The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-22
gze
 5 KY PIRATE by GARRETT p o ~ SEQVESS. COPYRIGHT eY TeANx A. croMSer cOreAMx)
(Continue> CHAPTER VII.
,tfecHr eY eeAHx A. c,oNSEr coreAMX

 HE EANWHILE what was hap " pening to William Grayman? H The Chameleon, as I have
 said, speeded westward upon leaving Tribes Hill, ard Payton took good care to rise so high and to dis guise the aero so well with appropriate color that probably not an eye caught sight of her after she quilted the scene of the encounter with the police. AS soon as MT. Grayman had been carried aboard he was put into the lit tie room that had been occupied by his daughter, and the door was locked upon him.
 'I had to venture it." he soGloquiz- ed. q don't see that there was any other way-and yet was fool! And what have gained? Almost it would have been better to pay the money and let the scoundrel golf he surrendered Helen safe.''
 Then he tried to imagine what Pay ton would do. Would he keep him a prisoner? But what could he gain by that? The millionaire knew we'll enough that there was nobody who would pay s1O.OO0.OO0 to have him re- leased. Was his life in danger? No, he did not think so. The commission CTS reasoning on that point seemed conclusive. All the danger centered on his daughter. At moments he de- bated whether he should not now of fer to pay the ransom and have done with it. He could afford it, enormous though the sum was. He had cleared fifty millions during the past year.
 While he was turning the subject in his mind the door opened and Payton entered.
 "Mr. Grayman." he said in his most winning manner, "I give you my word as a gentleman that I am inexpressi- bly pained by what has occurred. It was not my intention to carry you of or to offer you any indignity whatever, but you know as well as do that I was compelled"
 "You promised me immunity if I would meet you," interposed MT. Gray man.
 "And you broke the convention by coming to the rendezvous under the secret escort of a whole feet" laughed Payton. "But for my means of learn ing the designs of my enemies I should have been beautifully trapped. But now I let that pass. am willing to overlook it in view of your inexpe- rience in such affairs as this. You are now, by force of circumstances, in a position where it will be impossible for any further interruption of our private conversation to occur. and we may proceed with the business in the most amicable spirit"
 The easy self assurance of this speech and Payt6n's cool assumption that he was the injured party quite dumfounded MT. Grayman. He saw the game well enough. but he did not see a way to meet it. He felt a desire to throttle the fellow Where is my daughter?' he demanded.
 Payton smiled provokingly as he re- piled, "She is where no police in the world can ever find her and where she will remain in my charge until the ransom is paid or until"-
 Payton purposely did not finish the sentence, but remained silent, looking straight into the billionaires eyes. If 1t was his plan to shake his prisoners nerves he was fairly successful. 'sI do not want any harm to come to you or your daughter, but must have the ten millions. You have the money; I have the girl You can afford the price, and she is worth it to you or to any man. Your life is in my hands there's no denying that. But don't want 1t. want only thermoney."
 MT. Grayman saw that he must tenn porize somehow. The first thing was to get himself out of this fix. He would try promises, and if worst came to worst he would even pay the ran- som, trusting to get it back again when Payton should finally be caught.
 'What do you want me to dor' he asked.
 'T want you to promise me on your honor as gentleman and banker to meet me with the money, at a place which I shall designate later, and where Helen shall be surrendered to you is you faithfully keep your en- gagement. Will you do that|'
 Suppose I refuseT
 Payton's lip curled. Then you will not return to New York"
 Suppose say 'YesT"
 ''Then I will carry you home myself with the Chameleon"
 MT. Grayman reflected. What harm in promising?'' he asked himself "A promise extorted under compulsion is null. It will simply give me another chance. Once at liberty I'll not be fool enough to put myself in his power lgain. Some way will open up.''
 'Well,"' he said aloud, then I'll say Yes'''
 "Goodr' responded Payton. "Splen- lid good sense. I'll give the order to urn New Yorkward at once''
 Payton had read the billionaire's s thoughts as if they had been printed. He knew that at present MT. Grayman had no intention of meeting him on the terms he had prescribed, but would once more try to entrap him. Yet un- less he released him now he could nev- CT hope for the money.
 Ee rose and left Grayman alone iu the cabin. but within few minutes returned. saying, Come out, Mir. Gray man, and convince yourself that you