The Washington times., 1908-12-30


pacing excisedly up and down the deck,
in a perfect fer. ,ent.
"Oh, what a fool I've beent" he
groaned, What a fool, I've walked
straight into a trap, and now I'm
caught What can I do2" He threw
out his hands des., s.,erateIy. Il was idiot
enough to sign the minutes of dhec-
tors meetings without reading them,
and Of course my guilt seems plain.
IF 1 had any money left" and he
gritted his teeth fiercely, 4 might be
able to run down the scoundrels who
set this up on me. and land them; but
it's hopeless now. I'm broke, and
haven't got chance.
STILL" throwing back his head. 10
body shall say that Jim Harrison
skulked or ran away. I'll 30 back and
take what's coming TO me. be it fair or
not, and then I'll go TO work to clear
my name This boat goes TO Manila as
fast as she can sail. and when I'm
there the first thing I shall do is give
myself up 10 the United States COmmis-
sioner."
NO" Captain Kirby laid a hand OF
cooler counsel upon his shoulder.
"Once convicted and sent 10 prison, as
You viii surely be, you can never eradi-
cate the taint. no matter how innocent
YOU may afterward prove yourself.
Listen 10 me; do YOU know the names
Of the men concerned in the conspiracy
by which you were caughtZ'
TO be sure. I do. Bailey, Miller and
Ferguson
Yes. I know" impatieutIy. Their
names were mentioned in the news
paper accounts, and they have all es-
capped safely. probably to some country
where they are now beyond the reach
OF eXtraditlOn. But they were mere
tools at the best some deeper and more
scheming brain was behind the scenes,
directing and controlling them Have
you no suspicion as 10 whom Il might
be?"
Jim slowly shook his head.
No he said: mot unless Il could
have been Pete Spencer. but he disap-
peared long before this ever come up"
Pete Spencer"
Yes. P s Spencer, a pretty smooth
proposition, who used 20 be around
Chicago, and was considerably in-and-in
with the chaps I just mentioned"
'Ha-" Captain Kirby threw back his
head and closed his eyes, while he ran
down the connection which was in his
mind.
In that encyclopedias memory Of his,
dates. names. facts-anything he had
ever seen, heard. or read-were classI-
fed and cataloEued away, ready 10 be
called upon at a moments notice. i
was seldom he was ar a loss 10 furnish
whatever information might be required.
Il have Il" he exclaimed at length,
opening his eyes "P- 5. Spencer. "a
pretty smooth proposition as YOU call
him. left Chicago three or four years
ago; and three or four years ago ?.
Starr Spencer first dawned upon New
York and commenced those operations
which have carried him 10 the top OF
the financial pinnacle.
II may be or in my guess. young
man; but I'd almost call 10 dollars 10
dOughnuts that Starr Spencer IS the
chap youu have 10 nail"
Starr Spencer gasped Jim, think
ing Of Helene.
you think,7 .nistakiuC the nature or
the exclamation, that a big huancier
Of that sort wouldn't dare to be con-
nected with such crookedness, eh2 But
I tell you. Starr Spencer has needed
money 10 float his various schemes.
and it's always been a mystery where
he got Il. Yes. the more I think OF il,
the more convinced am that he is the
man YOU want
Have him WATCHED aid shedowed," ."
he went OF. enthusiastically. Secure
the best detective taIeu; % note his
every movement Aye, buy I'D his sub
ordinates-One has sometimes to fight
Satan with fire. Do everything that
money can do 10 land him. but don't
go back TO America yourself. Harrison,
until you have him at your mercy"
Jim gazed at his adviser with all hts
earlier doubts as to the others sanity
rapidly crystallizing into certainty.
DO everything that money can do?''
he scoffed bitterly. Are you com
pIeteIy beside yourself, MANI Haven't
1 told you that I am practically a pau
per?''
But Captain Kirby, instead Of correct
ing himself, and extending his sym
pathy. broke into a ringing laugh.
''Oh, I forgot" he chuckIed. as though
it were the best joke in the world. You
don't know yet, do yoU?"
Don't know what2''
That you have $4,000 in that pebble I
handed back TO you a while ago"
This pe5bler' Jim hastily fished II
out Of his pocket and held it doubtingly
between his thumb and forefnger-a
duI, gray stone with little crystalline
projections
Certainly. It is a diamond OF the
first water I have hunted them too
many years not 10 know. Do you recall
where you got this?'
''Why-yes," stammered Jim, wonder
ing If this were merely a change in the
character Of his illusions, or If It could
really be the truth.
And are there any more there ike
it?'
ANY more: Why, the natives throw
them at the birdsr'
Then" said Captain Kirby. crisply,
Starr Spencer hasn't one chance in a
million to escape"
The Continuation OF This Story VIII
BE Found in TOmOrrOyv's
Issue of This Paper.