The Washington herald., 1908-03-09
By WILLIAM LIE QUEUX.

mean Leonard Lyle9 What do you know
II saw him in the company OF Adams.
It Is he who supplies the latter with
money"
Lyle cried statham. his eyes glar-
ing in amazement Lyle herein Lon
"He was here a week ago. You know
himg'
Know him-yesl" answered the old mill
| lionaire, hoarsely Are you certain that
he has become Adams friend?"
Il saw them together with my own
eyes They were sitting in the Cafe
Royal in Regent street adams was in
evening dress. and wore an opera hat.
| They'd been 20 the Empire together"
why didn't you tell me all this be-
fore?" asked Statham, in a tone OF
blank despair. IL see now all the diff
heulties that have arisen. The pair have
united to wreak their vengeance upon
me- and I am powerless and unprotected %
But who is this man Leonard Lyle2"
| inquired the secretary
/ "A man without a conscience. He was
mining engineer, and Is now, I sup
pose-a short. white-mustached man, with
slightly bumped back and a squeaky
voice"
"The same"
why didn't you tell me this before? ?
II Lyle knows Adams, the position Is
doubly dangerous. he exclaimed. in
abject dismay. NO" he added. bitterly.
there can be no way out"
Il said nothing because you had iefused
TO believe"
You saw them together after you had
told me of Adams return, or before?"
After" he replied Even though you
refused 10 believe me, continued TO re-
main watehful in your interests and those
of the firm. spent several evenings in
watching their movements"
"Ah. You are loyal 10 me. 1 know,
Rolfe- You shall not regret this Hither-
to have not treated you well. but 1 win
now try and atone for the manner in
which I misJudged you. I ask your par
DON"
For what?" inquired Rolfe. in sur
prise
For believing i'll OF you" was all the
old man vOuchsafed.
II tried TO do my. duty as your secre-
tary," was all he said.
Your duty. You have done more You
have watched my enemies even though
I sneered at your well-rneant warnins," "
he said But II you have watched. you
perhaps know where the pair are in
hiding"
Lyle lives at the First Avenue Hotel.
in Holborn. Adams lives in small fur
nished fiat In Addison Mansions. close
to Addison road railway station"
Lives there in preference to an hotel
because he can SO in and out shabby
and down-at-heel without attracting
comment-eh?"
I suppose so. I had great difficulty
in following him 10 his hiding place with
out arousing his suspicious"
Does he really mean mischief" asked
the principal Of Statham Brothers. bend
ing slightly toward his secretary.
Yes; undoubtedly he does. The pair
are here with the intention OF bringing
ruin upon you and upon the house OF
/ Statham,' was Rolfe's quiet reply
Then only you can save me Rolfe. q"
cried the old man, starting up wildly.
How? Tell me. and I am ready to act
upon your instructions, Rolfe said
The millionaire placed his hand upon
the young mans shoulder and said:
Repeat those words
Rolfe did so
And you Will not seek 10 inquire the
reason OF a request I may make OF you,
even though Il may sound an extraordi-
nary and perhaps mysterious one?''
I Will act as you wish. without desir-
ing 70 know your motives
The great fnancier stood looking
straight into his secretary's eyes. He
was deeply in earnest for his very life
now depended upon the others assent
How could he put the proposal 20 the
man before him?
Then / take that as a promise. Rolfe. ''
he said at last. you will not withdraw.
You VIII swear 20 assist me at all haz-
ards-to save me from these men,"
Il swear"
Good. Then to-day-nay, at this very