Page 98 (1/1)

It was early nextwhen Saunders knocked at Mark Griffin's door His knock was soft, for Mark's room adjoined Father Murray's When Mark rose to let him in, the detective entered on tiptoe

"I cae the Padre, and I thought perhaps he'd be over in the church for his Mass"

"A good Yankee guess," said Mark "I heard hio, so you can talk as loud as you like What is the ?"

"It's just this," said the detective "We et Miss Atheson without the Padre's knowing anything about it I have been thinking about the thing, and I have a plan I believe ork It's out of the question to get that guard off the watch in any ordinary way If we attempt it, the house will be alarlars"

"What difference if we are?" said Mark, very warmly "If the Ministry can stand publicity, we can I aht now"

"Not on your life, Griffin Not on your life," said Saunders "You don't see lars would mean publicity, and there would be all sorts of fierce stories in the press He is a priest--and then some"

"Well, what of it?"

"Sure, I know," soothed Saunders "But the papers aren't in the journalistic ganity, and they'd play the Padre up for all he orth; the otten out of the Ministry quietly Once we have her, it will be up to the Ministry to make the next move I have a hunch that His Excellency won't make it"

"Well," said Mark grudgingly, "I suppose the quiet way is the better way What is your plan? Why not let Father Murray know?"

"I can't let hiot to be kept out What I propose to do is to start up such a trouble in the rear of the house that, for five uard in the front"

"You would have to set it on fire to do that"

Saunders put his finger iuessed it, first shot out of the box That's just what I' to do"

Mark looked at him in solemn silence

"Saunders, what did you have to put you in this condition?"