Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-03-13
The Corrector of Destinies
Being Tales of Randolph Mason as Related by
His Private Secretary, CORTLAND Parks
THE INTRIGUER
By Melville DAVIDSON Post
CopzrIght by Edward J. clode


Garnett, came imperiously forward:
Begin now, Courtlandt. please; am
listening"
began then with what willing spir,
! It could summon.
Margaret Garrett listened closely,
putting now and then q query, and
glancing now and then at the man
who sat applauding in that first chair
Of the fifth row, as though to establish
somehow, a relation there with this
mania of Randolph Mason. 1t was evi.
dent that 1 was telling her nothing
that she had not already heard.
II am almost Wishing, Courtlandt,"
she said, that Randolph Mason would
refuse to assist my father in the fight
with Mr.. Wood. It seems to be max
ing the game unfair, like the Rhine
helping the Germans there against
Caesar. This drama of Gafki, like all
Homeric echoes, outrages my sense Of
fair play. There was not, as / re-
member, clean fight in the whole
Iliad some god was always lending
hand"
She sat moment silently watching
Caesars pontoon bridges sucked un-
der by mysterious currents.
II ought, as dutiful daughter, I'd
hold keener interest in my fathers
! side Of it, suppose" she said. IF
Mr.. Wood is not checkmated, fathers
railroads will go into receivership;
and if my father brushes him, he will
| go, In every sense, under the ak. So
l ought to be fired with certain bar
barrie eagerness for victory, and so, in
a way, am. But somehow, at the
bottom CT me, l wish to see the fight
fair. No handicaps, no Olympic leg
ging, the winning to the best man."
This impassioned speech was inter.
rupted by thin piping voice, little
more than a birds chirp. please,
Margaret" it said, II am tired. May
/ go homer" The old aunt had awak.
ened. Her face was plaintive, like a
child's. Time, having made lifes cir
cult with her, was returning her to
dissolution by the cradle.
summoned the old womans maids,
and they got her, with the footman's
assistance, to the carriage. l went
out with Margaret Garnett. She
harked back to her theme a moment
as I took my leave of her. Good
night, Courtlandt," she said. please
keep Randolph Mason neutral in this
fight 1t is too fine struggle to be
spoiled by an outsider. If father wins,
shall have this mans head on a
charger, if / wish 1t. If he loses let
the victor sell me into slavery"
turned to call a hanson, when one
of the theater attendants touched me
on the arm.
Il beg your pardon" he said; "can
you tell me If this article belongs to
Miss Garnett? 1t was picked up by
an usher in her box" He held in his
hand fiat gold locket attached to
chain linking alternately topaz and
an opal. l carried the locket to the
light and examined it. The case was
without a mark. / pulled it open to
see if there was any inside, and 1
found there such a one as left no
doubt remaining The locket contain
ed the picture Of her father, and OPP
posite it, of all persons on this earth,
the face of Thomas B. Wood.
l returned the locket to the waiting
lackey. ut is certainly Miss Gar
nett's," l said; you would better send
it Immediately to her residence"
On Thursday morning the counsel of
John A. Garnett called on Randolph
Mason. When Pietro brought him in
to the office took him for some cele.
brated actor.
Il have the honor" he said, ito adj
dress Mr.. Parks, believe, the secre-
tary Of Randolph Mason. My name is
Alger l am here on matter for John
A. Garrett"
l hid under a conventional greeting
the flaming interest which these
words lighted. Here. was the envoy
which Margaret Garrett said her faith
er was about to send. l did not know
that this meeting was by appointment.
until Randolph Mason appeared on the
threshold of the folding-doors between
the two rooms. He spoke to me.
Il shall be engaged with Mr.. Alger
for the next half hour. Direct Pietro
to admit no one" Then he went back |
into the room, followed by the attor-
ney. l presently found Pietro, gave
him the directions and returned to my |
table, where 1 could witness through |
the folding-doors this conference which |
Margaret Garrett wished so greatly |
to prevent. 1t was Randolph Mason
who began the conversation.
Can you give me briefly" he said,
the history of this case?"
The attorney was not moved to a |
hasty recital by Mason's abrupt impa- |
thence. He sat down in a chair be- |
fore the table, lifted his face, serene |
with that deep internal composure
common to those who are accustomed |
to speak the last irrevocable word,
and regarded Randolph Mason as he |
doubtless would have regarded some |
strange, unfamiliar tribunal, to be
carefully addressed. When he spoke, |