The Spectator., 1916-04-14
CHAPTER II.
The Matters Man,

The Masters Man.
 Vroon faced Hargreave's butler son. berly. The one reason why Braine made this man his lieutenant was be- cause Vroon always followed the let ter of his instructions to the final pe- riod; he never sidestepped or added any frills or innovations of his own, and because of this very automatism he rarely blundered into a trap. If he failed 1t was for the simple fact that the master mind had overlooked some essential detail. The organiza- ton of the Black Hundred was almost totally unknown to either the public or the police. It Is only when you fail that you are found out
 The patrolman has been trussed up like you" began Vroon. If they find him they will probably find you. But before that you will grow thirsty and hungry. Where did your master put that money?"
 He carried 1t with him.
 Why didn't you call for help?" The houses on either side are too far away. I might yell till doomsday without being heard. They will have heard the pistol shots: but MT. liar. greaves was always practicing in the backyard"
 The people in those two houses have been called out of town. The servants are off for the night"
 Very interesting" replied Jones, staring at the rug
 Your master is dead"
 Jones' chin sank upon his breast. His heart was heavy, heavier than 1t had ever been before.
 Your master left a will?"
 Indeed. could not say"
 We can say. He has still three or four millions in stocks and bonds. What he took to the bottom of the sea with him was his available cash"
 T know nothing about his finances. was his butler and valet"
 Vroon nodded. Come. men; it is time we took ourselves off. Put things in order; close the safe. You poor 5ackals, I always have to watch you AOA outpiC Coho ok Oh With you!"
 He was the last to leave. He stared long and searchingly at Jones, who felt the burning gaze but refused to meet 1t lest the plotter see the fire in his. The door closed. For fully an hour Jones listened but did not stir. They were really gone. He pressed his feet to the floor and began to hitch the chair toward the table. Half way across the intervening space he crum- pied in the chair. almost completely exhausted. He let quarter of an hour pass. then made the final attack upon the remaining distance. He sue ceeded in reaching the desk. but he could not have stirred an inch farther. The hair on his head was damp with sweat and his hands were clammy.
 When he felt strength returning he lifted the telephone off the hook with his teeth.
 Central. central! Call the police to come to this number at once; liar greaves house. Riyerdale. Tell them to break in"
 After what seemed an age of wait ing to the exhausted prisoner, with crashing and smashing of doors. the police appeared in the room.
 Where's your gag?" demanded the first ofacer to reach Jones side.
 There wasn't any"
 Then why didn't you yell for heip?''
 The thieves lured our neighbors away from town. The patrolman who walks this beat is bound and gagged and ie probably reposing back of the billboard in the next block"
 Murphy, you watch this man while l make q call on the neighbors." said the officer who seemed to be in au. thority. When he returned he was frowning seriously. Wed better tele- phone to the precinct to search for Dennison. There's nobody at home in either house and there's nobody back of the billboards. Unite the man" When this was done. the officer said {: ''Now. tell us what's happened: and don't forget any of the details"
 Jones told . simple and convincing story: 1t was 80 simple and convinc. ing that the police believed 1t without question.
 Well. if that aint the limit Did you hear any autos outsider"
 T don't recollect." said Jonss.