The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-06

II nave got purity Oh uduu Ut NY
rooms for tonight, and I want you to
be one of U.S."
ut strikes me that the obligation IS
on the other side, old man."
swat. You have not heard me
through. The party is to convene at g..
At 6 we are to begin game Of poker,
which Is to last until In the morn
Ing. r.
II didn't know that you went in for
that sort Of thing, Craig. And you
know
"Wait; wait! I know, Of course, that
you cannot afford such things, and you
10 right in keeping out of them, but
this Is an extreme case. have another
engagement for tonight, one that Is
very important, one that must keep
and which l desire to remain mys-
terry. Do you understand-an engageA
ment that do not want anybody to
know about, an important business en-
gagement; understand"
II begin tO-yes."
, "Well, this is what want you to do
You will understand how thoroughly
trust you. At half past precisely
want you to drive to my door in
four wheeler that you will have engag-
ed at Madison square or anywhere, SO
that it IL not here Mt the club. Pay
the driver in advance. Tell him to
hurry to my door, and tell him when a
gentleman comes out and gets into his
vehicle lie Is to start off at once with
out word and drive MS fast as his
horses can 60 to the corner OF Thirty
third street and turn the corner toward
Sixth avenue. There, after he has turn
ed the corner, he will pull up until he
hears the door Of his carriage slam
shut, when, without looking around, he
will drive on and return to his stand,
wherever that may be. You will give
him SIS for his trouble. He will be glad
10 do 1t, hut be particular TO have him
do it just as have said. My own car
riage will be awaiting me, and il any
body tries to follow me that person
will have a good time of 1t. What do
you Think"
Excellent"
snow for the remainder OF your in
Structions. Rush into my room in the
greatest haste, all out OF breath, and
all that. We will be at the game. Say
something apologize for interrupting
MS and then whisper something.
thing-in my ear. ! will look amazed
and u tritIe annoyed. | will say aloud,
AT the Waldorf" You will reply:
Yes, and they are going away in an
hour. ! knew that You wanted lmrtic-
Mlarly to see them, and ! have looked
everywhere for you. At last 1t struck
me that you might be here. My cab is
Mt the door. Take that, and you will
get there in time That ends your part
of the scheme. will ask the others to
excuse me-important business, won't
keep me an hour, and all that. you
know, and ask you 10 take my hand
and play for me till return. You con,
/ sent, aHd-fll do the rest. viii you do
1t all, Carleton? III never forget it,
you can count on me to the letter.
Craig"
II knew I could. Here is some mon.
ey. | don't know how much, hut new
or mind; don't let anybody see sou
take 1t. Remember, half past l."
"lll be there. VIII you be long
away"
II cannot tell - an hour or two or
three at the most Play my hand free
~. won't mind II you lose "0nSiUrra-
bly, to keep them Interested. You I'M
derStandW
"Ies."
"Bi@gs. you're Il trump. ! cannot tell
you how you have relieved me-"
After that Wynhlinm wrote several
notes, which he stmt ont by messenger
boys. with instructions to bring replies
They were Hll in by half past 1 and
We're evidently satisfactory, for Craig
byndllam did not lack in the least
worried when he left the club and re.
paired to his own apartments, which,
by .he way, Were the same that had
formerly been occupied by Burr Pen
dlclon. The servant who waited upon
him there also looked strangely like
James. However, he answered to the
name of Thomas. only that the smooth
face was covered by Il heavy growth
Of beard dyed black and a perfectly
made wig Of the same hue Add to
that the fact that he rarely appeared
when his master had company, and
you have grasped the situation.
lie was not. however the person to
whom Wyndham had referred in his
talk with Escudera as ''my man." so
there was no danger that James would
be seen by those who might recognize
him.
At 5 precisely Don Carlos arrived.
and by half past 5 the expected guests
were all there. There was a luncheon
prepared for them, but all claimed that
In anticipation Of the midnight dinner
they had already Stayed their stom-
achs," so that it went untasted.
At q the game began. and it proceeded
mcrrily without interruption for an
hour. and half, when the doorbell
rang, and an instant later Carleton
Biggs rushed In.
He played his part beautifully. There
WAS not hitch anywhere. Within ten
minutes after he entered the room
Craig Wyndham left it, rushed down
the one flight Of stairs to the street,
leaped into the carriage and was driven
away. And back In the parlor Of his
apartment the game went on almost
without interruption.
II Escudera felt annoyance at this
sudden departure of the host, he gave
no sign Of 1t. If there were, as Wynd-
ham now suspected, others in his EN-.
ploy on the watch to dog the footsteps
nf tho American thev succoodod only