The Washington herald., 1908-03-11
CHAPTER XIV.
Reveal. a CIeycr conspiracy.

And who was he?' asked Adams
quickly.
"'For the present that is my own af-
fair" the huachback replied. Suffice II
for you TO know that we hold Samuel
Statham in the hollow OF our hand"
Il don't know so much about that,
remarked Adams. obviously. "I thought
so until this morning"
And why pray has your opinion
changed?"
Because when he came a second time
20 the window and looked out at me- there
was a glance Of defiance in his eye that
scarcely like He's wealthy and inau-
ential-we are not, remember"
knowledge is power. We shall be the
victors"
You are too sanguine. my dear fellow. "
declared the other. I'VE are angling for
big game. and to my idea the bait is not
sufficiently attractive"
"Statham is unscrupulous-so are we.
We can prove our story-prove it up to
the hilt Dare he face US? That's the
question"
Il think he dare" Adams replied. You
don't know him as well as 1 do. His
whole future now depends upon his blum,
and he knows it, We can ruin both the
house Of Statham Brothers and its prin-
Cipai- In the circumstances, 1t is only
natural that he should assume an air Of
defiance"
which We must combat by frmness.
We are associated in this affair. and my
advice Is not 70 show any sign of weak
ness"
Exactly That's the reason asked
you here tonight. Lyle-to discuss our
next step
The hunchback was silent and thought
fUl for few moments Then he said:
There is but one mode OF procedure
now. and that is TO go to him and tell
him cur intentions. Hell be frightened.
and the rest will be easy"
Sam Statham is not very easily fright
ened. You wouldn't be, If you were worth
couple OF million pounds" Adams re-
marked with dubious shake Of the
head
7 should be If upon me rested the bur
den Of guilt"
Then your suggestion Is that I should
90 and tell him openly my intenuons?"
Decidedly. The more open you are,
the greater viii be the old mans terror,
and the easier our ultimate task
He'll refuse to see me"
He goes down TO the city sometimes.
Better call there and present a false card.
He won't care TO be faced in the vicinity
Of his managers and clerks. 1t will show
him from the first that the great house
Of Statham is tottering"
And it shall fan" declared Adams.
with a triumphant chuckle. I'VE hold
the trump cards, it Is true. The only
matter TO be decided is how we shall play
them
They must be played very carefully.
If we are 10 win
VIM echoed the ether "Why. man.
we can't possibly lose"
Suppose he died?"
He won't die; I'll take care OF that"
said Adams, with a fierce expression upon
his somewhat evil countenance mo:
the old blacksuard shall live. and his life
shall be rendered a hell Of terror and
remorse- He made my life so bitter that
thousand times I've l0nged for death
He tainted me with my misfortunes
ruined me. and laughed in my face: jeered
az my unhappiness and Haunted his
wealth before me when / was penniless
But through ali these years ! have kept
silence. laughing within myself because
Of his ignorance that I alone held his
secret, and that when chose 7 could rise
and crush him
He had no suspicion OF my knowledge
Until one blazing day i'm a foreign city
! betrayed myself. l was q fool / know
But very soon atterward / repaid the
error by death. | died and was buried,
so that he then believed himself safe
and has remained in self-satisfed secur-
ity until this morning. when his gaze met
l,s,
from the deaG.' he added, with a short.
dry laugh risen to avenge myself by
his ruin"
And MS death?'' added the hunchback.
Don: 1 tell you he shall not die?"
cried Adams What satisfaction should
7 have were he to commit suicide? No:
l mean TO watch his agony. to terrify
him. and drive him TO an existence con
stantly fearing exposure and arrest. He
shall not enjoy a moments peace Of
mind. but shall be tortured by conscience
and driven mad by terror 1 will repay
his evil actions toward me and mine a
hundredfold"
How can you prevent him escaping
you by suicide?'
Hell never do that for he knows his
suicide would mean the ruin OF Statham
Bros. and perhaps the ruin OF hundreds
of families. The canting old hypocrite
would rather 10 anything nowadays than
ruin the poor investor
Yet look al his operations In earlier
days, Did he not lay the foundation OF
the house by the exercise Of cunning and
unscrupulous double dealing2 Was II not
mainly by his influence that a great war
was forced on, and did he not clear. it
Is declared. more than half n million by
sacrificing the lives of thousands? And
he actually has the audacity 10 dole out
sums Of charities and contributions TO
hospitals and convaleScent homesi"
''The world always looks at a mans
present, my dear old chap; never at bis
past" responded the hunchback.
Unfortunately, that is so; otherwise
the truth would be remembered and the
name OF Statham held up to scorn and
universal disgust. Yet" Adams went on.
Il grant you that he is not much worse
than others in the same category. The
snug frOck coat and light vest Of the
successful city man so very often con-
ceals black and ungenerous heart"
But II you really make this exposure.
as you threaten. It will arouse the great
est sensation ever produced in England in
modern years." Lyle remarked, slowly
lighting fresh cigarette.
i will make it-and more" he declared.
bringing his fist down heavily upon the
table. L have waited all these years for
my revenge, and, depend upon Il, It will
be humiliating and complete"
For a few moments neither man spoke
At last Lyle said
have more than once wondered
whether you are not making q mistake
in your association with that young man
Barclay
Max Barclay Is a fool He doesn't
dream the real game we are playing with
/, -