Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-12-11
By Louis Tracy,
CHAPTER XVI.
Author Of ''Wirias Of the 1ornine THE Pillar of
LAsht." Etc.
NOME to my chambers" NUT

your fault, Grenier. Why did you drop
this bombshell on me so unexpected
ly? You confounded actors are always
looking out for curtain. You should
not try the experiment on your chums
in crowded bar"
Nov, my dear I.angdon, do be rea-
sonable. How could tell that the
mere name of Philip Arson would ere
ate scene? You look as sick as a
man who has just been sentenced to
be hanged, and MY old pal Hunter
seems to have suddenly gone mad"
Indeed, his words We're justified.
Mr.. james Crichton Langdon was
corpselike in pallor, and Mason, alias
Hunter, though his tongue was stilled,
bore every Indication Of man en-
ragged almost beyond control.
Come away. then,' said Langdon,
with horrible attempt to smile in.
differently.
NO, no. There are too many eyes
here that we should leave with the air
Of set of stage murderers. Sit down.
Let us have nip of brandy. Talk
about racing, women, anything, for a
little while and then go out quietly"
Grenier was right. \ detective had
already nudged an acquaintance and
whispered:
'The pigeon seems to be upset. And
one of the hawks is in rare temper
too. I'll keep an eye on that collec
ton
He watched them through mirror
He saw Grenier exert himself to put
his companions in Il better humor.
When they went cut, he followed and
ascertained from the commissionnaire
ut the door that they had gone toward
Shaftesbury avenue.
by walking rapidly he sighted them
again and saw them turn Into a door
way.
"Grenier's chambers!" he said.
"What splendid nerve that fellow
has. Reports himself coolly at Scot
land Yard every month aud lives in
style not half a mile away. How does
he manage it? must make some in
quiry about the Others
Certainly the methods Of the superior
scoundrels of London are peculiar.
Grenier knew that he was q marked
man in the eyes Of the police. He
knew that the particular saloon bar
he affected was the rendezvous not
only of others like himself, but of the
smartest detective officers Of the met
ropolitan force. Yet this was his ia
vorite hunting ground. Where the car
cass is there are the jackals. He would
never dream of honest endeavor in 4
new land to begin life anew. The feast
was spread before his eyes, and he
could not resist 1t.
But Grenier was careful rogue.
After boyhood of good training and
education, he drifted into a bad set
Mt the beginning of his adult career.
Once, indeed, he endeavored to put his
great natural abilities to some reason
able use by going on the stage. The in
dustrious hardship Of the early years
Of an actors striving were not to his
liking, however. No sooner had he at
tanned a position of trust as manager
Of a touring company than he tamper
ed with moneys intrusted to his care.
He was not actually found out, but
suspected and dismissed. Then the reg
ular gradations of crime came natural
ly to him. Gambling, card sharping.
company frauds, even successful for
gerry, succeeded each other III their rec
ognized sequence, until at last came
detection and Il heavy sentence, for the
authorities had long waited for him to
drop into the net.
Now that he was free, he did not in
tend to revisit any of his majesty's
convict settlements if he could help it.
His wits We're sharpened, his cool in.
tellect developed by prison life and as
sociations. He personally would keep
clear of the law and make others sup
port him.
He would depend on two classes Of
contrlbutors-fools like Langdon, and
slow witted criminals, like Mason. Be.
ing really clever man, 1t would be
strange if his own middle path were
not kept clear of letters.
In the mystery surrounding Philip
Anson's influence over these two he
scented Interesting developments. Be-
ginning with a young rake's attempt TO
ensnare a beautiful girl, he suddenly
discovered situation pregnant with
the potentiality of gain to himself 1t
did not matter to him who paid him,
whether Arson or Langdon. He would
betray one or the other or both I'M
partially.
Mason he liked. The mans rugged
strength Of character, his sledge ham
mer villainy, his logged acceptance OF
the leadership of n more skilled rascal
appealed to him. Mason was tool,
and hard hitting one. He would use
him, safeguard him If lie could, but
nse him anyhow.
In the seclusion of Grenier's small
fiat Langdon poured out his spleen.
Arson was the bane of his life. His
stepfather was Anson's uncle, and the
old idiot recently found out certain
facts concerning the life led by his
stepson that caused Il family rupture
His mother endeavored to patch mat.
tiers with Ill success, and the baronet
was intent on finding his sisters son
and atoning to him for years of neg
lect by making him his heir.
Lady Louisa concealed nothing Of
this from her scapegrace son. She
hoped to frighten him by the threaten
ed loss of supplies, but neither fright
nor hatred could bring him to leave
London and settle down to quiet life
In Devonshire, when perhaps the cid
erly naturalists fit of Indignation
might gradually wear itself out
AT this crisis came his discovery OF
Evelyn Atherley and mad desire to
win her affections. He even dreamed
of persuading her to marry him and
by this means succeed In rehabilitat.
ing himself with Sir Philip Morland.
The girl was well born Mrs. Atller.
ley was Lord Vanstones half sister,
and, although his lordship had ruined
himself and his relations by his cx-
travagance, the match was In every
other respect suitable.
He was not content with the slow
formula of seeking an acquaintance in
the ordinary way. Accustomed to
speedier conquests. he coiiided his
wishes to Grenier aud resented the lat