Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-01-22
CHAPTER XN1I.
NiiHI TIk mi.
THE one man stood, the other sat

scoundrel that he was was bereft of |
speech, of the power to move. He |
harbored no decisions. This was no /
ghost coming to trouble his soul in
broad daylight 1t was Philip Arson
himself, alive and in full possession of
his senses, more terrible apparition
than any visitor from beyond the
grave. His presence in that room
meant penal scrvitude for life for Vic
tor Grenier, prison cell instead of
palatial chambers, bread and skilly III
place of Carlton lunchcons.
No wonder the scountlrcl was dumb,
that his tongue was dry. He went
cold all over. and his eyes swami
Philip advanced toward him. Grenier
gould not move. He was glued to his
chair.
WHO are you?" said Arson sternly
No answer AS yet the acute brain
refused to work. Discriminating es-
cape-were the vague ideas that jos
tied each other in chaos.
Can you not speak? Who are You
that dares to usurp my name after
striving to murder me?"
No answer. The shifty eyes-the
eyes of n detected pickpocket--wander
cd stupidity from Philips set face to
that of the perpleXed hotel manager
and the gravely amused doctor.
Philip never used strong language,
but he was greatly tempted at that
moment.
.Confound your he shouted. "Why
don't YOU answer me:"
Tiny name Is Philip Anson. The
manager-the-bank.
AS n spent fox will vainly try the
last despairing device Of climbing a
tree in full sight Of the hounds. so did
Victor Grenier evolve the desperate
scheme that perhaps perhaps = he
might carry out feeble pretense OF
self assertion.
If only he conld get away into the
crowded station, into the streets, stink
into obscurity while the chase swept
past, lie might yet endeavor to escape.
You Philip Arson! You vile i'm
poster! am sorely inclined to wiring
your neck!'
Philip came nearer. In shce: fright
lest the other might give effect to his
words Grenier again backed his chair
violently. 1t caught against n thick
rug, and he fell headlong. For an in
slant they all thought he had hurt
himself seriously
The doctor and manager ran to pick
him up. but he rose to his knees and
whined:
II will tell everything. l mean, there
is some mistake. Look at my letters,
my bank books. They are Philip An
sons Iu1aaI fl,ara 10. ,oistoIor
On the table were many documents
and pile of bank notes Everything
was in order, neatly pinned and dock
eted. A number of kilograms, of which
the topmost was signed Evelyn"
- eauaht Philips eye. He took them up.
Not only We're his betrothed's mes
sages preserved, but copies of Gre
nier's replies were inserted in their
proper sequence.
And Evelyn's letters, too, lay before
him. He flushed with anger as he read.
"Oh,'' he cried in sudden blaze, "if
/ talk with this scoundrel shall do
him an injury. Send for the police.
They Will know how to deal with him"
The mere mention of the police gal
yanized Grenier into the activity of n
wildcat. He had risen to his feet and
was standing Imply between the doc
tor and manager when that hated word
electrified him.
With one spring he was free of them,
rushing frantically to the door, After
him went all three, the manager lead
ing.
Grenier tore the door open and got
outside. 1t was hopeless attempt. He
would be stopped by hotel porters at
the foot of the stairs by the managers
loud voiced order. Yet he raced for
dear liberty, trusting blindly to fate.
And fate met him more than half
way
\ tall man coming upstairs with n
page boy encountered Grenier flying
downward He grabbed him in Il
clutch of iron and cried sardonically:
No, you don't! A word with me
first If the devil was at your heels.
Intent on his prize, he paid no heed
to Others
(Which Is his room:" he said to the
boy.
NO. Al. SIR" stammered the young
ster, who thought that milllonaires
should be treated with more ceremony
than this wolf eyed stranger bestowed
on the great Mr.. Arson.
go on, then! I'll bring himw
ut is Jocky Mason" murmured Phil
Up to Dr. Scarth. With the manager
they had halted IN the corridor Ma
son strobe past them, with eyes only
for the covering Grenier, who was
making pteous appeals to be set free.
The stronger ru!liNn threw his con-
federate into room IL and was about
TO close the door when he saw Philip,
close behind him.
He stepped back Il pace, mute rigid,
seeking with glaring eyes to learn
whether or not he WAS the victim Of
hallucnation.
Philip knew him Instantly. The
voice he heard on the stairs, the rn-
lcenan's rough but accurate picture,
the recollection of the captive of John.
sons News. all conibiled to tell him
that in truth Jockv Mason stooi: be-
fore him.
More than that, the would be muir
derer hrndled his accomplish in a way
that promised interesting develop
ments. Now. pcrchancc, the truth
n,ipl.t la a,nariairni Lscane was out
of the cue TIA ~ e.si!A. s-i.'..l. The
manage i.,;d ;i'3I.ilt f1tir 3ti'on.,
pprtr;s "a % the spot
= :F::l .atnr' said Arson
tp ''y3u." 10 the manager,
Il !. rcaiain here with your
IA ~, ni;i;,lt..S.''
-.r..;l '....l.!ilGa the police:
~; ~: / Wstnt 10 clear matters
4, ,'. ~,