Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-28

crackin' him over the head. He stuck
the point Of a knife or something into
him-just a little way, Joe says-ln
more'n a dozen places. What sayT"
IL didn't say anything"
81 thought you did. Well. if I hear
anything more I'll let you know"
Barnes listened at the door until he
heard the waiter Gathering down the
stairway, and then went swiftly down
the hall to No. 80. Mr.. Prosser was
sleeping just as .soundly and as re-
soundingly as at midnight!
by gad!" he muttered, h~alf-alOud.
Everything was as clear as day to him
now. Boiling into his own room, he
closed the door and stood stOckstill
for many minutes. trying to picture
the scene in the cottage.
He found a letter in his box when
he went downstairs. after stuffing the
tin box deep into his pocket. Before
he slit the envelope he knew that
| SprOuse was the writer. The message
was brief:
"After due consideration, I feel that
it would be a mistake for you to aban-
don your present duties at this time.
It might be misunderstood. Stick to
the company until something better
turns up. With this thought in view I
withdraw the two days limit men,
toned recently. to you, and extend the
time to one week. Yours very truly,
81. II. WILSON"
"Gad, the fellow thinks of every
thing" said Barnes to himself. HE
is positively %uncanny."
He read between the lines, and saw
there n distinct warning. 1t had not
occurred to him that his plan to leave
for New York that day with Miss Cam
error might be attended by disastrous
results.
But the jewels? What of them? He
could not go %gallivantlng about the
country with a half million dollars
worth of precious stones In his posses
sion.
He spent the early part of the fore
noon in wandering nervOusly about
the hotel-upstairs and down. The
jewels were locked in his pack up
stairs. He went up to his room half
a dozen times and almost instantly
; walked down again, after satisfying
himself that the pack had not been
rifled.
For the next three days and nights
rehearsals were in full swing, with
scarcely a moments let-up. And so
the time crept by, up to the night of
the performance. Miss Cameron re-
manned in ignorance of the close prox-
unity of the jewels, and the police Of
CrOwndale remained in even denser
ignorance rs to the whereabouts of
the man who robbed Mr.. Hasselwein
of all his spare cash and an excellent
gold watch.
No time was lost by the countess In
getting word to her compatriOts In
New York. Barnes posted a dozen let
tiers for her; each contained the It'd
ings of her safety and the assurance
that she would soon follow in person.
Those three days and nights were
full Of joy and enchantment for
Barnes. He actually debased himself
by wishing that the Rushcroft COM
pany might find it imperative to go on
rehearsing for weeks in that dim, en-
chanted temple.
He sat for hours in one Of the most
uncomfortable seats he had ever
known, devouring with hungry eyes
the shad0wy, interested face so close |
to his Own-and never tired.
On the afternoon Of the dress re-
hcnrsaI he led her, after an hour Of
almost in%suppOrtabIe repression. to
the rear Of the auditorium. Dropping
into the seat beside her he blurted
out, almost in anguish:
~ cant stand II any lnger. I can
not be nea you without-why, IL
well. II Is more than I car struggle
against, that's all. You've either got
to send nj away altogether Or-Or-
let me love you without restraint. l
tell you ! can't go on as ! am now.
You know I love you, don't you? You
know l worship you. Don't be fright