The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-20
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

COulQ OILY PolllI w tile opo1 o''
the highly polished desk where
lay the heavy glass paper weight.
I couldn't say any more; after
that effort, I was absolutely ton'
gue-tied. But if my tongue couldn't
move, my mind was working in
high speed.
Once more papers had disap'
peared. Would they be recovered
as easily and quickly as the others
had been? If not, they could be
replaced. l still had the list o1
subjects covered by the notes, anc
on it l had jotted down the name
and page of each authority con-
suited. Replacing the missing pa
pers simply meant going over the
reference books again and retyping
what l had done this morning.
But who had taken the papers
and why? 1 could understand any
one wanting to destroy personal
papers-there were a dozen rea-
sons to account for that. Fear,
jealousy the desire to annoy, de-
Ter Oh Sdlll oil dOs cllloSS OFNh
another might be the incentive.
One could go on indefinitely with
such reasons But the papers taken
from my desk were not personal.
They were brief notes on the con-
ditions in England which mott
waited Cary Essex I to forsake
his homeland and take up new
life in America.
While my thoughts were running
or. Cary Essex w was staring
with angry gaze at me. My words.
L lef. them under that paper
weight" obviously first be-
wildered. then angered him. He
took quick step nearer me.
DO you mean" he imperiously
demanded, that you left the notes
you typed under that paper weight
and that they have Disappeared"
Sill speechless, l nodded en-
phaGcally.
Who" he began, and then to
my horror I saw suspicion of me
spring to life in his eyes. l could
actually read his thoughts. Ee
didn't know me Was I in cahoots
with his Aunt Althea?
Wait here, he ordered sharply
an flung from the room.
l sank bach into the chair from
which in my surprise at his deEial
OF having seen my notes, l had
arisen and DULY waited for what
ever was to take place. He was
right, he didn't know me, except
from q letter of recommendation
which might not be truthful in all
respects. With all the disturban les
which had centered around the
proposed writing of his book-and
he didn't know of the conversation
l had overheard and my owa in
terview with Miss Althea-I
couldn't expect him 10 be other
than distrustful of me.
Why so down in the dumps?
Has all the world gone wrong or
did my author cousin object to a
dot left off an IL"
Kaye's teasing voice reused me
from my unpleasant thoughts. To
my relief I found my voice.
My notes are gone!"
"Gone" The raillery disap-
peared from her face and voice.
What do you mean-gone?"
Just that. You know l left them
here; when I came back they were
gone. I thought Mr.. Essex bad
taken them, but he said he hadn't
seen them"
While she stared at me, an un-
comprehending scowl furrowing
her forehead, queer shufsling
noise came to our ears. We turned
20 the door.
With dragging footsteps, the CID
captain. leaning heavily on Cary S
arm, came into view. With mar
rowed eyes both men steadily re-
garded me. Kaye rushed into
speech.
"Granddad.' she exclaimed. 81
thought you didn't feel able tc
come doWnstairs!"
Il don't" he snapped, but after
the yarn Cary brought to re, ]
had to come down. What about
your notes?" His accusing gaze
fairly bored into me. Are yo,
sure you left them on that desk?'
His tone was condemning.
1t was very evident that Car,
had infected his grandfather witt
distrust of me. Kaye didn't wal
for me to speak.
Il know she did, Granddad.
was here when she put them unde
the paper weight, and we wen
out of the room together. Then.
Her eyes dilated and darkenee
with the intensity of a new thought
''Dave!" she gasped. The win
dow"
At Hayes confederation of m,
story, I saw the suspicion in the
mems eyes die away. But, ir the
shock of her last words, I couldn'.
take time to be thankful for that
I had completely forgotten abou
that window!
Kaye was already pouring ou
her story as fast as she coule
speak. At Its close Cary strode
across the room and jerked tbt
bell rope, with force which near
ly tore it from the wall.
"Jabez, ask Alice to come here,
was his order.
1t wasn't a minute before al
alert-faced girl in neat blue uni
form and white apron entered thu
room. With puzzled expression. sh.
looked from one face to another