The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-21
III.

Montressor had said adieu early the next
morning. and before 10 o'clock was half way
10 Allegan. His experience with ALREADY
Joe f" and the strange cemetery with its mar
bes all huddled together, that he had passed,
engaged his mind in reyerie.
he reached Alegan late in the afternoon
and proceeded 10 q hotel, where he sojourned
IN q quiet and exclusive manner for nearly
two months, not deeming it prudent to appear
in public until his doings in Boulder City had
| ceased 10 be talked about
Al length he began 10 show himself on the
streets and indnlged his taste for music at a
piano IN tho public parlor Of the hotel. He
/ represented himself as a wealthy lawyer from
! New York, aud il was not long before Montres-
! sors reputation for culture was sufficient 10
admit him into the best social circles Of the
town. He was much sought after by musical
people because be could sing and play, and not
| less did the intellectual patTonize him because
| he could make a clever afteT-dinner speech.
At a fashionable evening reception Montres-
sor FIRST met Alice Crofton. She seemed 10
! him the embed iment Of beauty; he was most
devoted in his attentions TO her throughout
the evening. The next day he visited her at
/ the High School. OF which she had become
| the Principal. Rumor soon associated their
! names as lovers That they frequently were
seen together at church and theater was evil
dence tending 10 substantiate the gossip.
] Al0hAIe1hOI WIS Dy no means uGh0lQ OF inter-
est 30 Alice Crofton. From the beginning Of
their acquaintance MontTessor mingled ingenu-
business and sincerity IN his manner. In the
discussion Of all themes religious or otherwise,
the utmost harmony prevailed between them.
He hdroitly seconded any opinion she ex-
pressed, no matter whether he believed IL or
not. And SO their thriving intimacy resulted
in an engagement the succeeding April.
Meanwhile Montrcssor had secretly gambled
with success and was able TO muster from his
haunts a force Of men, not oyer-exacting on
points Of honor, 20 aid him in a scheme that
lac had been revolving in his mind ever since
he reached Alicgan.
il was bold plan-one that perhaps, no man
/ ever before had conceived or tried for lack oil
opportunity and one that required sagacity o
the highest order involving, as IL did, no end
Of risks.
One morning in May, before daybreak, -four
heavy trucks, carrying a dozen men, among
whom was Montressor In disguise, started NJ
the Redwood Canyon. No one IN the party had
be known MOntressor would have recognized
him as he sat on the forward truck, engaged in
earnest conversation with his deputy. An
iron-gray wig and false whiskers Of the sam,
color had transformed him into a venerable
looking man.
All day they Numbered up the canyon, killing
time In singing songs and telling stories, reach
, ing the Observation Point cemetery in In,
! W.
spoke in whispers, every football was cautious
! every heart beat wildly with sense Of adyen
! turous duty.
BY the aid Of lanterns the men found thei
way among the tOmbs. and formed a shiveTin,
! group around the man who was TO give thu
! / instructions
lie said his purpose In coming here was 4
redeem the wealth that had been squanderel
I upon the monuments and Of which he, tht
. lawful heir, had been unjustly deprived. III
dwelt with elusive bitterness upon the fraudu
. lent charges which the dishonest maTble-deale
bad imposed, denouncing il all as a deliberat
| swindle.
4 This feigned Indignation on the part Of Mon
q tressor was simply intended for effect. Fiv
Of the listeners were boss marble-cntters am
= trimmers, who. while in the employ Of Nh
: Bates, had organized a strike which had pro
; cured their unconditional discharge. Hence
In ignorance Of Montressor's design, they ha
. pledged their skilled services 10 him under IA
gloating impression that by so doing they coul
. cripple Mr.. Bates's interests, aud thus seeur
: their coveted revenge They were willing {
. lend their assistance 10 this mysterious work
: 80 strong was their hatred Of Mr. Bates; bt
d sides, the remuneration promised was lATg
i aud tempting.
Concluding his appeal, Montressor know
. among his henchmen as Gilrain, turned 10 hi
- Lieutenant and said in low tone: "Set thei
. 10 work at once. ] will take a couple Of me
with me, and trap Already joe" so that
cannot interfere with our operations"
The men were soon lifting the monument
from their Judgment in the green turf aud carr.