The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-03-16

LtNeIeuSe stared ndrQ at the artist,
then he blinked and sucked his thick
lips.
We'll, I'm hanged if you amt the
coolest fish I've ever struck" he ex.
claimed. do you know what you've
done? Do you know Mr. Lever
edges face grew crimson; he clenched
his fat hands and shook them in inn
potent rage in Crawleys face
Come, come, my dear sir" pro-
tested the artist. Don't be absurd.
Sit down there and have a cigar and
tell me just what has happened
For the moment Leveredge was
speeches.. He could only stand and
gasp with incredulous stupefaction
Then his color rose again. He was
almost inarticulate.
Look here" he stammered thick
~, you and I've got a score to set
tle-a big score, too, by George! And
I'm not going to be generous over it
either, my friend, so, just don't make
any mistake about that Now, look
here, my young friend, you've been
and gone and overstepped the mark
this time You thought yourself
mighty clever. no doubt; but let me
tell you. you've just overstepped the
limit. You're on the wrong side of
the law, young fellow. Now, perhaps,
you'll come off your perch and descend
to the plane Of commonsense and rea-
son. What do you propose to do
Ell?
Crawley was singularly cool. The
position was expected, and he was
better able to deal with it since he
had carefully avoided making any
plan of action in his own mind.
Mr.. Leveredge was beside himself
with whether genuine or simu-
lated the artist could not at first de-
termine; his face was purple; his
large eyes cleaned with the uncon-
trolled anger of a highly excitable
man. Crawley set himself at once to
pour oil on the troubled waters-a by
no means easy task, as he very soon
discovered
What do you propose, my friend?''
demanded the great art dealer, thump-
ing the table in front of him and ig-
noring the artists offer of refresh
ment.
PERSONALLY" remarked Crawley.
with extreme nonchalance, II don't
propose offering any proposition. Why
should II"
"Do you know what you've done?'
roared Leveredge.
1t would have been futile to seek
refuge in prevarication; Crawley did
not attempt it,
"Of course I know" he said
And you have no explanation to
offer?"
None" he answered, with ring
of defiance.
"Or excuse?"
Leveredge was obviously surprised
by Crawley's attitude. He had eX-
pected something different, and Isaac
Leveridge was always at disadvan-
tage when taken off his guard. Per-
haps is was because he so rarely oc-
cupied that position.
81 havn't done anything, surely"
rctorted Crawley, ito which you can
object. You know perfectly well that,
if anything, I've greatly improved it"
But how dare you!" Leveredge rose
in his majestic wrath. How dare
you sneak into my premises at night
and-and do this thing? You're no
whit better than common thief, a
burglar-yes, and for two pins I'd
have the police on you. What in the
name of thunder did you do it for"
"A Wilma fancy" answered Craw-
ley cody.
Levoredse Hits Soft
Spot in Crawley
"A whim--eh? A fancy? Humph!
! fancy a judge would want a bit
stronger defense than that, young
fellow. DO you mean seriously to
tell me that you expect me to believe
that you did this thing just for pass
ing whim?"
Mr. Leveredge gave way to a fit of
boisterous laughter
Crawley regarded him meditatively
Seriously, Mr.. Leveredge," he said
edo you mean to say that you con-
slider ! have done any harm to the
'Circe'?"
"Of course | do. you fool" cried
Leveredge, 1T isn't the same picture.
And just you look here, my young
friend"-the codfshy eyes of the great
connoisseur contracted and the old
look of cunning and craft that Crawley
knew SO we'll came into his large face
I'm no fool. Oh. no!
There's a pretty deep game some
where, and amt the man to be easily
played about with. You amt the man.
either, to come round to me, as you
did yesterday, offering to chuck your
money about to buy your own picture
money too. which ] know just as
well as you you havn't got Lor,' |
know what you're worth, Crawley-of
course | do-and probably a good deal
better than you know yourself!
And you missed a good chance
when you started quarreling with me.
| am game for pretty speculation
in you, Crawley, and nothing | can
say can tell you what Leveredge &
Mabeley can do for man. if you
don't know already"
81 hope you havn't altogether given
up the idea Crawley hazarded, with
sublime sang froid.