, 1915-06-24

ways, at the back of his thought, there
was the haunting dread Of the de
tectives that sought his trail.
On account of them he was grateful
for this refuge. But, ON the other hand.
he experienced Il growing alarm over
this intimate relation with Vain.
wright, the renowned foe of criminals
such as he. There was something mon
strous to Walter I'm the fact that he.
the thief, was here posing openly, IL
not boldly. as the brother-in-law of the
most effective district attorney New
York had ever possessed, whose p
larity thus secured babe fair now to
make the man the chief executive of
the state. his association with VAIN
wright kept the youth in a constant
tremor of apprehension lest the worst
befall. He expostulated in vain with
Andrew, who treated him and his ar
guments with a CALLING contempt. His
offset to the disdain of the Master lay
In the patent admiration accorded him
by Helen Wainwright, the great mans
sister, who, to be sure, was merely q
schoolgirl Of sixteen, on her vacation.
yet the heiress to a tidy fortune and
remarkably pretty. II not especially
burdened with brains. With something
Of her brothers power of idealization,
though with n less worthy subject, she
was able to see in Walter excellence
enough to make him the hero of her
first foolish maidenly dreaming.
On his part. Walter. drawn by her
dainty face and demure manner, was
Inclined to think that he might make
himself a safe position In the world
md secure a satisfactory living with
put work by marrying this bread and
butter miss. Unfortunately, however,
he soon found that the carrying out of
his design was beset with difficulties.
for somehow latterly it seemed that
he was never to see Helen for a mo-
tunity for an elopement eve were the
preliminary arrangements made.
As he meditated now, it was clear
to him that he must appeal directly to
Lucene for aid in the execution OF his
purpose. Under this necessity he was
irritated by the fact that already. I'M
der Andrews compulsion, he had set
himself before his putative sister in a
remarkably bad light. He had been
forced to pretend financial distress to
her and beg her to help him in saving
him from exposure and disgrace. Nat
urally, to save the possibility of bar
ing the whole hateful truth to her hus-
band. Mrs. Wainwright had yielded to
his demands and supplied him repeat
eddy with money without her husbands
knowledge. The fact increased her
self contempt. But Walters sole con-
Germ in the matter was dissatisfaction
over he effect these transactions must
have In making her hostile to himself
and so an obstacle, not a help. in his
plan to possess Helen.
Walter scowled as he reflected on
the fact that this financial intriguing
with Lucene was altogether an annoy
ance to him since even the money in
volved did not remain with him, but
was invariably turned over to Andrew
by that taskmaster's orders. Devil
ish poor pickings, ! call it!' was the
thief's unspoken comment, with n
sneer. Anyhow. he decided he must
make the effort to enlist Lucene's as
sistance in his wooing of Helen. With
this resolve he looked up to behold
Parker in the doorway.
"a gentleman to see you, sir" was
the announcement.
Walter was astonished and alarmed.
for he knew Of no acquaintance likely
to be within miles of this %neighbor-
hood and certainly none aware of his
Identity as Walter Blount. But be-
fore he could determine an answer to
the waiting servant Andrew himself
appeared.
Pardon me, SIR" he said in N
of the utmost respect; but perhaps
you had better leave the matter to me.
1 think 1 know the mans business. II
Is really not of the least Importance,
SIR he gave a low order to Parker.
"oh, all right, II you say So" Wal
ter returned, grumpily, conceallng the
relief he felt In learning that this was
probably another of his tyrant's On
trivances rather than a pursuer on his
own trail. who Is the guyT' he ask
ed, as Parker disappeared after the
low spoken command from his en-
ployer.
Andrew regarded the young man
with wintery eyes. through narrow
lids.
That" he said gently, but with an
infection that was convincing. sis n
question too many" Then, he turned
slowly, and went out OF the room, un-
mindful Of the scowling thief. who
cringed helpless under his domination.
Andrew, after leaving the library, as
cended directly to his own at
the top of the house and there found
the caller whom Parker had just guild
ed thither.
MY eyer the somewhat rough APP
pearing individual remarked amiably.
as the Master Mind entered. This Is
some swell joint. hey7"
"Mr. Wainwright will be pleased