Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-05-06
CHAPTER ~.
4 Pawn In the Game,

CHAPTER ~.
A Pawn In the Game.
THE Master Mind professed to
have known the girls father
intimately and offered this as
an EXPLANATION or his visit.
/ After brief interview that satisfied
! his curiosity. and did little TO arouse
hers. he took his departure. and
straightway began plotting the imme-
date steps next TO be made So cum
ningly did he contrive his mesh OF
! chicanery that the miserable victim In
/ the tolls never suspected even that he
was the agent of her anguish Through
/ the bought offices Of confederate,
! who had no suspicion as to his iden-
tity. Andrew so arranged matters that
! Margaret Flint was accused OF theft.
The stolen brooch Of her mistress was
found in the girls trunk. On such
circumstantial evidence 1t was easy
TO secure conviction OF one who had
neither money nor friends TO plead In
her behalf. She was sentenced TO two
years in the woman's reformatory.
But it was no part OF the Master
Minds plan that the girl whom he
had thus stricken by his arts should
/, anguish In prison throughout. the
whole term of her sentence. Ii was
sufficient for his purposes that the
stigma had been inflicted on her. He
waited for six months and then enter
ed on the second stage of his opera
TONS First he paid visit 10 the
wretched object Of his Vaccinations.
He professed profound sorrow over the
plight in which he found her. and
promised to use every endeavor in her
behalf by gaining the services Of GER
tain influential politicians with whom
he enjoyed friendly relations
As matter OF fact. however. An
drew called on only one man for as
sistance, and that no friend. With a
new type wheel on the small machine.
which he had brought with him In the
suit case from New York. be copcocted
a most explicit letter to politician Of
Chicago. who had risen from the ranks
by ways best known TO himself The
'aster Mind pointed out that II would
bc well for the politician TO secure
| forthwith the release of Margaret Flint
on probation. Otherwise some curl
Gus facts i'm the history OF the poll
clan would be turned over TO the pub
ic prints \ few details az TO the ma
tnrc OF such revelations were given,
nd. MS he read them. the politicians
H0rid complexion faded to notified
HShcn. and his hands trembled strange
3" Within three days Margaret Flint
vHs released from custody and just
''i.idc the walls OF the rcformatory
~Nr found waiting her fathers friend.
I'm be your friend" he said to her
when they wore alone together i'm the
'lriur ~ quiet Chicago hotel Your
1thcr WAS kind 10 me. | have no chill
wu ~ my own or any one depending
~ me Your father is dead. so | can't
rpIy his goodness 10 me- So ! mean
take care OF You. You have had y
lightly hard time ~ II so far. You
nave been poor YOU have been a
lrnd.e. You have been I'm prison. OF
'ourSe ! know you were innocent. for
world doesn't know The only way to
'akc Your future life happy is Just to
pury al the past forever Maggie
Flint. the nurSemaid. who was sent TO
lail. IL dead from this second and
nuried Now whom shall we resurrect
~ her stead" He smiled quizzically
la response 10 the girls expression OF
sheer amiZement. II am not rich" hs
went Oh frankly. lint | have CON
fostable fortune enough so that | car
"turate YOU ~ lady ant keep yor
fa..y we'll af,erwarl uithout youl
having To- worry ever again about
work
Its Ike a story read once the
girl breathed ;remul,usly. The shrll
voice had sunk to Il softer register
The sapphire cges were glowing with
m, naive happiness 81 a child.
Yes. it is like story" the Master
Mind assented But. first Of all LII
continued. you must 20 To school Nv,
been making some inquiries" he ex
planned pleasantly. land I've found on
that there's just the place for You over
IN private school in France. lo,
see. Margaret. you're bit too old fol
the regular school in this country"
France the girl repeated.
Yes Andrew went on briskly
That school will be just the place FOL
you. They'll teach you everything
about how to be lady as well as the
usual stuff out OF books But we mus
have that christening. I've thought OF
name"
Tell me?' the girl urged.
"Lucene Blount," he replied. "Yot
like it,"
"Oh. | love itv' was the eager IN
swer. "But-but Il seems so strange
after Maggiew
so IL does" he agreed well, then
II you're satisfied wei settle OH In
Gene Blount."
The smile that curved her pale lip,
was very winning-so winning indeed
that once again the plotter experienced
a pang OF regret over the necessity
that led him to sacrifice this life to hi.
vengeance.
We'll be sailing I'm the course OF .
few days. for / mean TO see you safe
I'm the place myself, and In the mean
time I'm going to feed you on the IA
~ Tho land md Laan ron ont In fh<