Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-04-10


schemer. True. | bought the gentle
man lunch at Sherry's. together with
few cigars. a couple of cold bottles
and there were some incidental ex
penses which ran the price of the meal
up-well. up into six figures. but be-
yond this Mr.. Renwyck paused and
smiled. mo one in this enlightened
age would dream of buying an entire
legislature. my dear boy. Horrible"
Richard rose from his seat. took a
turn up and down the library. then
faced his exultant host.
"Mr. Renwyck." he asked. "aren I
you losing sight OF one important fac
tor in the game? From what ! have
heard of him. Bill Williams Is scarcely
the man to be lying around In ham
mock while you are putting through
your deep water harbor bill. In my
humble opinion. you are going to have
fight on your hands that will make
you sit up and get busy
This was the most un-English Ian
guage which the supposed nobleman
had yet employed. but it did not at
! tract the notice or awaken the suspi-
clon of Mr. Renwyck at that time,
owing to his deep interest in the mat
ter Immediately in hand.
"Ah." he cried, now you've laid
your finger on a beauty spot! or
course Williams will fight me with
tooth and NALL but by the Lord Harry,
he can'tr'
"Why not?"
simply because he will not be In
Texas when my bill is passed"
Richard stared at his host in fear
and wonder. while Mr. Renwyck con
tinued jubilantly:
81 could not have had matters turn
out better If | had arranged 1t all my
self. 1t seems that Williams fool of n
son was up here In New York last
week and got himself badly smashed
up in an automobile accident"
What, you don't mean
"Yes, it's true" added the specula-
tor quickly without noticing Richards s
look OF establishment. Michael show
ed NE a greatly exaggerated newspa-
per account yesterday morning"
"Is he-er-mortally or dangerously
hurt" began Richard, who had in
! truth forgotten all about the condition
of the real Croyland. and he now be-
gan to fear that the man who had as
sumed his name really might be more
i 30 ri infnraA than m NJ than
had imagined. Richard was neither
heartless nor Indifferent; but. not sus-
pecting Croyland's injuries were seri-
GUS and being fully occupied with his
own engrossing situation, he had not
given the wounded earl thought for
days.
mo. no; badly. but not fatally, Of
course" answered Mr.. Renwyck. 81
sent around to the hospital to see II
there was anything could do for the
boy. Pm sorry for him. I've got no
grudge against him, except his foolish
ness In selecting such a father"
I'm glad to hear it's no worse" !"
murmured Richard. much relieved.
go on, sir"
''It struck me at once that things
might happen which would serve my
interests when the father heard Of the
sad affair"
Richard glared at his host and
ground his teeth in impotent rage at
this exhibition Of heartlessness that
would make capital for itself in a busi-
ness scheme out OF such an accident
''I'l steal his daughter now without n
twinge of consciencew Aloud he ask
ed with as much control as his thump-
ing heart admitted, well, what thenT'
The host. who, it may be admitted.
had no feeling of hesitation at turning
the incident to his advantage, how
ever much he might and did deplore
1t, rubbed his hands and laughed once
more in keen enjoyment of the unlock
ed for opportunity to get the better of
his enemy. Mr.. Renwyck was playing
the game cold bloodedly, mercilessly,
according to the rules of the street
He would do nothing dishonorable or
underhand after the ethics of his kind,
but he would have considered himself
fool If he had not availed himself OF
every opportunity or assistance that
fate put at his disposal.
What thenT he echoed. well
Williams did thing which surprised
even me. have in my pocket ci.
pher report from one OF my agents
whose sole business is to watch the
opposition. Do you know. Croyland
when the old fellow learned that his
son had been desperately hurt, perhaps
dying-thats what the dispatch said
he dropped everything. chartered a spe
/ cial train and started north immedi
ately."
The deuce you say" cried Richard
springlng to his feet
! II do" nodded Mr.. Renwyck, con
STRUNG his companions expIosiveness
| as sudden appreciation of the master
stroke Of business. He is heading
for New York as fast as steam can
. bring him and is leaving his harbor
scheme wide open to my attack-no
but what | had him beaten anyway
but this makes 1t little palmer sail
ing"