Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-15
CHAPTER XVI.


 tered the youngest of the
 trio. We are fools to dis.
 cuss such things here It is your fault Grenier. Why did you drop this bombshell on me so unexpected iy? You confounded actors are always looking out for curtain. You should not try the experiment on your chums In a crowded bar"
 ''Now, my dear Langdon, do be req sonable. How could I tell that the mere name of Philip Anson would ere ate scene? You look as sick as q man who has just been sentenced to be hanged, and my old pal Hunter seems to have suddenly gone mad"
 Indeed, his words were justified. Mir James Crichton Langdon was corpselike in pallor, and Mason, alias Hunter, though his tongue was stilled, bore every indication of man en- ragged almost beyond control. M
 Come away, then" said Langdon, with horrible attempt to smile in- differently. --.
 No. no. There are too many eyes here that we should leave with the air of a set of stage murderers. Sit down. Let us have nip of brandy. Talk about racing, women, anything. for a little while and then go out quietly"
 Grenier was right. A detective had already nudged an acquaintance and whispered:
 "The pigeon seems to be upset. And one of the hawks is in a rare temper too. I'll keep an eye on that collec- tion." .....
 He watched them through a mirror. He saw Grenier exert himself to put his companions in a better humor. When they went out, he followed and ascertained from the commissionnaire at the door that they had gone toward Shaftesbury avenue.
 By walking rapidly he sighted them again and saw them turn into door way.
 "Grenier's chambersw he said. "What a splendid nerve that fellow has. Reports himself coolly at Scot land Yard every month and lives in style not half a mile away. How does he manage if? I must make some in- quiry about the others"
 Certainly the methods of the superior scoundrels of London are peculiar. Grenier knew that he was a marked man in the eyes of the police. He knew that the particular saloon bar he affected was the rendezvous not only of others like himself, but of the smartest detective officers of the met ropolitan force. Yet this was his fa- vorite hunting ground. Where the car. cass is there are the jackals. He would never dream of honest endeavor in . new land to begin life anew. The feast was spread before bis eyes, and he could not resist 1t.
 But Grenier was a careful rogue. After a boyhood of good training and he drifted into a bad set at the beginning of his adult career. Once. indeed, he endeavored to put his great natural abilities to some reason able use by going on the stage. The in- dustrious hardship of the early years of an actors striving were not to his liking, however. No sooner had he at- tained a position of trust as manager of a touring company than he tamper. ed with moneys intrusted to his care.
 He was not actually found out, but and dismissed. Then the reg. ular gradations of crime came natural ly to him. Gambling. card sharping. company frauds, even successful for gery, succeeded each other In heir rec ognized sequence. until at last came detection and heavy sentence. for the authorities had long waited for him to drop Into the net.
 Now that he was free, he did not in- tend to revisit any of his majesty's convict settlements if he could help 1t.
 His wits were sharpened, his cool in- tellect developed by prison life and as- sociations. He personally would keep .lear of the law and make others SUD- port him.
 He would depend on two classes of ,ontributors-fools. Ike Langdon, and How witted criminals. like Mason. Be- ng a really clever man. 1t would be strange if his own middle path were lot kept clear of letters. In the mystery surrounding Philip Anson's influence over these two he cented Interesting developments. Be timing with a young rake's attempt 10 nsnare a beautiful girl. he suddenly Recovered a situation pregnant with be potentiality of gain to himself. It id not matter to him who paid him. whether Anson or Langdon. He would etray one or the other or hsth im- artially. AIason he Iiked- The mans rugged trength of character. his sledge ham, her viIlalny. hIs dogged acceptance of he leadership of a more skilled rascal. ppealed to him Mason was a tool. nd a hard hitting one. He would use i'm. safegrard him If he could. but | Ise him anyhow.
 Tn the seclusion of Grenier's small 4 lat Lsng1On poured out his spleen Anson was the bane of his life. His ] tepfather was Anson's uncle, and the d idiot recently found out certain nets concerning the life led by his tePson that caused a family rupture. lis mother endeavored to patch mat srs with III success. and the baro1et Fas intent on finding his sisters son nd atoni1g tO him for years of neg act by rszkinz hin his heir.
 Lady Louis eo1cesled nothing of