The Washington herald., 1912-01-14
CHAPTER v-continued.

whole arrangement Darwin left ant
returned unostentatiously, and for sew
eral days he made no move. 1t was hi
habit to be very sure OF his ground be
fore he advanced, and he spent severa
days studying the character and financial
and social standing OF Emerson's associ'
ates.
He had no fancy for direct struggle
with Wilbur Emerson on even terms He
had too much respect for the young
mans skill and courage in combat Him
he was determined to get" but he
knew that Il would be necessary to strike
in the dark-to turn the enemy's flank by
an unexpected move and pin him down
before he could gather himself together
to fight back.
He acted on the principle that a chain
is no stronger than its weakest link, and
he knew that Wilbur Emerson was by
no means the weakest. Tooker? No; he
was as impossible as Emerson. Ray
mond? He might do, but, fussy and
nervous as he was, he was still a man,
and II he should be able to stand the
pounding without breaking it would be
the end of the investigation. Cowper?
Cowper was the man. If Wilbur Emer-
son could force Cowper into breaking the
law, he CDarwin) could force him into
holy fear Of it. And another strong
point was that CowpeT's engagement had
been announced about six weeks before
Darwin's plan was made. He could, of
course, have suddenly descended on the
Offices of the Emerson Banking Company,
seized everything in the place, and found
the evidence that he needed: but that
was not spectacular enough TO suit him.
Besides. he did not want evidence. He
wanted the absolute certainty, for even
with that in his hands he knew how
hard II would be to convict the bankers
OF technical violation of the law when
no man had suffered cents worth be-
cause Of it. He picked up his desk tele-
phone.
''S7545 Broad" he said. Hello! Mr..
Cowper, please. Mr.. Darwin. Hello,
Cowper? This is Darwin. Busy? Can
you come up to my office right away?
Something very important to talk to you
about. You will. All right. Thank you.
Good-by!'
Cowper put on his hat. and as he
started out he hesitated a moment at
the door of EmersOns Office. He had
a vague sort of feeling that he ought
to tell Wilbur about the telephone call,
but he could think of no reason. He
knew that he had worried the young
chief needlessIy in the past few weeks.
But he couldn't help it. He was not a
brave man and every time he thought
of that note of his in the place where
there should be a million dollars worth
OF gold bonds he shivered
Darwin met him with a hearty hand
shake and asked him TO sit down. Then
he carefully and deliberately closed the
door and locked it. Cowper's unstrung
nerves gave a jump.
Whats that for, Darwin" he de-
manded. paling slightly.
TllTu-fn cd r,fI NJ
not reply until he had taken his seat
at the big f1at-topped desk. Cowper
sat opposite facing him.
Il told you / wanted to have a very
important talk with you, Cowper," he
said slowly. and I don't want to be
For more than a minute Darwin sat
smiling his evil smile and gazing at
CowPer with cold, pitiless eyes.
The latter tried to say something
to tell Darwin to fire away" to tell
him that he was in a hurry-anything
but a growing fright paralyzed his |
tongue At last Darwin spoke again.
When are you going to be married. |
GeOrge?" he asked. There was a gen |
tie ripple of irony in the voice Alarm |
shcne in COwper's eyes as he answered |
In about a month and a half why?" |
Again there was a tense silence
Where had you thought of spending |
your honeymoon asked Darwin, in the |
same easy. half-insolent manner, ignor- !
ug the cOunter-question.
Il don't know. why?" Cowper's !
alarm grew as he felt that there was !
terrible behind these appar- /
ratIy innocent questions.
Why" replied Darwin. slowly. look /
ing hard into his eyes. II thought you |,
might be thinking of spending 1t In At |
ANITA
Cowper smothered a half cry and |
gripped the sides of his chair with both |
hands. as if to hold himself in place He /
guiped and made n desperate effort to
appear calm.
Atlanta" he echoed. but his voice
was scarcely more than whispered.
'Why-AtIanta?
Darwin gazed at him pitiIessly for a
iozen seconds. Then very slowly and
Because the Federal government
an establishment there for
men like you" he said.
Cowper sprang up with a choking
,ry.
Me! the Federal prison! For Gods
AXE. Darwin, what do you meant" he
;asped.
The lawyer looked at the livid face
nd quiz ering lips and saw that il was
'umbled some papers on his desk.
ished out an oblong sheet, and handed
I to COwper with the grim command:
Here Read this"
Cowper glanced at it a second. sway
ng on his feet. Then. with shudder
nd a dry sob. he collapsed into a chair.
It was a Federal warrant charging
ieorge Cowper with misappropriation
f the funds of the Emerson National
sank.
Darwin arose, walked around HIS
esk, picked up the warrant and put
t back on his desk Then he turned
nd regarded the less than half-ocn-
cious figure in the chair with cool
vim drew a glass of water from the
ooler, and shaking him roughly by
he shoulder, said: Il
Here! Drink this. Cowper, and
Ou'H feel better"
The suffering man looked up with a
azed expression, and took the glass in
9th hands. They shook SO that he I
piled the water on his coat, and Dar-
in could hear his teeth rattle against
le rim. But the water revived him. {
Now, buck upi' said Darwin. with a |
how of rough kindness. You're not in :
tlsnta yet, and you never win be if
ou have any sense.
what do-you mean? That warrant" (
painted Cowper in hoarse whisper. 4
That warrant means that I have been a
opointed special prosecutor by the At 1
rney General TO investigate your chain
banks, and 1 know enough now TO
nd all of you 10 the penitentiary '
ou've been borrowing your own capital
ithout security, and that's a felony. [
ow the question that you have to decide v