The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-06-01


be further sort of Caucasian in n.
woodpile. Miss Wilkes" | said more
firmly than sweetly. "what aulhorit.
have ] To give you that book?"
"Why. I'm q responsible, confiden
tial executive herei" boomed the af
fronted Miss Wilkes mir barrow
would let ne have II in a minute -
knew that only too we'll said:
"But he's not here"
You refuse TO entrust Il tenn
porarily TO me, to show prospective
customer who has made a heavy de-
post as evidence of good faith?"
fright" said l. succinctly.
Miss Fuller. this is nothing but
spite of long standing; nothing but
your everlasting cOnceit !"
She was gone. mOrtally offended, as
the climax TO record morning. Had
/. after all. lost a good sale? How
would explain - anything :. to
MIR. barrow? | certainly had not fin
ished the catalogue. And for what
purpose had ! lent the Clarihew to
Mr. Case. who still had IL?
The next number on the program
was to arrange with the printer for a
necessary delay in delivering the copy:
a fiery ordeal, for Mr.. Gregory had
been in the business tifty-four years
out of his total of siXty-eight, and
seemed TO think he knew something
about it. After he had said six or
seven times that the catalogue couldn't
be printed at all unless the copy was
ready by noon; and | had countered
with the statement that three O'Clock
was the first minute he could expect
it; we agreed on two o'clock. As l
rang off, Mr.. Dibdin brought me the
law book, with which, he said, Mr.
Case had finished.
The b0okplate was exactly as | had
placed it. | took it off again in trepida-
ton. The key was in its hiding place.
locked book. boOkplate, and key
again in the drawer of the desk just
as the clock struck twelve. Luncheon
would again be sandwiches and coffee
for me.
SO seized the chance to work with
out interruption for the first time that
day, and at last, as the hands Of the
clock reached two, and Mr.. Gregory's
boy arrived TO sit on a stool and in
spect me disparagingly while put on
the final touches, | finished the cata-
logue copy. Clarihew's "Notes on
Medical Statutes in the Virginia Code"
6pSPrihn6 of
known copies. in excellent condition,
some leaves uncut, of rare interest to
collectors of Virginiana; and, after my
nocturnal researches, had even
thought of something to say about the
oookplate. "Clever counterfeit of un-
identified Colfax plate, presumed lost"
announced the notice. "Shows interior
or surgery of early Nineteenth CEN
fury, featuring interesting scientific in
struments; charming seascape in back
ground. Nameless; no date. Unique"
The catalogue had gone in the arms
of the boy, and felt as if my luck
was beginning to turn at last, when
this feeling was confirmed by the sight
of Mr.. Roberts approaching on the
sidewalk. | snatched the keys out of
my purse in the front drawer of the
desk, unlocked the lowest left-hand
drawer, opened it, and slipped my
hand under some papers to take out
the law book. Suddenly my heart
stood still. threw the papers On the
floor, looked, looked again. Then |
fell back in my chair, and gasped
frantically as Mr.. Roberts flung the
door open:
ats gOnew
whats gone
"Clarihew's .Notes'I Good Heavens,
what shall we do?"
Mr.. Roberts demanded an explana-
ton. stared mutely in desperation
at the floor, and wondered it | could
really wait until five O'Clock to have
Mysteries in decent privacy. Then l
found myself in his Office | poured
out my soul about Miss Wilkes, for it
was she who l felt sure first had
taken the book.
"How did she know where it was?
How did she get your keys and un-
lock the drawer?" demanded Mr.. Rob.
erts. dashing my theory to pieces on
the rocks of good sense.
well, how did anybodyY l re-
torted.
But he said she wasn't smart enough,
at least, whoever had been, and felt
shade better, especially when he
laughed about Magistrate Juddes, and
said he had heard of his political am
billions.
"Still, Mr.. Roberts," insisted,
there's another reason why she might
want it-why everybody that's been
trying for that book might want it.
sat up all night finding it outl"
"All night What did you find?"
"You remember that counterfeit
bOokplate?" ] began. He nodded.
"Well, In accordance with Mr.. Oar.
rows orders, removed it; and be-
meath it, Mr.. Roberts. sunk into the
cover of the book, | discovered tiny,
old-fashioned keyl"
"a keyl In the covert Let's see it."
"It's gone, with the book. And
found something else. On Tuesday
morning was working In the history
alcove; found this paper there. 1t
fell out of q book that was on q
shelf"
produced the yellow slip. Mr.. Rob-
erts frOwned In amazement to recog.
nize his own message returned to him
thus strangely. anti so battered.
81 had thrown that into the waste
basket Monday morning." l continued.