Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-15
CHAPTER XXVII.-Continued.

$4,000 = A|As AAAA - -0OAAsAAA0NNs
Sorry to be so rough" Laverick said.
Perhaps if You will kindly realize that
of the two l am much the stronger man,
you viii be good as to sit i'll that chair
and tell me the meaning Of Your intru-
sion"
The man obeyeJ lie covered his eyes
with his hand for moment, though
in pain.
II imagine. H.. said -and 1t seemed to
IDayerick that his voice had a slight for
eisn Accent imagine that the motive
for my paying you this visit is fairly
clear to you. People who have COM
promising possessions may always expect
visits of this sort. You see, one runs SO
little risk"
so little risk Laverick repeated
Exactly" the other answered. Con
fess that YOU are not in the least inclined
to ring your bell and send for con-
stable to give me in charge for being IN
possession Of q pocketbOok distracted
from your safe, containing twenty thou
sand pounds in Bank of England notes.
1T wouldn't do at ALL" Laverick ad-
mitted.
clared the other. TT would not do Now
comes the time when ] have a question
to ask you, There was sealed document
in this pocketbook. Where Is it " nat
have you done with it,?
Can You tell me-. Laverick ASKED
why l should answer questions from
person whom / discover apparently en-
gagged in a nefarious attempt a. Dur
glary?"
The mans hand shot out from his
trousers pocket and Laverick looked into
the cleaning muzZle of d revolver.
Because if you don't. YOU die, was the
| quick reply. Whether you've read that
document or not. ] want 1t. Ii youN
| read it, YOU know the sort of men you We
got to deal with If you haven't. take my
word for it that waste no time. inc
| document. VIII you give it me-.
do understand that YOU are threaten
| Ing me-" Laverick asked. retreating Few
steps.
YOU may understand that this is re-
peating revolver and that seldom miss a
half-crown at twenty PAGES. MS Visltor
answered. If you put out Your hand to-
ward that bell 1t will be the last move
ment you'll ever make on earth
London isn't really the place Tor TINS
sort of thing Laverick said. IF you
discharge that revolver. you haven
dogs chance of getting clear OF the puliu-
ing Nv clerks would rush out after you
into the street You'd find yourself sur
rounded by crowd of business men.
You couldn't make your way through
anywhere You'd be held up before you d
gone a dozen yards. Put down your re
$500
matter without it,.
..Yhe document" the man ordered.
You've got it: You must have 1t. You
took that pocketbooll from dead man
and in that pocketbook was the docu-
ment. We must have it. We intend to
have it
And who. may I ask, are We" Law
erick inquired.
IF you 90 not know what does II mat
ter? Will you give 1t to me-:
Laverick shook his head.
Il have no document.
The man in the chair leaned forward
The muzzle of his revolver was very
bright. and he held 1T in nngers WHICH
were firm as rock.
Give 1t to met he repeated You
ought to know that you are not deallns
with men who are unaccustomed to ueath
You have it about you. Produce II ana
rye done with YOU Deny me and you
have not time to say your prayers.
Laverick was leaning against a small
table which stood near the door. HIS
fingers suddenly eripped the ledger which
lay upon it. He held 1t in front of his
face for a single moment and then dashed
it at his visitor He followed behind with
one desperate spring. once twice. the re-
volver barked out. Laverick felt the skin
of his temple burn and a flick on the ear
which reminded him Of his schooldays.
Then his hand was upon the other man
throat and the revolver lay upon the
carpet. :,
We'll see about that. BY the Lord.
Eve a good mind to wiring the lie out or
Won That bullet of yours might have
been in my temple.
1T was meant To be there, the man
gasped Hand over the document. You
pig-headed fool! Itll cost you your me
if not today, tomorrow.
"I'n be hanged if you get it. ANYWAY:
Layerick answered. tercely. y on as
sassin. Scoundrel! To come here and make
a cold-blooded effort at murder. You
shall see what you think OF the inside OF
an English prison
The man laughed contemptuously.
And what about the pocketbook? he
asked.
Iavericl was silent. His assaiiant
smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
Come" he said. Il have made my ef-
fort and failed You have twenty thou
sand pounds. That's d fair price, but
| I'll add another twenty thousand for that
document unopened.
at is possible that we might deal.
! Laverick remarked. kicking the revolver
| a little farther away. Il nfortundtely, l
am too much in the dark. Tell me tne
| real position of the murdered man? Tell
me why he was murdered Tell me the
contents Of this document and why 1t
| was in his possession? Perhaps l may
then be inclined to treat with YOU
You are either an astonshingly lngenu-
Gus person. Mr.. Laverick. his visitor de-
/ clared, ..or you're too subtle for me. You
| do not expect ME to believe that YOU are
| in this with your eyes blindfolded? You
| do not expect me to believe that you do
rot know what is in that sealed envelope
Bah! It is a child's game, thar and We
| play as men with men,.
! Iaverick shook his head.
| Your offer" he asked. what is it eN-
actly?''
| Twenty thousand pounds. the man
answered. 1.-The document is worth no
more than that to you. How you came
| into this thing is mystery, but you are
in and. what is more, you have posses
sion. Twenty Thousand pounds. Mr.. Law
erick. 1t is a large sum of money. You
| find it interesting?
| II find it interesting" Laverick an
| swered dryly. but am not seller
! The intruder moved his hand away
| from his eyes. His expression was full
| of wonder.
Consider for a moment he said.
ALL YOU NEED is A