Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-09
CHAPTER VII-Continued.


you'll excuse me for mentioning it,
he said at last. ''but think you're throw
ing away the chance OF lifetime"
'Indeed?'
Yes. You see, / have certain-facil-
tiles, shall ! say--for disposing Of such
matters with practically no risk what
ever. In fact. though you may not know
it, I'm pretty deep in the business my
self
1 faced him half angrily What busi-
ness, Mr. Hayward"
"Oh, come now" He wagged his mead
You can't plead ignorance"
"Then you're either much wiser, or
much more of a fool than l took You
for" He gazed at me closely. And I'm
inclined to think it's the former
You fiatter me-
Il can afford to. You're in my power,
you see
The sour grin which curved his lips
made me shiver. He laid his hand on my
knee with a little laugh. Now perhaps
might take them ali il wished. and yet
l give you your share-your equal share.
His words suggested a possible key to
the riddle. According to your belief you
could hardly do anything else"
What belief?"
Miss Hayward told me you were a So
cialist.''
He smiled broadly "oh, yes-of course.
And you believed herr"
Il did-at the time-but-"
Not now? Well. you're right. must
have some fiction to cover up the real
business and that's as good as any. But
Sylvia believes in it implicitly he added.
earnestly. Don't forget that. She must
never know about the other
l was entirely at sea again. What
other?"
He scowled. Now. look here, Mr.. Rem
frew. this is no joking matter. II you
won't come into the bargain
How can / until / know what 1t Is z
i've given you the terms-equal shares
Yes. but the subject matter. I'm afraid
you'll have to be more explicit.
Explicit? What guarantee have l that
you'll play me fair?'
I shrugged my shoulders. He giared al
me angrily.
You want me to commit myself, I sup
pose and then IL things go wrong you
can hide behind me-turn states evi-
dence."
You're the chief criminal" he laughed,
harshly. You ought to know"
] was stung by the insult. This Is 60
ing too far cried. jumping to my feet.
~ demand an explanation"
You'll have it, he said, when you
hand them over to me-.
Hand what over to your
.'Them-them. There's no use in quib-
bling over a word"
''It seems to be a bubble from begin
ming to end You steal everything I've
got in the worrd-everything and now you
want more. If you hadn't blown up my
yacht
by heavens!" he interjected. You
don't mean to say they were there?"
ne p~krn tad
thoroughly exasperated. They may have
been there or anywhere else. for all
care. II you weren't anxious enough
about them to look
Il didn't know of them then. Good
Lord, what fool / have been!'
Il agree with yon," said, sarcasticaily
turning on my heel. "Good-day."
Wait" he commanded. and at his stern
tone 1 halted. Il want you to realise
your position fully. If they have gone UP
there's nothing more to be said. but
shall insist upon your solemn word OF
honor as to the fact If You refuse to
give it to me, I shall consider that they
are still in existence, and l shall use
every means in my power to discove.
their hiding place-every means. Mr.. Rem
rev." he repeated, with a cruel infiec-
ton. "And OF this island my rule is SUI
preme.''
He waved his hand in gesture OF dis
missal. bowed and turned again toward
the door. AS / crossed the threshold he
ca led softly after me:
Think it over carefully and let me
know your decision. We shall expect you
to dine with us at half-past 1"
l passed out without answering him. A
girls figure disappeared in fiutter of
skirts around an angle OF the yeranda. II
was Sylvia.
l stared after her in wonder then back
to the chair which she had left still rock
ing in the breeze. The corner OF a news
paper peeped from beneath the cushioned
seat / drew it out cu.iously. A half
length picture of myself adorned the front
page, and above it, in three-inch capitals
was recorded the failure of Prescott 4
Renfrew. The date was the 18th OF June
yesterday!