The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-11-28

| knowing we'll that you dare not make
1t public, and that you cannot harm
me in any way. Awaiting your reply,
/ am, sir.
Respectfully yours,
'fWalter Vaudeville,
Hotel LeGros, Fifth Ave-"
''Whew!" / said when / had read
through it. He's the prince Of 'em,
whoever he is
isn't he?" said Handsykes, appre-
ciatively.
Probably crazy?" l suggested
Possibly" corrected Handsykes.
'And possibly not"
He sat silent, smoking carefully
and looking at the ceiling.
I'll remember the Battery Trust
failure" | said. There was no men
ton Of any of your family in connec-
ton with it. The men involved
were"
"Figureheads,' said Handsykes.
bluntly. Clarence was the man be-
hind it. ] gave it to him as a Christ
mas present"
But"
'tHis name did not appear even in
the list of directors? / know. The
directors were dummies. The Off
GERS were employees Clarence's en-
ployes. One Of them went to Jail for
a 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" asked boldly
ooh, Clarence used his little bank
in a careless sort of way" he replied
frankly. tits long story, but can
make it short. Clarence wrecked it to
help me put through my merger.
Loyal son, Clarence; but careless,
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 &C
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 a shock. Handsykes
continued to smoke, not in the least
disturbed by the thoughts that must
have been running through his mind.
II would pay this man without
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 mann" asked.
ooh, certainly" said Handsykes.
"He's a good friend of Clarence's.
They were in Yale together"
"What?" / cried. ut 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. l 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 it. | suppose he
has become involved in some way and
is desperate"
II should think he would have gone
to Clarence" l suggested.
mo; that wouldn't have been eth
ica1. He and Clarence are friends.
He is Clarence's best friend, really
| He and l are not friends. He likes
Clarence and wouldn't harm him for
the world. He doesn't like me, and
wouldn't give a damn no matter what
bappened-to me. You see, he isn't
willing to take a cent from Clarence,
but he would like to gouge me for
500. 600, and do it without the slight
est feeling of conjunction. I can I'M
derstand the young mans feelings
but don't pay one cent"
"Then the case, so far az am con-
cerned." said I, 'fs to render Mr.. Man
deyille harmless without stirring up
any trouble or paying him any black
mail?"
Gust that" said Handsykes. your
lob is to bury MandeVille's desire to
blackmail me-and bury it so deep it
will never come to life"
Good enough" said, rising.
"Have you any suggestions to maker
None" said he, except that the
Handsykes interests can raise more
money than anybody In New York ex-
cent Morgan-if necessary.
Then he smiled and bowed me out
Here was as delicate task as ever
7 bod faced. The name Of Handsykes
mnst be protected beyond all else. As
# stood now. it was power in New
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