Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-10-08
CHAPTER XVI.

tered the youngest OF the
| trio. I'VE are fools to dis
~ cuss such things here. 1t is
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 a crowded bar"
"Now, my dear Langdon, do be rea-
sonable. How could I tell that the
mere name of Philip Anson would Gre
ate a scene? You look as sick as n
man who has just been sentenced to
be hanged, and my old pal Hunter
seems to have suddenly gone mad"
Indeed, his words were justified.
Mr.. James Crichton Langdon was
corpselike In pallor, and Mason. alias
Hunter, though his tongue was stilled,
bore every indication Of a man en-
ragged almost beyond control.
"Come away, them" Raid Langdon,
| with a horrible attempt to smile in
differently.
NO. no. There are too many eyes
here that we should leave with the air
Of a 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. A 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 a mirror.
He saw Grenier exert himself to put
his companions in better humor.
When they went out, he followed ana
ascertained from the commissionnaire
at the door that they had gone toward
Shaftesbury avenue.
by walking rapidly he sighted them
again and saw them turn into u door
way.
"Grenier's chambersw he said.
"What u splendid nerve that fellow
has. Reports himself coolly at Scot
land Yard every month and lives In
style not half mile away. How does
he manage it7 I must make some In
quiry about the others"
Certainly the methods Of the superior
scoundrels Of London are peculiar.
Grenier knew that he was 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 fa'
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 bad set
at 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 In their rec
ogniZed sequence, until ut last came
detection and 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 il he could help IT.
His wits were sharpened. his cool In
tellect developed by prison life and as
sociatlons. He personally would keep
clear Of the law and make others sup
port him.
He would depend on two classes Of
contributors-fools, like Langdon, and
slow witted criminals, like Mason. Be-
ing a really clever man. 1t would be
strange II his own middle path We're
not kept clear of fetters.
In the mystery surrounding Philip
Anson's influence over these two he
scented interesting developments. Be-
ginning with young rake's attempt to
ensnare a beautiful girl, he suddenly
discovered situation pregnant with
the potentiallty of gain to himself. 1t
did not matter to him who paid him,
whether Anson 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,
ner villainy, his dogged acceptance Of
9he leadership of more skilled rascal.
appealed to him. Mason was tool,