The Columbus journal., 1907-01-09

felt a. II I had suddenly emerged mo-
the par)oP oe.a dive and itS steaeA a
Fseksnins speesemsss Into .thesputs.aif
of Gods. Aeayea. "a a-- 2n :
signed tie han. and we went a6ooe
up the avenue. Sam, - I saw With q
good deal Of amusement. wa trying
to devise some subtle. tactful way oe
attaching his poor. clumsy little suo.
tionspump to the we'll OF my secEee
thoughtss 30 Is
what II It Sammy" said I n last.
What Do you want to know that
you're afraid 10 ask me!
NOTHING" he said hastily. I'm
only . bit worried about--about ron
and textile. Matt this In the tone
Of deep emotion We reserve for the
attempt to lure friends into lconnding
that about themselves which win give
% the opportunity to pity them. and.
1t necessary, to sheer on from them
Matt, I do hope you haven't been
hard hit?"
Not yet" said I easily. Dry youf
tears and put away your black clothes.
Your friend, Tom Langdoo. was . HIT
tie premature"
"Tm@afraid I've given You . false
impression" Sam continued. With IN
overeagerness to convince me that did
not attract my attention 1T the time.
Tom merely said. I hear Blackjack
10 loaded mp with textile shorts.-
that Was Ill. A careless remark. I
really didn't think Of It again until !
saw you looking % black and GUM"
That seemed natural enough. % I
changed the subject A we eatsred
his house. I said:
I'm not 90 mp to the draWing.Foo@.
Make my excuses to your mother.
win you: m turn into the little
smokingFo0m here. Tell your sister
and say I'm going to stop only . mo
ment-"
Sam had Just left me when tho but
Ter came. mi. Ball. think that vas
the name. Er-Wishes to speak to you
On the telephone"
I had given Ellersly's @ one Of The
places at which I might b found,
should It be necessary to consult me.
l followed the butler b the telephone
closet under the main stairway. Al
soon ~ Ball made sure It wa I, -
began:
IN use tho code words. I've Just
seen Fearless. AZ you told mo to"
Fearless that Was Mitchell, my SPY
in the employ Of Tavist0ck. Who wa
my principal rival in the business OF
confidential brokerage for tho high
hnanciers. Yes" said l. What does
he say?"
There has been . great deal OF
heavy buying for . mooth past"
Then my dread vas we'll founded
textiles were to b deliberately rock
eted. Who's been doing it, I asked.
He found out only this afternoon.
It's been kept unusually DARK. It"
Who? Who!' l demanded.
Intrepid" he answered.
Intrepid that Il. Langdon
bray Langdon!
Tho whole thing was planned care
continued Ball. and il coming
OF according to schedule. Fearless
. fnal message ~lntrepid'S
brother brought from him today"
So 1t was NO mischance Il was IN
assassination, Mowbray Langdon had
stabbed me in the hack and fed
did you hear what I said!" asked
Ball. lis that you"
"Yes." I replied.
'Oh," came in . relieved tone from
the other end Of the wire. You were
so long In answering that I thought
I'd been cut OF. Any instrucions!"
mo-" said I. "Good-by."
1 heard him ring Oh. but I sat there
for several minutes. the receiver stin
to my ear. l was muttering: Lang
don, Langdon why - why-why?"
again and again. Why had he turneo
me? Why had he plotted to
destroy me-one of those plots 50 ire
quent in Wall street-Where the assaS-
sin steals up, delivers the mortal blow,
and steals away without ever being
detected or even suspected? I saw
the whole plot noW| understood Tom
activities. I recalled Now
bray Langdon's curious phrases and
looks and tones. But-Why-Why-i
Why! How was I In his way?
It Was all dark to me-pitch-dsrk
returned to the smoking-room, light
ed . cigar, sat fumbling at the new
was in NO worse plight
than beSore-What did Il matter who
was attacking me! In the eircum-
stances, . novice could now destroy
mo a. easily a. a Langdon. stu.
Balls news seemed to take away my
courage. I reminded myself that ]
vas used to treachery Of this sort
that I deserved what I was getting b.
cause I had. like . fool. dropped my
guard In the fight that II always On
every-man-for4Amself. But I remind
ID myself In vain. Langdon's smiling
treachesy made mo heart-sick.
Soon Anita appeared-preceded and
heralded BY q faint rustling from son
and clinging skirts, that swept my
nerves like . love-tune.
1 think my torment must have some
how penetrated to her. For she was
sweet and friendly-and she could not
have hurt me worse! II I had fol
my impulse I should have fallen
her feet and buried my face, scorch-
ing, in the folds Of that pale blue
49,