Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-08-24
CHAPTER v.


WOulu pe an luulclmeHl VI Tie
readers perspicacity to inform
him that Payton's story about the
breaking down of an imaginary
aero and the call to him for aid was a
pure invention.
1t will be remembered that Payton
in his wireless telephone conversation
with Mr.. Grayman had appointed a
rendezvous for the second day after
that of the discovery of the abduction.
He had no intention of completing
the transaction at that meeting-if
meeting there should be. AS he had
said, he would arrange for the payment
of the ransom and the surrender of
the prisoner to take place elsewhere.
That was an invariable feature of Pay
toms system which served to battle
those who sought to trap him.
His first concern was to get meet
If he succeeded in that he depended on
twenty things to aid him in the subse-
quent negotiations, his extraordinary
cunning and his impressive personality
playing the principal parts.
He knew the character of William
Grayman and his extreme fondness for
his daughter. OF course this last was
his best lever. Yet his demand for
$10,OO0OO0 was SO enormous that he
knew it would require all of his match
less dexterity in managing men and in
mastering events to enable him to get
the money.
! To begin with, it was on its face a
thing of extreme improbability that
the famous Millionaire, whose shrewd-
ness was byword. would trust him
self in the hands OF an outlaw.
1t was also perfectly certain that
Grayman would call in the aid Of the
police That, however. did not trou-
BILE Payton. He had uttered no vain
boast when he said that nobody had
ever succeeded in running him down,
and he had the most excellent reasons
for his belief that nobody ever would.
The only question in his mind was
whether Grayman would go to the rem
devious at all.
ANY other man than Payton would
have assumed without arguing the
matter that Grayman would not go.
But Payton was master reader of hu-
man nature. He knew that Grayman
could not leave things as they were
He must rescue his daughter.
So he set out in the Chameleon for
Tribes Hill, very confident that Mr..
Grayman would be there-whatever
company he might have In regard to
this Payton had means of knowledge.
the nature of which will appear later.
Tribes Hill, place famous in In
dian tradition, lies in the old Hohawk
territory in Montgomery county, N. Y.
The distance between this place and
Payton's lodge was great, but Payton
had plenty of time at his disposal
and, indeed, time to spare-for the
Chameleon was one of the swifest
cracks afiy and could under pressure
make 40 miles an hour. There were
few aeros at that time which could
keep within sight of her.
/ Sc he set out at leisurely gait put
ing the flier in trim for either fighting
or running away, as occasion might re-
quire.
Nor was Payton mistaken in his real
soning about what Mr. Grayman would
do. The New York commissioner had
gone to work with great energy upon
his problem, and here is the result Of
his cogitation as he reported it to Mr..
Grayman twenty-four hours after their
first conference. "Mr. Grayman,' he
said, wearing a satisfied smile as he
entered the billionaire's sanctum, 81
think that the Sky Pirate has carried
his pitcher once too often to the foun-
tain in yenturing into New York.
believe that we shall get him."
"Well, wellr' exclaimed Grayman
testify. "You seem to have changed
your mind What's your plan?'
Its just this" said the commission
er. II have been with four Of my men
to Tribes Hill to look over the ground.
Payton has been cunning. / must al
low, but he has not hitherto had to
deal with the metropolitan police. The
bluff where he has promised to meet
you is bare and unapproachable except
under Payton's eyes. But there are
woods not far or
! "Wait moment" said the billion
aire "You seem to be assuming that
| am fool enough to put myself into
his grasp. You speak of his meeting
me. 1t is you that he must meet
The commissioner sat down and as
sumed more confidential tone.
'Mr. Grayman." he said. IF you do
not go. nothing can be done. No make
up to represent you would deceive this
fellow. All of these kidnapers are too
sharp for that. and he above all. If
you are not willing to go shall have
to throw up the job
Mr.. Grayman made no immediate re-
ply, but sat meditating ut is true .
he said at last. that have never al