Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-05-15
CHAPTER II.
By Devious Ways.

brother Of the condemned set him
a self with fanatic zeal to prepara-
tlons that should lead to the consum-
nation of the vengeance on Cortland
Wainwright. To the achievement OF
this purpose the Master Mind put In
operation the myriad methods of the
underworld with which he was famil- !
hr for the gathering of information In
detailed completeness concerning the |
private life of the man whom he re- |
garded as his enemy. Through various
subterranean channels at his command,
knowledge flowed In. He learned es- |
sentially all there was to know OF
Wainwrlght's family, of his boyhood,
of his life in school, in college, and aft
erward In the world of affairs, where,
though still a young man, he had won
distinction from the respectful liking !
of his fellows,
But the Master Mind found no solace
in sitting the mass Of material thus
placed at his command concerning the
foe. From all the evidence the truth
appeared incontestable that Cortland
Wainwright had lived clean life; that
there was no stigma Of scandal hidden
within his experience to be fearfully
guarded from the public eye. Finally,
when all other methods of search had
availed naught, the departure Of his In
tended victim for vacation trip to
Europe inspired him with plan OF ac'
tion characteristicaly audacious.
His resolution once taken, Andrew
Allen lost no time In the accomplish
ment of his scheme. He was possess
ed Of money a-plenty, and bribery VIII
accomplish modern miracles, especially
when accompanied by guaranty OF
immunity from any Ill consequences oil
discovery As messenger for hlm-
self he held an interview with the
tanitor Of the building In which was
Walnwright's apartment. The result
was that within week Of the district
attorneys sailing the Master Mind was
snugly at home in his enemy's house,
| there to live and there to study at his
leisure the owner Of the place, there
to learn the vulnerable point toward
which to drive attack, for, now, the
plotter had come to believe that he
must seek to trap his quarry by some
device against the strength OF the
mans nature, since he could discover
no vital weakness anywhere; against
the good qualities since the evil were
of kind too trihing to serve,
Other dwelers In the building never
guessed that u stealthy guest lurked
in the apartment which the district at
torney had left untenanted for the pc
riod of his trip abroad. BY day as well
ms by night the shades remained drawn
Over the whole inner surface OF the
windows, Andrew had arranged light
proof coverings, through which no
least ray from the electric lamps could
penetrate to give n hint OF his occu-
pancy. A very slight opening of the
windows gave him sufficient fresh air
and throughout the hours Of day as'of
darkness the artificial illumination sur
feed him.
Indeed, the Master Mind found him
self strangely content in this curious
sort Of intimate association with the
man against whom he maneuyered so
craftily. He experienced subtle, sin
lister Joy in feeling this nearness to his
prey which was the product of the
surroundings. Here were the books
Wainwright read, the letters he receiy-
cd, the pictures he esteemed, the va
rlous souvenirs he most cherished. In
the assembling of the varied articles
within this home. there must be a
massing of testimony from which to
judge the inner, vital nature of the
owner 1t might easily be that some
record would suggest the precise course
to bring down on him shame and de-
spar.
Having thus nodded circumstances
to his will, the Master Mind spent two
weeks in exhaustive research into the
mind and heart Of Wainwright as they
were respectively indicated by his per
sonal accumulations. His painstalsing
investigations convinced Andrew OF
two facts that were beyond question
the first, that the young lawyer had a
heart capable of tenderest affections
as was witnessed by thesetters from
mother and sister, which We're to one
manifestly fond; the second, that hC
ruled his life according to the dictates
Of lofty ambition.
Convinced Of the twain truths, the
Master Mind determined broadly the
manner Of his attack. 1t must be the
contrlying Of some situation that woult
strike its agony into the deeps Of thu
mans being, something to wound be
yond remedy both brain and heart
The exact plan could be left for future
arrangement, depending ON facts yet t
be murshuled. And then, within TWEEN
ty-four hours, the Master Mind camC
on the thing he sought
This was journal, with entries GOV
ering number OF years, in whicl
Wainwright had jotted down rougl
: notes Of many things Andrew hat
/. early found II in one Of the locket
:. drawers Of the desk in the district at
h torney's study. The searcher ha,
a glanced through the volume hastily
l.. hn