The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-02-02

pull in and out easy" he muttered.
"Pm sorry you can't find what you
are looking for, Giles" spoke up the
woman quietly. II remember now that
you came here right after my hus-
bands death and insisted on search
ing the desk for some papers that be-
lOnged to you. I refused, because l
haven't trusted you for a good many
years, Giles. But l looked the desk
through and there was nothing in it
belonging to you. Several times since
then you have tried to get into the
room and once when you thought |
was away. But, unfortunately, l hap
pened to be sleeping in this very chair
and awakened in time to frighten you
off,"
Il thought some of my papers were
here and as you wouldn't give 'em up
I meant to get EN-" rasped Giles dog
gedly. "The doctor must have burnt
'em when he destroyed a lot of his
bills befo:a he died. He always was
a Shiftless old fool that way"
"Stopw
Giles quailed under the scorn of
her voice.
81 don't want you to allude to my
husband in any way, Giles" she went
on. He made you-or, l mean, he
tried to, and failed-and, in some way
l do not understand, all the misfor-
tunes have come through you, direct
Nv en- 50,
over I suppose this house will belong
to you and the instant it is legally so
l shall go out and 1 hope we shall
not see each other again."
"With all my heart" grinned Giles,
maliciously, "and l wish l had my
money back so you could take this old
box along"
The young man had been watching
him keenly, with a curious light com
ing to his eyes.
you don't want the desk?" he
asked, with an appearance of care
lessness.
"No, I don't" shortly. "rd give a
whole dollar to back out. I was jest
excited"
"All right" said the young man.
looking toward the auctiOneer. "I'll
go the fifty and ten and take the desk
Now I want you to hold the auction a
few minutes. 1 may be mistaken, but
/ believe there is something behind
this. I have friend who has a desk
exactly like this, and he showed me
a number of secret drawers about It,
have an idea this desk has the same
secret receptacles."
He stepped toward the desk and at
the same moment Giles Cady sprang
forward.
Don't you touch that DESK" he
threatened. Its mine, and"
Hold this fellow back, some of
you, for few minutes" the young
man requested.
The auctioneer stepped in front of
Giles. "Better strand quiet a little
while" he advised. I'm working for
you, l know, but you've been acting
sort of funny, and folks won't stand
too much, specially as everybody
llhtS inc Olu uOClOT ) WIIc. NOW you
can go ahead" to the young man.
The young man slipped a hand in
under one of the larger drawers and
touched a spring somewhere, and in
stantly from what seemed solid wood
a little drawer shot out. Giles saw it
and his beady eyes began to blink
with something that might have been
apprehension.
In the drawer were several letters
The young man glanced at the outside
Of the envelopes and his eyes grew
tender. He carried them to the old
woman.
"They are yours" he said in low
voice, written to the doctor before
your marriage, I think"
He went back to the desk and again
slipped his hand in behind somewhere,
and another tiny drawer slid out filled
with papers. The young man glanced
over them rapidly and passed one to
the auctioneer Giles made a grab
for it, but was pushed back by one
of the strong hands of the auctioneer,
while the other held up the paper.
AS he read it the auctiOneer's lips
.pursed themselves into a whistle and
he strobe to one of the windows,
which was open. People below were
carrying out some of the things they
had purchased.
Eli, theren' yelled the auctioneer,
loudly. "Put everything back in It's
place. The whole auctions Off" Then
he went back into the room.
"W-what's the matter?' clustered
the rasping voice Of Giles, trembling
in spite of his efforts at bravado.
"What right have you to call my auc-
ton OFF,"
The auctioneer only grunted con-
temptuously.
Gust this right, Giles" said the
young man, sternly. "That paper |
gave the auctioneer is your receipt
and cancellation of the mortgage in
full, so this house and all it's con-
tents belong to Mrs. Brooks. Besides
all this, have several papers here,
receipts and other things which in
volve you pretty seriously, should
| judge. Now, I know Mrs. Brooks
wouldn't want to prosecute anybody,
1