The Lamar register., 1919-02-05
CHAPTER XIV.
Broken Threads,

went upSthlTs 10 TeJOln tnt Tespieuutut
lady. who was taking her after-dinner
ense In the most comfortable lounging-
chair the mezzanine parlors afforded.
mo good" he reported. "1'he girls
name is Richlander, and sheer her
father-comes from one of half dozen
Observation-Disclosures can take your
choice among EN-"
Money!" queried the comfortable
one.
Buying mines in the Topaz" said
the husband mechanically. He was
not thinking specially Of Mr.. Josiah
Richlander's possible or probable rat
Ing with the commercial agencies: he
wns wondering how well Miss Rich
lander knew John Smith, and In what
manner she could be persuaded to tell
what she might know. While he was
turning It over In his mind the two in
question, Smith and the young woman.
to the theater. Stanton, watching them
narrowly from the vantage-point af-
forded by the galleried mezzanine.
drew his own conclusions. BY all the
little signs they were not merely chance
acquaintances or even casual friends.
Their relations were closer-and If
longer standing.
Stanton puzzled over mis- problem n
long time. long after Mrs. stanton mad
forsaken the easy chair and had disap-
peared from the scene. His Eastern
employers were growing irascibly I'M
patient. Who was this fellow Smith,
and what was his backingf they were
beginning to ask; and with the asking
there were lntimations that if Mr..
Crawford Stanton were finding his task
too difhcult. there was always an al.
tentative.
Stanton was still wrestling with his
problem when the Handsome couple"
returned from the play. The trust
field captain saw them as they crossed
the lobby to the elevator and again
marked the little evidences Of familiar
ity. THAT settles It," he mused, with
an outthrust Of the pugnacious jaw.
"She knows more about Smith than
anybody else In this neck Of woods
and she's got 1t to tellT'
Stanton began his inquisition for bet
ter information the following day, with
the beJewelled lady for his ally. Miss
Richiander was alone and unfriended
In the hotel-and also a little bored.
Hence she was easy Of approach; SO
easy that by luncheon time the sham
promoters wife was able to Introduce
her husband. Stanton lost no moment
lnvestigative. For the inqulring pur-
pose, Smith was made to figure as a
business acquaintance, and Stanton
was generous In his praises of the
Young mans astounding financial sbll-
lty.
Hes simply a wonder. Miss Rich
lander I" he confided over the luncheon
table. Coming here few weeks ago.
absolutely unknown. he has already be-
come prominent man OF affairs In
Brewster. And SO discreetly reticent I
To this good day nobody knows where
he comes from, or anything about
him"
moi" said Miss verda. How sin
yularl" But she did not volunteer to
supply any Of the missing biographical
lacts.
Absolutely nothing" Stanton went
On smoothly. "And. Of course. his ST.
!ence about himself has been grossly
nisinterpreted. have even heard II
said that he is an escaped convict"
How perfectly absurdi" was the
smiling comment.
isn't III But you know how people
will talk. They are saying now that
Ills name isn't Smith; tnat ne mas
merely taken the commonest name In
he category as an alias"
Il can contradict that, anyway"
Hiss HIGHLANDER offered. "His name is
eally and truly John Smith"
you have known him a long time,
haven't your inquired the lady with
he headlight diamonds.
"Oh, yes; for quite q long time, In
Iced"
That was back in New York state ?"
Stanton slipped In.
I'm the East, yes. He comes of an
EXCELLENT family. His fathers people
we're well-to-do farmers, and one of his
Ireat-uncles on his mothers side was
IN the supreme bench In our state: he
vas chief Justice during the later years
# his llfe."
what state did you say3" queried
Stanton craftily. But Miss verda was
ar too wfde-awake to let him surprise
Ter.