The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-08-05


for Mis- Blake was "a confirmed old
maid. Vance paid no attention to a
casual suggestion he overheard that as
Miss Blake owned considerable prop
erty about town the alleged factory
representative might be negotiating
with her for building site.
And now, us Vance observed the
lady Ia question seated ON the porch
with Rutgers and her niece, be- paid no
attention 10 pleading. inviting ex.
preston upon the face of Doris.
EN- drop her II She Is encouraging
that hmggrt Top soliloquized Vance
houy. but a. dusk the ensuing eve
Ming struiied past the Blake home -.
cretly hoping that Doris would ap
pear.
Victor. bis faithful dog ran up
on the porch a. u reminding the
y1un- man IT his many past visits.
hgt Vance Kept on Beside The door
vu- u pair 1t rubh,r,. mans size. and
Within the lighted ruun Vance caught
- sht ~ his faucicd rival
lie whistlrd to the dog and STROBE
'n. never noticing that the animal car.
ried something between his teeth until
they rame under lamp post.
Here. what have you gotr' chal.
lengci Vance, and "a Victor laid q
rubber at his feet Vance picked It up.
At once he comprehended that II Mas
one OF thos. he had noticed on the
Blake porch. As he turned II over he
observed casually deep hruwnlsh
stain where the inst.p curved. lie
was debating II he should rcpass the
house and restore the rubber 10 its
companion when he was conscious that
a keeh.eyed man was AT his side inter.
esietly regarding the filched rubber.
"Noursr' he inslnuated.
NO" retorted Vance CURLY. MY
dog took II from a porch down the
street"
Where which porchf" pursued
the stranger.
second house back. Why do you
askf'' demanded Vance suspiclously
The man mumbled something about
being an inqulsitiye sort Of fellow
and AS Vance turned around and ne.
traced his steps fiung the rubber over
the fence OF the Blake home. The
stranger watched Vance closely and
then disappeared ia the darkness
Later. through a cautious detour. he
reached the Blake home, glided up to
the porch and carried away both rub.
hers aud chuckled IN a pleased though
sinister way.
The town had been greatly stirred
up two days previous by the announce.
ment that the great tAnnery at the
edge Of the town had been visited the
night previous. its Office broken into
aud a small fortune In cash and Lib.
erty bonds secured from its safe. Of.
ncers from the county seat had been
sent for and Vance. thinking later Of
the inquisitive stranger. wondered n
he was not some detective attempting
TO ferret out the perpetrators Of the
burglary.
- ~. Ah' AAfAA AiANN
came face 10 face with Doris turning
a corner lie flushed with some EN-.
barrassment and she paled as though
under a strain OF some feryid emotion.
you have not been TO the house
lately, Cyril" she spoke in subdued
half reproachful tone.
"iou seem TO have plenty ~ com
pany." retorted Vance and then was
a shamed OF himself. for the quick tears
came into those gentle eyes.
You mean this bryce Rutgers" said
Doris. III Is OF him ! have wished 60
speak TO you all along. Oh. Cyril. he
has made an impression on Aunt
Ophclls and ! am nearly distracted.
know he Is after the property aud that
he Is not the Kind Of man who means
what he says. Can you not do some.
thing 10 save poor sentimental Aunt
ophelisf"
AZ that moment the mysterious man
u the evening previous came into
sight. lie looked inyitlngly at Vance
and then beckoned 10 him.
Those rubbers belonged 20 that
Rutgers fellow" he said. Il owe .
successful case to you. The minute
saw the red marks Of the hemloek pit
AZ the tannery knew the fellow was
he man | was after | nabbed him
and most 81 the plunder have sent
him 20 the county seat In handouts.
Aunt Ophelia took the dissipation
% her fond singlelifs romance rather
aard. but only for a time. Then she
settled down TO making the reunited
systs happy.