The Washington herald., 1908-03-11


nee OF the girl, eh?'
His companion smiled meaningly.
We must be careful how we use Bar
clay. Lyle said. ''The young man has
HIS eyes OPEN
know. I'm well aware OF that.
Adams said quickly. He viii be OF the
greatest assistance 90 us,
II he has no suspicious
what suspicion can he have| laughed
the other. IAN that we've told him he
believes 20 be gospel truth. Only the
night before last we dined together at
Romano's, and after an hour az the En-
pire he took me 20 his club to chat and
smoke
He, OF course, believes the story Of
the railway concession 20 be genuine
Lyle suggested. Let me see. the conces-
sion is somewhere in the Balkans, isn't
it?"
Yes; the railroad from Nisch. in
Servia, across Northern Albania, 10 San
Giovanni di Medua. on the Adriatic. A
Srand scheme that's been talked of for
years and which the Sultan has always
prevented by refusing TO allow the line
10 pass through Turkish territory
Our story is added Adams, that his
majesty has at last signed an trade
granting permission, and that within a
month or so the whole concession VIII
be given over 10 an English group. of
whom / am the representative ! saw
that the scheme appealed TO him from
the very first. He recognized that there
was money in It. for such q line would
tap the whole trade OF the Balkans. and
by junction near the Iron Gates OF
the Danube. take the trade of Roumania.
Hungary. and Southwestern Russia 10 the
Adriatic, instead OF as at present. into
the Black Sea.
For the past week I've met Barclay
nearly every day. He suggested that, as
the railway would be a matter OF mil
lions. he should approach old Sam stat
ham and ask him to lend us his support"
Does he know Statham2'
Slightly. But I at once declined to al
low him to speak about the scheme"
Why"
Because old Sam, with the aid Of his
spies and informants IN diplomatic circles
could in three days satisfy himself
whether our story was true or false
II would have given the whole story
away at once. SO l made an excuse for
continued secrecy"
quite right. We must not court fail
ure by allowing any inquiry to be pre-
matuTely made" said Lyle Make the
project a secret one. and speak OF it
with bated breath. Hint at diplomatic
difficulties between Turkey and England
if the truth were known.
That's just what have done and he's
completely misled. / explained that Ger
many would try and bring pressure upon
the Sultan TO withdraw the trade as
soon as il were known that the railway
had fallen into British lands. And he
believed me implicitly
He had no suspicion Of whom you
really are?"
Certainly not lie believes that I've
never met Statham. but that 1 have the
greatest admiration for his financial sta
bility and his excellent personal quail
ties" Adams replied. "He knows me as
Jean Adam. OF Paris. as they do here
in these fats-a man who has extensive
business relations in the near East, and
therefore well in with the pashas Of the
Sublime Porte and the officials of the
YildiZ. I tell you. Lyle. the young fellow
believes in me-"
because you're such confoundedly
clever actor, Adams. You'd deceive the
cutest business man I'm London. with
your wonderful documents, your rosy
prospectuses, and your tales Of fortunes
ready to be picked up II only a few
thousands are invested. You've thorough
" fascinated young Max Barclay, who.
believing that you've obtained a very
valuable concession. is seized with a
laudable desire 10 share the profits and
to obtain a lucrative occupation as a
director o. the company in question"
"Once he has fallen entirely in our
power. the rest will be easy q" answered
the adventurer. Il mean to have my re-
venge. and you receive $SO0OG as your
share
"But what form is this revenge Of
yours to take?" the hunchback inquired.
You have never told me that
at Is my own affair" answered Adams.
leaning back against the mantelshelf
We'll. ] think between friends there
should not be any distrust." Lyle re-
marked. You don't think I'd give you
away. do your It's to my interest TO as
sist you and obtain the thirty thousand.
And you will, II you stick to me,
Adams answered.
But I'd Ike to know your main OBJ
ject"
you know that already"
But only yesterday you told me that
you don't want a farthing of old Stat
hams money
Nor do I. His money has a curse
upon 1.-THE money filched from the pock-
cts Of widows and orphans, money that
has been obtained by fraud and misrep-
resentation." cried Adams. To-day he
is respected and lauded on account Of his
pious air and his philanthropy; yet yes
terday he flOated rotten concerns and
coolly placed hundreds OF thousands in
his pocket by reason of the glowing
promises that he never fulfilled. Mo-"
cried the man. clenchlng his strong. hard
fist. Il don't want a single penny OF his
money. You, Lyle. may have what you
want OF it-thirty thousand to be the
minimum"
You talk as though you contemplated
handling his fortune" the other remark
ed, in some surprise.
When l reveal TO him my Intentions
his banking account viii be at my dis
posal. depend upon It," Adams said. But
I don't want any OF his bribes. 1 shall
refuse them. l viii have my revenge. 1t
shall be an eye for an eve, and a tooth
for a tooth. He showed me no mercy.
and l will show him none-none. But II
is Max Barclay who will assist me to-
ward that end. and the girl at Cunning
tons, Marion Roife, who must be made
the catspaw."
Lyle remained thoughtful. his eyes upon
the carpet.
Yes" he said. slowly. at last. 'T quite
follow you and divine your intentions.
But. remember. she's a woman Is il inst
lis il human"
Human echoed the COSMOPOLITAN. re-
moving his cigarette as he shrugged his
shoulders with a nonchalant air. "To me
it matters nothing, so long as I attain
my object. Surely. you are not chicken
hearted enough to be moved by a won-
ans tears"
Il don't understand you." his friend de-
clared
mo; I suppose you don't" he answer
ed. And. 10 be frank with you. Lyle 7