The Washington times., 1913-11-21

A L S:3o precisely RuShton ar
~ rived. Promptness in appoint
n ments is cherished and
boasted virtue of many who
are short" on other accomplishments
A person with smoked glasses and a
shade over the eyes could have told he
was a plain-clothes man. AS matter
OF fact, he liked to have the fact recoS-
nized, Tor II afforded many opportun-
Ties for obtaining by bullying methods
what he could not possibly have ac-
complished by wit or sagacity. Two
other men of his own kind accompanied
him.
Harvard was late He was due at S:45
o'clock, but ii was nearly five minutes
after the hour when he was announced.
He entered the room, where the
banker received him with smile and
President Chester was his friend as
well as employer-the best friend he
had in the world. he would have said.
Harvard loved and honored him above
others, and had tried to emulate him
in many ways. And so, the tragedy
about to be enacted in the life of the
young paying teller was destined to cut
and scar and to destroy much more
than it otherwise might have done.
am trifie late, he said, not no.
uclng-or attributing to some minor de-
tail-the constrained manner of the
banker. Il was detained by a small
matter of common courtesy. There was
young woman passing the corner just
below here who was uncertain about the
direction she should take so she asked
me. She seemed i'll, or faint or some
thing of the sort, so l went a block out
of my way TO put her on a car. But
where are the gentlemen 1 was to meet?
Haven't they got here?"
They are in the next room, waiting" &"
the banker replied eyasively- And in
that next room Officer Rushton chuck
led and whispered to the companion
who was nearer to him:
That was Lady Kate who lose her
way, all right. | told her to get a
sQuint at his aibs. and she done it. It's
wonder that he got here at all, If she
threw them lamps of hers at him Just
once
Harvard was visibly chilled by the
manner and lone of the bankers reply.
He was intensely susceptible to atmos-
phere. The experience of his youth had
made him SO. The geniality of his
manner went out to him. He felt the
intrusion of something out of harmony.
But he said nothing while he selected
a chair and occupied it He had not
been informed Il the object of his call
merely that he was to meet two or
three others who had been bidden
Rushton had given his consent that
the banker should be permitted to ques-
tion Harvard lefora the officers intrud-
ed upon the scene, but it had been no
part OF RuShtonS plan really to allow
He much preferred his own bullying
methods. He did not intend that Har-
ward should get an inkling of what was
to happen until the bolt was thrown.
and he intended to throw that bolt him.
self.
So, when Harvard turned toward tn.
chair, and President Chester hesitated
for the right words to utter, Rushton
thrust aside the ,portieres and entered
Ah. 11 A1.1 COLL l. IL.
dromios.
It was, perhaps, fortunate detail
that Harvard had selected a chair at
the opposite side Of the room from the
clothes men made their sudden appear
ance, otherwise Rushton's methods
would have carried him to the extent
Of attempting to lock the handouts
upon his intended victims wrists. as
fitting first act of the drama AS it
was. there happened to be a large Ii
brary table between Harvard and the
three officers, and Mr.. Chester was
seated beside it.
Harvard raised his eyes in astonish-
ment when the three men brushed into
the room so unceremoniously. But he
recognized Rushton instantly, and got
upon his feet, although that was the
only movement he made Something of
the meaning of the summons to the
bankers house was impressed upon him
in that instant-but not the tragedy
OF IT.
Still, he could not doubt the intention
of the scene when the two men who
were with Rushton, Immediately sta
toned themselves close TO the only eX-
its from the room. Rushton himself
covered the third one, by which he had
entered: and ne came forward to the
end Of :he table near which the banker
was seated, and stopped
Whoever has seen the self-confident
leer of an incompetent plain-clothes
hrlsS ha hoe W,nW
prospective captive dead to right" will
comprehend how the partly undershot
jaw of Lieut.. Rodney Rushton was
thrust forward with the menace of al
muscular frame seemed to fill all that
room with its portentousness.
He was called the strongest man on
She force; and he had earned the title, |
and had entire confidence in the wisdom
Of it He had no thought of Harvard's
daring to oppose him, and that such
opposition, even if it were attempted,
might succeed, would never have oc-
curred to him
So he stopped at the end OF the ta-
BILE, and leered at the 1.-the, graceful, |
well-knit figure of the good-looking
young chap who had risen TO confront
him, whose face was pale and calm. |
and emotionless, and whose eyes did
not waver when they encountered his
sneering, insulting gaze.
What have you done with the swag.
Harvard? Where is it?" Rushton blurt- |
&c out angrily, and in loud voice. |
You lifted il all right, and you've got |
it now. But you can't get away with !
it You oughter have known that from |
the start. Where is it? Hey? What |
have you done with it? Rushton's voice J
kept on rising as he proceeded, until the |
last question was q Veritable shout.
Harvard was dazed by the suddenness |
OF It
The language used-some Of It can-i