Evening star., 1917-09-23

money" Assuredly, my dear sir. the
upkeep of this society costing some
thing more than a trif1e, and ready
send your
Go on. tell it," growled Conybear.
Waring hung on Bergson's answer.
obvious reasons must have occurred
to YOU" said Bergson, still with that
air Of superiority. For instance. VI
you were shot down in public place,
other gentlemen might be more
anenable to reason. You thought of
that"
Conybear waved his hands. ''Oh. go
on, tell the rest of it
Well, you have several millions in
gold in the vaults of the Seventythird
National. You have studied financial
history. Mr.. Conybear. You rernembe ar
that Jay Gould once defeated a coal
ition against him by his ability TO show
his enemies that he had over fifty mil
lion In cash to use against them In
many ways you are like Jay Gould.
You are perfectly right when you
say that selling off securities without
personal orders from you would be
difficult. dangerous for US of the So
ciety. Also. despite all the precautions
we have taken, the advance informa-
tion we have gathered, we have not
as you suggested the other night
been able to read your thoughts. Mr..
Conybear. Therefore We do not know
did not know-but that you had
some private arrangement about draw
ing cash yourself. After all. you have
some brains, Mr.. Conybear. Such a
contingency has happened to you
might very well have suggested itself
to you. We know that you have not
been yourself to a bank to draw money
in many months-years. almost. II
the possibility of what has happened
today had ever entered your mind, you
might have arranged with your va :
rious bankers not to honor your
checks, though you presented them
particular thing. You might have ar
ranged to be followed.
You see, Mr.. Conybear, we overlook
nothing Your vaults. we happen to
know. can be opened by you only. Your
presence is not only desirable; it is
necessary. II. among other things, We
plan to obtain the contents of your vaults,
you must go with US. And it is just as
we'll to be certain that your failure to
say or do something will not mean our
apprehension But If you thought of no
such precauton to protect your bank ac-
count. It is not likely that you thought
OF any such thing with reference TO your
stored CASH
Conybears eyes expressed open ad-
miration. You got head you" he
said. But how do you know amt been
followed today"
Bergson shrugged his shoulders. Those
members Of the society who were at the
bank Just now are not amateurs. Mr..
Conybear. You would never have been
driven here II suspicion had been aroused.
And now-have made your position clear,
MIR. Conybear?"
Conybear's eyes were puzzled now.
Clear enough-as far as you GO he
said slowly. "But-supposn' you get my
cash reserve? What them"
Then we will talk OF other matters,
Mr.. Conybear."
HIN! thought so. Something big
ger than fifty million. eh?"
Much bigger" said Bergson placidly.
surrendering everything you have to the
society,""
.And then what?''
Like Joining the society and aiding its
what is its work."
THAT will be explained when your mind
is prepared for 1t. There is beginning
1t is useless to struggle; it is better 10
Conybear turned to Waring. Come on.
CarvaJal." he said. Take me to my
room. l want to take nap
You prefer to be forced. them" asked
Conybear stared at him. "Why. you
poor fish" he said. DO you honestly
think you can get away with much
more than you've got away with to-
day?" He stumped toward the stairs
Over his shoulder he flung his offer.
One million-cash' That's ALL
Bergson smiled Take him to his
room. my Sarva1al. Then come to my
study"
In silence Conybear mounted the
stairs: he said nothing as Waring
opened the door Of his room. He was
stripping off collar and tie as Waring
locked the door. Once again Waring
characterized him fine loser
something more: one who refused to
admit that he was loser Warnings
lips frightened. Conybear was not
loser Once Waring got outside this
house. beyond the menace Of half
dozen watchers--
In the ground floor room that he
called his study Bergson was waiting
for him. The mysterious chief of the
Society looked up with an expression
as close to friendly. approval as his
thin lips and harsh eyes could manage.
you have done we'll. my Carvajal-
as well as I could have expected from
one whom Peter sent to me. Too bad
you work from greed alone"
WariDy shrugged his shoulders