The San Francisco call., 1910-04-03
SH f SOCIETY WOLF

was covered by heavy oriental curtain.
lust after the dinner hour Carter led his two ae-
completes to this place and explained that they were
TO take their stand in the parlor, behind the curtain
From tb. position while screened they could watch
every one who passed in and OF the writing ROOM
with the Moorish room as their stage
Stanchfeld did not approve of this proceeding and
was persuaded with difficulty take up the post of
a spy upon friends and fellow club members Carter
held him by promising that he would not De called
70 the curtain until the time came for the clearing
.of the Virginian's mystery. Ralph tremendously
excited but was content to obey orders About
O'Clock the little playlet began A page passed
through the Moorish room toward the writing room,
calling monotonously;
"Mr Vebbe! Mr. Vebbel Phone for Mr. Vebbe7
Some minutes later he came back alone and
presently following him, appeared the Portly form
OF Marius Vebbe Carter brought Stanchheld to the
curtain and the three watched breathlessly The
same thought struck each of them. Vebbe had
changed much in the last month His digrihed,
rather crusty air of importance and reserve had
given place to furtive sideong glance. His cheeks
had lost their sanguine health and were sunken.
He stopped little he walked There some
thing subtly repeIling about the man.
He advanced into the Moorish room with shufAing
STEP In the center of the little apartment was
carved table bearing lighted lamp and the way
led close beside it. His eyes to the table and
he stopped abreast of it. Stanchheld and Ralph
followed the glance Directly in the food OF light
lay book 1t was closed and the place was marked
with valuable gold pencil which Milton recognized
as one he had often seen in Carters hand The
thick end of the pencil protruded beyond the leaves
several inches 1t was crusted with diamonds. The
fash of the jeweled top against the dark wood Of
the table would have drawn the attention Of any
casual passerby.
Marius Vebbe gazed at the pencil moment and
as he gazed his lips parted But smile appeared
upon his face. He looked quickly up and down the
corridor. In the pendulous mouth, the staring eyes
and slack cheeks the watchers read strange pur-
pose. Stanchheld would have started forward with
a cry if Carter had not restrained him Then one
of Vebbe's hands stretched out cawlike and closed
upon the pencil. Swiftly, furtively, he thrust it into
his coat and shuffled on.
CARRIERS SELF-CoNTROL
Each of the three men avoided the pale face Of
his companion all left their hiding place Stanch-
field swore softly to himself. Milton stammered
exclamations. 1t as if they had assisted at
weird and degenerate rite, an impression that
the barbaric draperies and shaded light of the
served emphasize. Carter alone retained full con-
troll of himself
Il think" he said gravely that we would better
hold our interview with Mr. Vebbe in his own apart
ments later in the evening"
They waited in the cafe and after a time they we're
able to talk the situation calmly They were
fate OF the Slate Mountain hung upon the OF
their mission; Carter caused their three names to
be announced at Vebbe's rooms about II o'clock.
They entered to find him seated in a large arm chair
He received them coolly and with trace of ir-
! ritation After greeting Carter and Milton he ig-
nored them, addressing himself Stanchield:
Sit down, won't you. Glad to you. There
was no sincerity in the tone, IN ring for drinks" "
Pardon me, Mr. Vebbe' said Carter, stepping
naturally into the lead. I'VE here merely to talk
business and we will not Prolong our stay longer
than is absolutely necessary"
A ted TO he med
to the Virgfnian- His miserable assumption of dig
nifty after what they bad made him ludcrous
and loathsome object to his visitors. Il pre-
toftily. G " D''D'' BUSINESS 4' TINS ""'s nc '1'u
Il am sorry" said Garter but this is of the ut
most Importance. We three are all stock holders in
the Slate Mountain"
q must insist" said Vebbe angrily, with rising
voice that do not to consider such matters
E at this time"
Carter rose, walked to the door, opened it and
looked out into the hall Closing it again he ap-
preached Vebbe and stood over him. %Mr Vebbe9
he said, 1--WE do not be harsh or unpleasant:
but you must hear us. We know OF your-weakness.
you passed through"
: Again there the repulsve loosenng of the
mouth and the stare in the eyes, the swift change
+ they had there before. The man seemed 10
sink together in his chair. His hands futtered on
the arms Then he peered up with cunning fash
In the Moorish room No in The
I'VE were behind the parlor curtain"
He collapsed completely Stanchheld sprang for
water but Vebbe waved him off Trembling, COVER
ing, he glanced like hunted thing from one to the
other of the three Carter hurried on. to have the
J, situation
IS this the hold that Granson had over you9 Did
he know that you were kleptomaniac, that you
couldn't resist the fascination of ewels'" he asked
rather brutaly.
{ vebbe's eyes wandered stupidity from Carter's
face to his shirt bosom and back again.
Speak up, man., said the Virginian sharply as
that the TRUTH
And Vebbe. like man in trance, said: 1T is the
: truth. He discovered it one day. and he used the
: knowledge against meP The proud railroad presi-
dent was broken thing
What was the arrangement he forced you to-"
II to help him beat down the stock by spread
ing false reports and getting stock holders sell
He to buy all he could get Then he was going
to buy my block at a special price That would give
him control He shivered if taken with chill