Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-07-12

his house, / said:
I'll not go up to the drawing-room-
Make my excuses to your mother,
will you2 III turn into the little
smoking-room here. Tell your sister
and say I'm going to stop only 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 it be necessary to consult me
followed the butler to the telephone
closet under the main stairway. AS
soon as Ball made sure it was I, he
began:
I'll use the code words. I've Just
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?v
There has been 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 Langdonl
THE whole thing was planned care
fully continued Ball, and is coming
off according to schedule. Fearless
overheard final message lntrepids
brother brought from him to-day"
So it was no mischance-ir was an
assassination Mowbray Langdon had
stabbed me in the back and fled.
did you hear what | said?" asked
Ball rs that you
Yes" | replied.
oh" came in a 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-why?
again and again. Why had ne turned
against me? Why had he plotted to
destroy me-one of those plots so fire.
uuent in Wall street-where the assas-
sin steals up, delivers the mortal blow.
and steals away without ever being
detected or even suspected2 saw
the whole plot now-I understood Tom
Langdon's activities, | recalled Now
bray Langdons curious phrases and
looks and tones. But-why-why-
why? How was l in his way?
1t was all dark to me-pitch-dark
I returned to the smoking-room, light
ed cigar, sat fumbling at the new
situation. | was in no worse plight
than before-wnat did it matter who
was attacking me? In the circum-
stances, a novice could now destroy
me as easily as a Langdon- Still.
Balls news seemed to take away my
courage. | reminded myself that l
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-himself But | remind
ed myself in vain. Langdon's smiling
treachery made me heart-sick-
Soon Anita appeared-preceded and
heralded by faint rustiing from soft
and clinging skirts, that swept my
nerves like a loye-tune.
think my torment must have some
how penetrated to her. For she was
sweet and friendly-and she could not
have hurt me worse, If | had fol :
lowed my impulse should have fallen
at her feet and buried my face. scorch-
ing, in the folds of that pale blue.
faintly-shimmering robe of hers.
DO throw away that huge, hideous
cigar" she said, laughing. And she
took two cigarettes from the box, put
both between her lips, lit them. held
one toward me. / looked at her face.
and along her smooth, bare, out
stretched arm, and at the pink, slen-
der fingers holding the cigarette.
took it as If l were afraid the spell
would be broken, should my fingers
touch hers. Afraid-that's it! That's
why | didn't pour out all that was in
my heart. | deserved to lose her.
I'm taking you away from the
Others" | said. We could hear the
murmur of many voices and OF music
ha