The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-17
CHAPTER TX.
The Lodgers at New-Take Farm.

| CHAPTER TX.
The Lodgers at New T AXE Farm.
AS the coveted memorandum lay warm
In Vivien Oakley's breast, at the moment
! When she was engaging to procure 1T (for
a price,. there was no difficulty in pro-
ducing 1t at an hour chosen by herself,
unless the difficulty of explaining pre-
cisely the method by which she had OBJ
tanned 1t from Breakspear But Vivien's
inventive Imagination had served her well
In more than one crisis of a career far
more eventful than her most intimate
enemies of the present guessed, and she
was ready to rely upon it in another
emergency, II an explicit explanation were
demanded.
This being the case, and the paper with
in reach whenever she wished to use it,
| V1Vien had plenty of time to make ar
rangements for a journey somewhat out
OF the common. She had got the promise
she wanted from the man who could ruin
her future prospects if he willed She was
to provide him with the paper which, as
she knew, he had lost the same day it had
come into his possession more than a
year ago; he was to crafty her curiosity
and her caprice the moment the paper
was put into his hand.
When Vivien and her companion parted
after making their bargain, her business
was ostensibly to obtain the paper in her
own way. but with all haste. Instead,
she dropped the man at his lodgings in
bloomsbury, and presently exchanged the
four wheeler In which they had lately
been driving for hanson. In the latter
vehicle she drove to Clarkson's the the
atrical wig-maker, of whom she had often
purchased stage make up for the anna
teur dramatic entertainm ents in which
she was frequently asked to assist
On this occasion she stated that she
was to play the part of an old gypsy
woman in comedy which was shortly
to be produced for a charity, and as
she thought 1t best to experiment with
the makeup at home she wished to hire
the proper sort of costume and wig, also
to buy ease-paints and material for
false eyebrows,
AS she was known in the shop she was
allowed. without paying a deposit to
carry away in her cab a valuable wig
and costume which, while it was not
picturesque enough to be unduly con-
spicuous, was suited to the part de-
scribed. .
With these properties she drove home,
and having safely deposited them, instant
| ly went out again to keep the appoint
ment she had made. But She took the
precaution Of discharging the cab in
which she had driven to Clarkson's and
engaging another, for she intended it to
appear that, in the time since she had
parted with her fellow -conspirator, she
had secured the missing paper from
Breakspear, and cabmen, she fancied,
had the inconvenient habit of telling tales
Vivien had not wished to call upon the
man at his lodgings, and they had agreed
to meet at o'clock in front Of the British
Museum. When she arrived, scarcely five
minutes late, she found him already wait
| ing .7 y tsl
''well, have you got it?'', was his first
! question. .'5@&- ~ ,'<.>
Yes she answered, airily,% noting that
l his. eyes had fixed themselves upon the
| number of her cab as she discharged it;
perhaps merely to give her fright if she
meditated deception. 1T was soon done.
tho you would never have succeeded. I
guessed that Mr.. Breakspear would be
carrying the paper in his pocketbook,
and SOL gave him little souvenir, ask
ing him to keep it there. Then, when he
had taken the pocketbook out, to humor
me, I admired it and asked to have it
in my hand. Presently I laid it in my
lap as If I had forgotten. and he didn t
| like to say he wanted it back. A few
minutes later jumped up, the pocketbook
fell on the floor and everything was scat
tered. OF course I helped pick them up,
and-heres the paper. Tell me the secret
and you shall have it. And as for to-
morrow, perhaps you may find reason to
be glad of your promise to take me. Who
knows?"
Il 'To- morrow" he repeated. "You have
looked at the date and it is for to-mor
row?''
, For Tomorrow AS soon as I had thu:
paper safely in my hands ! hurried home
, and made my preparations to start the
first thing in the morning. 1t will be inn
, possible for me to appear to travel with
YOU and so thought of going third class
made up as a sort of gypsy fortune teller
have an old costume of the sort which
) I've worn in private theatricals.'
) II was almost sure the date was some
, where between the Goth and Goth, this
, year." said the man. as if speaking more
to himself than to her. But it was ever
: closer shave than I thought. Come
We'll stroll on slowly, and I'll satisfy YOU
J curiosity: AS for taking you with me
+ according to my promise, I've no objec.
+ ton in the world, for it isn't your meter
as it happens, to work against me-
. They walked slowly, talking in low tones
1t was strange story which the man hat
to tell, yet Vivien, too subtle herself no
to judge others methods by her own. wa:
punished for many a cleverly devised
: falsehood, by being torn with doubts al
: to whether she might believe what sh,
heard or not.
STILL there was one consolation
a Whether he spoke lies or truth, she wa
to go to Dartmoor and see the origina
|, of that photograph for herself.
3 Of course. she might have followed thu
e man without his permission, but sucl
$ a course would have been too risky. H
g would have been almost sure to find he
out, especially after reaching Dartmool
And Vivien Oakley knew by bitter expert
ence that this old acquaintance of her
was better to have an ally than al
enemy
For five years Vivien had passed an en-
tirely decorous existence devoid of ex
Y elements save those Of pleasure. Unit
this man had suddenly come back int
her life, it had been during those year
exactly like the lives of other wome
:. in her set. She had not had a singl
i; adventure, as she would have counte
: adventures in old reckless days when sh
[. was as young as she wished to appea
e now.
:, Sharp as was the bite of jealousy Their
= was still certain wild JOY in the program
/ of the next day. The Disgusting hersel
i, the creeping out of the house early. be
n fore the, servants were up, having left
note which would satisfy her uncle tina
It she was to stay for a few days with
/ charitable friend who worked In til
= slums; the clever ruses for lodging til
policeman who paced the street; the earl
= cup of coffee at street coffee stall. whic
a was good test of the skill in stage make
N up that past experiences. not all anna
h. flourish, had perfected; the journey wit
i its several changes on the way; the bal
" gaining with a countryman at Mavistoc
to drive her to the village of Maller5
+ Tavy for a few shillings tied up ina re
pocket handkerchief which was one of h,
~ ssy,ronartiaS,'. arriys sat