The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-30
A Mystery
Romance
Y
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead & Co.

stood at the buffet. every now and
then unsteadily fitting the decanter.
Presently he said to himself: I'm try
him-ycs. Why not?"
He called a servant and asked
Where Is PemmicanT
Faro. sir"
Challoner assembled swiftly to the
second door. Halfway down the cor
rider he met PemmIcan. head card
dealer Of Cradlebaugh's. a man with a
pasty face, low brow and shifty eyes
a man who knew his business. who.
ever controlled the gambling house
had chosen him wisely.
"Pemmican, / want some money =
about aud Challoner broke Off alb
ruptiy.
Instinchvciy Pemmican knew that
the game was up with Chalioner
Moreover be saw that the man was
very drunk. He walked away quickly,
saying:
I'm sorry. sir, It's against the
rules"
What rotv' replied Challoner.
Pemmican had reached the end II
the hall. leaving the other to gather
what he could Of his excuses.
Angered. Chailoner resumed his po
sition at the buffet Suddenly he felt
q touch on the arm. Turning. he found
himself face to face with Pemmican.
why don't you try Colonel Har.
graves?" whispered the latter.
"whatT' came from the ciogged
brain Of Challoner
TRY Hargraves," the other went on
"He's been down to Gravesend for two
days. and he's back"
Pemmican OF the low brow spread
out hts palms and said pointedly:
''He pulled out ten thousand on Flora
Mcqueen at Gravesend. At's ALL"
''WhatY' Challoner began to under
stand.
pemmican nodded.
"Sure thing-Sl0.0O0."
Slowly Challoner refilled his glass
For moment there was silence. then
Pemmican repeated tantaiizingiy:
'Ten thousand doiiars-not cen,
lessw
Challoner thought for a moment.
"was Colonel Hargraves down there
aione?" His voice was thick. hoarse.
Pemmican looked long and qrizzical
~ into ChaIioner's eyes.
HE was not" The gambler moved
away.
Chalioner followed him and said
gruffly:
Look here. Pemmican. If Hargraves
/ comes Ia tell him to wait for me- 4-'
An enigmaticaI smile played about
the corner of Pemmican.s mouth
Yes" ne said simply. and. noddinG
went his way.
Left alone. Challoner found himself
prey to all the black fiends Of rage
jealousy and desire for revenge Fol
a time everything was biotted out from
his vision except the face Of Lefty
Love and the face of Colonel Har
graves. This small world" he NUT
tered to himself. rs much too small
for me and Colonel Hargraves." With
that there doomed up out of the mists
of his mind the brilliantly lighted and
ornate entrance of certain apartment
| house short distance away, and q
few minutes later, obedient to his sub
conscious will. his feet carried him
down the stairs to n door evidently
| leading 10 the outside. Challoner was
not the first man OF social prominence
that could directly trace the beginning
| OF his life as an outcast to passing
through that door
| Hiram Edgar Love"-so read a fad
| ed yellow card on the door panel OF
suit 10 in the Drelincourt. nm apartment
hotel In section of the city long pop
ular with clnss that has been wei
termed the fringe of society" The
name was written In ancient india ink
In copperplate perfection by the care
full, Clearly, genteei Englishman that
| Hiram Edgar Love had been--Hiram
| Edgar Love. who long ago had
been laid to rest In n quiet Surrey
! churchyard leagues distant. though his
name still did yeonan service. for II
spelt responsibility. 1t covered a mul.
titude OF peeeadiiios. His soul wen,
marching on. for was 1t not the
shade Of Hiram Edgar Love that had
rented the Love suit In the Drelin-
court. his stfade that paid the rent,
his pipe and his slippers that lay near
| the fireplace for the world 10 see
Hiram Edgar Love the myth. the con-
stantly expected but never coming
master of the house?
| Before the entrance of this suit
| Chaiioner came to halt
Il wonder II she's alone" he unused
as. with something like the palpitating
Difference Of n stranger. he pressed the
button underneath the faded card and
! waited to learn his fate at the hands
| OF the one woman in all the world for
him, Nor was II by any means the
first time that he had asked himself
that question. All the way through
the streets 1t had been In his mind ev-
cry moment. and so absorbed was be
with the thought that he failed to zee
the familiar nod with which the d.
minutive god OF the Drelincourt lift
acknowledged his advent Is he pro-
ceeded to carry upward his human
freight.
Leaving the car at the desired land
| tna 10 1irc<<oA Ms atanS RI xsn -