The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-10-24

Complete ruin.
Il sign my full name and address.
knowing well that you dare not make
II public. and that you cannot harm
me IN any way. Awaiting your reply.
| am, Sir.
Respectfully yours.
walter Mandeville
Hotel LeGros. Fifth Ave"
''Whew," / said when I had read
through It, Hes the prince Of 'em.
whoever he is"
Isn't he?" said Handsykes. appre
ciatively.
Probably crazy?" I suggested
possibly" corrected Handsykes.
"And-pOssibly not"
He sat silent smoking carefully
and looking at the ceiling
Il remember the Battery Trust
failure" said. There was no men
ton Of any Of your family in connec-
ton With it. The men involved
we're"
"Figureheads." said Handsykes,
bluntly. "Clarence was the man be-
hind it. / gave it to him as a Christ
mas present"
Out"
the list or directors? / know. The
directors we're dummies. The Off
GERS were employes-Clarence's en-
ployes. One of them went 70 Jail for
year We took care of them all. I
don't understand how the facts got
out-the facts that this man is limiting
at. mean. We paid enough to keep
silence. heaven knows"
"Then it Is possible that this man
is"
mot crazy? Certainly. He's prob
ably got the goods on Clarence. How
in heaven he ever knew Of the boys
connection with the Battery bank is
| more than l can see. though. But ap-
| parently he does know it And If he
knows that he probably knows the
whole story"
what is the story. Mr.. Hand
sykes?" l asked boldly
ooh, Clarence used his little bank
! IN a careless sort of way" he replied
frankly. Its a long story. but I can
! make it short Clarence wrecked it to
help me put through my merger.
| very careless"
| Then there is such a cloud as this
man speaks off"
| certainly. And it isn't too late for
it to fall, either. Especially now
when the federal attorneys are SO ac-
tive"
I sat back in amazement. I knew
! something Of the crooked ms and outs
| Of Wall street. but that Handsykes
would sit and openly admit that his
son, the justly celebrated society lion,
| Clarence Handsykes was walking
with potential disgrace always on his
| shoulders, was shock Handsykes
| continued to smoke, not in the least
| disturbed by the thoughts that must
have been running through his mind.
I Il would pay this man without a
| murmur." said he, but If you pay
once. you've got to keep on paying.
sent for you to help me shut him up
without paying"
picked up the letter and looked at
| it.
"Do you happen to know anything
about the MANI" asked.
ooh, certainly" said Handsykes
Hes a good friend of Clarence's
They were in Yale together"
"What?" I cried "It isn't the rich
| young Vaudeville, is it?"
! "Of course" was the calm answer
"Who did you think it was? There's
his name. as plain as can be: Walter
Vaudeville. 1 believe the boy is tell
ing the truth; he needs 100000. and
this Is the only way in the world that
he knows how to get 1t. I suppose he
has become involved in some way and
Is desperate"
81 should think he would have gone
to Clarence" l suggested.
mo: that wouldn't have been eth
ical. He and Clarence are friends
He Is Clarence's best friend. really
He and I are not friends. He likes
Clarence and wouldn't harm him fol
the world. He doesn't like ne, AND
| wouldn't give 2. damn no matter what
happened-to me. You see. he ISM
willing to take g. cent from Clarence
but he would like to >gouge me fol
, 100000. and 60 it without the slight
est feeling Of conjunction. I can un
| derstand the young mans feelings
| but don't pay one cent"
"Then the case. so far as am con
| cerned," said LIS to render Mr.. Man
deville harmless without stirring vi
any trouble or paying him any black
, | maii?"
: Gust that" said Handsykes "You
) job Is to bury Mandeville's desire t,
. blackmail me-and bury it SO deep
: will never come to life"
: Good enough" said. rising
, "Have you any suggestions to make?
. "None." said he, except that tn
= Handsykes interests can raise NOR
q mouay than anvhodv In Nou vorl ox