The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-10-11

partially.
Mason he liked. The mans rugged
strength of character, his sledge-ham-
mer vilIainy, his logged acceptance of
the leadership of a more skilled rascal,
appealed TO him.. Mason was a tool.
and a hard-hitting one. He would use
him. safeguard him If he could, but
use him anyhow.
In the seclusion of Grenier's small
fat Langcon poured out his Spleen,
Arson was the bane of his life. His
stepfather was Ansan's uncle. n the
old idiot recently found cat certain
facts concerning the life led by his
stepson that caused a family rupture.
His mother ~endeavored to patch mat
tiers will i'll success, and the baronet
was intent on finding his sisters son
and atoning to him for years of neg
lect by making Il his heir.
Lady Louisa concealed nothing of
this from her scapegrace son. She
hoped to brighten him by the threat
ened loss of supplies. But neither
fright nor hatred could bring him to
leave London and settle down to a
quiet life in Devonshire. when, per-
haps, the elderly ~naturalist's fit of in
~dignation might gradually wear itself
out.
At his crisis came his discovery of
Evelyn Atherley, n a mad desire to
win her affections. He even dreamed
Of p~ersuading her to marry him. II
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-
travagance, 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
speedier conquests. he confided mis-
wishes to Grenier, n resented he
~latter's condemnation of his sugges-
ton of a mock accident, in which
Langdon should figure as the gentle
manly rescuer, 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 cache a
higher pitch of fury when Mason sur
lily refused to say what grievance he
harbored against Arson.
"A nice muddle I've made of every
thing" cried the disappointed youth.
land a precious lot of friends I've
discovered. I tell you everything,
place myself un~reservedly in your
power, and you not only let me drift
into a stupid blunder, u decline to
share your condolences with me-"
he TOSS 10 80, Dul OISHlST HILliy
pushed him back into a chair.
Don't be a bigger fool thar you are,
Jimmie, and leave those who will help
you. I told you the cab adventure was
a mistake. 1t might go wrong In
twenty ways and right only in ne.
And you must admit hat I never
heard of Arson from you until to-
night"
"I may be to blame" was the sulky
I oArofccfnn HGhrI+ n-hn fc n1Ir frinnA
Hunter, and why does he not be as
o%utspOken as II"
There are reasons. Hunter was
cleaned out IN Africa on accoun of
Anson's manipulation Of a diamond
mine. He wants to get wen with
him. That should be enough for you"
Mason smiled sourly al his leaders
ready explanation, and Langdon saw
only the venom In the mans face.
He ought to have said So" he NUT
tered. "I 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 a decanter of
brandy and passed his cigarette case.
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 serv-
ants. They must be made to ak. He
has susceptible cooks and housemaids
in Park Lane and at whatever place
he owns in the country. 1 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 Jockey
Mason. He found a meteor in a slum
called Johnson's News. 1t was cram
full Of diamonds. 1 saw some of EN-"
You saw them"
His hearers allowed all other emo
tons to yield to the interest of this
astounding statement.
YES. I o say much. 1 act. You'll
get no more out of me. I want none
Of your girls or property. L want
Philip Anson's life, and, I'll have 1t if
l swing for it,"
MY dear Hunter, you are talking
wildly. Have another drink"
Grenier, cool as an icicle, saw unex-
pected vistas opening before him. He
must be wary n collected. Here was
the man who would pay, and the man
who would dare all things.
MaSon'S truculent determination gave
hope even to Langdon. He. too, gifted
with a certain power of vicious reason
ing. saw that this new ally might prove
useful. But he was afraid of such bold
~utterances, and hoped to achieve his
purposes without binding himself even
tacitly to the commission of a crime,
for Mason not only looked, but talked
murder.
II think I had better CO." he said
suddenly. Your brandy is too strong
for my head, Grenier. Call and see
me in the morning"
The astute rogue whom he addressed
raised no objection to his departure. He
instantly embraced Langdon's attitude
in his wider horizon
yes" he agreed. "1et US sleep on it.
We will all be better able to discuss
matters more clearly tomorrow"
Henceforth the fiat in Shaftesbury
avenue became a spiders wei into
which the flies that buZzed around
Philips life were drawn one by one,
squeezed dry of their store of informa-
ton, n east forth again unconscious
of the plot being woven against their
master