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

Investments, the names Of his chiel
employees, the members Of his yachts
crew, the topography Of his Sussex es
tate. Nothing was too trivial, no de
tail too unimportant, to escape q note
undecipherable to others and niche
In a retentive memory.
He made friend Of one Of Philips
footmen by standing treat and listen
Ing reyerently to his views on the next
days racing. He persuaded one kitch
ell maid In Park lane and another al
Fairfax Hall that he had waited all his
life to discover a woman he could love
devotedly. 1t was most important
discovery when he unearthed in a din
gy hotel the man whom Philip had dis
missed for tampering with the locked
portmanteau. From this worthy he first
heard of the quaint adjunct to the be
longings Of the young millionaire, and
judicious inquiry soon revealed that
there was hardly servant in Philips
employ who did not credit the Glad.
stone bag with being the repository OF
the milliona!re's fortunes.
Ordinary people will credit any non.
sense where diamonds are concerned
Even an educated criminal like Victor
Grenier believed there might be some
foundation for the absurd theory which
found ready credence among the do.
mesticS.
He never made the error Of planning
q burglary Oh adroit robbery whereby
the bag might come into his possession
II 1t did contain diamonds, and espc
cially II 1t contained unique specimens,
It was absolutely useless to him. BIZ.
his vitals yearned for Anson's gold,
and the question he asked himself IN
every unoccupicd moment was how hc
might succeed in getting some portion
of it into his own pocket.
One day a quaint notion entered his
mind, and tie more The thought Of IL
the more it dominated him. He was
tall and well made. il slim in figure.
and his face had never lost the plastci-
| ty given it by his stage experience.
He had only heard Philips voice
once, but his features and general ap.
pearance were now quite familiar to
him, ard he undertook Il series OF eX-
pcriments with clothing and makeup
| to ascertain if lie co;.ld pcrsonate An
son sufficiently well to deceive any one
who Was not an intimate acquaintance.
Soon the idea became Il mania, and the
| mania absorbed the mans intellect.
To be Philip Anson for n day, week
What would he not give for the power.
One evening when Jocky Mason en-
tered Grenier's apartments he started
back. with an oath. as a stranger ap-
preached him In the dim light and
said:
well, Mason, and what do you
want"
The ey-burglar and man slayer SEEM
ed to be SO ready to commit instant
murder that Grenier himself was
alarmed.
Hold hard, old chap" he said in his
natHSal voice. Il am only trying an
experiment on YOU"
"What tonfoolery Is this?" shouted
the other, gazing at him with the sus-
picious side glance Of discounted
dog which has been startled by some
person familiar TO 1t In ordinary guise.
but masquerading in outre garments.
"a mere pleasantly, l assure you.
Good heavens, man. how you must
hate this fellow Arson II you are so
ready to slay him at sight. From your
own story, he only acted as ninety-nine
people out of hundred would have
done In helping the cop"
"What l want to know Is why you
are playing tricks on me. won't
stand it. I'm not built that way"
"Now, Mason, be reasonable. Can
ask anybody else If resemble Philip
Anson when made up to represent
him?"
Perhaps not, but you ought to have
warned me. Besides, am worried to-
day"
"What has happened now"
81 went to report myself at South
wark police station. Who should find
there bnt Bradley. the chap we used to
call Sailor. He is an inspector now,
and of course he knew me at once"
what of that"
"He pretended to take an interest In
me and tried to lead me on to talk
about you"
"The devil he did,
"Oh, know their ways. They can't
do anything to me as long as | show
up regularly and keep clean slate
"But what about me?'
~ said you had been Il good friend
there was no use in denying that was
here pretty often-and that we both
thought Of emigrating."
Good! We will"
"Not me. I have score to settle
Patience. my worthy friend. Your
score shall be settled In full. / can
not prevent 1t even II I would. Do you
think have been idle or that spend
Langdon's money on wild goose
chase? Net me. Langdon has taken
my advice at last. He has met this
charmer with whom he Is so infatuat-
ed. She almost recognized him, but he
pretended such complete ignorance of
her and even Of London that her sus-
picions were quieted."
"What good Is that to us?"
Little, but 1t gave him. the oppor-
tunity to try and ingratiate himself.
He failed most completely, and why|
"How do l know2 He is an ass any.
way"
Exactly. More than that; the young
lady is in love with Philip Anson."
I'm not"
But he Is In love with her. At first
both Mrs. Atherley and the girl kept
him at arms length. She was too poor.
he too rich. That difficulty was smooth
ell over quite recently, and they meet
now nearly every day. Langdon hasn't
a dogs chance, and II all goes well,
the happy pair will soon be off to Nor
way or Switzerland for their honey
MOON"
"Oh, indeed. Then where does all
your clever scheming come In? Why
have you held me back? He went to
Sussex. You wouldn't let me follow
him. He was out late several nights
on his motor car along the North road.
I would have met him and smashed
his face In with life preserver, but
you held me back. What are you driv-
Ing at? What's the game:'
"You shall see"