The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
LITERARY MAG AZIN

tected.
they are striving TO maintain their ridiculous and
uncalledfor position, positions which are impossi
BILE Of maintenance, and would leave the more I'M
portant pieces to destroy each other In turn, now
that the protecting guard is endangered and lie
swept the pawns on with one quick sweep To ran
clattering from the edges of the board-"GoneP
Judge Reilly i'm this clash had leaned forward
over the others shoulder, knowing that his own
thoughts had been more adequately expressed
than would have been possible for him, and that
other man, the one he most venerated, shared
with him the fear of national crisis. The white
hands slowly replacing the scattered pawns
i'm position more. one pawn advanced to
the center and stood alone
"That" the player said softly "s J. Can de-
pend upon you to move with me throughout tho
game? l assure you it will be pleasing pastime
for Tiger Reilly. battlescarred in stirring events
who i'm the past has not feared TO thrust firm
hands into reckless enterprises of great pith and
moment. which seldom went awry.'
The ex.boss stretched forth slow fingers, and
pushed another pawn forward until IL In
support of the daring piece I'm the lead. His an
swer was given
The players Strengthened up and looked at each
other. Reillys face unusually grim and hard,
while that of the recluse had sOftened into lines
of warm friendliness. They dropped into two
chairs which drawn close together, and the
white head of Moore drew closer to that of his
companion as he began TO speak in low voice.
= OR more than an hour, he talked concisely and
with rapdity. showing that his plans had been
thoroughly formulated before he had called for
conference with Reilly. At times as he prog
ressed the ex-boss interjected question or
gave exclamation of surprise; but II was plain
ly to be seen that the project now unfolded met
with his awed approval, and that the arguments
offered were sweeping away his inherent caution.
what do you think of it?" Moore said at last,
when his campaign had been fully outlined
The exboss sat quietly for long time, his eyes
fixed vacancy his fingers drumming thought
full tattoo the arms of the chair
1T would be possible If could get the
need TO do the little things"
"The pawns," Moore said. We'll l agree to
get them"
IF you can do that" the Judge answered, lean
ing forward, IL do the rest, and I'm going
to tell you honestly that wouldn't say that much
II didn't know better than any one that you
have more men. more means and more ways than
any other person living"
The recluse smiled and turned to his desk lie
picked up a bundle Of envelopes, addressed as had
been those the previous night in his hand.
writing and ran them through his fingers one by
ITO Corporal John Feany who tomorrow night
will guard the doors of the capitol To William
Hinchcin, private, who will stand watch at the
White House gate; and these, the others,
in both the Liberal and Conservative camps around
Washington-a of them men who, in times past
for reasons which you do not know, have prom
ised to do as you have done, act at my command
when called upon. They contain the first
ing which / have issued appealing for a disband.
ment signed The Nations Pawn'-which VIII
not be acted upon" He shuffled the letters into
two packets, handing to Reilly those which he
had not explained
These" he said "are letters of introduction TO
other you may be called upon to use, which
will grant you audience hearing and, | trust,
obedience You will read those at your leisure"
AS the judge took them, the recluse stood up
and walked TO a tapestry in a of the wall.
He pulled it aside, exposing wanscoting.
pressed secret combination, and a panel of the
wood slid back, exposing strong-box concealed
behind He whired the combination lock rapidly
underneath his fingers, and then. presently, came
back to where Reilly sat. He thrust into his
hands packet of bank notes of large denomina-
tion and of sufficient number TO the eX-boss
to enter a vigorous protest
II don't want that" he said "I only need part
of it. What do with fifty thousand dollars?"