Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03
CHAPTER XII.

would have marched himself into Monroe,
just as he was, with his ragged clothes, in
a white heat of indgnation-he would have
turned the rascal out, had him locked up
and once more assumed his place in the
city. But Ellington OKeefe was not an
ordinary man. In the first place he recog-
nized the fact that a remarkable resem-
blance did exist between himself and the
man vino masqueraded in his place. He
had realized this from his experience with
Noteworthy Jenkins. And since this re-
semblance did exist, he was not quite so
certain that the chief of police of Monroe
o. any other person-would readily recog-
nize him as Ellington O'Keefe, when his
double possessed all the indcia of the gen
uine O'Keefe. Possession is nne-tenths Of
the law, and Smith was in possession. He
wore about his neck the inevitable gold
chain which fixed the identity in Monroe
of Ellington O'Keefe. O'keefe felt that he
must first prepare himself-get new clothes
of his usual make; make himself so like
himself as he used to be, that his appear
ance away from the other man would
carry conviction with 1t, He, therefore
bided his time. He fitted himself out In
clothes of his customary kind and trimmed
his beard until 1t assumed the old shape,
and In addition he even by hook and crook
purchased a brass chain, one not exactly
like the other, but one that answered the
purpose well enough.
He bided his time for several reasons.
He desired to acquaint himself with tie
exact conditions of affairs in Monroe, and
to take the best and swiftest method OF
getting back his own and of visiting con-
dign punishment on Constitutional Smith.
He was actuated above all things, by
an intense desire for revenge, and he
wanted his revenge to be as complete and
effective as possible. And to that end he
IVES waiting for tn arrival Of just one
mana man whose presence In the vicinity
Of Monroe was necessary to his scheme.
He was going to hit back-that was all.
He could have forgiven d good many things;
he even admired the coup detat of Consti-
tutional Smith-he liked his nerve; but Bill
ingtOn OKeefe could not forget the whip
pings-the series of whlppngs he had re-
Ceived ever since his absence. and 1t was
his sublime purpose to get even, and to get
even in his own way.
In New York when some member of the
vendetta or the Malta stabs another the
victim puts a seal upon his lips; he will not
let the law take its course; he knows a
better remedy.
I'm fix him when get well. Leave it to
me. Just wait TIL l get the chance"
This was just how Ellington o Keefe felt
He might with proprety have told the
whole story TO the chief of police and Con-
sUtutonal Smith would have been forth
with cast into Jail with many years of con-
hnement before him. But Ellington O'Keefe
thought he knew trick worth two of that
And besides he was afraid that Constitu-
uonaI Smith, in the custody merely of the
pubhc authorities, might effect an escape.
ana az TIE most prison is but a sani-
tarlum, and Smiths punishment in prison
would be too light to suit O'keefe So he
lald ms pans accordingly. He met Smith,
SheIelofe with seductive smile upon his
lace winch Smith did nor understand
Come, let us reason together" sa d Bill
ilngton O'Keefe. Constitutional Smith sat
down. Okeefe did the talking. He told
nm hrst of the visit of the chief ana
haI Ct,aft l.
easier For then he knew that this man
did not intend to give him up as yet
Okeefe then pulled from his pocket a
paper. Have you seen thatT' he asked
Smith had not. He took 1t and read 1t. 1t
was one of the notices which had been dis
tribute" among the creditors of Okeete.
Smith .anCed up in surprise.
What are you going to do?" he asked.
Did you distribute these?' O'Keefe noddod
In assent How the devil you going TO
pay Them" demanded Smith.
Okeefe had thought out what he would
do. What he was going to do was appar-
emily risky thing; yet In view of the
future precautions he would take, he con-
cluded that the risk was justified by his en-
joyment of the discontinue of Smith, when
he found out wherein he had miscarried
I'm going to pay them said Billlngto on
Okeefe, in gold coin"
He rose and crossed to his safe. He had
seen before that the lock was broken on.
But he felt of the door to see that IL was
well closed. Then encirCling the room. at
various points upon the wainscot he pressed
his thumb He did this in an irregular way,
pressing one and then another, and then
coming back to press third one; then
crossing the room to press a fourth. Some
of them he pressed more than once The
things he pressed were little invisible but
tons of wood. The instant that he pressed
the last one, there was a sharp click. lie
returned TO the safe, and using one of the
hinges as a handle. tugged at It gently. II
will be remembered that the safe was set
In the wall. and that II was somewhat shall
low. and that Smith had been able to tind
very little of value In 1t. The reason or
this was that the small safe itself was
nothing more or less than the door TO
larger safe whose interior O'keere now ex-
posed To view. The small safe was merely
n blind. O'keefe. a very cautious man. had
intrusted his wealth to no one. He had not
deposited II in a bank nor a safe deposit
vault. nor had he changed II into treasury
notes. He had appointed himself the Gus
todian of his own wealth and he mad pro-
vided against loss by burglary or hre
There lay his fortune snugly tucked, In the
shape of bags of gold coin. in the large
srfe. of which the small safe was but the
door.
Lucky thing for me" remarked O'Keefe,
that you never found this out But m
through with this safe, now that I've had
this little experience. a save deposit vault
VIII he good enough for me hereafter"
He reached in and pulled half a dozen
bags out upon the floor When he had
Smith. smith" he said, there are twelve
picked mcn-prvate detectives, every one
az them-inside and outside of this house.
They don't know who you are, and they
haven't seen YOU; but they have such orders
that II will he impossible for YOU to leave
this house You probably would make some
attempt to get away. Better not try 1t.
You can rest easy. however I've got
proposition to make TO you 1t wasn't alto
gether bad for me that you shipped me Off,
and as long as you didn't get away with
oh RN,f
you've got to stay here while | pacify these
bowling creditors of yours. You've done
one thing for me-you've ruined my bust
ness reputat ton: but III fix that somehow
just so long as I've got the cash to back 1t.
You stay here!
He picked up bag after bag of gold and
handed them out to some one in the hall.
Then he shut the safe tight. tried II care
fully. Then ne left the room
Constitutional Smith had watched O'keefe
unlock that safe. O'Keefe lad touched in
visible buttons rapidly and in such manner
that an ordinary man could not have fol-
lowed him. Smiths business was to under
stand these things He had an idea that
some time or other H. would be good thing
TO be able TO open that safe. O'Keefe was
downstairs for about an hour. In that time
Smith had opened and shut the big safe
three times, but he had left everything in
tact.
Below OKeefes creditors opened their