Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-21
CHAPTER XVII.
In the Web.

1t was four o'clock on the following
afternoon, dark and threatening out
side. precursory of a thunderstorm
In that chair in Max's room where
Charlie Rolfe had sat on the previous
morning, was the polished cosmopoli.
tan, Jean Adam, lazily lolling back
smoking cigarette.
Max had lunched over at Whites
and had just come in to find Adam
awaiting him. The Frenchman had
risen and greeted him merrily, took
the preferred Russian cigarette, and
they had settled themselves to chat.
"I've been expecting every day tc
hear from you," Adam exclaimed at
last. when do you propose starting
for Constantinople?
well, I've been thinking, over the
matter, and I've come to the conclu'
sion that just at present it is impos-
sible for me to leave London. / have
other interests here"
Adam stirred uneasily in his chair.
The reply filed him with chagrin,; yet
so clever was he, and such perfect
type of ingenious adventurer, that he
never showed the least trace of sur
prise.
Really" he laughed, that's very
unfortunate-for you!"
"Why, for me?"
We'll, the missing of such chance
would be unfortunate even to a
Rothschild," he said There's hun
dreds Of thousands in the deal, il
you'll only go out with me. You're
not a man of straw You can afford to
risk a thousand or two, just as well
aA can-eyen better"
4 would willingly go fit were not
for the fact that must remain in
in London
Adam laughed, with just touch OF
sarcasm.
"Ah! the lady! I quite understand
my dear fellow. The charming young
lady whom I met with you the other
night does not wish you to leave her
side-eh? We have all Of us been
through that stage of amorous costa
cy have myself, l know that;
and if l may tell you with the frank
ness of friend, I've regretted it," he
added, holding up his white palms.
All men do not regret. hope tc
be the exception" replied Max Bar
clay pensively watching the smoke
from his lips rise to the ceiling
'sOf course, but is it wise to turn
ones back upon Fortune in this
way?" asked Adam in that insiduous
manner by which he had entrapped
many man. Review the position
calmly Here is a project, which, by
good luck, has fallen into my hands
I want somebody to go shares with
me in it. You are my friend, I like
you. I know you are an upright man
nd oo1 fN ,{,,o
In the venture. Yet you refuse to dc
SO because-well, merely because a
woman's pretty face has attracted
her by remaining here in London!
us 1t not rather foolish In your own
interests? Constantinople. is not the
Pole. A fortnight will suffice you to
get there and back and clinch the
bargain. Muhil is awaiting us. l had
wire only yesterday. Do reconsider
the whole question-theres a good
fellow"
Max had said nothing about the
meeting with Marion. Therefore he
believed that she had not told hel
lover. Adam was rejecting whether
she might not, after all, be a woman
to be trusted. This refusal of Max's
to go out to Turkey interfered ser
iously with the plans he had formed
Yet what those plans actually were
he had not even told the hunchback
He was man who took counsel o.
nobody. His ingenious schemes he
evolved In his own brain, and carried
them into effect in his own unaidec
efforts.
The past history of Jean Adam
atlas John Adams. had been one o.
amazing ups and downs and clever
chicanery. He knew that Samuel Stat
ham held him in awe, and was now
playing upon his fears, and gloatins
over the success which must inevita
bly, be his whenever he thought fl
TO deal the blow. It would be lrresist
tble and crushing. He held the mil
iionaire IN his power. But before he
moved forward to strike, he intended
that Max should be induced to gc
abroad. And If he went-well, wher
be thought of his victims departure
his small, neas-set eyes cleaned ant
GASTORIA ForInfants and chHdran