White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-10-21
CHAPTER XI-continued

ached and the corners of his mouth
were raw from the harsh rope. he
had no idea yet where he was. He
supposed Bellington must have pre-
pared this secret place and kept us
locality hidden. Perhaps through 1t
there had come men, ere this, who had
spied upon him. Cramps seized him,
whose agony left him white and feeble.
Perhaps he would starve to death
here. 1t was well known that his
movements were uncertain, secretive,
and that he was impatient of question
Ing. 1t would be found that his bed
was unoccupied. They would not look
for him here. They would hunt far
afield while he starved to death in
this tower retreat. No shame or re-
pentance came to him. Instead he
cursed himself for carelessness. In
his former home he had preserved al
most an excessive caution, but he had
supposed in so large a household as
this, with many servants and guests,
he was safe. There were other rooms
which should have attracted burglars
more than these, rooms where women
kept their diamonds. To come here
argued preconceived plan.
First Of all he though of McKimber.
Gould he, after all, have dared this!
Was his detected spirit assumed for
putting the younger man off his guard!
He remembered telling McKimber that
those who underestimate him came
to disaster. Perhaps he had made the
mistake of thinking man beaten to
the ground when he was merely rest
Ing awaiting an opportunity to spring.
His assailant might even have been
young McKimber. 1t was tall, agile
man who attacked him.
According to Barnes instructions,
Sneed, at breakfast, asked if he should
arouse Mr.. Raxon or see If he wanted
Raxon was up early. In the end they
discovered him. His mouth was
swollen and dscoiored, and he could
not rise to his feet when Bradney I'M
cut the bonds. He was in deplor-
able condition. He would tell his
wife nothing. Nor would he hear of
the police being notified.
81 know who did it," he lied, land
will attend to him myself. This must
not get into the papers. If 1t does, l
shall know it comes from one of you
three" He looked coldly at his wife,
his butler, and the footman.
1t was Bradney alone who dared to
meet his gaze In such rage as this
Mrs. Raxon trembled. Sneed could
not avoid the consciousness that 1t
was one of the wealthy employing
classes who shivered with anger.
Bradney welcomed the opportunity to
see man of whom he had heard so
much bad, at whose hands he had him
self experienced ill-treatment, at a
moment when his usual control was
gone. 1t seemed to the scientist that
for a minute the mask was lifted and
the terrific emotions which he had
kept hidden were let loose. He cursed
his wife. He called Sneed timid,
worthless creature that he had al
lowed thief to break through and
assault him. Bradney, towering over
them all, came in for his share. Where
had this hulking turnkey been that the
marauder had stolen upon him?
Bradney was secretly amused. Then
he saw his chance to escape. He re-
called some of Barnes gestures and
gave notice at once. There could
hardly be a suspicion Of collision. 1t
seemed to Mrs. RaXon that here was
q courteous and efficient man servant
goaded to rare INSTRUMENTATION Sneed
suddenly took the resolve to depart
with his footman.
Raxon turned to his wife. "Pa,
them and see they leave at once"
Sneed turned on his heel and lef
the room. His second-footman fol
lowed.
eff any Of those other people hear,
any commotion, just tell them / ha,
q fainting spell and shall be all RICH
tomorrow" He almost pushed he
from the room and turned the key
Raxon hoped, as he walked to tn
safe, that he would find the robber
had been made by professionals 70
readily convertible plumber. He hard
ly dared search for the McKimber eN
hibits.
The envelope which had held wha
would have kept McKimber plan
and obedient tool was gone. Negotia
BILE securities and large sum of cas-
were untouched. 1t was plain that TIN
intruder had come for one thing only
and had been successful. The ma
who would have most to gain by thi
abstraction was young Robin McKin
Der, who had been in the house wee
and had learned of the danger 1
which his father stood. In figur
young McKimber was like the man G
whom Raxon had one fleeing glance.
Never again would there be the or
portunity to get any more incrimina
ing letters. The page stolen from tn
register could not be replaced. Wha
q fool he had been not to have theI
photographed To implicate the pol
tician without them would be almOs
impossible Were McKimber to max
bold stand and accuse his enemy c
attempted blackmail, the public woul
probably flock to the support Of tn
older and betterknown man. 1t wa
the greatest blow Paul Raxon ha
ever sustained. He felt that tn
humiliation of 1t would never pas
from his mind. His face was brulse
and sore, but he hardly knew it. H
who had warned his opponent of tn
folly of Understanding him ha