The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-11-12

thinly, an Italian by that name.
newly arrived IN the country, had
been badly hurt and crippled in
tenement FIRE few years ago, and
had been treated in one OF the city
hospitals. That much, at least, he
had discovered Also, no more
than few hours ago, he had gone
20 Laverto's home end found the
man existing in a small, miserable
room on tho East Side, and sur
rounded by every evidence OF
squslor and AFFECT poverty; and
the man, he was obliged 70 con.
fess. had got his sympathy, too.
There were two exquisite little
photographs, landscapes, real gems
OF art, wrapped up In fold after foil
OF newspaper. Laverto had ehown
them to him, and had told his story
again. begging him to buy one OF
the pictures--and when he had
produced the money the cripple
had drawn his treasures back, and
had clutched them to his breast,
and had cried over them, and
finally had refused TO sell at all.
Billy Kane's fingers continued TO
drum on the desk. David Els
worth would undoubtedly want 10
know about Baverto to-night-and
the man bothered him. He had no
grounds for further suspicion, fair.
ness compelled him to the adpis-
sion that the mans story seemed
true; and yet. based on nothing
more tangible than intuition, there
still fingered a doubt about the
whole matter in his mind.
Billy Kane Strengthened up from
the desk. Jackson. one OF the foot
men, had opened the door from the
hall, and David Ellsworth. an inn
maculate little gray-haired old gem
tleman. In evening clothes, stepped
into the library.
The footman closed the door
silently.
David Ellsworth wore glasses.
He took them of. polished them
with nervous energy. while hls blue
eyes swept around the room, fixed
on Billy Kanes face, and swept
around the room again. He cleared
bis throat once or twice before he
spoke.
1--WE kept you waiting, Billy" he
said abruptly. you must have
noticed that I had finished dinner
at the same time as yourself; but
! have been very much disturbed
and perplexed all day, and have
been trying TO solve a problem be-
fore saying anything to you"
II hope there's nothing seriously
wrong, sir" Billy Kane answered
quickly. May | ask what
YES" said David ellsworth. a
sort OF curious reluctance In his
voice. He took a letter from his
pocket and handed II to Billy Kane.
"It's this"
Billy Kane opened the letter.
and. staring at the typewriter
words on the sheet in his hand,
suddenly an angry red tinged his
cheeks and mounted to his temples.
His eyes mechanically travelled
over the lines again:
Like father like son may be
an old adage, but like a good
many old adages it's face value
IA not always to be relied upon.
II might pay you to keep an eye
on your confidential secretary
and on the contents OF your
vault. A FRIEND"
Billy Kane laid the letter down
upon the desk without a word
but his lips were tight.
"You understand, Billy" said the
old millionaire eagerly, that the
only reason why ! did not show
this to you Immediately when |
received II this morning was be-
cause ! wanted, II possible, to for.
mulate a definite conclusion as to
the motive that prompted the writ
Ing of the contemplate thing. You
understand, my boy, don't you? I
could talk TO you then about II
without hurting you. AS for the
actual letter itself, there ia, OF
course, but one answer. and that
is-thisl"
David Ellsworth reached out for
the letter-but Billy Kane had al
ready picked II up.
You were going TO tear It up,
sir" he said deliberately. I'D
rather you wouldn't. There may be
a chance some day Of showing thia
&c the cur who wrote it-and |
wouldn't like to lose that chance"
Then keep it. by all means!"
agreed David Ellsworth. He nodded
h!s head Il vigorous assent, as
Billy Kane restored the letter 10
its envelope, and placed the letter
in the pocket of his dinner Jacket.
$50 much for that! But what do
you make OF II, Billy?"
TITS object Is obvious enough"
Billy Kane replied savagely. Some.
body appears to have IL IN for me-"
David Ellsworth was polishing
bis glasses again.
you've told me that | was the
most guileless man you ever knew,
Billy" he said. shaking his head
slowly, "and perhaps | am, and
then again perhaps I'm not--and
perhaps II isn't always because I'm
guileless that ! close my eyes to
many things, But | guess, after
all, that | can peer as far through
a stone wall as the next man. Two
had 10 do some pretty stlft peering
In the days gone by 10 get the few
millions together that I've got now.
] mention this, Billy, so that you
may not confuse my idiosyncrasies