Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-09-02


stretched out shaking hands toward 1t.
but Monboddo lcered knowingly and drew
1t further away.
"1s II any good?" he asked.
Good. gasped his companion. "rhe
man who owns that and knows what 1t
mems"
He was unable to finish his sentence
and broke of short with an ngitated
groan. lie made n great effort and pull
ed himself together.
"You needn't be afraid of me. doctor.
he said. IL can tell you what to do VITA
that lot. Let me have closer look
at it,"
80 you shall" said Mouhoddo. He
was a great artist. and he knew how. II
the stakes he pretended to play for had
been real. the stress of this moment
would have braccd and sobereh him. $50
you shall. But this is business. stand
over there"
The other obcyed word and gesture In.
stnntly, and he and Monboddo were sep
arated by the length of the room. The
doctor drew the revolver from his breast
pocket and laid 1t before him on the ia
BILE. It was unloaded. but It looked as
imposing as II there had been six mems
lives within It. and Monboddo was not
fond Of loaded firearms. He drew a
single leaf Of parchment from the
satchel. and then. taking the weapon In
his right hand. he held out the leaf.
"Come and take this" he said. "and
60 back to look at It,"
Plain Mr.. Smith advanced. looking
Monboddo In the eye. The doctor had
not the appearance Of a man who was
conspicuously brave. and plain Mr.. Smith
was a blOod.stained desperate, who had
carried his life In many lands as men
In q spoon.race carry an egg In a tea.
spoon. He walked up to MOnboddO very
slowly, quelling him with his eye as he
advanced, and MOnbOddO's rubies lost
their vivid color and took tones Of mauve
and magenta. And plain Mr.. Smith
walked right up to the pistol barrel and
took the shaking leaf from MOnboddo's
hand, and then. without word. possess.
ed himself Of the satchel, which still lay
upon the table.
"Now," said he contemptuously. "we'll
have a look ut these. and then we'll talk
business. Put that thing down." he add.
ed, Indicating the revolver. "If it's load.
ed you'll be doing mischief with It."
|
perfect GOODNESS Of mastery that Mon
boddo allowed him to seize and take away
the weapon. He opened 1t at the breech
spun the chambers, and seeing that II
was empty, threw II to the seat Of ai
armchair a yard or two away. and be
gan to examine the contents OF the
satchel.
EYES," he said. ave seen all these be-
fore. They're right enough"
He had been as cool rs cucumber In
his defiance Of Monboddo's revolver. but
he broke out In blotches Of Precipitation
and his hand trembled visibly M he han
died these little leaves Of parchment
which to his lima gination gave their own
er the cue to uncOunted millions.
do you know what to do with theseT
he asked, and he was 40 brusque and In
tense that he fairly frightened Monboldo
who could think Of nothing better to "a!
than that he had a sort Of general idea
~ sort Of a general season ticket for al
idiot asylum" said plain Mr.. Smith. I'D
you know how to find the key to tn,
statement these things have got for thu
man who can understand emp
EYES," said MonboddO. II know
enough" He heartened himself by |
great exercise Of resolution. "I'll thanl
you to give me my property back again.
"All In good time" said plain Mr.
Smith. "You sit there. and don't so,
trouble yourself"
So MonbOddo sat and unused within
himself us to what he should do witt
this bold and overbcaring adversary. Ill
had won In measure. He had persua,l
ed JethrOe's pursuer that he had fOun,
the thing Of which he had been 50 l0nI
In search. and MonbOddo was fairly sat
, isfied, further. that the man no lOnge
doubted Jethroe's death. But II he In,
perhaps succeeded In this enterprise -
far as his employers interests were con
cerned, he had no doubt whatever as t
the completeness of his failure with re
. gard to his own. JethrOe had signiie,
.. a means through which few loose thou
|. sands might be made by swindling tn
|. unprincipled. Plain Mr.. Smith was no
In the least likely to part with any thou
sands for what he held In his han
already. and It began to atiict MOnb0dd
, to think that Mr.. Smith might even d.
tect the fraud which had been playe
I upon him, and take personal vengeanc
D upon his deceiver. He was, indeed
D bound to lind out the truth sooner O
later. MOnboddO wondered why he ha
not estimated this certainty ut its fu
: value earlier. He felt very, very sorr
I for himself and he wept a few tears.
) was his time OF day for being low.spiI
tied. for one thing.
I'm tell you what" said plain Nj
J Smith; "you and nell go up to Chicag
|, together and get an expert to solve thes
problems. Here's a plan of the ches,
board with the key on It, When we'v
got the messhge plain aud straight We
go out to South America together"
"How do you know it's South Amel
: icaT' asked Monboddo.
"Oh" his companion answered wit
= q jeer. 1--WE known that much a yea
Q or two. When shall you he ready I
come to ChicagO"
j. But l don't want to co." said MOI
boddo tearfully. IL want my propert
back again. that's what I want"
"You can please yourself. you know,
8 said Mr., Smith. I'm going. and I'm y
J. ing Tonight ! shall start by the mi,
/ night mail"
!. IF you don't give me my property.
i said Monbod'lO. handkerchief in hand an
o tears IN full flow, II shall call In the p,
: lice"
t "Oh. dear. no." said Mr.. Smith. "Yo
q won't do that. y0u know. because W
= stole this property yourself"
4 "No. l didn't" wept Monboddo. ~
l. was given to me. I mean | found It,"