Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-05-22
CHAPTER III.
A Pawn In the Game.

his curiosity, and did little to arouse
hers, he took his departure ant
siralghtway began plotting the lmme
date steps next to be made. So Gun
nngly did he cOntrive his mesh oi
chlcDnery that the miserable victim IL
the tolls never suspected even that hC
was the agent Of her anguish. Through
the bought offices Of confederate
who had no suspicion as to his iden
Bty, 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
clrcumstantial 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 1t was no part of the Master
Minds plan that the girl whom he
had thus stricken by his arts should
Iangulsh In prison throughout the
whole term Of her sentence. 1t 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
tions. First he paid Visit to the
wretched object of his Vaccinations.
lie prOfessed profound sorrow over the
plight in which he found her, and
promised to use every endeayOr 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.
alstance, and that no friend. with
new type wheel on the small machine,
which he had brought with him in the
ault case from New York, he concocted
a most explicit letter to politician of
Chicago, who had risen from the ranks
ny ways best known to himself The
Master Mind pointed out that 1t would
he we'll for the politician to secure
forthwith the release of Margaret Flint
on probation. Otherwise some curt
Gus facts In the history Of the poll.
tlcinn would be turned over to the pub.
lie prints, A few details as to the ma
ture Of such revelations were given
hnd as he read them, the politicians
norld complexion faded to a mottled
hsheI, and his hands tremblcd strange.
". Within three days Margaret Flint
was released from custody, and lust
outside the walls OF the rcformatory
she found waiting her fathers friend
I'm be your friend" he said TO her
when they We're alone together In the
porlor of quiet Chicago hotel. "Your
father was kind to me. have no chill
dren OF my own or any one depending
an me. Your father Is dead, so cant
repay his goodness to me- SO | mean
10 take care Of you. You have had a
mlghty hard time Of It so fur. You
have been poor you have been a
drudge, yon have been In prison. OF
course | know you were innocent for
believe what you tell me. But the
world doesn't know The only way to
make your future life happy Is Just to
bury all the past forever Maggie
FLINT, the nursemald, who was sent to
Ihil, iS dead from this second aud
buried Now, whom shall we rcsurrect
IN her steadY He smiled quIazIcolly
10 response to the girls expression of
ahecr amazement, 81 am not rlch," No
~cnt on frankly, "but | have com.
Portable fortune-eNough so that | can
educate you as u lady and keep you
tolrly well afterward without your
having TO worry ever again about
work"
"iFs Hike story read once" the
gIrl hrenthcd tremuloasly. The shrill
voice had sunk TO softer register.
The sapphire eyes were glowing with
the naive happiness OF child.
Yes, It Is like Il story" the Master
Mind Nssentcd, But, first Of all," he
continued, you must go to school I've
been making some Inquiries" he OK.
planned pleasantly "Nnd rve found ont
lhat there's Just the place for you over
To private school In France. You
ace Margaret you're BIT too old for
the regular school In this country"
'France" the girl repeated
Yes" Andrew went on brlskly
"Fhnt school viii be just the place for
YOU They'll tench you everything
about how TO he lady as well as the
usual stun out OF hooks, But we must
have that christening. I've thought OF
a name"
TEL me'' the girl urged.
"Lucene Blount' he replied. "You
like lt2'
"oh, love it" was the eager an.
swer "But-but II seems 30 strange
after Magglew
80 Il does he agreed. "Well, then,
if you're satisfied wen settle ON Lu.
Gene Blount"
The smile that curved her pale lips
was very wlnnlng.-so winning, indeed,
that once again the plotter experienced |
= pang OF regret over the necessity
that led him to sacrifice this life to his /
vengeance.
Wen be sailing IN the course OF a
few days. for | mean 70 500 you safe