Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28
CHAPTER XXI.
A Bottle of Wine

George stood irresolutely upon the steps.
new keyhole! What the deuce did the
agent mean by putting new keyhole
in the door without notifying him? As
the caretaker never entered that door.
it was all the agents fault. There was
no areaway in front, but between Georges
house and the next there was court
eight feet in width, running to the d.
viding wall between the bank property
and his own. A grille gate protected this
court George had a key. The gate
opened readily enough. His intention
he suddenly paused. To his amazemept
he saw just below the library curtain
thin measure Of light. Light! Some one
in the house! He did the most sensible
thing possible-he stood still till the shock
left him. Some one in the house, some
ness there! Near the window stood a
tubbed bay tree. Cautiously he mounted
this, holding the ledge of the window
with his fingers. That he did not in
was due to the fact that he was tempo
rarily paralyzed.
Here was the end Of the puzzle. The
riddle Of the United Romance and Ad-
venture Company was solved. AT last
he understood why Mrs. Chedsoye had
sought him, why Ryanne had kidnapped
him. But for his continuing his journey
upon the German-LiOyd boat he would
have come home q week too late; he
would haNa- missed being spectator (al-
ready an innocent contributor to one OF
| the most daring and ingenious bank rob-
berries known In the pages of metropoli-
tan crime. There was Mrs. Chedsoye, In
trusively handsome as ever; there was
migrate who called himself Ryanne. and
three unknown men. The impotence of
it: the damnable insolence of 1t! And
there they were. toasting their success
in a brace Of his own vintage champagne!
But the wine was. after ALL incOnsequen-
tiaI. It was what he saw upon the floor
that caught him by the throat. His
knees weakened, but he held on grimly
to his perch
White bags Of gold, soiled bags of gold
notes-riches! Twenty bags and as many
packets of currency; q million, not a
penny under that! George was seized
with horrible desire to yell with laugh
his throat. He swallowed violently and
gnawed his lips. They had got into his
house under false pretenses and had tun-
neled back into the Merchant Mechanic
Bank, OF which Horace's brother was
president, and In which he, George p. A.
Jones, always carried a large private
balance! 1t was the joke OF the century.
AS quietly as he possibly could. he step
ped down from his uncertain perch. In
the fine fury that followed his amaze
the police at once, to confront the
wretches In the villainy; but once outside
in the street, he cooled. Instantly he
saw the trial In court. Fortune as wit
ness against her own mother. That was
horrible and not to be thought of. But
what should he dor He was shaken to
his soul. The stupendous audacity of
such a plan! To have worked out every
detail, down to the altering Of the key
hole to prevent surprise! He saw the
mt They leaving that
night. If he acted at all, 1t must be
within an hour; In less than that time
they would be loading the cars. His mind
began to rid itself Of its confusion With
out the aid OF the police; and presently
he saw the way to do 1t.
He was off at a dog-trot upon the balls
of his feet, silently. Within five minutes
ne was mounting the steps to the Morti-
inside. The others saw directly that
something serious had happened.
whats the trouble, George? House
vanished?" asked Mortimer.
'.aave you got a. brace OF revolversT"
said George, quietly.
1.-TWO automatica. But - ."
GIVE them to me-" less evenly in tone.
VIII you call up Arthur Wadsworth.
president Of the MISUNDERSTANDING
Bank?'
"The bankT'
Eyes. the bank You know, 1t is just
in the rear Of my house.
Here Fortune came forward All the
bright color was gone from her cheeks;
the old mask of despair had reformed
She needed no further enlightenment
Are you going back there?' she asked.
YES. dear: / must. Mr.. Mortimer will
go with me-"
"And IT.
mo. heart O. mine; you've got to stay
here
IF you do not take me with you, you
will not find me here when you return.
my child" began Mortimer, soothing
ly, you must not talk like that. There
will be danger
..Then notify the police and Let the
danger rest upon their shoulders she
said, her jaws set sQuarely.
II can't call in the police" replied
George, miserable.
shall tell you why?"
Dearest can't you understand that 1t
is you am thinking off,
'sI am determined. II do not go with
YOU. you shall never see me again. My
,ofhor Ia fheres'