El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-20
By Garrett P. Serviss
CHAPTER VII.
Illustrated by Parker.

IL
"A - EANWHILE what was hap
| |" pening to William Graymani
The Chameleon. as / have
said, speeded westward upon
leaving Tribes Hill. and 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 Mr. 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.
IT had to venture It." he sohloquiz-
ed. ~ don't see that there was any
other way-and yet was a fool! And
what have gained? Almost 1t would
have been better TO pay the money and
let the scoundrel go-if he surrendered
Helen safe"
: Then be tried to imagine what Pay
lon would do. Would he keep him
prisoner? But what could he gain by
that? The Millionaire knew well
enough that there was nobody who
would pay 100000 to have him re-
leased. Was his life In danger? No.
be did not think so. The commission
er's reasoning on that point seemed
conclusive. All the danger conferred
on his daughter. At moments be de-
bated whether be should not now Of
fer to pay the ransom and have done
with 1t. He could afford il. enormous
though the sum was. He had cleared
City millions during the past year.
While he was turning the subject In
his mind the door opened and Payton
entered.
''Mr. Grayman," be said In his most
winning manner. 81 give you my word
as gentleman that l am fnexpressi-
bly, panied 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 I do that
was compelled"
you promised me Immunity If
would meet you." interposed Mr.. Gray
man.
.'And you broke the convention by
coming TO the rendezvous under the
secret escort of whole feet" laughed
Payton But for my means OF learn
ing the designs Of my enemies
should have been beautifully trapped.
But now let that pass. l 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 win be impossible
for any further interruption of our
private conversation to occur. and we
may proceed with the business In the
most amfcable spirit"
The easy self assurance Of this
speech and Payton's cool assumption
that he was the injured party quite
Mr.. Grayman. he saw
the game well enough. but he did not
see a way to meet il. he felt desire
to throttle the fellow. Where is my
he demanded
Payton smiled provokingly as be 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 unti1"-
Payton purposely did not finish the
sentence. but remained silent. looking
straight into the billionaire's eyes. IL
It was his plan TO shake his prisoners
nerves he was fairly successful. Il
do not want any harm to come to you |
Or your daughter. but must have the |
ten millions You have the money: |
have the girl. You can afford the |
price. and she is worth 1t to you or to |
any man. Your life Is In my hands !
there's no denying that. But don't |
want It l want only the money"
Mr.. Grayman saw that be must tenn
porize somehow. The first thing was |
10 get himself out of this fix. He |
would try promises. and If worst came |
20 worst be would even pay the ran