The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-21
CHAPTER XIV.
In the Lions %


room in tho house at Harrington street.
The presence OF another man with a red,
bloated face and furtive eyes did not
help TO make him more cheerful. There
had been silence in the room for about
half an hour, and then the red-faeed man
said gruffly:
In my mind, knight has queered
everything and got US all into the same
hole with him. He's played his own
game and pushed our interests on one
side could have managed things bet
ter myself II I had gone down there;
and now, where are we? A good old
prosecution pending and penal servitude
staring US in the facet"
Craven gave a mirthless laugh, In the
short time that mad passed since he had
come up TO town with Knight he had
grown TO look haunted. and was afraid
even of going out. The mans blatant
braggadoclo had failed him when he
needed real courage. and he sat either
smoking or biting his nails when he was
not drinking.
1T was muddled all through" he said.
NA4 llE anu INV NAAehl lAAAAN- AAA~c RAAN
US a visit we shall probably be in big
ger hole than ever She does not guess
what has happened. She only thinks that
It Is small affair, but she refuses 20 be
concerned in lending him any money"
II did my pest TO keep her from get
ting wind OF anything" Coxon answered.
You know how frightened Knight was,
and / said I'd wire when she came both
ering round But it's not she who has
any power to scare us" he smiled. The
bubble was pricked without any help
from Nine. Valco."
yes" Craven snarled, IF the worst
comes 10 the worst, 1 shall settle up with
him before We part. I'm not going TO
risk waiting for arrest" he went on.
'That COMPOUNDED lawyer chap knew me
rather too well. confOund him."
Il have an idea." Coxon said. "As
Knight has failed US. let Us look after
ourselves and do bolt tonight In his
car. after laying ou- hands on all the
available cash.
YES. but" Craven began, when the
door opened abruptly. and knight enter
ed the room A strange expression
glances Of the two men who had a short
time ago been his devoted slaves and ad-
mirers.
"yYell. my good friends" he laughed.
you don't look cheerful I am afraid
have failed 70 raise the money We want
ed, so we shall have TO cut and run away
as schoolboys do"
Craven looked at him vindictively.
Nine. Valco mas been here" he said.
I've just come from her house. was
the reply. Il thought she looked very
we'll"
Craven at UP suddenly. Hang it all.
Knight" 20 said sharply. don't you see
that you, as the originator OF this plot,
have a certain amount OF responsibility
toward us who have Joined with you? II
you hadn't insisted upon going down 10
Luck House, all this wouldn't have hap
pened. You ran into the danger, and us
your place to get us out OF IL,
you forget" Knight SAID. eontemptu-
ously. that you all had a big lump out
or the first check touched. We all stood
10 win or lose, and we have lost-per-
hapE"
There no possibility OF doing anything
else" Craven laughed; THE place Is
watched day and night
THAT may BE-" Knight retOrted -'but
I have reason TO know that no warrant
has been issued yet, and without that no
arrests can DO made. my friend. You
ought to know that" he added. meaning
ly.
Craven flushed Anyway" he said, Il
don't get my friends into a show with me
and then bungle the thing"
Knights eyes glinted with rage. ''The
fight has only just begun" he said.
quickly, and it's going to be A pretty
hard one. have just seen my dear ex-
cousin, Sir Douglas Mallaby, come up the
steps. He Is running his head into the
moose by coming here" he laughed.
The next moment the door was opened
and Sir Douglas entered the room. His
face was white and his eyes cold and
bitter as he glanced at the three men
who were standing up looking at him
with different expressions on their faces
so. he said, slowly, I'VE meet az last,
do We. Mr. knight and Mr.. Craven,
tOor' he went on, politely. TT is quite
a pleasure to see two such friends, who
cling together in good times and bad
The other gentleman I don't know yet.
he went on. but I have no doubt l shall
soon be acquainted with his name"
Let me introduce you now" Knight
laughed. mr.. COX0n, a personal friend
OF the government. Sir Douglas Mallaby,
Of Cornwall. Oddly enough" he went
on recklessly, Mr. Coxon has come from,
your part of the world quite recently, Sir
Douglas. He has a place at Dartmoor-
Geographic address, Skilly, Prince Town. "
COxon's red. unhealthy face flushed
angrily during this recitai
STOW THAR he said. I don't suppose
Sir Douglas is collecting notes for next
years Who's Who IN Prison.
Il came here" Sir Douglas said. slow
~. Ito see you, Mr.. knight. and to ask
you why your villainy could not stop
short OF harming defenseless women ?''
Knight looked at him quickly. What
do you mean?" he said.
II mean," Sir Douglas went on, that
when man fights me I know what TO
do and how to take him. but when he
begins 20 wage war against women, I
have a feeling less than contempt for
him-greater than hate"
what do you want. to know" Knight
asked, slowly During Sir Douglas
speech he and Craven had exchanged
glances, and his face had grown sud
denly alert.
MY mother, Lady Mallaby. and Miss
French have. disappeared from Luck
House" Sir Douglas went on. and I
new OoiiO iOi" I" ii'u oue rum you
where they are, or, failing that, to kill
you"
'Supposing," knight said, with a smile,
that / have a price for my knowledge
would you pay it?
Sir Douglas bowed. Provided the in
formation Vas correct" he said. grave
~, there is no reasonable price / would
refuse"
For a moment Knight did not speak.
Then he said slowly:
These are my terms: You give me an
open check for 10000 and a written
promise not TO go step further in this
prosecution.
II viii give you the written promise, -
Sir Douglas renlied hut I'm afraid the