Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-08-14


to tell you about him that troubles
me. He pays no particular attention
10 me, does not recall that he ever
saw me before. but I remember him
clearly. 1t has made me uneasy 20
recognize him as q man who used 10
visit the Offices Of Gurdon & Co, that
mining stock concern for which
worked two years ago, and which
scored such a disastrous failure.
Mother and daughter discussed the
situation However, Rhoda accepted
her mothers counsel to cOnfine her az.
tentian TO her duties.
Rhoda came into the Office from
lunch one. noon TO overhear some
words In the next room that filled her
with alarm Her appearance was un.
noticed by Bayne and a companion.
Distinctly Rhoda heard Bayne say:
"Your part In easy, Merrill. I win
make out check for fifty thousand
dollars which you are TO cash, take
the train at once for Bonneville and
put up at the Clarendon hotel. will
Join you there this evening. I am
going to take what negotiable bonds
we have. It's q clean sweep and fixes
rs for life.
Rhoda pretended TO busy herself
among some letters as the man she
now knew 10 be a colleague OF Bayne
came into the room she was In. She
was trembling all over as Bayne I'm
turn crossed the apartment, but he
did not notice her agitation.
Miss Marsh" he spoke, "you may
90 home. IL You wish, as / have q
meeting here with some clients that
will take all the afternoon"
Rhoda bowed silently. although hen
heart was beating like a trip hammer.
She went into the rear room, where
she kept her wraps. Then she acted
upon the first impulse that came to
her mind. There was one special box
where the negotiable securities were
kept. In moment she had emptied
II. In another she had bundled its
contents into a small safe. locked by
two Keys. which she hid among
some old files. and was breathIessly
arranging to hasten from the spot 20
the bank. when Bayne entered the
room. noticed the empty box and
guessed the truth.
She stoed at bay as he confronted
her. She defied him as he threaten
ed and stormed. At last, fiInging her
to chair. he left the room. closing
and locking the barred door. and she
surmised that he planned to keep her
| prisoner until he returned with tools
TO break open the safe.
The moment he was gone Rhoda
sprang into action. Her eyes flashed
with determination as sine ran % a
chair, placed IL directly In the center
Of the room and crumpled up and
lighted handful OF newspapers,
| mounted the chair. held the flames
beneath the tiny globe OF mercury in
the ceiling. and knew that within n
very few minutes the fire department,
given the electric signal. would be
scanning the building to locate the
source OF the same.
The main door was broken open and
the barred one forced free. To n Do.
lice officer Rhoda narrated her story.
Somehow. guessing the truth. prob.
| ably. Bayne must have fled. A tele.
gram secured his aecomplIce and the
Fifty thousand dollars mt Bonneville,
and the man confessed the truth. cor.
robOratIng fsboda's accusation.
-You Jewel Of courage and loyalty 90
commended Merle waldron when he
returned. snd little later. so con-
WINGED was be that he had found 4
treasure in the bright. intelligent Girl
who had saved him his fortune. that
he asked her TO share II and his love.