The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-10-06

pains In addition. there was inc
risk Of dislodging a slate, an unwiSe
proceeding in a house where most OF
the occupants slept with one eye open.
But al last he got his hands over the
ridge of the roof and in another mo
menr he was sitting straddlewise
across il.
\ sudden rattle close Ia him made
him start violently; only 10 curse him
self for a nervous ass the next mo-
ment. and lean forward eagerly. One
of the blinds had been released from
inside the room, and pale dinused
light came fltering out into the night
from the side Of the glass roof. He
was still C.raning backward and for
ward 10 try and find some chink
through which he could see, when,
with "A kind of uncanny deliheratiOn,
one OF the panes of glass slowly
opened. 1t was worked on a ratchet
from inside. and Hugh bowed his
thanks 10 the unseen operator below.
Then he leant forward cautiously. and
peered i'll.
The whole room was visible to him,
and his jaw tightened as he took in
as unconcernedly As ever, sat Peter
son. He was reading letter. and
occasionally undermining some point
with a pencil. Beside him OF table
was big ledger. and every now and
then he would turn over few pn@eS
and make an entry. But ii was not
Peterson on whom The watcher above
was concentrating his attention: il
was Lexington. taking Il red velvet
box ont of Il drawer in the desk. He
opened il lovingly, and Hugh saw the
flash nf diamonds. Lexington lei the
stones run through his hands. glitter
ing with n thousand flames. while Pc
terson watched him contcmptuously.
"BauhIc>. he said. Scornfully.
Pretty balIhleS. What will YOU get
for themE"
Ten. perhaps fifteen thousand" re
turned rhe other. But i'S not the
money care about; its the delight
in having rh,m. and the skill required
TO get them"
Peterson shrugged his shoulders.
skill which would give YOU nun
dreds of thousands if you turned it
into proper channels"
darlington replaced III" stones. and
threw IA" end OF his cigarette into
the grare.
"P"~>ihly. Carl. quite possibly. But
ii boiIS dn,vn To This. my friend, MAT
you Ike Tie big canvas with broad
effects: | like the miniature. and the
well-draWri etching"
(Which u,akeS Us n very happy com
binarioIl." said Peterson. The pearls
don't forget are your job The big
thing Gle turned to the other. and
a trace nf excitement came into his
vOice-'tIe big thing is mine.
The sound of the door opening made
both men swing round instantly: then
Peterson stepped forward with a
smile as Trina entered.
Back. my dear. l hardly expected
yOH So soon"
In "a few words ne told the girl
what had happened, and she clapped
her hands together deIighredly.
''As>uredly / shall have 10 marry
that man" she cried. He is quite
the le..Sr boring individual / have met
in this atrOciOuS country" She sat
down ana lii cigarette Il saw Wal
ter tonight. He came over especially
to see YOU. They want you there for
a meeting. ~ the Ritz"
Peterson frOwned.
Its most mcOnvenient" he re-
marked vith ii shade of annoyance in
his voice. Did he say Why"
Among other things l think they're
uneasy about the American. she an
Swered. My dear man, you can east
ly slip over for day"
"Of course can said Peterson
irritably: hut that doesn't alter the
facr rhar its Inconvenience. Things
will he shortly coming to a head here
/ and / want 10 he on the spot How
ever" He started to walk up and
/ down the room, frOwning thoughtfully
/ Your fish is hooked. mon ami,
! continued the girl to L8kingrnn. He
/ has already proposed three times /;
and lac has introduced me Ia dread
/ ful-looking woman Of extreme virtue
who has adopted me as her niece fol
! the great occasion"
What great occaslon:" asked LAX
ington.
why. his coming OF age, cried the
girl. Il am ia go TO Laidley Towers
as an honored guest of the duches:
OF hampshire" She threw back hel
head and laughed. What .n yoJ
think OF that my friend: The OLD
lady will be wearing pearls and all
complete, in honor of the great day
and l shall be one OF the admirins
house party"
How do you know she'll have then
in the house?" said darlington.
Because dear Freddie has told ms
So answered the girl. She blew tive
smoke rings and then laughed.
F reddie is really rather dear "a
times. l don't think I've ever me-
any one who is so nearly an lido
4 without being one Still Sbo 20