Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-15
CHAPTER II-ccontinuedl


For few moments the two men looked
at each other in silence. Murdsr1 That IN
the one thing that does not occur 70 any
enc living in a civilized country, the one
thing we do not think It necessary to
guard against. We insure our lives against
accidents, our goods against are and burg
larry. We bolt and bar our doors and wo
cross the strests very carefully. But II
never occurs TO us that Il Is in the power
81 almost any man to take our lives from
us II he chooses to do SO. Such q wild
ldea never enters into our calculations.
We no more provide for suoh contin-'
aenoy than we provide for tho possible
end OF the world.
The silence lasted for ton seconds. Then
gohn Erlelgh laughed.
-Rsally, my dear Lord Arthur
Fl thought you'd laugh. Well. II you'd
been with me during the last two years in
Central Africa you'd see the possibility OF
such thing"
"But herein Bngland7"
well, It wasn't so very long ago that
every man went about armed against q
possible attempt on his life. We're more
civilized now, but civilization doesn't en-
tireiy alter mems natures. 1t only deprives
them Of opportunities. 1 know what I've
Just said IL like throwing a bombshell into
q vestry meeting. But I'm not talking OF
the impossible. For the last three years
my nephew has been watched by a detec-
tive"
''Lord Arthur--you're ejolSlng-surely--''
'Precious little joke about II. The fol-
low has been up there at MonlSsilvsr-no
less a person than the first footman--rny
eister-in-law doesn't know-she would
never have another moments happiness
1f she knew. But the fellow is there all
right, and I've been paying him all the
time"
'But, Lord Arthur-why-what grounds
have you for Buposing-that anything so
horrible"
'I'll Just tell you but you must promise
mo you'll keep It to yourself. II my sister
In-law ever knew. I believe she'd worry
herself to death"
''of course I'll keep the information to
myself Don't tell me II you'd rather not.
I'll take your word for It that-that you
have good reasons for employing detec-
tive"
"oh, you'd better know. The boy is
going to be in your charge the best part
OF each year now for some considerable
time. I don't want you TO think I'm a
nervous idiot. I'd like to Justify myself.
Well, about three years ago an attempt
was made to ddnap my nephew. You
can pretty well guess what that meant"
"Blackmail, possibly"
you can put 1t like that, II you please.
Well the facts are Just these. The boy
was to meet me at Buston. I was to take
him north to stay with an aunt His
tutor. a reliable fellow, was to deliver
him safely into my hands. They were to
arrive at Euston an hour before the train
started, and were to have lunch at the
station. Before they left Monksilver a
telegram arrived saying that I would
meet them at st. Pancras, as I had de-
eided to travel by the other line. They
arFived at st. Panoras, and were met By
man, who gave the tutor a note pur-
porting to be from me. It was to tho
effect that could not possibly leave Lon
AoA that day, and that my valet, the
bearer OF the note, would travel up north
with Lord Wimberley, and see him safely
10 his destination. Evans, the tutor, did
not know my valet by sight. but the
hote was written on paper stamped with
my address In ST. James street, and there
cid not seem to be anything suspicious
ebout the business. Evans, however, who
was starting or that afternoon with HIS
Brother for a holiday In Italy, behaved
Hike a trump, He sent a telegram to his |
brother and took the boy up to York |
shire himself"
He paused and rslit the cigar, which |
had gone out.
"A trap?" said John Erleigh.
Yes. 1 was waiting at Huston all the |
time. We never found out who the man |
was--couldn't trace him at ALL Directly |