Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-30

son who had placed the book there
had intended to return and get u
when all danger was over
Naturally, ! tried 20 figure out who
that person could be. An uneasy
feeling crept over me when ! thought
that the secretary knew more about
the book than any one else and
could have hidden il. But tried 70
dismiss the thought from my mind.
/ heard the knob OF the door turn.
and BARLEY entered. Under his arm
was q package and he seemed 10 be
N q rare humor. In fact, he was
trying to whistle and. IL one knew
BARLEY, that thing in Itself was
enough TO tell that he was highly
eiated over something. For e there
was one thing that he did not
bother with. it was music. and only
twice before had ever heard him
whistHng a tune Of any kind
He grinned broadly al my sur
prised look. placing the package
carefully on the table. Then he took
his old pipe. the one he never smok-
ed till he was at the end Of a case.
Packing his favorite English tobacco
into the bowl. he lighted IT. Il look
ed as il. at least TO his satisfaction.
his one chance in q million had come
through.
II it had, be did not tell me. In
stead he asked about the finding OF
the book, smiling once or twice at
several remarks I made. Then when
had finished the story 1 handed the
Aretino 10 him He glanced through
-. gave = shrug OF his shoulders q.
several OF the plates, then remark
ed dryly:
This book is worth its weight II
gold. but would not give il house
room. I am liberal enough in all
my views. but that's no reason for q
book Of this kind having q public
circulation. True, IL was another
age that wrote It and other morals
shat could stand these plates. i
judge, however
He paused. gave slight start and
took from the book little slip Of
paper. He half smiled when he
handed il to me. took il eagerly
enough, though il turned cut 10 be
nothing more than the slip that is
placed IN ali packages OF tobacco.
II had the name OF the brand or.
one Of the cheapest and worst Of all
brands. / felI & 81; mortified that /
had not observed il when had
glanced az the book. But Barley
said # had been tucked away be-
tween several OF the plates.
/ knew. OF course. that il was 2
clue OF kind Rice would never
have smoked that kind Of tobacco
AID I remembered that BARLEY had
said that he never smoked ? pipe
anyway. II the person who had
taken the book had placed tie slip
OF paper there, then my fears re
garding the secretary had been
vain This thought somehow or
other gave me much satisfaction.
When / handed the slip back 70
BARLEY. he simply placed II he
tween the leaves OF his notebook.
He made no comments about * and
/ knew better than to ask any
questions Instead OF speaking. he
leaned back IN the chair, the smoke
from the pipe curling toward the
ceiling and drifting finally out Of the
open window He seemed conte1tet,
satisfied would have given a
good deal * he had spoken.
He did in the end. after his
smoke was finished. But il was only
TO say. and there vas a smile on his
face as he spoke: ~Peit. we had bet
ter 60 down and see Sc the dining
.Se4Aa - NPCA- ~1AAtE I4lIe- We go
10 town and then He threw out
his hands IN an expressive gesture
rising from TIE chair, I waited. tu.
he said nothing else. Impatient, !
eske6:
Thea-whs.--
lie smiled and 6rawled cut. "Pelt.
they tel ne tia: patience IS a rare
and great virtue. / commend the
thought TO you. I simply meant hv
then that we viii prove CHANGER
was right
@Chaucer," came my disEus,ed
voice
You remember he grinned 3.
ne. his expression, Murder viii
out"