Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-09

| Aou II Stdy mere, anu Deip NE 10 fnsihc lHcIu
secure. Got that notion straight"
Harvey waited with curious patience till
| this outburst was finished. He showed no
sign Of resenting the mans tone or words.
| He was pursuing his own train of thought
| and 1t seemed almost as though he had
| heard without understanding.
| IF go to Oporto," he went on doggedly
1 and get evidence that Eustace Is dead 1
can have the man clapped into jail as an
get rid Of him..
NO doubt. But how long would It take7
| Three or four days each way and three
or four moro In Oporto. Say a fortnight"
1T could all be done in eight days"
| ana IN eight days he can find out enough
70 make 1t impossible for you to come back
at all Much good 1t would do you to be
| Sir Harvey then! You stay here"
Harvey had resumed his pacing of the
| room, but at the third turn he stopped
again ,u and regarded the gauger with a
| quiet, steady look. His preoccupation was
| over and his agitation had subsidized; he was
! getting his grip of things again. and conse-
i ~ Tor the first time in the interview
| ne became conscious that the gauger was
! trying to bully him. The man returned his
iooh with one equally steady, and an OBJ
| server would have said that they were try
t ing 10 stare each other down. The fact was
| aIat each realized suddenly that they had
| come to crisis in their mutual relations.
umeLf wis mad come into conflict, and each
was making a rapid calculation of the
| o'MeI probable fighting strength
Wlseman was the first to turn his eyes
a"ay, put ne did 1t easily, as though he had
seen seen what he wanted. and not because he
.ounu the others gaze embarrassing The
| sauger was sharp enough not to mako the
| mistake of thinking that he had won a VIC
| tory yet He saw that If Wiseman was not
| SUI. master at any rate he believed him
ser ser 10 De so. The attempt at bullying had
oeen perhaps trif1e premature
| You are taking curious line" said the
distliler, with slightly contemptuous lift
| ing or the eyebrows. us 1t out of place to
| mel" ~
The gauger laughed scornfully
| It's shocking bad TASTE" he said land
| besides, you're sharp enough to know that
| down by an obligation An exaggerated
| ketable."
But a slight display of 1t is often re-
| gutter, man.
ooh, drop sentiment. said Black angrlly.
| You didn't do 1t for philanthropy. was
| necessary to you"
WiSeman smiled. 1t ALWAYS gave him
| pleasure when adversary showed tenn
| per. Experience had convinced him that
| 1t usually portended a defeat for the ad-
| versary
| Il will admit" he said "that at the time
| my business plans required that I should
| discover a helper who, shall we say was
not handicapped by the possession of too
sensitive a conscience? I found you, and
| you soon made 1t evident that you had all
the necessary qualifications; so took some
trouble In helping you to get your present
| post. But Is 1t news to you that I was
genuinely sorry for your
| "Oh stow that?'
81 am stating facts. You were scoun-
drel of education and ability who had fail
| ed. That's always melancholy sight. The
only excuse for a scoundrel is success; you
| hadn't got that excuse
Whereas you fattered yourself you had
said the gauger with sheer. And that
he ora1ry a frry0a
Harvey smiled again tolerantly, saying
with shrug:
"Precisely?'
"And now" said Black, II can ruin yor
the position you rescued me from: you will
be scoundrel who has failed"
mot quite. You can. As you say, make I,
necessary for both Of us to fly from the
country tomorrow. And If you do that
of course you won't-you will once more be
the penniless scoundrel who has failed; but
have had the forethought to provide
don't expect the contingency to arise, but
II may be useful for you to know that am
| quite ready for it, IL it does
Harvey was enjoying himself. To man
who babitually wears a mask 1T is a relief
| sometimes to throw it aside. But the oc-
| casIon must be safe one. He thought that
this was.
| asked sullenly:
well? We've had the sermon. What's
the moral?"
'"The moral is that all men are not equal
| even when they are partners in law-break-
ing You have stated plainly that we are
both scoundrels. and I don't propose be-
tween ourselves to deny 1t: but as I have
| hitherto had the justification OF success
| and YOU haven't, I shall make the plans
OF course I am glad OF your advice but
not when it takes the form Of dictation
| You understands
Black knew that for the present, at least
IT understand" he said, with short
| laugh, "that you've a nasty temper when
| you're reused. And I am sorry for that
girl If you get your way. If We're nice
man, think I should want the claimant
to beat you, so that he might save her
from having to marry you.
a nice man." said Harvey coolly. Now,
| since we've settled that point SO satisfactor-
lily, we will talk business. AS told you.
am always glad of your advice. How car
| go to Oporto, and at the same time leave
| things fairly safe here?
you can't" said the gauger.
There's a risk, 1 know" said Harvey
"er there will be when that young man gets
| tired of exploring the caves from the sea
end and begins to think of trying from this
| end We can keep him out of the distillery
| of course; but what about the other placer
| Cant we block it?
| mot so that resolute man couldn't get
| through-un1ess we used dynamite. And we
| can't do that because of the noise"
Are you set on going to Oporto?"
| Eyes"
"Then before you go, you'd better grab
I the fellow gag him, and bring him here!'
| said Black irritably. And Ill sit on his
| chest night and day until you come back.
| don't see anything else for it,
Harvey laughed and went to small cup
| board. He brought out bottle and glass
| 'es, and set them on the table.
| "We'll oil our thinking machinery" he
| said pleasantly, land talk 1t over. because"
he paused. and then he finished slowly-'I
| don't consider that at all a bad suggestion
| of yours"
Black drew back a little.
l. "You mean" he said nervously.
| 81 mean" said Wiseman, that If violence
| Is necessary I am prepared to be violent"
| Then with a sudden vehemence he broke
out. you fool! Do you think the title is
| all I care for? / told you / wouldn't let
| you interfere with my plans, and the same
| thing applies to him He has defied me.
| and given me six months notice to quit. He
| has got to learn that that sort of thing is
| dangerous"
| Go be continued tomorrow.)
|
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