The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-06
CHAPTER XI. The Fight in the Iibray.

flection was not comforting. The Tel low meant trouble; it was undoubtedly in his power to make it most serious trouble with possibly far-rea ching consequences
 Penney swore between his teeth, and set himself wetermined to review the affair. Trachtman probably had pre- sented the matter as the world at large would regard it. Here was an elderly woman living quietly and com fortably and within her income.
 Appears a younger woman who is received as a, member of the house hold.
 At once outgo increases. The elder ly woman exceeds her income, dips into her principal, expeneds relative ly large sums for her protege. Her man of business has records of secur tties sold and amounts turned over.
 The money me1ts; it is gone. Who would doubt that the girl had con trived to secure 1t? More, who could doubt, when informed that for years she had been systenati ically nlisre presenting her affairs and playing up- on the ready sympathies of her vic tim? Why is own presence would add to the weight of damning evil dence; for how could he be regarded except as an accomplice, brought in at the eleventh hour and detected in company with his principal? Yet however, the world might see it, Ten ney felt no doubts of the girls story.
 She had told him the truth, bitter though it might be; and believing, he had devised a. plan whose success now grievously endangered by Trachtman's declaration. If the debt to Mrs. Dun ton-and Penney deemed it a debt most justly due-where twenty thous- and dollars, he was without power to intervene.
 If it were no greater than the sev- enty-five hundred dollars of his esti- mate, there might be at least relief for the girl from her obligation, as measured in money.
 Here he must balance the conflict ing evidence, her uncertainties and his calculations against Trachtman's re- cords. Penney shook his head over the problem. After all, it was the m oney whcih gave Trachtman his real hold upon them, which in the event of exposure must cast upon the fictitious romance the blight of a cunning confidence game.
 So Penney, turning uneaSi1y on his bed, reflected much and slept little, 1 and arrived at no decision save to rise early and seek conferences with the girl.
 This purpose being strongly inn pl SooSo OpOI1 1l1III, IL cndtlC6u InaC IL was not yet daybreak when he awoke l with a start from a restless doze to 1 find himself, of a sudden. oddly in l disposed to close his eyes again. Every | sense seemed to be alert. |
 He peered about the room, and | raising himself on an elbow, listened intently. For a little while the si- lence was unbroken. Then there was | 8 sound, faintly suggesting the creak l  foot
 It was repeased. after an interval; l then came another sound as of a door | swinging gently on it's hinges.
 Penney slipped from the bed and l tiptoed to. the window.
 His room was in an ell, command ing a partial view of the main part | of the house and the windows of the l library, whose curtains appeared to | bottom of which gleamed narrow line of light.
 He watched it for a space, and nsade l sure that 1t was not the moving beam | from burglars bulls eye, but the | steady glow of a lamp. Somebody l in no haste, apparently was paying 3 visit to the library. And, unless in tuition were playing him false, the | somebody was Roy Trachtman
  pey dragged on trousers and coat and | in stockinged feet crept down the l stairs.
 The library door was sligthly ajar, 1 however, to give him op- portunity to look into the room. And | there he saw Trachtman, fully dressed | except for collar and tie, kneeling be- fore the old safe, whose door was opened wide.
 
 was going about it with 1 much deliberation.
 Not only were his movements un- hurried, but also he paused now and -hen to inspect the papers he was taking, one by one, from the safe, oc- turning to the lamp for a clearer view. Presently he produced | notebook, and began to check up what seemed to be items in a pre- pared list.
 So calmly did he engage in this md so free did he seem to be of ear of interruption, that Penney re- sall1ng his part in the conduct of Mes. 0unton's affairs, was incliningsto the notion that the nephew, af- Ter all was probably engaged in 'ome legitimate errand.
 Except for the hour, the view was easonable enough; and even here iASAO AA1ASIl OS SOOu SAp1dnal1On. 1 7rachtnlan might have been wakefuI; le might have wearied of wooing lumber and have decided to descend O the library and do the work he lad to do while the rest of the house. lold slept.
 Meanwhile Trachtman had finished lis inspection of papers and making If notes, and was replacing the docu- nents in their pigeonho1es. This ac- 'omplished he fu1nbled for moment with what appeared to be refractory lrawer. Then he approached the amp once more, and the watchful Penney saw that he held a plump l. oils of bills.
 Trachtinan counted the money and his brow in calculation
 He repeated the count, hesitated Ind slowly selected a number of bills | which he thrust into a trouser pocket, l The others he returned to the draw IT, Then he glanced about him with he manner of one who desires to be assured that nothing has been over ooked.