, 1915-07-22
The Master Mind

DFolueF, WHICH, one uliBut
would have no other effect than to put
me OF my guard?'
Andrew admitted the implied state
ment as to Wainwright's freedom from
petty cowardice.
Exactly" he agreed. 81 meant it
to put you on your guard" Again he
revealed his massive egotism. "To
one such as l there could be no tri-
umph in victory over a sleeping VIC
tim"
Triumph Wainwright repeated
the word thoughtfully. To his logical
mind the inference was precise. Then
you think that you have triumphedT'
Yes" came the confidential reply.
'Indeedl' The ejaculation of the
word was replete with skepticism.
Andrew responded with ferceness.
Yes, yes, Mr.. Wainwright" he
cried savagely. 1T is well that you
should understand the truth at once.
This night you are delivered into my
hands, bound and helpless-into my
hands!"
Every well,' Wainwright returned
calmly. "In that case suppose you
give me the Details" There was to
him a considerable relief in the arrival
of this hour When there must be ex-
plicit evil, something real and tangi-
BILE, in the stead of vague, imaginary
horror, OF the sort that had striven to
haunt him since the receipt of the first
white card.
Andrew grinned inadvertently.
with pleasurei" he declared. There
could be no doubt as to the sincerity
Of joy with which he pronounced the
trlte phrase. 1t summed the culmina-
ton of weary years through which he
had toiled for hates sake to this end.
Yet he hesitated still for a little before
he began the calculation of his schem-
ing to compass the ruin of the man be-
fore him. For every human action
worthy of the name, Mr.. Wainwright"
he said at last. speaking with a new
formality, there is a motive. Mine,
as you must already understand, was
to avenge the death of my brother at
your hands"
Again Wainwright interposed.
AT the hands of the law" he said
quietly, yet determlnedly.
We'll not bubble owe terms" An
drew said arrogantly. at may seem
odd to you, but l loved him. He was
only a boy-a boy whose heart was
broken-because he had loved one IN
worthy. He was the only thing that |
cherished. the only creature life had
given me to care for with all my af-
f%ection, with all my soul When he,
for no fault, was condemned to die L
I-well, I-sufferedi" Presently he
continued, in II colorless voice of re
preston. 81 swore then tt make you
suffer as he had-as / had. You pre-
sented to me n very difficult case"
Andrew continued. You were rich,
honest, intelligent. You did not spec
ulate. Your relations with women,
even, were beyond reproach of the
most scrupulous. For a time, / con-
fess, I almost despaired of you-de-
SPARED of finding your weakness, your
vulnerable point. Yet, not quite! You
went abroad. 1t was a simple thing
for me with my resources to gain ac-
cess to your apartment. / went there
and made 1t my dwelling place until /
had gained all that l needed. l search
ed your private papers. One day /
noticed in your study a portrait-the
face OF a young girl. 1t was done
rather crudely, perhaps, but It was
done with sincerity nj with a certain
effectiveness. l found also some en-
tries in an old journal which explained
that face. Then Isbegan to hope. We
searched, you and l, for the same girl,
and ! found her. / found that the cir
cumstances of this girl, who was the
original of the portrait and of the en-
tries in the journal, were ideal for my
purposes. The essential thing is this:
1 desired you to marry her. In order
to bring that to pass certainly 1t was
necessary to prepare her, by education
n experience Of the world, TO be
your fitting mate. That was done. In
hne, sir, you married her precisely as
I had planned that you should"
YES" Wainwright agreed heavily.
II married her. 1 understand. Go
on, please"
And now" he ven on, with a
drawing contentment In his utterance.
you have just surprised her here In
the act Of leaving the house with her
well, let us say, with the young
friend OF her earlier days-Creegan."
The voice Of Wainwright came
roughly.
What do you meanf"
andrews smile was haunting.
Its clear enough, isn't itr" he
jeered.
Your In a gust of rage VAIN
wright remembered the revolver offer
ed to him by Marshall that same even
ing and accepted. His hand went
swiftly to his hip pocket. There was
no responsive contact with the weapon.
AS he stood astonished Andrews
voice sounded again with a vast en-