Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-04
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2

investments, the names Of his chief en-
ployees the members of his yachts
crew, the topography of his Sussex es-
tate. Nothing was too trivial, no de-
tail too unimportant. TO escape note
undecipherable to others and a niche in
a retentive memory.
lie made a friend Of one Of Philips
footmen by standing treat and listen
ing reverently TO his views on the next
days racing. He persuaded one kitchen
maid in Park Lane and another at Fair
fax Hail that he had waited all his life
to discover a woman he could love devot-
eddy. II was a most important discov-
cry when he unearthed in a dingy hotel
the man whom Philip had dismissed for
tampering with the locked portmanteau.
From this worthy he first heard of the
quaint adjunct to the belongings of the
young millionaire, and judicious inquiry
soon revealed that there was hardly
servant in Philips employ who did not
credit the Gladstone bag with being the
repository Of the millionaire's fortunes.
Ordinary people Will credit any nom
sense where diamonds are concerned.
Even an educated criminal like Victor
Grenier believed there might be some
foundation for the absurd theory which
found ready credence among the do
mestcs
He never made the error Of planning
a burglary or adroit robbery whereby
the bag might come into his possession.
If it did contain diamonds and especially
If it contained unique specimens. it was
absolutely useless to him. But his vitals
yearned for Anson's gold, and the ques-
ton he asked himself in every unoccu-
pied moment was how he might sue
coed in getting some portion of it into
his own pocket
One day a quaint notion entered his
mind, and the more he thought of It the
more 1t dominated him. He was tall
and well made, II slim in figure and his
face and never lost the Elasticity given
it by his stage experience.
He had only heard Philips voice once
but his features and general appearance
were now quite familiar to him, and he
undertook series of experiments with
clothing and makeup to ascertain if he
could personate Arson sufficiently well
to deceive any one who was not an in
innate acquaintance, Soon the idea be-
came a mania, and the mania absorbed
the mans intellect To be Philip An
son for a day, a week; what would he
not give for the poweri
zone evening when Jocky Mason en-
tered Grenier's apartments he started
back with an oath, as a stranger ap-
preached him in the dim light and said:
well, Mason, and what do you WANT"
The eX-burglar and man-slayer
seemed to be so ready to commit muir
der that Grenier himself was alarmed
Hold hard, old chap" he said, in his
natural voice Il am only trying an
experiment on you"
What tomfoolery is thls?" shouted
the other gazing at him with the sus-
picious side glance Of discounted dog
which has been startled by some person
familiar to it in ordinary guise but mas
querading in outer garments.
"A mere pleasantly. l assure you
Good heavens, man. how you must hate
this fellow Arson, If you are so ready
to Stay him at sight. From your own
story, he only acted as ninety-nine peo-
pie out of hundred would have done
in helping the cop"
what | want to know it, why you
are playing tricks on me. won't stand
it, I'm not built that way"
Now, Mason, be reasonable. Can /
ask anybody else II | resemble Philip
Arson when made UP to represent him?
perhaps not, but you ought to have
warned me. Besides, I am worried to-
day"
what has happened now?"
Il went to report myself to South
wark Police Station. Who should l
find there but Bradley. the chap we
used to call Sailor He is an inspec-
tor now, and, of course, he knew me
at once"