The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-29

uuSlfiOuS HaFuSHlp Oh the cary years
OF an actors striving were not TO his
liking, however. No sooner had he at
tanned a position of trust as manager
Of a touring company than lie tamper-
ed with moneys intrusted 10 his care.
He was not actually found out, but
suspected and dismissed. Then the reg
ular gradations of crime came natural
ly TO him. Gambling. card sharping.
company frauds, even successful for
gerry, succeeded each other in their rec
ognized sequence. until at last came
detection and a 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 it.
His wits were sharpened, his cool in
tellect developed by prison life and as
sociations. He personally would keep
clear of the law and make others sup
port him.
He would depend on two classes of
contributors-fools. like Langdon, and
slow witted criminals. like Mason. Be
strange If his own middle path We're
not kept clear of letters.
In the mystery surrounding Philip
Ansons influence over these two he
scented interesting developments. Be
ginning with young rake's attempt to
ensnare a beautiful girl. he suddenly
discovered & situation pregnant with
the potentiality of gain to himself 1t
did not matter to him who paid him.
whether Arson or Langdon He would
betray one or the other or both I'm
partially.
Mason he liked. The mans rugged
strength OF character. his sledge ham,
mer villainy, his logged acceptance of
the leadership of a more skilled rascal.
appealed to him. Mason was tool,
and a hard hitting one. He would use
him, safeguard him if he could, but
use him anyhow.
In the seclusion of Grenier's small
fat Langdon poured out his spleen.
Arson was the bane of his life. His
stepfather was Anson's uncle and the
old idiot recently found out certain
facts concerning the life led by his
stepson that caused q family rupture
| His mother endeavored TO patch mat
/ ters with ill success, and the baronet
was intent on finding his sisters son
| and atoning to him for years Of neg
lect by making him his heir.
Lady Louisa concealed nothing Of
this from her scapegrace son. She
hoped to frighten him by the threaten
ed loss of supplies, but neither fright
nor hatred could bring him to leave
London and settle down to a quiet life
in DeyonShire, when perhaps the cid
erly naturalist's fit of indignation
might gradually wear itself out.
At this crisis came his discovery of
Evelyn Atherley and a mad desire to
win her affections. He even dreamed
of persuading her to marry him and
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 IL
the ordinary way. Accustomed t
speedier conquests, he confded his
wishes to Grenier and resented the lat
ter's condemnation OF his suggestion Of
a mock accident in which Langdor
should figure as the gentlemanly res
cuer, as a ready means of winning tn,
girls grateful regard.
The result was worse than failure
He was wild with himself, wild witt
Grenier and reached a higher pitch o.
fury when Mason surllly refused to SAL
what grievance he harbored agains
Arson.
"a nice middle I've made OF every
thing." cried the disappointed youth
"And a precious lot of friends I've dis
covered! 1 tell you everything. plac
myself unreservedly in your power
and you not only let me drift into
stupid blunder, but decline to shar
your condolences with me-"
: He rose to go, but Grenier frml
: pushed him back into a chair.
Don't be a bigger fool than you are
!, Jimmie. and leave those who will bel
you. I told you the cab adventure wa
a mistake. It might go wrong in twer
ty ways and right only in one. An
you must admit that I never heard @
Arson from you until tonight"
II may be to blame was the sulk
: admission, "but who is your frien
Hunter, and why does he not be a
outspoken as IT.
There are reasons. Hunter wa
t cleaned out in Africa on account {
. Anson's manipulation Of a damon
/ mine. He wants to get even wit
: him. That should be enough for you
j Mason smiled sourly at his leader
ready explanation, aud Langdon sa'
D only the venom in the mans face.
: He ought to have said So" he mu
tered. Il am in no mood to be denie
the confidence Of those who act wit
r mo in this matter In any case whs