
eager grasp, yet when. he gotslt would
he be able to. hold it, Something Of
| theFcaolnAeR OF n man fsear-