Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-10-13
CHAPTER V.
THE POLICE PLAY THEIR HAND.

SAA@AA A<AS
THE POLICE PLAY THEIR HAND.
TT would be an indictment OF the
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
pure invention.
1t will be remembered that PaytOn
In his wireless telephone conversation
with Mr.. Grayman had appointed q
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.
tons system which served to bafde
those who sought to trap him.
His first concern was to get a meet
ing with the person who was to pay.
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
$10O00,OOO was so enormous that he
knew It would require oil Of his match
less dexterity in managing men and in
mastering events to enable him to get
the money.
Te begin with. 1t 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-
bic 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 waA
whether Grayman would 60 to the rem
devious at all.
Any other man than Payton would
have assumed without arguing the
matter that Grayman would not 60
But Payton was master reader Of hu.
man nature. He knew that Grayman
could not leave things AZ they were.
He must rescue his daughter.
So he set out in the Chameleon fol
Tribes Hill, very confident that Mr.
Grayman would be there-whateveI
company he might have. In regard t.
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 Hohawt
territory In Montgomery county, N. 7,
The distance between this place and
Payton's lodge was great, but Paytou
had plenty Of time at his disposal-
and, indeed, time to spare-1or the
Chameleon was one Of the swifest
cracks any and could under pressure
make 14O miles an hour. There were
few aeros at that time which could
keep within sight Of her.
So he set out at leismely gait, put.
ing the fiier in trim for either fighting
or running away, as occasion might re.
Quire.
Nor was Payton mistaken In his rea.
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 1t to Mr..
Grayman twenty-four hours after their
first conference. "Mr. Grayman." be
said, wearing a satisfied smile a. he
entered the billionaire's sanctum, II
think that the Sky Pirate has carried
his pitcher once too often to the foun-
tain in venturing into New York.
believe that we shall get him"
We'll, well!' exclaimed Grayman
testify. You seem to have changed
your mind. What's your planr'
TITS just this" said the commission
er. Il have been with four Of my men
to Tribes Hin 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 off,
wait a 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 n more confidential tone.
Mr.. Grayman." he said, III 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. II
you are not willing to 60 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
lowed an affair Of this importance to
be conducted without my personal
presence. But could not be concealed
somewhere near"
Impossible. You must be there
openly or not at all. But let me assure
you that you have nothing to fear.
We can protect you"
Suppose he should attempt to run
away with me also! Do you know
what that means!"
i know perfectly well, Mr.. Gray.
man, the importance Of your person.
But IN this case you would have moth.
ing TO fear. fayton would never