The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-06-15
CHAPTER ~.
The House In Tenth Street

the inner bay.
Rutherford was detained moment
by the custom officers. They seemed
to take him pretty much at his word,
and he hurried beyond the retreating
ropes with a determined set of his
eyes ahead
Rutherford called cab and started
to help the cabby load his feathers, in
cluding golf bag and gun cases; then
seeing the man was willing to do it
alone, he got inuo the cab and waited
until the things were slowed aboard.
"Where to, sir?"
Before Craig could reply the man
stood quickly aside to make way for
a lady, who sprang into the taxi.
"Number - West Tenth street,
she instructed, calmly.
The cabby closed the door and the
woman promptly pulled down the
shade. The driver, assuming the two
to be together, climbed into his seat
and whirled away from the pier.
Craig looked around in cold wonder
at the intruder. 1t was Mrs. Talcott.
"You-you are not-oh, am afraid
I have offended youi" she exclaimed
softly. "But there was no other way!"
81 understand. / offered you my
services, and am glad you could avail
yourself of them," he replied with
studied courtesy.
She sank back against the cushions
and made no further effort to talk to
him.
The cab drew up to curb in side
street, and the driver sprang down and
opened the door.
"This is No., West Tenth, SIR
said the cabby.
Rutherford got out and extended q
hand to Mrs. Talcott.
LET me assist you," he said, smil.
ing.
At this moment spick-and-span
young man who had perched on the
stone railing of the stop came down
the steps.
rs this ?"-he began.
s'You are Mr. MAXWELL" she inter-
rupted, before he could finish his ques-
tion.
"I'm his son." the young man ack-
nowledged, with a buoyant breeziness
the volley of German oaths which had
which Craig keenly enjoyed as pure
product of the homeland to which he
IVES returning. "The governor sent
me down with the keys and wanted me
to sSy that if everything wasn't all
right, he would do anything neces.
sary."
THANK you, Mr.. Maxwell" she said,
smiling at him. "Now," will you go
In with us and see 2"
Her next words, when they were
scarcely inside the house, gave Ruth
erford a slight shock.
"Mr Maxwell-the pistol, pleased"
"Oh, of coursei" said that young
man, producing box from his pocket,
and taking from it hammerless re-
volver. You are accustomed to fire.
arms, Miss Mrs-@
ooh, yes!" she interrupted quickly,
with glance at him.
Laying the gun on the table, she
took three rectan gular boxes from the
small pigskin bag, which she had car
ried constantly IL her hand.
"Ycu know what these ere, Mr..
Maxwell?' she asked.
"Of coursei" replied Maxwell
"Will you kirdly adjust them ac-
cording to the instructions you have
received?"
Without another word Maxwell
took the three boxes and left the room.
Rutherford heard him ascend to the
next floor. where he was occupied for
about five minutes; then he rejoined
them.
Nov II there's anything more
can do, just call one me-" he an.
nounced heartily.
Then he made hasty adieu and
disappeared
"Pll say goodby now, Mrs. Talcott,"
began Craig, somewhat awkwardly.
Don't go-yet," she said. Could
you take time to look over the house
with me?"
do you mean to live here -alone?"
he ventured to inquire.
"Why not?" she parried, and 1t
seemed to him that she waited trifie
anxiously for his reply
Il fancied you might be afraid" he
replied.
"Oh, is that ALL" she exclaimed, In
apparent relief. I'll fancied it did
not seem quite the proper thing to
you. ] shall live here quite alone"
The room to which she now led him
occupied the width of the house, on
the second floor, and was designed evi-
IDENTIFY as study. A fiat-topped desk
stood in the middle of the floor,
graceless though perhaps convenient
piece of furniture, with two tiers of
drawers. It's only ornament was the
finely mounted head of Rocky Noun
tain goat
George, wh-- a bully ,specimen!"
exclaimed Craig, his hunting instinct
aroused. "Who got him? Where did
he come from ?"
''Mr. Talcott shot HMM the Rcek