The Washington herald., 1908-03-08
CHAPTER TX.
In which Levi Give, AdyIce.

cited. his hands trembling, his face full
of sudden horror
He had entirely changed The sight Of
that shabby stranger had filled him with
fear
Once or twice he glanced furtiveiy at
the window Then, strengthening him
self In a vain endeavor TO remain calm.
he bent and crept back to the window
IN order to ascertain whether the man
still remained. Bent and out Of sight,
he approached the lace-edged curtain
and peered through unseen.
Yes. the fellow was still there He had
lit his pipe with calm unconcern, and
was leaning back against the railings
in full view of the house. The mans
attitude was that of complete triumph.
All what a fool he had been 10 have
shown himself so openly as he had donel
To think that this man OF all men was
still alive.
He crept back again. trembling. His
face was haggard and bloodless. the
countenance Of a man whose future was
but blank-the dismal blank of the
grave.
His whole body trembled as ne sank
into his writing chair. and. leaning his
elbows upon the desk. he buried his face
in his hands and sobbed Yes; he. the
haTd-headed hnancieT. whose influence
was felt in every corner OF the world, the
man who controlled millions. and who
loaned great sums to certain OF the
rulers OF Europe. sobbed aloud.
''Ahl' he cried to himself, Il was a
fool when l disbelieved them. 1 thought
blaclxmail was their object in telling me
the story of how that man was alive
and had been seen. Therefore l only
laughed at them and took no precaGtion.
All, I was n fool and my fOolishness
must end fatally. There is no way out
of it for me-only death. I've been a
fool-a confounded fool. ought to have
made certain; 1 ought not 10 have taken
any risk. I'm wiser now than I was
then. Age has brought me wisdom as
well as destroying my belief in the hon
esty Of men and the loyalty of friends"
and as he sighed heavily his brow still
bent upon his hand. he touched the bell,
and old Levi appeared
Levi, he said, in a low, unusual voice.
''go quietly 10 that window and. without
attracting attention. look outside at
man opposite
The faithful old servant, somewhat sur
prised at these rather unusual instruc-
tions. walked stealthily 10 the window
and peered through the lace insertion
of the brise-brise
Scarcely had he done so than, with a
cry. he withdrew. and facing his master,
stood staring at him
Did you see any one. Levi?' asked
his master raising his head suddenly.
'Yes," was the hOarse whisper Of the
man who stood there, white-faced in
fear It's him. II thought you said
he was dead"
NO: he isn't He's there in the flesh"
And what are we to TOP
What can we do2 He recognized me
q moment ago. and he's watching the
house"
Which means that you had better
leave England for a considerable time"
What cried Statham. in quick re-
prUof. What-run away? Never,"
"But-wel. in the circumstances. don't
you scent danger-a very grave danger?"
asked the old servant whose devotion to
his master had always been so marked.
when I am threatened 1 always face
my accUser. 1 shall do so now was
the great mans calm reply. even though
il were in absolute contradiction 70 his
attitude only a few moments before. Per
haps il was that he did not wish old Levi
20 know his fear.
"But-but that can only result in dis
never addressed his master as "sir"-the
pair were on too intimate terms for that
IF 1 might presume to advise, I
think
mo. Levi" snapped the other; you
haven't any right TO give advice in this
affair. I know my own business Dest.
surely?"
And that man knows as much as you
do-and more"
''They told me he was alive. and T.
fool that | was-disbelleved them the
old millionaire cried And there he is
now. watching outside like terrier out
side a rat-hole. And I'm the rat. Levi
caught in my own trapr
Is there no way out OF this?" asked
the other. Surely you can escape if
you so desire-get away to America, or
to the Continent"
And what's the use? He'd follow.
And even if he didn't, think of what he
can tell IL he goes to the police"
Yes; he could tell sufficient to ca use
Statham Brothers TO close their doors
eh?" remarked the old servant very seri-
ously
That's just il. I've been a confounded
idiot. Rolfe warned me only the Other
day that the fellow was in London, but
/ said / wouldn't believe him until 1 saw
4
have actually seen him. and there can De
no mistake. He's the man that-that
=
His sentence remained unfinished, for
he sank into his chair and groaned, COW
cred his face again with his hands in an
attitude of deep remorse while Levi
stood by watching in silence.
"RoIfe could help you in this matter"
the man exclaimed at last. Where is
hep"
Il don't know. I sent him yesterday
TO Belgrade, but last night he telephoned
that he had lost the train
"Then he may have left at 9 o'clock
this morning."
Most probably"
Then you must recall him by wire"
NO telegram can reach him till he
gets TO Servia, for don't know whether
he's gone from Ostend or Paris"
They'd know in the city. Why not
ask Them?
NO; they wouldn't know"
"Why?"
Because Rolfe had with him big
sum in German notes and a quantity of
securities belonging TO the National Bank
Of Servia. In that case he would not let
any one know his route. for fear OF
thieves. 1t is one OF my strictest orders
10 him. Nny he lost the train last night
I can't tell
We'll, it's a thousand pities we can't
get at him, for he's the only man to help
you out-of this difficulty"
Yes; 1 quite agree. That shabby.
down-at-heel man standing outside is my
master. Leyi-the master of Statham
Brothers My future is in his hands"
He had raised his head. ard sat staring
at the beautiful Venus upon the wall
before him. the picture with it's wonder
ful fesb-tints which had been copied in
q hundred different forms. His coun-