Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05

j
him, because in doirg it he chose means
which has resulted in the loss OF the prop
erty to him as we'll as to yourself.
NOW, I'll give you my advice free. Ihat
is because you are lawyer. am omar
ing Mrs. Parton for what am doing lot
her. Stop all further nonsense about max
ing trouble for Parton. You can drag him
into court, but he can drag you out OF IT,
merely give you that advice because you,
like me, are in the law. That, l feel, Is
one of the disadvantages Of the profession
Now, as to the other matter. we are, for
the sake of my clients peace OF mind anu
to avoid scandal, willing to make certain
concessions. We don't know just how mucA
you have stolen. We know that it is enough
to impair the value of the legacy which her
mother left to her seriously. but as l say
we are willing to avoid a scandal by max
Ing some concessions.
MacFarren struggled hard to get his self
control He passed through the various
stages of incoherency which seemed 10 pe
necessary leaders to intelligent statement
on his part that day, and finally MADE
fine pretense of defiance The small lawyer
waited only for dozen foolish words and
then rang the bell impressively 1t was
! answered almost Immediately by grlnhins
boy.
"Step downstairs" said Hammer. land
ask Mr.. Bryan of the central office, the de-
tective, to step upstairs.
The boy disappeared and the small man
drew from his pocket folded document.
MacFarren Immediately weakened enough
to ask his small tOrmentor to delay the en-
trance of the detective until he had had
private talk with him.
Il don't care to discuss this matter in
the presence of all these people,, he said
with weak attempt at show of contempt
for the man whom he had been so abjectly
fearful of a few moments before. Il should
like to have a private conversation with
you"
The small lawyer looked inquiringly at
Norah.
Il shall do quite as my client suggests
about that" he said. Are you willing that
/ should grant this man private confer
ence?" he asked.
Norah surprised them all by shaking her
head emphatically.
No" She said I'm not. ] shall be glad
to see him where he said that he would put
my husband Sure. it seems to me that
there could be pleasure greater than 70
go and watch him in Jail. I'd real &c
him and take him jelly-just in order to
keep certain that he was still locked up.
"All right said the small lawyer. with
an air OF business as if he were talking OF
the stall in which a horse was to be placed;
'Ill Jail him.
MacFarren was terrified. lie who had
threatened was beset by prophecies OF
evil. Again he begged of kammeI :gf IT,: a
private audience: begged with crirSln2
imitation of humility.
At last the little lawyer granted his re-
quest and they went to another ROM.
There MacFarren wilted and confessed.
"A
ed in foolish effort to get himself INTO
parliament More of it had gone in other
ways.
tempt you used in your attempt to ROB
the man she loved You deposited it as
security for the reward you offered Tor
Parton's capture"
Il did" said MacFarren, writing, but
did not know she loved him."
He shuddered as he realized how com
pletely he had placed himself within the
power of those whom he had attempted TO
defraud. AS all his mental courage had
ebbed away when he saw Partons eyes, So
now, all his moral arrogance fadei before
the plain presentment of his small adver-
sary He begged for mercy. Ills cring'ng
became abject and most unpleas SAINT.
"They are determined to ruin me, between
them he said.
NO" said Hammer, II should not put 1t
that way. You seem determined to ruin
yourself. That. of course, l cannot help
can tell you, though, that any attempt
at further interference with these young
people will probably put you beyond the
possibility of any intrigue more important
than a Jail conspiracy for some time.
''You asked to see me here, alone, and
you have seen me here alone. I am rather
glad of it, for 1t enables me to tell you
that you are a miserable scoundrel, the
least brave that have ever seen and Who'll
ly unworthy of the respect that we give
even to the clever criminal. 1 think 1
shall have to leave you now. l must warn
you, though, that any attempt to leave this
hotel will be followed by immediate arrest.
Good day."
MacFarren stared at him with unhappy
eyes, while he rose and started toward the
door. Just as his hand was on the knob
he called him back, half starting from his
chair in his anxiety. All his pompoSity had
passed. He was very miserable.
"What can l do to prevent this-this
proceeding" he asked.
II am afraid you can't prevent it, KAN
mer said. You would have to be man."
There was a flash Of resentment in Mac
Farren's eyes for a moment, but it quick
ly gave way to the look of cowardice.
isn't there some basis on which we may
avoid future trouble. Mr.. Kammer?' he
asked. II will admit that l have been,
perhaps, little hasty in regard toto Mr..
Parton. Perhaps have. 1t may be. Every
one, you know, is likely to make mistakes
at some time. Perhaps l may have been a
little hasty."
Hammer smiled with that bland smile
which had so often disconnected the counsel
for the other side.
II thought we were discussing the af-
fairs of Mrs. Parton he said. you know
1t is in her interest, not Parton's, that l
am engaged. All that 1 have to say /
have said You have msappropriated
money and you will have to pay the pen
atty. 1 am sorry for you. I am always
sorry for thief, but cannot always help
him"
So complete was the humility of the erst-
Willie Hlllldnl VMdCF dITen tNdl ne showed
no resentment Of this plain talk, but mere
ly cringed the more.
IF have used any Of the trust funds"
said he. "it has been as much for her as
for myself. l certainly intended to make
good all that 1 had borrowed when the
time for the accounting came. 1 CAM
can arrange part of it now. 1 can"
Hammer interrupted him.
you are talking to no purpose" he said.
Il have been instructed to proceed against
you. That settles that"
But suppose l drop all proceedings
against Parton" said MacFarren
1t does not interest me-" said Hammer
II am not his attorney. I will tell Won
frankly that your claim on the diamonds.
even If they had not been lost, would not
hold water here and / don't believe that II
would have over there. You have made
trouble enough and you ought to be mt
away somewhere where you can't make
any more"
MacFarren writhed
II will do anything you say" he whined.
we will call Mrs. Parton and see what
she has to say" said Hammer II don,t
believe that she is willing to accent anv
compromise whatever
When Norah came into the room Mac
Farren was sitting disconsolately at the
table. He looked up at her eagerly
We'll" she said, with no signs of via1d