The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-12


strength of character. his sledge ham
mer villainy, his logged acceptance Of
the leadership of a more skilled rascal.
appealed to him. Mason was a tool,
and hard hitting one. He would use
him, safeguard him If he could, but
use him anyhow.
In the seclusion of Grenier's small
Eat 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 a family rupture.
His mother endeavored to patch mat
tiers with i'll 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 eld-
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-
trayagance, the match was In every
other respect suitable.
He was not content with the slow
formula of seeking an acquaintance in
the ordinary way. Accustomed to
speeder conquests, he confided his
wishes to Grenier and resented the lat
ter's condemnation of his suggestion of
mock accident in which Langdon
should figure as the gentlemanly res
cuer, as a ready means Of winning the
girls grateful regard.
The result was worse than failure.
He was wild with himself, wild with
Grenier and reached higher pitch of
fury when Mason surlily refused to say
what grievance he harbored against
Arson.
"a nice muddle I've made of every
thing!" cried the disappointed youth.
sand precious lot Of friends I've dis
covered! I tell you everything, place
myself unreservedly in your power,
and you not only let me drift into a
stupid blunder, but decline to share
your condolences with me-"
He rose to go, but Grenier firmly
pushed him back into a chair.
Don't be bigger fool than you are,
Jimmie, and leave those who will help
you. ] told you the cab adventure was
a mistake. 1t might go wrong in TWEEN
ty ways and right only In one. And
you must admit that / never heard of
Arson from you until tonight"
II may be to blame,' was the sulky
admission, "but who is your friend
Hunter, and why does he not be as
outspoken as IL"
There are reasons. Hunter was
cleaned out in Africa on account of
Anson's manipulation of a diamond
mine. He wants to get even with
him. That should be enough for YOU"
Mason smiled sourly at his leaders
ICduy l<uuSuOu I'd -"
only the venom in the mans face.
He ought to have said So" he NUT
tered. II am in no mood to be denied
the confidence of those who act with
me In this matter. In any case, what
can we do?"
Grenier procured decanter Of brandy
and passed his cigarette case.
1--WE can accomplish nothing with.
out money"
Money! What avail is money
against a millionaire"
"None directly. You would be
swamped instantly. But we must
know more about Arson. He has
servants. They can be made to talk
He has susceptible cooks and house
maids in Park lane and at whatever
| place he owns in the country. / am
| great with cooks and housemaids
There is a mystery, an unfathomable
mystery. about his supply of diamonds
1t must be probed"--
mo mystery at ALL" snarled Jocky
| Mason. He found a meteor in a
| slum called Johnson's News. 1t was
| cram full Of diamonds. / saw some
| of EN-
| You saw themv'
His hearers allowed all other emo
| tons to yield to the interest of this
| astounding statement.
Yes. l don't say much; act
You'll get no more out of me. I want
| none of your girls or property. 1 want
Philip Ansons life, and I'll have 1t II
| swing for It'll"
| "My dear Hunter, you are talking
| wildly. Have another drink"
| Grenier, cool as an icicle, saw unex
| pected vistas opening before him. Ht
must be wary and collected. Here was
| the man who would pay and the mar
| who would dare all things.
| Mason's truculent determination gave
| hope even to Langdon. He. too. gifted
| with certain power of vicious rea
| soning, saw that this new ally might
| prove useful TT he was afraid OF
! s''"h ho'' -ues and hoped to