Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-03
CH A P TER X vi

OOL and collected as he usually was,
Field was excited now. He crept as
H.r%S near to the drawing room door he
lE44N dared, and peeped into the ring of
light, eagerly. He popped back hur-
riedly as the man called Reggie and the
Rajah came into the hall and proceeded to enter
opposite, under the direction of the little
cripple. Rchford seemed to be vague and irr.
tated.
"What the deuce is the good of all this mys-
tery?" he asked. "Why don't you come to the
point, Sartoris? But no, you must always be so
internally close just as if you were the only one
| of us who rejoices in the possession of brains
"Well, so L am, Sartoris said, without the
least display of temper. you don't deude your
self that you are a person of intellect, surely?
| Cunning you have of low order, the mean, vul-
gar cunning that enables people to make money
in the city. But that is not intellect my dear
friend-intelect is quite another matter. We
very nearly landed ourselves in a serious be-
cause | did not to trust you too far. And
when we were face to fact with that mess, what
good were you? What good was anybody besides
myself? Where the brain that schemed out
everything and made success certain? True, |
had allies upon whom could depend-Reggie and
Cora, for example But they could have done
nothing without me. And now we have the
thing in our hands again. Come along, then"
Richford subsidized, muttering to himself. From
the room opposite came the sound of somebody
moving heavy package of some kind, and pres
emily the man called Reggie and the Rajah ap-
peared shuffling big case between them. The
box scraped over the polished parquet hoor leav-
ing deep scratches it went; amidst strained,
breathing silence it was pushed into the dining
room Sartoris watched these proceedings with
curious gleam in his eyes.
$50 far, so good" he said. "All we want now is
D. Jo's lota 90 ont and if
YOU can make anything of him, Reggie. If that
fellow has dared to get drunk tonight, I'll give
him lesson that will last him for the rest of his
life"
A curious silence fell over the little group; the
whole room grew so still that Field could hear his
companion breathing. They were perfectly safe
ND to now, but if anybody happened to go into
the drawing room for anything, and they were
discovered each knew that his life not worth
minutes purchase, Very steadily Sartoris steer
ed his chair to the side of the big case on the
floor and his hands began to tumble with the
strings.
The front door opened with bang that startled
everybody, for nerves were strung up to high ten
sion and the least noise came with startling
force. The door burst open, only to be quietly
closed and big man, with red face and small
red eyes, reeled across the hall and almost col
lapsed in heap on the floor.
might" he said unsteadily, might, all of you
You may say that I've been drinking. Nothing Of
the kind The man who says I've been drinking
lies Experiment. Nothing in the world but
lot of experiments which braver man than |
would shrink from. Sartoris, if YOU say l am
drunk, then I say that you are a liar"
"I should be liar if l agreed with you," Sar-
toris said "The whole place reeks OF drink"
$50 it does" the newcomer said with amabil.
ity Upon my word. you yourselves seem to be
Going remarkably we'll while I've been working
for the good of the community. Give me bottle
of champagne. to begin with. Poor stuff cham
payne, only fit for women. But then, there APP
pears to be nothing else-why-"
The big red-faced man reached his hand out and
Sartoris caught him savage blow on the knuck
les The little mans face was livid with fury, his
eyes flashed like electric points.
"Pig, beast drunken hound he screamed
"Have you no sense of shame or duty? After 10
night | will give you lesson. After tonight you
shall know what it is to play with me-"
The man called Brentwood lapsed into sudden
dignity
Every we'll" he said. Have it your own
way. When you say that | am drunk you out
rage my feelings. You don't seem to understand
that you can't get without me. II ! like to
snap my fingers in your face you are powerless.
But do nothing of the kind-such is not my
ture Give me glass of brandy and shall be
myself again"
lust for moment Sartoris seemed to be fight
| inc down the rage that consumed him. II was
evidently big struggle but the mastery came.
every WELL" he said "Ill do as you want.
Wait moment"
| TO Rp CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY