The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-22
.NC0


felt utterly wretched and frightened. for
4 Phil is a good sort and he's about the
only friend I possess. However, / be-
I lieved in him. so I locked the door. after
/ letting him into the room. and carried
the key with me down the stairs Then
/ ] drove TO the Office OF the Syndicate.
Nr Neal Larrsrd was absolutely
( bcaming
"It's the smartest thing-and the
( quickest ever remember in nv life.'
he said. rubbing his hands As for you.
Miss Thorn. you're a treasure, You're
cheap al your price. Now III 20 down
and see our man"
Might / come. too I asked. literally
shaking from head 10 foot. but yet striv-
/ ing to preserve some OF that stolid i'm
I passiveness which was my most valuable
stock IN trade
/ He looked at me in astonishment.
/ You, What for2''
IL should like to see the fun I
/ said meekl--
BY Jove. so you shalt" he said.
looking az me whimsicaIly "One doesn't
/ often meet a girl Ike you, You'll go
/ far young woman
Larrard was evidently we'll known at the
I boarding house; he. was admitted with
I out question Quite triumphantly. and
with an easy assurance about him. he
went up the stairs. and put the key in
! the lock of the door At the last mo-
! ment he turned and whispered to me.
/ I've never seen the man. only heard
I his description believe he has scar
I 500"
/ I had noticed that mark on Mr.. Pen
/ ton. and I said that IL was So Mr.. Neal
/ I.arrard nodded unlocked the door. and
went IN.
/ In the semi-darkened room we saw a
/ figure seated at a table. with it's head
/ buried on its arms. Mr.. Larrard care
I fully locked the door. and then spoke
( in some excitement:
why, they told me they had bound
I him securely. What on Garth"
/ He went swiftly up 70 the table. an
dropped a hand on the shoulder OF the
I figure. the man raised his head. and dis
closed the face OF Philip Esdaile- 1 al
most cried out. because had not known
. him in that half-darkened room.
Mr.. Neal Larrard." said Philip. you
have the wrong pig by the ear Presi-
dent Penaluna is gone. The game is up
why. who are you?" cried Larrard;
and I saw his hand move toward the
( breast-pocket of his coat.
"Oh. don't do anything rash. Mr.. Lar
rard,'' said Philip quietly. Il lighted on
the matter by accident: l have spied
upon you for long time ] knew that
Madame Jevaux was your decOy; I knew
that she had lured this man over to
England and was gradually bringing
him into your hands. ! believe he had
] an unfortunate accident a little time
ago-a carriage accident-and broke his
arm. You would have been better
pleased perhaps had he not escaped
I your clutches then May I suggest that
/ the carriage accident was arranged"
/ Suggest what you like said Larrard
I grimly. Go on
You failed 10 get him into sour hands
after the carriage accident arranged by
your men; then you tried this business
direct He was 20 be brought here.
bound aud gagged. held TO ransom IL
was to be put about that he was or a
not very creditable errand; the threat Of
/ exposure was 20 be made; he was 10 be
/ set free only after payment Of a large
sum
/ Where is he nOw2' asked Larrard:
or have those T. DIS taken the wrong
man."
They got the right man once: hut
/ President Penaluna went out OF that
window behind me. and so got away
[ scme ten minutes ago assisted him,
/ but thought it better TO remain. in or
I der to explain his absence"
How did you get into this room >"
asked Larrard
( There is always the window" said
Philip. with quick look at me.
Very well. my friend: you have made
a mistake in setting me at defiance. You
shall take the place OF the president. NJ
young friend; you are in our hands. aud
we will do what We like with YOU. Miss
! Thorn he turned to me quickly-''yOu
may 60"
stop, There is no necessity for that
said Philip coolly At the Office OF the
( Evening Wire there rests AT this mo-
ment a full and complete account Mr.
Larrard Of this conspiracy. The story
has been known 20 me for some time.
l got he details--the final detaiIs-OnIy
today Unless 1 return TO the ONCE by
4 O'Clock. that report with the neces-
sary headlines. COS into type, and floods
London tonight with the sensational
story of the kidnapping Of President Pc
naluna- On the other hand If I walk
out OF this place quietly and unmolested.
7 return TO the Office OF the Evening
Wire and''-Phi-i Up glanced again az
me for a moment destroy the
ticle. President Penaluna is gone. and
there is an end OF the matter"
There was an end OF the matter; Philip
Esdaile walked out OF the room. smil-
ing quietly 10 himself, and Mr.. Larrard
went back-a beaten manic the Office
OF the Syndicate. He did not suspect
me- indeed. there was no reason why he
should. II was only Philip Il saw him
H. .t-arir,a. fn-. Rr-n rairrrrae l. r.h.,