Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-08-27


81 admit that Mr.. Hovesdean may lave
some cause OF complaint against me,
although what he expects to gain by
coming and telling me 80 | am sure |
don't know. You, Lord Marlborough, !
consider still remain my debtor. ! faNL
given you little insight into life
which will do you no harm | have
taught you Lesson which some Cay
you may find useful. IL Is true that
/ was compelled u take some 3iignt
liberties with your correspondence. Be
yond that | can't SEX that You have
anything against me Will you pardon
my remarking again that | am busy
just now?'
He took up a partly read letter and
turned toward them with gesture
half-cynical, half-deprecating. lie was
standing with his back to the writing
table and leaning slightly against II.
Neither Of the other two men could
matcn his coolness
do you imagine. John Magee, cried
Mr.. Hovesdean, with flashing eyes
chat now / have you in my power,
am going to let you go unhurt? Do
you imagine that the police are not
anxious to clear up the mystery of that
iron chamber at Hellside, and that you
can possibly escape detection? You
need hope for no mercy from me, man.
The world who ha known John Massin-
ger, gentleman and man OF fashion,
shall know also John Magee."
Not IL do not choose" Massinger
answered, calmly. See how idle your
boasts are Richard Hoyesdean. A
touch Of my finger upon the trigger of
this delicate little piece of mechanism
and your tongue would wag in your
head no more"
He had drawn a tiny revolver from
his pocket and held 1t out at arm $
length There was moments breath
less silence. Then he laughed softly
mockingly- his arm fell to his
side.
Bah! | will not hurt you, Massin-
ger said. only let 1t be a lesson to
you Now, II you please, go! And re.
member this. Richard Hovesdean. end
you, Lord Marlborough, you may &C and
put your heads together and worry the
old women at Scotland Yard end do
your best to weave a net for ne, but
you will fail Mark my words, You can
neither OF you do me any harm | am
the controller OF my own destHlies
Lord Marlborough, YOU perhaps will I'M
derstand me.
He bowed to them with a peculiar
smile upon his lips and touched bell
A servant held open the door and the
two men passed out into the street.
Lord Marlborough was thoughtful, Mr.
Hovcsdoan also was silent until they
had crossed the square.
THAT rs one of the most extraordi-
nary men whom my life has eyer
touched he said. III the thing We're
not absurd | should almost believe that
he was speaking the truth when he said
that we could do him no harm Come,
lei us so to Barings'.'
That was an eyentful day for Lord
Marlborough. Before its close his lands
were free again, his horses back in
their stables and his banking account
larger than il had ever been before
Sadie had been carried off by his aunt,
Lady Mary, every minute had been full
Of pleasant hustle and excitement. And
amid II all Mr. Hovesdean and he had
spent some time at Scotland Yard, and
together they had seen warrant
signed for the apprehension of one
John Massinger, on the charge of con
spiracy, with the dim suspicion of
greater and graver crimes as yet in the
background but soon TO be made clear
Mr.. Hovesdean drove away, silent but
exultant Lord Marlborough said moth
ing, but In his own heart he knew quite
wei that that warrant would never be
executed He knew the secret OF
Massinger's calm defiance, and not
withstanding everything he felt GER
tain vague sympathy with the man who
stood to his guns and looked out upon
death with the philosophers smile
half of defiance, half of welcome.
And on the morrow the whole world
knew what he could very wen have
foretold a short paragraph in the
morning papers told the story, II was
headed:
PAINFUL DEATH OF MR. JOHN
ELTHRINHGAM MASSINGER, M. r.
we regret 10 have % announce the
death OF Mr. John Ethringham Massin.
ger NJ p for the western division OF
Gloucestershire, under very painful
circumstances. which appear TO leave
little doubt that the act was of his own
commitial Deceased appears, accord
ing to such particulars as have become
known Ia have returned from small
private dinner party which he hal been
giving 10 i few friends at the Epicur
can club ut a late hour last night, ma
early this morning HE was discovered,
still in evening clothes, lying on this
floor % his library quite dead, with a
recently discharged revolver clenched
in his right nand The bullet had
penetrated his heart and death must
have been instantaneous Deceased
had evidently spent some considerable
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