The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-01-29
THE KNIFE
THROWERS

By FREDERIC VAN RENSS,
Author Of mot Like Other Men," Etc.

! III you nad undertaken the trip simply
because l asked it, would have felt
that l was not keeping faith with my
dead father. You knew or ought to
have known. and, believe. did know.
that my hesitation did not arise from
any reluctance to take you into my
confidence"
"Assuredly, Burr"
"The written injunctions that the
kov'nor left for me-you remember that
did not get home until three days aft.
, or his death imposed the obligation Of
silence upon me with considerable
emphasis: that is, silence up to a Ger.
tain point, after which l could. Of
course, exercise my own discretion
That point could not be reached until
had made a personal investigation, n
thing that he practically ordered me to
do. Well, I have made it. The obliga-
ton Of silence is upon me no longer
can see no reason for keeping still now.
In fact the time has come when must
tell somebody, and naturally you are
the one whom have selected for q con.
tidant. More than that, | feel the need
Of advice and help, and you are the on
ly one l know to whom l am willing
TO apply. There is not time and this is
no place for me TO go into details, but
II you will give up this evening to me
in my rooli.s--well, we'll have it out to
the end. 1t is q mighty strange thing,
Craig, that man can leave behind
him when he dies rangle which i'll
wolves two families and which may vet
involve two nations in trouble, but that
is precisely what my father did Not
only that, but | have permitted these
years Since his death to roll past, never
dreaming tina. the matter could take
the serious shape it las. regard my
self as rather guilty party as things
are situated now, for cannot help be-
NevinS If had attended to matters at
once much that is now unavoidable
might have been prevented. believed
the old man was deceived that he I'M
agineu great deal, but | founG--wcll,
wait until tonight, and will tell you
what | discovered
81 think. old man." said Wyndham
deliberately, while he drummeu the
burning end of his cigar upon the ash
receiver-"I think that perhaps. having
returned from Il long trip and being
naturally delighted upon meeting an
I'D friend, you mny be Inclined to
f,,r, :, i,,I la
rs revert to the part of the business
that ! Understood before you went
away, which, as ! remember" related
only to properly. Did you find the
that your father directed you
TO recover? Nave you brought back the
title to it, SO that 1t is undeniably
yours? Have you fulfilled that part of
The obligation that rested upon your
Entirely. yes"
"Tllcn il seems to me that ends it."
GLOW So Craig:'
"Why, that is all that | supposed I
had anything to do with
You are right. IT is" PcndletOu
made this las, remark between the in.
III titllS Va u tlSlt WHICH i'll
hat moment he was engaged In light
ng. When he east the match aside. he
eft TIC table with some haste and In
crcepted a gentleman who was at that
moment passing. They talked together
several moments and then disappeared
n the direction OF the club cafe. and
"yndllan, supposiMg he would soon
'fturn, waited. bHt when IN hour had
msscd and he was still atone his pa
ience was exhausted
lie SUMMONED HE waiter and, hay
ng signed the necessary check. asked
he name of the n!:li whom Pendicton
nd Intercepted. for he remembered
hat the waiter had been standing near
hem at the ne mcnt.
He Is a club guest, sir" replied the
waiter II do not remember his name. !
think. sir, that lie presented his card
My yesterday"
Wyndham strollcd through several
arts of the club after that, believing
hat he might encounter AendletOn,
nd at last, convinced that he was no
'ns"r in the house. he applied at the
esk, only to be told that Mr.. pendle.
N had gone out more than an hour
efore and had left 10 word
"Tell him when he returns" said
fyndham. that found it impossible
} wait longer, but that will keep the
ppo.ntment for tonight
He stood near until the clerk made
lc memorandum, and then. with knit
ID brows and thoughtful mien. he
Dk his departure.
The relNti between him and Pen
eton were tw0fold in character. They
Id been intimate friends since the
~ of their first meeting Mt college, .
I'd when years afterward Wyndhnm's
fumes had not proved to be all that
) expected he became by adaptation I
ore than through engagement a sort
alter ego for his rich friend. Pendle-
II was tall and dark and, as he fire.
ently admitted, lazy. Wyndham was |
: and fair, somewhat uncouth when
juxtaposition with his more elegant
lend, possessed Of prodigious strength .
d tireless energy. Thus it naturally
ME about that he did things" for Z
and this relation grew q
'Onger between them as time went
until the management Of Pendle-
is affairs had fallen unconsciously, y
seemed, almost entirely into Wynd-
ms ha nds
ITO Re continued.
To ACCoMoDATE those who are par.