The Elbert County tribune., 1916-07-21

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of the practical. For when the ma
sons and ironworkers who were COM
pleting the installation of the new
Golden vault returned from their mid
day meal far-from-attractive stranger
stole into the house at their heels.
And when David Manley happened to
catch sight of this stranger deep in
talk with Count Da Espares. he
promptly jumped to the conclusion
that he had at last discovered some
thing on which to concentrate all his
earlier Scotch-mists of suspicion.
For Da Espares' visitor unmistak-
ably bore the earmarks of the un-
kempt denizen of the hotpoint and
the Bowery saloon.
What is this man doing here?" he
asked as he confronted the intruder
This man is here at my request
And the happiness OF this house de-
pends much on his visit" was Da Es-
pares' retort.
what has a crook like Red Egan
got to do with the happiness of this
house?" scoffed the irate Manley
And what right have you to bring
tool Of Legar's into this room?"
But still Da Espares remained ont
wardly calm.
Pardon" he replied. But this
man you call Red Egan is no longer
crook and no longer a tool of Le-
gars!"
Then what is he doing here?"
That, monsieur, concerns mostly
the young lady for whom have sent!"
The soft-spoken foreigner swung
about as Margery Golden stepped
little wondcringly into the room.
This, Miss Golden said Da Es-
pares, rs the man of whom l spoke
to you. AS your friend here protests.
this man has been tool of Legars.
But he has tired of being the serv-
ant of so evil man. He now seeks
to have the state extend its pardon
to him. And as price for this par
don he is willing to deliver into our
hands Jules Legari"
But what is the plan?' asked the
girl. with touch of impatience.
Da Espares, with upthrust shoul-
ders. looked from the one to the other
1T is a plan which we had thought
it wise to keep secret" he suavely
explained.
Mr.. Manley has earned the right
to be included in any secrets which
may involve the capture of Legar,"
Margery Golden quietly assured the
family smiling count, who bowed in
acquiescence. And realizing the note
of authority in that reply. he outlined
the plan in as few words as possible.
That plan, with Red Egan as their
emissary, was not a complicated one.
This renegade from Legar's gang was
to go to his old-time chief and report
that Margery Golden might be found
at such and such spot, at such and
such time. She would be alone. And
to Legar and his men, waiting there,
it would seem simple enough matter
to recapture the girl. But that cap
ture would never be effecteda For
squad of police would be held there,
III hiding, and when the moment ar
rived, they would promptly surround
Legar and his men and put them
where they belonged.
In other words, monsieur, what we
propose to do is to set trap, and
when this Iron Claw is about to gather
In his prey, he himself will be gath
cred in."
You propose to set trap" repeat
ed the incredulous Manley, "and you
also calmly propose to take this un-
protected young girl and use her as
the bait for that trap!"
"On the contrary, monsieur, she will
not be unprotected. Many duly ap-
pointed officers of the law will be
there. And. as l have already ex-
planned to her, l also will be there.
And Miss Golden. think. knows that
would readily give up my life for the
sake of keeping her from harm!"
rs that the way you feel about it,"
demanded Manley. swinging about to
the slightly frowning girl.
Count Da Espares and will carry
out this plan, and we will carry 1t
out, l hope, quite as successfully as
we may carry out still other plans.
And in the counts hands / shall al
ways feel that am fully protectedi'
David Manley, thus dismissed, had
the dubious satisfaction of knowing
that he had once more made a mess
OF things.
Yet he did not remain altogether in
active. He watched his chance and
quietly installed dictaphone in the
room. attaching the transmitter-disk
to the underside of the desk ledge
where Da Espares did most of his talk
ing, and running his well-hidden wires
down through the floor to a linen
! closet. which the ever-dependable Will
son threw open for him. There Man
ley made the discovery that police
headquarters had actually been COM
municated with and that the feint for
Legar's capture, however its end, was