Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-06
CHAPTER XIV.

Every word of the conversation was quite
plain and distinct. Richford seemed to be
very vexed about something, but on the
other hand Sartoris appeared to be on the
best of terms with himself.
You tried to get the better of us" he
was saving You thought that clever peo-
pie like ourselves We're going to be mere
puppets in the play. that we were going to
pull your chestnuts for you. You with the
brains of rabbit, and the intelligence of
tom cati That low cunning of yours is all
very well in the city but it is of no use
with me Where are those diamonds?'
Those diamonds are so safe that we
can't touch them" Richford sneered.
VERY well. my friend. Believe me, we
shall know how to act when the time
comes. But you are wasting time here.
You should be in Edward street long ago.
Edward street in the Borough; you know
the place | mean. The others are there
Reggie and Cora and the rest to say MOTH
ing of the object of our solicitous desires
You follow meg"
"Oh, yes, / follow everything. cOnfOund
you" Richford growled. You are trying
to frightcn me with your cry of danger. AS
II l was fool enough to believe that story"
You can just please yourself whether
you believe it or not" Sartoris replied.
But the danger is real enough. l have had
the salt two days now in succession. 1t is
true that It came by post and was not ad-
dressed to me here. but 1t is proof positive
OF the fact that our yellow friends are on
the right track at last They may even be
outside now. That is why l want you to
go far Edward street without delay"
Richford seemed to be convinced at last,
for he made no reply.
And you need not worry about your wife
for the present Sartoris went on. 80 long
as she is your wife you come in for your
share OF the plumber when the division takes
place. Nor need you let her know that you
married her for her fortune, and not for her
pretty face. People will be surprised to dis
cover what rich man Sir Charles really
was"
Bennington started with surprise great
flood of light had been let in on the scene
IN the last few words of this overheard
converse zion. SO there was a large fortune
somewhere, and this was at the bottom of
this dark conspiracy. The conversation
trailed off presently, and Bennington heard
no more. But his heart was beating now
with fierce eXultatOn for he had heard
enough. Without knowing it, Sir Charles
Daryl had been rich man. But those
miscreauts knew il, and that was the reason
why they were working In this strange way.
a door closed somewhere and then there
was silence. 1t quite evident that
Richford had left ne house
minute or two later and Bennington got
his flash signal at work. He used it over
hope that the house was being watched. A
great sigh of satisfaction broke from him
presently when he knew the signal was be-
ing answered Once more there was an
irritating delay and then the quick tap
ping of the reply. Field not far off,
and Field had grasped the scheme Also
he had to send for somebody to translate
the flashing signs. Bennington understood
IL now as well as II he had been outside
with the police.
lie sent his messages through quickly
now and received his replies regularly.
Nor did he forget to impart the information
he had discovered relative to the house In
Edward street. Borough On the whole II
had not been a bad nights work.
restless desire to be up and doing some
thing Eripped Bennington. He wandered
impatiently about the room. listening at the
tube from time 10 time I'm the hope OF
getting something fresh. Down below he
could hear the sharp purring of the electric
bell and the shuttle of Sartoris chair over
the floor of the hall. Then there a
quick cry which stopped with startling sud
denness, as if a hand had gripped the throat
of somebody who called out with fear.
For a little time after that, silence. Then
voices began to boom downstairs voices
in strange accents that seemed to be de-
manding something. Evidently foreigners
of some kind. Bennington thought. he
strained his ears to catch something definite
Sartoris seemed to be pleading for some
body. and the others were stern and deter
mined II was some time before Harrington
began to understand what nationality th'