Page:The Millbank Case - 1905 - Eldridge.djvu/272

 the papers, they would yield him that sum or more. If he was in danger, he had but to let it be known in a certain quarter that on obtaining these papers, he would deliver them intact, and the danger disappeared. He was satisfied that the man who made public the facts relating to Range 16 scandal would never live to see the result. He was satisfied that if the papers were once located in any person's possession, there would now be no further time wasted in negotiation, as there had been with Wing; but that effective steps would be taken to prevent their publicity.

On arriving at Millbank, Trafford waited only to receive the report of his assistant, who had been left on guard, and then went at once to the Parlin homestead. He found Mrs. Parlin showing marks of the strain upon her of the last few weeks. Life had brought her many sorrows, and Wing's tragic death had seemingly broken the last tie of joy. Trafford's feverish impatience, rather than the trained restraint of his profession, spoke in the haste he showed to get at real issues.

"Mrs. Parlin," he began, as soon as formal