The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-03-16
ZOE" +, 15 GI: STORY 2es si
A Thrilling Serial of Devotion and Mystery

Now, look here" interrupted Lev
eredge, with return to his unctu-
ously persuasive methods, 1--WE amt
going to beat about the bush any
more. You, my dear old friend Craw-
ley, had good reason not to want that
picture seen by any one-eh? Amt
IL right? Now, Why" Leveredge
shrugged his heavy shoulders and
winked. Crawley regarded him with
stare of fixed immobility. Lever
edge grinned suggestively and dug
fat thumb into Crawley's side, as he
bent forward. Nov, who. | ask, was
the lady | saw you with in st. James
street yesterday afternoon?
Crawley did not vince, though for
the moment he felt his heart thump-
ing. So Leveredge had seen Mrs.
Brooke with him in the taxi-cab and
had recognized in his companion the
original Of the Gree He might
have, known as much.
"Who was she, old fellow" asked
Leveredge, and leered into Crawley's
impressive face.
"Why?" asked the artist sharply
"Why, because she was your 'Circe,
young friend of mine. Ohio, | smell
a rat"
NONSENSE" retorted Crawley. you
are talking absurdly."
I'VE shall see, my boy - we shall
see" was Leveredge's cryptic utter
ance. But would you be greatly sur
prised, cher ami, if ! told you l knew ?
Ha, that fecthed you!"
Il am sure l don't know why you
shouldn't know the name of the lady
you refer to- said Crawley.
1.-The name of Gree your model
eh?"
Again the art dealers smile became
suggestively offensive. Crawley ex-
perienced an overwhelming desire to
kick him. Instead, however, he asked
quite casually what Mr.. Leveredge
was driving at.
ITO come to the point at once, my
dear old friend Crawley," said Lever
edge, 81 am here to demand satisfac-
ton
I'm what way"
I'm several ways"
Money, | supposed" exclaimed the
artist cynically.
Money, of course; but not only
money, / want something else. OF
course, we must be compensated for
the loss-I might call it theft-of our
property. That we must arrange, and
if you prove yourself ameniable to
reason, you'll find we shall not be
hard to meet. l value 'Circe,' as you
know, at fifteen thousand pounds"
Mr.. Leveredge paused.
Eyes, but l don't" said Crawley,
promptly.
at isn't a question of a bargain"
insinuated Mr. Leveredge.
Don't be a fool, Leveredge!" ex-
claimed Crawley. with growing irri
tation. You must be mad
Then you don't mean to meet us"
"Of course not. If you like I'll do
you new picture, although l shall
want more than thousand for it this
time"
"Oh, you will, will you?" sneered
Leveredge. That's very good of you;
but I'm afraid, my dear old friend,
you misunderstood me. I'm here to
offer you a choice of alternatives"
There could be no mistaking the
evil intent of the man. His sinister
suggestion was patent.
Crawley roce abruptly. He had
gone little pale.
Am l to understand that you are
attempting to blackmail me-" he
asked grimly.
"Oh, my dear Crawley," lisped Lev
eredge, lifting his fat hands in pious
horror, "the idea! | was merely sug-
costing that, if we could not get COM
pensation for the irreparable wrong
you have done us in one way-well,
we must try an alternative course. One
must live, you know. All's fair when
it comes to game of this kind; and
| never pretend to be philanthropy
list"
Pray, what is the alternative course
you suggest" asked Crawley frigidly.
AS he spoke there was knock at
the door and Hutton entered.
"Mr. Brooke!" he announced, and
Godfrey Brooke entered the room.
1t would have been difficult to say