The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-09-02
CHAPTER w
Broken Threads

During the four days Wnlch inter-
vened between the disappearance of
Landis' black box and the college
Commencement, Markham burrowed
patiently-and alone. If the foot
prints under lands laboratory win
dow had been made by Betty Lawson,
her companion, and accomplice, must
have been Herbert Candy. Hence,
during the four-day interval, Mark
ham spent most Of his time keeping
the promoter Of real estate schemes
under quiet surveillance.
Nothing definitely helpful came Of
this. So far as outward appearance
went, Candy ate, drank and slept the
Greater Carthage scheme to the exclu-
sion Of most other interests; also, he
was gradually overcoming the obstacle
of small-city conservatism-to the SUBJ
stantial increase of his deposits in the
Carthage Saving Bank & Trust. of
which Markham senior was the pres
ident.
Wally dropped in upon his father at
the bank for word of counsel. The
young man had inherited comfort
able competence from his grandfather,
the bulk Of which was invested in a
local tool and implement factory, the
future expansion Of which was threat
ened by one of the ramifications Of
Canby's schemes.
"About that tract adjoining the
shops." Wally began. II was told that
Candy is trying to get an option on 1t.
Do you know anything about it?"
Nothing definite. Gaultney-he's
taken over the handling of the estate
was here yesterday. and he said
nothing about it. I'm reasonably sure
he would give us chance If anybody
else were trying to tie the tract up"
II hope he would. But Candy Is
pretty cagey in his deals, and he knows
how much we're going to need that
piece of ground some day."
"You needn't worry bit about Can
by, Wally. He's nothing but noisy
false alarm-as good many people
in this town are going to find out be-
fore they. are through with him. AS
yet, nobody can put finger upon any
thing he has done that you could call
crooked, or even shady. Just the
same, I shan't be surprised any day
If the bookkeeper comes in to tell me
that Canby's account has been checked
out, lock, stock and barrel When that
happens, IL it happens, I'm thinking
MO choN h0ua f'hn Loot nf tho
young man who says he's from New
York."
Markham sought Lands in his back
yard workshop, and found the robbed
inventor a prey to the most gloomy
forebodings touching the use to which
his stolen invention might be put.
'I'm total loss, Wally," was the
way he described his condition; "can't
work-can't even think straight. And
now Betty tells me she's leaving
Carthage for the entire summer"
Markham laughed. (which is an
other way of saying that the worst is
yet to come, eh?" Then, when did
you see Betty?"
Yesterday. She came to the house
to tell the folks goodby. They are
leaving for the West tomorrow, she
and her father"
did she come out here to your
shop?"
"Oh, she couldn't well do less than
to include me in the goodbys."
"Well, what did you talk about?"
"Shucks! wasn't fit to talk about
anything. She saw 1t and tried to jolly
me up. Wanted to know If I couldn't
take the summer off and go out to the
wilderness with her and her father.
OF course, she didn't mean it,"
"Of course not" Markham agreed
brutally. "As you say, she was merely
trying to jolly you up bit. But what
about the black box? Any new de-
velopments?"
Nothing; less than nothing. I've
been buying newspapers from all
around and reading them for the crime
news. Plenty of crime, Of course, but
nothing to hint at any mystery. But
1t will come, you mark my words!"
"Good stunt, that-watching the
papers. Keep 1t up"
II shall. suppose you haven't
learned anytbing?" =
Nothing that you could give name
to-" Markham evaded. Obviously. he
couldn't tell Landis the length to
which he had gone in checking up the
scorched shoe. Neither could he make
any mention of his suspicious Of
Candy, since Lands knew that Candy
was Betty's escort on the night Of the
play. 1t was mess, any way one
chose to look at 1t.
Later that afternoon Markham
learned from the room clerk of the
Collier house, where Candy had his
rooms, that the promoter had left
town, to be away overnight. Where
upon he took another lawless step in
the path which, up to the present, had
led nowhere. Ormsbury, manager of
the hotel, was time-tried friend, and
to him Markham appealed.
"You know me pretty well, John.
and I'm going to ask you to break all
hotal fro ditiOnS for me-" wac tho xyav