The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-05-29
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might have been one of them. though
none had seen him previously that
night. His white hair. his smooth.
shaver. finely wrinkled face. his mag
handing personality, and 1t was no
more than natural that he should be
looked to for an explanation of the
episode.
Perfectly composed, there was no
mistaking the fact that he completely
dominated the situation.
Van Vechten noted that his uncle
recognized the man, and that the Man
OF Irons attitude all at once became
one of tensey alert watchfulness.
With an air that impelled many to
follow his example. the stranger con-
suited his watch; an average declara-
ton of all the watches would have
fixed the time at twelve minutes till
midnight.
He advanced to the table. from
which everybody else shrank as far
as the confines of the vast room per-
mitted. and laid hand upon the
casket. CHANGING once more at the
watch which he still held In the other
hand. he quietly remarked:
Gentlemen, this coffin contains
enough willardite to wipe New York
off the map. 1t Is connected with one
of my time-locks, set to detonate the
explosive at midnight precisely" His
commanding regard met Theodore Van
Vechten's. as he added:
mo one better than you knows how
likely 1t Is to work without hitch"
In the ensuing quiet, the ticking. as
OF clock, which he plainly heard.
After moment he went on:
II shall not take the time to apollo
gize for this interruption of your fes-
tivities. ecause'-another glance at
the watch-"only ten minutes stands
between this moment and midnight.
but, as briefly as possible. want to
make 1t clear to you that l am re-
sponsible for the occasion that has
brought you together here. With my
perfected time-lock and permanganate
steel-the only metal that will with
stand the oxyhyric iame-combined
with Theodore Van Vechten's business
talent and his commanding position,
wherefrom he can persuade every one
of the country's financial institutions
to purchase an Atlas safe, whether
they want 1t or not, the concerns in
itial year has been a phenomenally
prosperous one.
You gentlemen who are fortunate
to be among the stockholders, and
Theodore Van Vechten. are reaping
the harvest; get nothing-the in
ventor's portion.
Through my lack of business acu-
men l was frozen out of the company,
and 1t did not take long to discover
that every avenue Of legal redress was
closed to me. Please bear In mind
that fact.
Then what remained for me?" The
brilliant eyes swept the wondering
audience. why, either to accept the
situation as Theodore Van Vechten
willed 1t, or recover my rights by
force.
Now. gentlemen, virtually l have
been robbed of a fortune. l am not
seeking vengeance-no. no; nothing
of that kind-only justice and COM
pensation. have spent months In
preparing for tonight; more than once
my secret operations have nearly met
with shipwreck, and you must realize
that come here fully determined to
exact the uttermost farthing of my
dues, or else not one Of you will live
to enjoy them. Call 1t blackmail. call
1t hold-up, call 1t whatever you will,
the fact is that | am here to enforce
not to beg or ask. mind you-but
to enforce a distribution of my share
Of the profits of the Atlas Safe Com
pany, and my reinstatement into the
position Of superintendent of which
have been unjustly deprived"
Theodore Van Vechten had gradual
ly returned to the head of the table,
and he now stood with his hands on
the back Of his chair. composedly re-