The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-09
The King Of
Diamonds;
BY LOUIS TRACY. Z
Author of Wings of the Morning."
THE Pillar of Light" Etc. (
Copyright, 1904 by Edward j. Clode. I
ICONTINUED.l

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to their fathers size, for the first bed
they bought was a short one: their
hours Of work, the variety Of their
emnlovment-anv and every cheering
topic, indeed, until Willie came with d
bottle
Both of them glanced askance at the
quantity Mason consumed but they
passed no comment. He tried TO
smoke and sat SO that the light should
not fall on his face And then he said
TO them:
Tell me all you know about Philip
Arson. 1t interests me-"
Snap! The hard composition of his
pipe was broken in two.
What a pity" cried Willie. shall
l run and buy you a new one?"
mo, my boy, no. 1 can manage.
Don't mind me. 1 can't talk, but 1 will
listen. May the Lord have mercy on
me. l will listenr'
He suffered that night as few men
have suffered. Many a murderer has
had to endure the torments of a haunt
ed conscience, but few can have been
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lauding to the sky the victims bene-
factions to themselves and TO their
dead mother.
He was master of his emotions sufh-
GENTLY to control his voice He pune
tuated their recital by occasional COM
ments that showed he appreciated ev-
cry point. He examined with interest
re
derstOod both the stitching and the
stamping of leather. and once he found
himself DULY specializing as TO what
career he would have carved out for
himself were he given in boyhoOd the
opportunities they rejoiced in.
But throughout there was in his sur
charged brain q current of cunning
away in the north, robbing a dead man
and plotting deSolation to some girl.
He must be dealt with.
Then he, the slayer, must be slain
and by his own hand. He would spare
his sons as much pain as might be
within his power.
He would not merely disappear. leav-
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They must know he was dead, not by
suicide. but by accident They would
mourn his wretched memory. Better
that than live with the abiding grief
of the knowledge that he was Philip
Anson's murderer.
He was quite sure now that the dead
would arise and call for vengeance If
he dared to continue to exist Yes,
that was tia life for q life-a prayer
that his deeds might not bear fruit in
his children-and then death, speedy,
certain death.
Some reference TO the future made
by Willie. the younger who favored
his mother more than the outspoken
John. gave Mason an opportunity to
pave the way for the coming separa.
ton.
Il don't want you two lads to make
any great changes on my account" be
said slowly 1T is far from my In
tention to settle down here and lei
all Your friends become aware that
you are supporting a ticket of leave
father. Yes, | know. You are gooC
boys, and it won't be any more pleas
ant for me toto live away from yOU
than 1t would be for you-under-othel
| cOnditions-tO be separated from me
Butt am in earnest in this matter
l VIII stop here tonight just to fee
that | am under the same roof as you
1t is your roof, not mine. Long age
l lost the right to provide you with
shelter. Tomorrow go away. / hav,
some work to do-a lot of work.
must be attended to at once. O.
course you will see me often. We caI
meet in the evening-gO out together
but live herewith you'll can't"
His sons never knew the effort tina
this speech cost him. He spoke wit
such manifest hesitation that Willie
who quickly interpreted the less Pre-
nounced signs of a mans thoughts
winked a warning at his brother.
He said, with an optic signal:
Not a word now, John. Just leav
things as they are"
Under any ordinary conditions b
would be right. He could never CUES
the nature of the claims that encircle
his father, delivering him fettered t
the torture, bound hand and foot, bod
and soul
At last they all retired to thei
rooms. the boys TO whisper kindl
plans for keeping their father a pr:
oner again in their hands, Mason to Ii
open eyed. dry eyed, through the nigh
mourning for that which might not b.
The rising sun dispelled the dar
phantoms that fitted before his vision
He fell into a titful slumber, disturb
Ell by vivid dreams. Once he was on
storm swept sea at night on q sinkin
ship, ship with a crew of dead me
and dead captain at the helm.
Driving onward through the ragiI
waves, he could feel the vessel settlir
more surely as she rushed into eaC
yawning caldron. Suddenly throug
the wreck of flying spindrift he saw
smooth hlrbOr n sheltered baSiD