The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-09-03

of Gods heaven.
! signed the bill. and we went afoot
up the avenue. Sam, as saw with q
good deal of amusement. was trying
to devise some subtle, tactful way OF
attaching his poor. clumsy little sue
tion-pump to the well OF my secret
thoughts.
What is it Sammy" said l at last
What do you want to know that
you're afraid to ask me?"
Nothing" he said hastily. "I'm
only bit worried about-about you
and textile. Matt,"-this in the tone
OF deep emotion we reserve for the
attempt to lure friends into confiding
that about themselves which will give
us the opportunity to pity them, and
IL necessary, to sheer off from them
Matt, I do hope you haven't been
hard hit?"
Not yet" said | easily. Dry your
tears and put away your black clothes.
1 Your friend, Tom Langdon, was a lit
tie premature"
I'm afraid I've given you a false
impression" Sam continued, with an
overeagerness to convince me that did
not attract my attention at the time.
Tom merely said, hear Blackjack
is loaded up with textile shorts
that was all. A careless remark.
really didn't think of it again until
saw you looking so black and glum."
That seemed natural enough, so
changed the subject AS we entered
his house, l said:
"Tll not go up to the drawing-room.
Make my excuses to your mother,
will you? III turn into the little
smokingroom here. Tell your sister
and say I'm going to stop only a mo
ment"
Sam had just left me when the but
Ter came. Mr.. Ball think that was
the name, sir-wishes to speak to you
on the telephone"
had given Ellersly's as one of the
places at which l might be found,
should it be necessary to consult me.
1 followed the butler to the telephone
closet under the main stairway. As
soon as Ball made sure it was /, he
began
III use the code words. I've Just
seen Fearless, as you told me to"
Fearless-that was Mitchell, my spy
in the employ of Tavistock, who was
my principal rival in the business oil
confidential brokerage for the higt
fnanciers. Yes" said l. What does
he say?"
There has been a great deal OF
heavy buying for month past"
Then my dread was well founded
textiles were to be deliberately rock
eted. Who's been doing it?'' asked
He found out only this afternoon
It's been kept unusually dark. It"
Who? Who?" l demanded.
Intrepid" he answered.
Intrepid-that is, Langdon-Mow
bray Langdoni
The whole thing was planned care
fully continued Ball, and is comm;
off according to schedule. Fearless
overheard a final message Intrepid
brother brought from him to-day
So it was no mischance-iI was a
assassination. Mowbray Langdon ha
stabbed me in the back and fed
did you hear what l said?" aske
Ball. rs that you"
YES" 1 replied.
"Oh,'' came in relieved tone froT
the other end of the wire. You wer
so long in answering that l though
I'd been cut off. Any instructions?
NO" said l. "Good-by."
/ heard him ring off, but l sat Their
for several minutes, the receiver sti
to my ear. l was muttering: Ian;
don, Langdon - why = why-why?
again and again. Why had he turne
against me? Why had he plotted
destroy me-one of those plots so fr,
quent IN Wall street-where the ASA
sin steals up, delivers the mortal bloV
and steals away without ever bein
detected or even suspected? | sa'
the whole plot now-I understood Tol
Langdon's activities. | recalled Nov
bray Langdon's curious phrases an
looks and tones. But-why-why-
why? How was l in his way?
1t was all dark to me-pitch-darl
returned to the smoking-room, ligh
ed cigar, sat fumbling at the ne
situation | was in no worse pligl
than before-what did it matter WI
: was attacking me? In the circur
. stances, a novice. could now destrc
me as easily as a Langdon. Sti
Balls news seemed to take away N
u courage. reminded myself that
was used to treachery of this sol
I. that | deserved what | was getting b
/ cause | had, like a fool, dropped n
Il guard in the fight that is always {
himself. But | remin
l. ed myself in vain. Langdon's smilir
treachery made me heart-siek,
a Soon Anita ppeared-preceded al
81 heralded by faint rustling from SO
n and olinging skirts, that swept n
$ nerves like love-tune.
think my torment must have som
i how penetrated to her For she WI
sweet and friendly-and she could n
l. have hurt me worse! If | had II
lowed my impulse | should have fallt
u at her feet and buried my face. score
Is ing. in the folds OF that pale blu