Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-15
CHAPTER XIV.
The Duel in the Tunnel.

| his name Now that he was on his feet the
| sour smell seemed to be less oppressive;
! the movement too seemed to do his head
| ache good; or perhaps 1t was only that in
the interest of the moment he forgot it.
What does DIR. Angus Norman other
wise Black. want with me?" he replied.
ITO make a proposal to YOU" came the
/ answer.
Then begin by giving me my proper
name'
"Oh, Isn't Arthur Manners Wortley your
name. then? 1t was a few years ago. on
| the 'Orinoco.'
There was suggestion of sneer in the
words and in the tone, and Eustace noticed
that the gauger's voice was much clearer
than at first Either he had found the con-
fidence to speak up. or the barricade was
| not really so thick after all as the faintness
of the first call had suggested.
Quite SOL he answered. But we have
both found 1t necessary to change since
then. l beg your pardon for calling you
DR.. Angus Norman just now. The name Is
not respectable one; naturally you prefer
to forget 1t. You choose to be known here
as Mr.. Black. / don't dispute your right
to make change; and, remembering GER
tain scene in the smoking room of the
Orinoco, l am compelled to admit your
wisdom in making It,"
The speech was meant TO be cutting; but
the gauger countered.
And you" came his answer at once,
ARE Sir Eustace Holland by the same right
by which l am Mr.. Black-merely because
you choose to be! Jusso! What a relief it
will be to Wiseman when l tell him you
have admitted itr'
Eustace laughed, and admired the dex-
terity with which what was meant for
taunt had been twisted into confession.
"Neat!'' he admitted But the parallel
hardly holds far as that"
Perhaps it does: perhaps not" said the
gauger. indifferently. Anyway, l don't
care the price of a shave whether it does
Nothing; but If you care to know it. I'm
rather inclined to think you Sir Flu
STAGE"
"Oh. why? Yes. of course. I'm interest
ed Why do you think so?''
Because Wiseman said that If you were
not you would bolt at sight of the woman
from Oporto. and l agreed with him. You
haven't bolted. and you've started on job
that's going to take you some days. So
you're Eustace right enough"
Its a plausible inference Well?"
Well, that's Wiseman's quarrel with
you. not mine. | don't care a rap about 1t.
one way or the other; but l don't want it
to spoil me in something that I do care a
lot about. See?"
mo. 1 don't. What do you want with
me?'
Il want to make it worth your while to
come to terms with me-
Eustace smiled; but he was a little bit
disappointed For it struck him that Black
was trying for a compromise, as Wiseman
had tried before. These conSpirators SEEM
ed to have singularly little originality or
pluck in their methods!
Are you going 10 try to bri5e me. too?''
he asked contemptuousy. II refused
Wiseman's bride, you know; and he put his
figure high-higher than I should judge that
you could afford to follow HIM"
II don't want to br.be you" said Black
Il want you to bride me-.
III 1I,f,.
prise. That seems to want an explana-
ton! l am dull l suppose; but l don't
think 1 quite catch your drift! Why am 1
TO bride you?"
Call it a sale of information, if you like
that better
Eustace understood now. and his con-
tempt for the man the other side of the
barricade of stone showed itself in soft
laugh. Black evidently had come to the
conclusion that Wiseman- was fighting los
ing battle, and he was Offering without
shame to sacrifice his partner to save him
self Honor among thieves is plant of
scanty growth nowadays. 1t may have
| fourished In the sterner days of a ruthless
lex talionis, when the proverb about IL was
coined; but compulsory education of the
criminal classes, and an anaemic and senti
mental penal code, have strangled il. 1t
exists now only in the proverb about it.
We'll? Go on" said Eustace, and, with
an effort. prevented the disgust from sound
ing in his voice.
went on. you're not going to bolt at all.
You've set yourself to get through this heap
of stuff. and l daresay you can do IT. And
If you do, maybe Wiseman and / will have
to do the boiling. You see I'm speaking
fairly"
According to your code. 1 suppose you
are said Eustace contemptuously.
"Oh. leave out the sarcasm, I'm not thin
skinned. Well. | want to save you the trou-
bic. You won't do it under two days, and
1t Will be hard work, as l daresay you've
discovered already"
Il like hard work.
There was pause of a few seconds. Then
the man said meaningly:
There might chance to be an accident in
the course of it,
Eustace started; for the threat was OBJ
vious. But If Black could have seen the
smile with which his head went back and
his shoulders stiffened, he might have
doubted his own wisdom in making threats
to a man who heard them thus
You understand" he asked, in a low
voice.
Yes" said Eustace. Il credit both you
and Wiseman with not being afraid of an
accident if necessary. You can take it
that 1 understand you Well?"
We'll" was the answer, TN save you
both the trouble of two days hard work
and the risk of the regrettabe accdent-for
my price"
What is your price,
The metallic voice took a note of eager
ness. Black thought his man was yielding.
before you make any move, and after that
you may bust the whole show up when
you like. 1t will pay you to agree"
still" said Eustace. II suppose ought
to know what you are going to do for your
money"
The saw-like voice rasped harsher still, as
the answer came clearly:
Show you what's on this side of the
wall. give you all the details you want of
the way in which the thing is worked-l
won't be more precise just now. but you
know what / mean-and save you from the
possibility of getting knocked on the head
by Harvey Wiseman."
Eustace led him on to further self-be-
trayal.
Then l am to conclude" he asked, that
you are making this offer Independently? 1t
seems even to involve treachery to WISE
man on your part. Does it?'
Never mind IL 1t does What Is your
answer?
II am not ready to give you one yet l
want to know little more about your mo-
tiVeg instead nj talking