The Washington herald., 1908-03-08
THE PAUPER
PARK LANE
By
WILLIAM lie QUEUX
Copyright, 1908. BY William lie Queux
Entered at StationerS' Hall.
All rights reserved.

He Was watching for the reappearance of
that white. startled face at tie window
the face Of the great Samuel Statham.
still outside. / suppose?" Queried the
man at the other end of the room
Levi replied in the affirmative. whereat
old Samuel clenched his teeth and NUT
tered something which sounded Ike an
imPrecation. He was condemning him
self for his disbelief in his secretary's
warnings
Had I listened 20 him. / could easily
have saved myself-or-or, l could have
prevented him from coming here he
added In a meaning voice.
Yes; # would not have been difficult
to have prevented him. After what has
occurred that blackguard has no right
TO be alive"
'Ah. then you believe me. Bevi"' cried
the wretched man. you do not blame
me?" he asked. anxiously.
He was 70 blame-not you"
Then ! was right in acting as / did,
you think-right to defend my interests?"
You were right in your self-defense.' .
the man answered. his face gray. sphinx
like. for Levi was a man whose thoughts
one could never read from his thin. gray,
expressionless face. But you were in
judieious when you disregarded ROlfe'S
warming
Il thought he had his own interests to
serve" was Statham's reply.
Frankly. you believed ii 10 be an at
tempt at blackmail. 1 quite follow you.
but do you think Rolfe would be guilty
OF such n thing?'
My dear Levi when poor man is in
love, as Rolfe is. it is a sore temptation
to obtain by any means. fair or foul.
sufficient 10 marry and support a wife.
You and I were both young Once-eh?
And we thought that our love would last
always. Where is yours to-day and"-he
sigbed-"where is mine?"
You are right" replied the old ser
want slowly, with slight sigh. You
refer 10 little Marie. All! 1 can see her
now. plainly she was then. forty
years ago. How beautiful she was. how
dainty. how perfect. and-ah,-how we'll
you loved her. And what tragedy
the tragedy Of your life-the tragedy that
has ever been hidden from the world
the"
mo! Enough. Levi" cried his master
hoarsely. staring straight before him.
DO not recall that to me, especially at
this moment II was the great tragedy
Of my life. untll-until this present one
which-which threatens to end It,"
But you are going TO face the music.
You have Saidl'
L may-and 1 may not
Levi was silent again. Only the low
ticking of the clock broke the quiet, and
was followed by the rumble OF a motor
bus and the consequent tremor in the
room.
at any rate, Samuel Statham win
never act the coward" the millionaire re-
marked at last, in a soft but distinct
voice
'Rolfe can help you. Where is he?
Away just al the moment that he's want
ed Levi said.
MY fault! My fault. Levi!' his mas
ter declared. Il disbelieved him. and
sent him out TO Servia to show him that
I did not credit what he told me-.
You were fool"' said Levi. bluntly
He never minced words when his master
spoke confidently
Il know l was. have already admit
ted t." exclaimed the financier But
what puzzles me is that that man outside
is really alive and in the flesh. 1 never
dreamed that he would return 10 face me.
He was dead-I could have sworn it."
so you saw him dead-eh?'
Old Statham drew quick breath, and
his face went ashen for he saw how he
had betrayed himself Next instant he
had recovered from his embarrassment
and. bracing himself with an effort, said:
Mono, OF course not. II only know
what-well, what I've been told. I was
misled willfully by my enemies.r
Levi looked straight into his face with
a queer expression Of disbelief Statham
noticed il. and IL unneTVed him
He had inadvertently made confession,
and Levi did not credit his denial
The peril of the situation was COM
pletel