United labor bulletin., 1914-05-02
NelG4v z2z2 H.GNcCZNeG& ca

might have been one of them. though
none had seen him previously that
night His white hair. his smooth
shaven. finely wrinkled face. his mag
netic eyes. were all a part of a COM
manding 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 tense, 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 a hand upon the
casket Glancing once more at the
watch which he still held In the other
hand. he quietly remarked:
Gentlemen. this coffin contains
enough wiilardite TO wipe New York
OF my time-locks. set to detonate the
explosive at midnight precisely" His
commanding regard met Theodore Van
Vechten's. as he added:
NO one better than you knows how
likely Il is to work without a hitch
In the ensuing quiet. the ticking. as
OF a clock. which he plainly heard.
After a moment he went on:
Il shall not take the time to apollo
gize for this interruption OF your fes-
tivities, because glance at
the Satch-'only ten minutes stands
between this moment and midnight
But. as briefly as possible. want to
make 1t clear to you that am re-
sponsible for the occasion that has
brought you together here With my
perfected ume-lock and permanganate
steel-the only metal that will with
stand the oxyhyric fame-comblned
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 II 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 reapins
the harvest: get nothing-the In
ventor's portion
Through my lack of business acu-
men was frozen out Of the company
and II 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 mey- The
brilliant eyes swept the wondering
audience. why. either to accept the
situation n Theodore Van vechten
wilied IL Or recover my rishts by
force.
Now. gentlemen. virtually l have
been robbed of q fortune. | am not
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 II blackmail. call
It q hold-up. call It whatever you will,
the fact 10 that | am here to enforce
not to beg or ask. mind you-but
to enforce q distribution Of my share
OF the profits of the Atlas Safe Com
pany. and my reinstatement into the
position Of superintendent OF which
l have been unjustiy 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