The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-13
CHAPTER III.-Continued.

Yet could this be he-this personif-
cation Of aged helplessness lying among
the cushions Of an invalid chair, who, in
a thin, piping treble, requested his visi-
tured all sorts of ideals of the master
in crime, but Mr.. Clinton Ziegler in tho
flesh resembled none of them. A snowy
beard covered the lower half of his
face, dropping over his chest, but the
puffy cheeks were visible, and their full
purple hue betokened some cutaneous af-
lection. The eyes were shaded by blue
glasses.
"You are the person sent by, Jevons
from New York9b he began in his par
rot-like tones. "Good! What is your
name9 For the moment have forgot
ten it, and I cannot lay my, hand on the
cablegram relating to you,.,' 49,, !,
Encouraged by the feeble senility Of
one whom he expected to find tower of
strength-a grim, inscrutable being with
an inscrutable manner-the duke was
confirmed in his intention to preserve
the secret of his rank.
HMy name is Charles Hanbury,' he
answered, boldly.
But an awakening, instant and COM
plete. was in store for him. The words
were hardly out Of his mouth when Mr..
Ziegler coughed a sigma, and three
masked men rushed upon him from an
adjoining bedroom, pinioning his arms
and sitting his sudd en- cry of alarm.
"What shall we do with him, sir7"
asked one of the men. =.
"Chloroform him first; then you must
dispose Of him at your 1eisure,' came
the monotonous piping treble from the
invalid chair.
One of the assailants made immediate
preparations for obeying the behest, but
Just as he was about to saturate hand
kerchief, Ziegler laughed shrilly;.
me, and | wanted to give him lesson
that's all.'
The men, at sign from their chief
retired into the bedroom.
"Now, perhaps you will recognize
that I. am not, to be played with, your
grace squeaked Mr.. Ziegler. "Alsc
that my ears are as long as my arms
gentleman whom my friend Jevons was
able to procure has had a sudden change
in his fortunes, and I congratulate my
self upon it. It doubles your value te
us, all the more since your early cal
upon me after landing shows that you
there must be no more petty reserva
tions and concealments like that. L
YOU try them on, rest assured that they
will be detected and dealt WITH
The duke Strengthened his rumplet
collar and looked as he felt, beate1
man. The mass of infrmity in tn
wheel.chair held, without doubt, powe
with which he could not cope. n- -
face Of it the notion that man coul'
be violently made away with in
crowded London hotel might seem melc
dramatic and improbable, but the eS
perience of the last few minutes -ha
shown him how readily it could be don
by a chief as well served as Ziegle
appeared to be. And if he was at tn
man s mercy in crowded hostelry lik
the Cecil, where would he be .safe9 Ye
If he was to enjoy his dukedom, b
would, have to 20 thru with his tasl
What am I to do9O he said, stiffly. .
"You have made very good begin
ming already" replied Ziegler, watchin
him narrowly thru the tinted .glasse
A gentleman, acting on behalf of tn
United States government, will shortl
bring to this country the three millio
pounds worth of treasury bonds whic
we mean to have. 1t will be your tas
to relieve him of the paper, substitutin
bonds of your own make, which will
security against a shipment Of gold.
chanically. "But," he added, wit
more animation, chow have I made
"By making yourself agreeable. !
Miss Leonie Sherman. It is her fathe
Senator Sherman, who is bringing tt
real bonds,o was the answer, whit
kept him speeches. with amazemen
This old scoundrel seemed to kno
1 everything, to have arranged ever
/ thing, irrespective of time and space.
You ought to be grateful for n
foresight in smoothing the way f