Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-09-05
s The KING of 81
DIAMONDS. !
BY Louis Tracy,

Author of wings Of the Morning" "The Pillar O
Light" Etc.

any man De lie tue H0FueSt SkuIISu HDO-
rigine that ever bicathed. But the
stout rim of the hat, though crushed
like an eggshcl, took off some Of the
leaden Instruments tremendous i'm
pact. Philip. though quite insensible,
was not dead. His sentient faculties
were annihilated for the time, but his
heart continued its life giving func-
tons, and ne breathcd with impercep-
tible hutterings.
Mason rose, painting with excitement,
glutted with satisfied hate. He lifted
his victims inert form with the ease
of his great strength.
Come on he shouted and strobe
toward a door, which he kicked open.
A step sounded haltingly in the pas
sage. Grenier. the sio-dsant doctor,
! livid now and shaking with the ague Of
irretrievable crime. stumbled after his
more callous associate. Unconsciously
he kicked Philips hat to one side. He
entered the room an apartment with n
boundless view of the sea.
Here there was more light than in
the kitchen. The windows faced to-
, ward the northwest and the last radi-
ance of setting sun illuminea a wall
on the right.
Not there" he caspcd in this
chair Ills facet must see his face"
Mason, still claspng his inanimate
burden. laughed with snarl
stop that he roared. Pull your
self together. Get some brandy. I've
done my work. II you can't do yours,
let me finish it,
"Oh, just a moment, Give me time!
hate the sight of blood. Get a towel.
Bind IL round his neck. His clothes :!
They will be saturated. And wipe his
face. | must see his face
Grcnier was hvstercal. He had the
highly strung nervous system Of a girl
where deeds of bloodshed We're con-
ccrned. While Mason obeyed his in
structions he pressed his hands over
his eyes.
Bring some brandy, white liver. Do
you want me to do everything?'
This gruff order awoke Grenier to
trembling action. He went to Al cup
board and procured bottle. Mason.
having placed Arson in chair and
steadied his head against the wall,
seized half tumbcrful of the neat
spirit and drank 1t with grsto. The
other gradually recovering his self con-
troll, was satisfied with less potential
draft
ut will be dark soon" growled Ma
son. I'VE must undress him first, you
| said"
Eyes. II his clothes are not blood
stained
Rot! he must 60 into the water
own"
"Ah. I forgot. 1t will soon he all
right. Resides, | knew ! should he up
set. so | have everything written down
here-all fully thought out There can
be no mistake made then
He produced little notebook and
opened it with uncertain fingers. He
glanced at n closely written page. The
words danced before his vision, but he
persevered
Eyes. His coat first then his boots;
clothes or linen stained with blood to
be burned, after cutting off all but
tons. Now I'm ready. / will not funk
any more"
His temperament linked the artistic
md crmina, faculties in sinister COM
bination. and he soon recovered his
domination in guilty partnership. 1t
muse have been the instinct of the
pickpocket that led him to appropriate
Philips silver watch. with its quaint
shoelace attachment, before he touch
ed any other article
Queer thing he commented "a
rich man might afford a better time
keeper, but there's no accounting for
tastes"
Mason, satiated and stupefed, obey
ed his instructions like a ministerine
gboul. They undressed Philip wholly
and Grenier, rapidly denuding himself
of his boots and outer clothing, donned
these portions of the victims attire
Then the paint tubes and the other
accessories of an actors makeup were
produced. Grener facing a mirror
placed on table close to Philip, be
gan TO remodel his own plastic features
IN close similitude to those of the un.
conscious man. He was greatly as
sisted by the fact that in general con
tour they were not strikingly different
Philips face was Of fine classica
type. Grenier whose nose mouth and
chin were regular and pleasing, found
the greatest difficulty in controlling the
shifty. ferretlike expression of his
| eyes. Again, Philip had no mustache
The only costume he really liked tc
wear was his yachting uniform, and
here he conformed to the standard OF
the navy. The shaven lip, OF course
was helpful to his imitator. All thai
was needed was an artistic eye for the
chief effect, combined with skilled
use of his materials. And herein Gre
nier was an adept
Rut the light was growing very un
certain.
"A lamp" he said ENORMOUSLY, FOL
time sped and he had much to do
bring lamp quicklyW
, Mason went toward the front kitch
, en-. Grenier did not care about be
ing left alone face to face with thu
= pallid and naked form in the chair, bu
he set his teeth and repressed the tend
ency to rush after his confederate.
The latter In returning halted an In
, slant.
"HelloW he cried. Here's his hat"
81 In, h. A.L