Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-02-03
II The King of Diamonds. ~
A TALE OF MYSTERY AND ADVENTURE
BY TRACY
ALE OF MYSTERY AND ADVENTURE.
BY LOUIS TRACY.

which kindly place to my credit as soon
as possible. Shall we say-the day after
tomorrow"
That is quite possible We will use
all expedition"
Thank you. You understand, this is
merely a preliminary. l will need n
much larger sum, but l will pay in my
next check after hearing from London.
| am not quite sure about the amount
of my private balance at the moment"
The bank manager assured him there
would be no difficulty whatever under
such conditions.
Grenier obtained his passbook and
check book, after writing a check ON Lon
don before the other mans eyes.
For a small amount, an introduction
would have been necessary. In the case
of Philip Arson, the millionaire, a man
who handled thousands so readily, it was
needless. Moreover, his procedure was
unexceptionable- strictly according to
banking business.
Grenier rushed off to the station,
caught a train for Leeds, went to the
bank of different company with diff
ferent London agents, and carried through
the same maneuver.
He returned to York and secured the
services of the hotel typist. He wrote
to Philips bankers
Il am transacting some very important
private business in the north of England,
and have opened temporary accounts with
the - bank in York and the
bank in Leeds. and l shall need a con
siderable sum of ready money. Possibly
may also open accounts in Bradford
and Sheffield. Today | have drawn two
checks for $4,000 each Kindly let me
know by return the current balance TO
my credit, as l dislike overdrafts and
would prefer to realize some securities"
The next letter ran:
My Dear Abingdon; Excuse a tyne
writer, but | am horribly busy. The
Norlands' affair is a purely family and
personal one; it brings into activity cir
.cumstances dating far back in my life
and i'll the lives of my parents. Sir Philip
lis not dying, nor even dangerously ill.,
Lady Louisa is in Yorkshire, and | am
making arrangements which will close a
long standing feud
Write me here if necessary, but kind
ly keep back all business or other com
munictaions, save those of very urgent
character, for at least a week or perhaps
ten days.
Sorry for this enforced absence from
town. 1t simply cannot be avoided. and
am sure you will leave a detailed ex-
PLANTATION until we meet | have signed
the incloscd annual report of the home.
viii you kindly forward it to the secre-
tary? Yours sincerely.
"PHILIP ANSON."
Grenier dictated this epistle from a
carefully composed copy. He understood
the very friendly relations that existed
between Philip and his chief agent, and
he thought that in adopting a semi
apologize, frankly reticent tone, he was
striking the right key.
The concluding reference to the Mary
Arson home was smart. he imagined,
while the main body of the letter dealt in
safe generalities.
Naturally, he knew nothing of the CON
versation between the two men on this
very topic couple of months earlier.
But Langdons ample confessions had
clearly revealed Philips attitude, and the
unscrupulous scoundrel was willing now
to dare all in his attempt to gain for
tune.
While he was dining a telegram was
handed to him:
''Nou forget to send your address. but
Mr. Abingdon gave it to me. So grieved
YOU are detained. What about blue
atom? EVELYN"
Did ever woman invent more tantaliz-
ing question than that concluding one?
What was blue atom? No doubt.
creations scheme included blue atoms
as well as black ones and red ones But
why this reference to any particular
atom? He tried the words in every pos
sible variety of meaning. He gave them
the dignity of capitals BLUE ATOM.
They became more inexplicable
In one respect they were effective
They spoiled his dinner. He had steeled
himself against every possible form of
surprise. but he was forced to admit that
during the next three days he must sue
eeed in persuading Evelyn Atherley that
Philip Arson was alive, and engaged in
important matters in Yorkshire That
was imperative-wa his scheme to be
wrecked by blue atom?
Moreover. her query must be answered
His promise to write was, of course,
mere device It would be manifestlv alb
surd to send her typewriter letter
and, excelently as he could copy Philips
signature, he dared not put his skill as a
forger to the test Of inditing a letter to
her, no matter how brief. Finally he hit
upon a compromise He wired:
Stupid of me to omit address Your
concluding sentence mixed up in trans
mission. Meaning not quite clear. Am
feeling SO lonely PHILIP"
Then he tried to resume his dinner, but
his appetite was gone.
In postal facilities, owing to his posi-
ton on a main line, York is well served
from London. At . p. IN. two letters.
one bulky package and registered,
reached him
The letter was from Mr.. Abingdon 1t
briefly acknowledged his telegram, stated
that a man in the Athenaeum, who knew
Sir Philip Morland. had informed him, in
response to guarded inquiries, that the