The Washington times., 1913-03-28
CHAPTER II (Continued).

[-IAT'S very well done, Sald
- Jeffrey to me-'the upper
frieze. It's very skilled work.
you know. Has to be done by
hand.
Then he turned back to Petersen. I'D
want the same man to do 1t that did
the other
Petersen shook his head. Il can't ac-
commodate you there. I'm afraid, sir.
l had to turn that fellow of. Oh, he
was good workman. but rules are
rules"
He came on the job drunk. l sup
pose?" said jeffrey.
No" said Petersen, he was steady
enough. Why, don't mind telling you;
though ii seems rather hard. / turned
him off because his wages were garni-
skilled work out of men with that on
their minds
Il see," said Jeffrey. but you think
you could find me some one else just as
good?"
"oh. yes" said Peterson. No trouble
WELL" said Jeffrey. I'm let you
know. Call you up in the morning
when I've made up my mind. Thank
you very much for coming"
Petersen had opened the door and was
in the act of starting out, Jeffrey
watching him absent-mindedly, frown
on his face.
Poor DEVIL" he said. under his
breath. Then. suddenly struck with an
idea, he called out: oh, Petersen, give
one you discharged? I'm supposed to
belong to some sort of protective league
for that loan-shark business. Maybe We
could do something to help him out
Petersen hesitateG 4 m'nIte, then took
shabby notebook out of MS pocket ana
read out the name and. address Of the
man he had discharged. =.
Jeffrey wrote It in charcoal On the
back of stretcher.
'tAll right" he said. You'll hear from
me in the morning"
Jeffrey shut the door and the next
minute he was struggling into his over
coat.
Come along said he.
'Where?" / asked.
He looked at me queerl;. Why, TO
look up the case of this loan-shark vic
tim, of course. No time like the pres
ent- Come along
In another three minutes we were in
taxi: Jeffrey's manners were always
excellent, but he had a way of letting
you know when he didn't want TO talk.
The address was way UP town on the
East Side and our taxi stopped at last
in front Of a dingy brick house, one OF
a long row. on shabby crosstown
street. Just as we were going 10 ring
the bell, the door opened and a man
started out. He eyed US with quick
little glance of morose. surly suspi-
'oh. Mr.. shean," said Jeffrey, pleas
antly, glad we didn't miss you. Come
back in minute. 1 want to talk to
you"
Shean. 1 think he'd have denied 1t and
gone on. But there was a mixture OF
authority and confidence behind JET
frey's good-nature smile that was al
most irresistible. The man hesitatei.
and having done that much, seemed to
find IL impossible to do anything but
obey Jeffrey's gesture and follow US into
the badly lighted, ill-smelling hall. Here
Jeffrey stepped back and nodded TO him
to lead the way.
what do you WANT Shean de-
manded.
"A chance TO talk to you for mo-
ment without interruption" said JEFF
frey pleasantly.
TO small room at the back Of the
house.
Jeffrey. the last one into II. closed
the door after him and nodded toward
chair.
waited till Shean had obeyed him, and
!, rather cautiously. had followed
suit. / didn't like the mans looks
altogether.
against the top OF a trunk.
I'VE WORK at the same trade he
said politely I'm q painter myself.
Ny names Arthur Jeffrey and I've
got studio up on Central Park
The man started out of his chair
and then let himself drop back into
Well" he said savagely. what do
you want?'
"oh. it's nothing 10 get excited
about. said Jeffrey. "I suppose you
got SIS or $50 for the frame You
probably needed that NOR" than I do.
But need the picture that was In II
more than you do. SO ] want you TO
give ii hack 10 me-
Shean was on his feet by now and
TIE clustering. furtive J"rror in his |
face and IN his voice when he smoke |
were confession enough TO me that |
my friends shot had rung the bell
'Youre liar" said Shean-- "a |
d IiGr. You don't know what |
you're talking about
I'm talking said Jeffrey. about |
a picture Of girl in a whit" satin !
gown: II was in my studio in a |
French. 'hand-carved frame. You we're |
at work painting that frieZc in my !
studio. You knew what that frame |
was worth and where YOU could sell /
IT. You knew I was off on three
month vacation and you absolutely |
had TO have the money. Lord man. |
] know what that means myself: I !
never took that means OF getting IL. !
hut 7 understand how a man would. |
But YOU couldn't sell the picture.
That's preposterous. And 7 want you
to give IL back to me- [,
Shean was staring at him fasCinat-
ed There vas 2 long silence. FINALLY /
ne spoke through his locked teeth
81 didn't take any picture. 7 swear
to God ] didn't take anv nicfure Tno
frame was empty when J saw II there
] did take tho fran" and I sod It.
got s1s for il and ] knew ~ was wp'tL
a hundred and twenty. Eighteen dol
lars 10 give 10 those damned leecheq
that are sucking all the blood out oF
me-. You can prosecute and be damned.