The Washington herald., 1908-03-16

old Statham does not learn what's In the
wind You know him. / believer
Yes, slightly. He's queer old fellow
very eccentric
SO I've heard" said the other, betray-
ing ignorance. What would Max Bar
clay have thought II he had witnessed
that scene so recently when the mil
lionaire had glanced out OF his cozy IL
brary and seen the shabby stranger
lounging against the ratings OF the
park? What. indeed would he have
thought If he had witnessed old SANS
consequent agitation. or overheard his
confession TO Rolfe?
But he knew nothing of Il all Adam
had shown him the best side OF his ma
ture-the easy-gOing and keen money
making cosmopolitan whose manner was
so gentlemanly ana so very charming
He had not seen the other-the side which
Samuel Statham knew too well.
Adam, seated there in the big saddle
bag chair. In the full enjoyment OF the ex-
cellent cigar knew that with the exer-
else Of a little further ingenuity he would
make the first step toward the goal he
had in view. He was. a man who took
counsel Of nobody and even the old
! hunchback, Lyle. his closest friend. knew
nothing OF his object in drawing Max
Barclay, until recently a perfect stranger.
into the fatal net spread for him.
He smiled within himself as he calmly
contemplated his victim through the haze
Of tobacco smoke. The clock upon the
mantelshef had struck .
He took final drink, slipped on his
coat, and. with a merry bon sOir and an
injunction to make UP his mind and wire
him at the earliest moment. ne shook
his friends hand and went out
Max sat alone for a long time still
smoking. In his ignorance he was re-
| fiecting that the business seemed a sound
one. Adam had not asked him 10 put
down money before full inquiry. and had.
at the same time. offered 10 put up half
This latter fact. in itself, showed that
his friend had confidence in the scheme.
And so, before he turned In that night,
he had practically made up his mind TO
pay flying visit to the Sutans capital
There could be no harm done. he argued
He had never been in ConstantinopIe and
70 go there with a resident like Adam
was in itself an opportunity not TO be
missed.
Meanwhile the astute concession hunt
er. as he drove 10 Addison road In a cab,
was calmly plotting a further step in
the direction he was slowly but surely
following. His daring and ingenuity knew
no bounds. He was n man fun Of energy
and resource, unabashed, undaUnted I'M
scrupulous, and yet 70 all, even 10 his
most intimate friend a perfect sphinx.
The second step in his progress he took
on the evening Of the day after
In the afternoon, about . s. shabbily
dressed man called upon him at his tat.
and they remained together for ten min
utes or so. Al half-past S, as Marion was
about 10 enter a bus at oxford Circus
20 take her up 10 Hampstead for a blow
a trip she frequently took in the evening
when ALONGSIDE heard her name uttered.
and. turning. found Max's polite French
friend behind her, about to mount on the
| same conveyance.
To avoid him was impossible. there
fore they assembled 10 the top together,
he declaring that he was on his way to
Hampstead.
I'm going there. too" she told him.
although he already knew Il quite well.
Have you seen Mr.. Barclay to-day"
Not to-day. have been busy In the
city" Adam explained. He glanced at
her. and could not refrain from noting
her neat appearance, dressed as she was
in black skirt. white cotton blouse, and
black hat which suited her beauty ad-
mirably. He knew that she was at Gun
| nington's. but. Of course. appeared in ig-
norance Of the fact He was most kind
and courteous TO her, and so well had he
arranged the meeting that she believed
il 10 be entirely an accident.
Presently, after they had chatted for
/ some time. he sighed. saying
In few days, I suppose. 1 must
| leave London again
oh. are you going abroad"
Yes. to ConstantinOple. I live there. e"
he said.
In Constantinople! How very strange
il must be 20 live among the Turks
1t Is a very charming life. I assure