The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER XVII.
The Man Behind the Door.

on the subject was interrupted by
a ringing Of the doorbell, and. while Mil
hnEton rushed into the room assigned
10 him, Lathrop went to the door, where
he found George Trevor IN state Of
perturbation.
Come in. pater," was the young
mans greeting = an sorry that I did
not keep my appointment with YOU to-
night 1 dropped to sleep. and. when I
awoke, It was too late Z tried to get
you over the telephone. but failed
How IS Clara
She is better" Trevor replied she
Is ~ no danger = But, Morris, I
must know
Wait a rlinute. please" I.athrop in
teTrupted- Surely. We 90 not have 10
talk business tonight
Il must talk business tonight came
the impatient answer That is what
came here for It's about that
on YES the young nan broke IN
again, fearful lest Wilmington should
Us, eh2''
The hnancier regarded I.athrop per-
pieNeolyr az the unusual manner dis
played by his friend. But. suddenly. an
explanation occurred 10 hir1
Perhaps YOU, also, received a mes
sage he said tentatively.
LaJhrOD nodded since he had not a
notion what else TO do He felt that. at
from referring In words 70 the Y I
stock 1nasmuch as AfElinston IN the adj
joining room could hear everything that
WNAs sad. Nevertheless. he was in honor
bound not 10 warn his companion of the
presence OF q third person in the apart
ment.
Wei, here is mine; read it. con-
unued the broker extending an euveI-
OT5e toward Lathrop- After Won have
Iead Il, II show YOU my reply, for I
Old reply Read it,
The young man took the mesa %
from its envelope and spread it out he
fore him A glance told him that Il
was cablegram- He read:
Positive information. YOU have block
Y L stock Where did you get it2
SAM AILLINGTON-T
'Well2" Jathrop said. as he looked I'd
lDOuiringly. BY a mighty effort. ne
spoke with the utmost caImuess
NOW read my reply" the financier
directed Then, III tel you about it.
Again. Lathrop read in silence:
sam MildngtOn, Paris. France: None
OF your business TREVOR"
What do you think Of ft2'' demanded
the older man, smiling gTimIy.
LathrOp laugheu aloud
Its to the point he conceded
That's the devil OF It! 1t came three
days ago, and was delivered at the
house Edna received it and, OF course.
tonight Now, what does II mcan7''
Whatever it means. pater, It cannot
affect you, can 1t2''
I'm not sure about that It nay.
nightly Anyhow, I don't want he
stuff on my hands any longer BY che
way. Old you wire your friend that he
could COme int the deai2-'
yes" Lathrop declared: 1T IS al
right, and viii be arranged tomorrow.
7 am sOTrv now that gave my con
But I won't Withdraw It You see,
Morris, young MillinSton IS very clever
cleverer by far than Is sam himself
Either II them would put up q game o.
me in a minute If he could That cable
from Sam makes me believe that some
scheme is afOOI- Look here,
Norris. want TO know Just one thing:
Is that stock yours OF did you borrow
II from Jack Alillington2'
Before this crucial question, LathroD
did not hesitate, perceptlbly-
4 have never borrowed anything fTorl
Jack Nillin gtou In my life" he declared
earnestly. Does that satisfy you. SIR
Perfectly: and Il relieves me might
ny," the 7nancieT answered smiling.
where IS Rita2-' he demanded. abrUp---|
" when you failed TO come 20 tie
house tonight I went up there pa tly
to see her, partly in the hope OF run
ming across YOU I learned that she
went away this morning You know OF
her absence, for the maid told me Of
your calling there today Where is
- why. visiting some Of her Spanish
friends, I fancy Lathrop replied. neg
ligentIy. Certainly her absence or a
day or two Is nothing to alarm US
We'll, perhaps II is not" the broker
agreed. obviously But, taken along
with the fact of CaTla's going there. 7
felt uneasy over It though I can hard
IL tell why After q little more desul-
Tory chat the old man took his leave
When he was again alone. LathrOp
stood for a time with cliuched hands
and compressed lips. His face was pale
and his eyes had In them an expression
Of trouble that vas new, Tor ne realized
the fact that George Trevor had said
sufficient to make Jack SIf1lingtOn cog
infant Of the whole truth concerning
the stolen securities He had lately ven
tIIred 20 hope that he might keep these
things from the knowledge OF the young
fnancier: or. II thew had 70 be told
that, at least, he himself might havo
the telling Of them Now. as he believed.
Trevor's visit had rendered his situa-
ton far more desperate than Il had
ever been before The revelation had
been made There remained. then, only
TO face the result. nor was aught TO be
gained " pOstDoning the Inevitable
moment II reckoning
The Continuation Of This Story VIII
Be Found In TOmOrrOw's
Times