The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-08-21


share in the work"
Who was his accomplice?" asked
calmly; and | saw a shade of gray
pass over the bankers face.
Leopold Magniff-your son." said
Madame Zeuxis CONTEMPORARY, spin
ming round and facing the father.
Magniff, pere, threw up his arms as
though to ward off sudden blow He
sank down into chair. his face ashen
gray. breathing heavily.
1T is impossible!" he muttered,
more to himself than us. Leopold
was good boy--a little wild, but al
ways a good boy. He had all the
money he needed. No, he could not
have been the traitor"
! took up the part of the cross-ex-
aminer.
why was the treaty put back in the
safe If 1t was of so much value?"
asked the woman.
Because Leopolds hatred for the
Chevalier was stronger than his desire
for revenge" she answered quickly.
He wanted the bonds, because he
knew that he could force his father
to buy them back from him at any
price. by threatening to dispose of
them elsewhere. Monsieur Magniff
here had to have the bonds; he agreed
to sell them to the American govern
ment years before; he had sold them,
trusting that they would never be
found. The holder could have made
him pay millions for the possession
of them. And there was money in the
treaty, too. Germany or Italy would
have paid well for it--not so much as
M. Magniff would have given for the
bonds but still a large sum. OF this
my man Constantinopoulo was to have
received thousand pounds"
60 on" | said.
Afterwards, when Leopold Magniff
discovered that the Chevalier was his
bitterest enemy, his desire for revenge
proved stronger than his greed. He
induced my man to replace the stolen
treaty in the safe, knowing that it
would be discovered there, and that
Miss Ives and the Chevalier would be
involved in a common ruin. So the
treaty was not sold, and my man gets
nothing.
When he found that he had been
cheated he would have murdered his
confederate But Monsieur Leopold
set the government upon his track
and he was forced to fly. his ven
geance unaccomplished. 1t was then
that my man sent to Monsieur Magniff
here to betray his confederate
But / shall tell more than that
/ shall tell you where Constantine
poulo is hiding, for have since learned
that he has again betrayed me. He
has made love to another woman, the
woman on the boat, to conceal whom
he pretended that he loved Miss Ives.
Fool that was! / should have known
that he was not worthy to blacken her
shoes. He is hiding with her in the
Islands-at Scouto. off Corsica-and
all those whom he has betrayed shall
soon be on his track"
She ceased, exhausted by the vehe-
mence of her anger. And | looked
toward the banker. He had collapsed
into his chair and was staring wildly
around him. / caught the words he
uttered.
mo, no." he was whispering. Leo
pold is good boy. He could not be
thief and traitor"
went over and shook him by the
arm.
Monsieur Magniff," said, you see
now that you have been mistaken. 1t
is your duty to save an innocent man. !"
But there Is nothing that can be
DONE" he cried. awakening from his
lethargy.
YES" replied. I'VE must get
Zeuxis and bring him here to testify.
He will tell all. out of his hatred
for"-I was going to add your son, /"
but ended with his fellow conspira-
tor"
But my son will suffer imprison-
ment-he will go to the Devils
Island!" Magniff cried. HE is good
boy-it cannot be true"
1T is true" / answered sternly. He
must be brought back"
And the bonds, too" cried the WON
an suddenly.
HE took them with him. He must
get the bonds also--your bonds. They
are worth millions He took them to
spite your son, Leopold"
my bonds" muttered Magniff. re-
Numbering even then that I had sold
them to him. MY bonds. / must
have them"
will you permit your son to be de
nounced for the sake of the bonds p
asked.
mo, no." he cried. mo, he must
have promise of immunity. Then he
will tell all. But he must not go to
the Devils Island. Leopold is so deli
cate; the climate would kill him
| there"
The sight Of this querulous old man,
reduced to such depths of AFFECTION
touched a slight chord of pity in my
heart. But at all cost Charles must
be set free. That was my first and