The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-07-11

the fellows that used to go up to the
mourners' bench at the reyivals.
telt as II had suddenly emerged from
tne parlor of a dive and its stencil OF
slckening perfumes, into the pure air
OF Gods heaven.
signed the bill, and we went afoot
up the avenue. Sam. as | saw with n
good deal of amusement. was trying
10 devise some subtle, tactful way of
attaching his poor, clumsy little sue.
uon'pump to the well OF my secret
thoughts
what is it Sammy" said at fast
what do you want to know that
you're afraid to ask me?''
Nothing he said hastily. "Tm
only bit worried about--about you
and textile. Matt,"-this in the tone
OF deep emotion we reserve for tho
attempt to lure friends into confiding
that about themselves which will give
us the opportunity to pity them. and,
II necessary. to sheer off from them
Matt, | do hope you haven't been
hard hit?"
Not yet" said easily. DRY your
tears and put away your black clothes.
Your friend, Tom Langdon, was a lit.
tie premature"
I'm afraid I've given you a false
impression" Sam continued, with an
overeagerness to convince me that did
not attract my attention at the time.
TON merely said. 1 hear Blackjack
is loaded up with textile shorts
that was all. A careless remark.
really didn't think of 1t again until |
saw you looking so black and glum."
That seemed natural enough, SO |
changed the subject. AS we entered
his house, l said.
I'll not so up to the drawing.room.
MAKE my excuses to your mother,
will you? I'll turn into the little
smoking-room here. Tell your sister
and say I'm going to stop only q mo
ment."
Sam had just left me when the but.
Ter came. Mr. Ball think that was
the name, sir--wishes to speak to you
on the telephone"
had given Ellersly's as one of the
places at which | might be found,
should 1t be necessary to consult me.
l followed the butler to the telephone
closet under the main stairway. As
soon as Ball made sure it was !, he
began:
IN use the code words. I've lust
seen Fearless, as you told me to-
Fearless-that was Mitchell, my SPY
in the employ of Tavistock, who was
my principal rival in the business of
confidential brokerage for the high
financiers. YES" said |. What does
he say?"
There has been a great deal OF
heavy buying for month past
Then my dread was well founded
textiles were to be deliberately rock.
eted Who's been doing it?" asked
HE found out only this afternoon.
It's been kept unusually dark. IT."
who? Who?" demanded.
Intrepid" he answered.
Intrepid--that is, Langdon-Mow.
bray Langdon!
The whole thing was planned care.
fully" continued Ball, "and is coming
off according to schedule. Fearless
overheard final message Intrepid's
brother brought from him to-day"
So 1t was no mischance-it was an
assassination. Mowbray Langdon had
stabbed me in the back and fed.
Did you hear what said?" asked
Ball. rs that you"
YES" l replied.
oh" came ip relieved tone from
the other end of the wire. You were
SO long in answering that thought
I'd been cut off. Any instructions?"
NO" said L. "Good-by."
heard him ring off, but sat there
for several minutes, the receiver still
to my ear was muttering: Lang
don, Langdon why why-whyY
again and again. Why had he turned
against me? Why had he plotted to
destroy me-one of those plots so ire
quent In Wall street-where the assas
sin steals up. delivers the mortal blow,
and steals away without ever being
detected or even suspected? saw
the whole plot now--I understood Tom
Langdon's activities, l recalled Now.
bray Langdon's curious phrases and
looks and tones. But-why-why--
why? How was in his way?
1t was all dark to me-pitch-dark.
returned to the smoking-room, light.
ed cigar, sat fumbling at the new
situation. | was in no worse plight
than befcre-what did 1t matter who
was attacking me? In the circum.
stances, a novice could now destroy
me as easily as q Langdon. Still.
Balls news seemed to take away my
courage. | reminded myself that
was used to treachery OF this sort,
that deserved what | was getting be-
cause had, like fool, dropped my
guard in the fight that is always on
very-man-for-hlmself But | remind.
ed myself in vain. Langdon's smiling
treachery made me heart-sick.
Soon Anita appeared--preceded and
heralded by faint rustling from soft
and clinging skirts. that swept my