The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-10-04

COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY EDWARD }. cLoDI.
lect hv making him his heir.
Author Of "Winss OF the Morning." 1.-THE Pillar Of
LIGHT" Etc.

hoped to brighten him by the threaten
ed loss Of supplies, but neither frigh
nor hatred could bring him to leave
London and settle down to a quiet life
In Devonshire, when perhaps the ED
erly naturalist's fit of indignation
might gradually wear itself out.
At this crisis came his discovery OF
Evelyn Atherley and mad desire tc
win her affections. He even dreamed
Of persuading her to marry him aud
by this means succeed in rehabilitat
ing himself with Sir Philip Morland.
The girl was well born. Mrs. Ather.
ley was Lord vanstone's half sister,
and, although his lordship had ruined
himself and his relations by his ex.
travagance, the match was In every
| other respect suitable.
| He was not content with the slow
| formula of seeking an acquaintance In
the ordinary way. Accustomed to
| speedier conquests, he confided his
| wishes to Grenier and resented the lat
ters condemnation Of his suggestion of
| mock accident in which Langdon
should figure as the gentlemanly res
| cuer, as q ready means Of winning the
girls grateful regard.
The result was worse than failure.
He was wild with himself, wild with
Grenier and reached higher pitch Of
fury when Mason surlily refused to say
what grievance he harbored against
Arson.
"a nice muddle I've made of every
thingw cried the disappointed youth.
"And precious lot of friends I've dis
covered! l tell you everything, place
myself unreservedly in your power,
and you not only let me drift into a
stupid blunder, but decline to share
your condolences with me-"
he rose to go, but Grenier firmly
pushed him back into a chair.
Don't be bigger fool than you are
Jimmie and leave those who will help
you. told you the cab adventure was
a mistake. 1t might go wrong in TWEEN
ty ways and right only in one. And
you must admit that never heard Of
Arson from you until tonight
II may be to blame" was the sulky
admission, "but who Is your friend
Hunter, and why does he not be as
outspoken as IT'
There are reasons. Hunter was
cleaned out In Africa on account of
Anson's manipulation of a diamond
mine. He wants to get even with
him. That should be enough for you"
Mason smiled sourly at his leaders
ready explanation, and Langdon saw
only the venom in the mans face
''He ought to have said so," he NUT
tered. 81 am in no mood to be denied
the confidence of those who act with
me In this matter. In any case, what
can we dor
Grenier procured decanter of brandy
and passed his cigarette case.
1--WE can accomplish nothing with
out money"
against a millionaire?"
"None directly. You would be
swamped instantly. But we must
know more about Arson. He has
servants. They can be made to talk.
He has susceptible cooks and house
maids in Park lane and at whatever
place he owns in the country. 1 am
There is a mystery, an unfathomable
mystery, about his supply of diamonds.
1t must be probed'-
"No mystery at ALL" snarled Jocky
Mason. "He found q meteor in a
slum called Johnson's News. 1t was
cram full of diamonda- saw some
of EN-"
"YOu saw themr'
His hearers allowed all other emo
tons to yield to the interest of this
astounding statement
Eyes. l don't say much; / act.
You'll get no more out of me. / want
none Of your girls or property. 1 want
Philip Anson's life, and I'll have 1t If
1 swing for it,"
my dear Hunter, you are talking
wildly. Have another drink"
Grepier, cool as an icicle, saw unex-
pected vistas opening before him. He
must be wary and collected. Here was
the man who would pay and the man
who would dare all things.
Mason's truculent determination gave
hope even to Langdon. He, too, gifted
with a certain power of vicious rea-
soning, saw that this new ally might
prove useful. But he was afraid of
such bold utterances and hoped to
achieve his purposes without binding
himself even tacitly to the commission
of crime, for Mason not only looked.
but IA lLad rnurdpr
II think 1 had better CO." he said
suddenly. "Kour brandy is too strong
for my head, Grenier. Call and sec
me in the morning"
The astute rogue whom he address
ed raised no objection to his departure.
He instantly embraced Langdon's atti-
tude in his wider horizon.
yes" he agreed, "let us sleep on IL.
We will all be better able to discuss
matters more clearly tomorrow"
Thenccforth the fat In Shaftesbury
avenue became a spiders web into
which the flies that buzzed around
Philips life were drawn one by one,
squeezed dry of their store Of informa.
ton and cast forth again unconscious
OF the plot being woven against their
master.