Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-12
CHAPTER XX.-Continued.

He rose by and by and betook himself
to his dressing room. whistling CHEEKY
tune. And although l don't want to
rush things" said he to himself, as he
stepped briskly into his bath. IF either
Dove or that fat suicide makes any more
fuss. I'll have to show 'em my teeth.
They must both keep to the bargains we
struck. And / think I've made things
pretty safe for myself by" now.
When he at length strolled downstairs.
infinitely refreshed after his long rest. he
found Mr.. Jobling and Capt. Dove IN
close conclave in the library. And he did
not like their looks in the least or their
sudden silence at sight Of him. He felt
certain that they had been conspiring
against him. and did not delay in COM
mencng counter attack.
" Morning, Dove. Morning, Jobling,
said he. casually, as he stopped to select
cigar from the box on the table.
Change of weather. Ell. You'll have
cold journey back to London. Jobling
Mr.. Jobling looked very coldly across
London at present. Mr.. Slyne, he re
piled Mr.. Spettigrew will look after
everything there
You're no more use to me here, said
Slyne, bluntly, and you may be OF some
service I'm London"
You are no longer client OF mine
Mr.. Slyne,' the lawyer retorted, no doubt
embodened by the promise OF Capt
Doves answering support can no
longer act for you with any feeling OF
contidence-since ! have found out how
unfairly you have attempted to treat
Capt. Dove"
Siyne understood that open war was
declared. II won't be a client OF yours
for long if you're going to be trouble
some he affirmed. Il think you've got
a little out IF your depth again. my
friend | don't think you'll find 1t VIII
pay YOU to take that tone.
Tf,1,t iyp hoo tn Ter
Dove evidently felt impelled to come to
his aid.
You take too much on yourself
Slyne," said he ewing that gentleman
with extreme dsfavor. You seem 10
think you're the whole show here. though
you're nothing but hanger-on, as I've
told YOU before. Let's have good deal
less of 1t. Or We can get on just as
well, or even bettcr-Wlth0ut you, you
know
Slyne turned contemptuous stare on
him. so, that's the idea now, Is it,, he
remarked. without any sign or neat GU
two think it's case OF dog eat DOG now.
do you, And-after you've got ria OF
me. who picked you both up out or the
gutter you'll be at each others throats.
You re great pair.
His nonchalance incenSed the OLD man,
as he had intended it should.
II want none of your damned lip, de-
cIared Capt. Dove, g1aring at him. you
precious upstart. You're nothing but
beggar on horseback yourself. for all your
grand airs. Me and this other gentle
man are both sick-tired or them gu re
one too many
TN one too many for you two, at any
rate; and you may both stake your last
cent on that" Slyne told him. with
composure admirable under the circum-
stances You surely don't imagine. do
you, that I'm here on any such unsa1e
footing as you are. l thought you knew
me we'll enough, Dove. to be sure that q
leave you no opportunity TO so pdck OH
your bargain with me.
- 20 hell with YOU and Your bargains.
cried Capt. Dove: and then. restraining
his rage lowered his voice again The
mistake you've always made with me.
Slyne. has been to take me for an old
fool-as you've very often called me to
my face. You think I'm in my dotase.
But-Im not too old to show you a TRICK
or two yet if YOU and l come TO grips.
And as for being such a fool as you
seem to think me-you wait and see. I've
a card or two up my sleeve, Mr.. Siyne,
that'u. maybe. euchre Your game for you,
if YOU try to bluff too high.
SLIME sat back and studied the old
mans face Capt Dove had made that
same mysterious threat on board the
Olive Branch i'm Genoa. before they had
started out on their present adventure
1t had disconnected Slyne then 1T dls-
concerted him still more now.
Don't You think that you're a little in
cined to overrate your Importance and
er-capacity, Mr.. Slyne?" put in Mr. job
ling. acidly during the pause: Involuntary
on Slynes part. ''.All your ideas are. no
doubt based on the documents we mutu-
ally signed in Monte Carlo; and you are
proba bly, not aware, as I am-now that
have IA clearer insight into your motives
that they amount to neither more nor
less than a conspiracy to defraud. You
would be well advised, believe me. TO put
them all in the fire.
SLIME turned on him in an instant.
f,.. ONT N-f,lI
To understand. once and for all, that I've
cot YOU safe where | want you. and that.
if ! hear much more from you. you'll find
Yourself in a very unpleasant FIX. You
wouldn't look we'll at all in a striped suit
or I believe it's the broad-arrow pat
| tern they supply in the prisons here. And
that's what youll come to. believe me,
unless you walk the line I've laid down
| for you. You can't embezzle trust FUNDS,
YOU know and pay the interest with
| PROMISES to he met soon as you lay
YOUR hands on some of the plumber here.
| without running very dangerous FISK
| indeed. Why, even the car you sold me
| in Genoa was another mans property
| and I hold YOUR receipt for the price /
| paid YOU for it,
$50 shut up he concluded. sharply.
| and proceeded to deal with Capt. Dove as
| IL the lawyer had not been there.
MIR. Jobling's flaccid face had become
| of the color of notified clay. He was
respring stertorOusly, through his mouth.
His eyes had grown bloodshot His back
| bone seemed to have given away He
sat huddled up. silent. staring at Slyne
| with eyes full OF impotent fear.
You talk to me about blufhng!' Slyne
| was saving to Capt. Dove who also SEEM
| ed to have grown suddenly apprehensive
| Of some unforeseen mischance. You talk
| to me about bluffing. although I've played
| a straight game with you from the start
| and stuck to our bargain even against
my own interests. Wait minute. Listen
hon q
| tired
do you want to keep your clever new
| friend there company In his cell? How
| long do YOU think you'd be left at liberty
! if | mentioned to the authorities that
you're the same man who
| stop. now. curse you rOared Capt.
| Dove. and so drowned the disclosures
| which Slyne SEEMED minded to make.
| And don't go too far with me, Or
SLIME looked without Winkng into the
m,Izzle of the revolver which the old man
| had produced in an instant and leveled
| at him You talk to me about bluff1ng!'
| he said again. and laughed, without
mirth you'd be better occupied, Dove,
| in making sure that your own bluff isn't
called. You've done your best for a week
past to give yourself away to the police,
| and-if you manage that in the end, you
won't have me to blame, remember. I'm
not the sort of yellow dog you seem to
want to make yourself out
He paused to let that vitriolic criticism
| sink in and to consider just how far he
| might safely go Capt. Dove had laid his
revolver down. but kept a hand on it's
| butt. He was watching Slyne intently.
4 Il