The Washington times., 1918-04-04

Hlc Tell you ludl yOu may hdNC IL
in return for your check. You will
understand that i tell you the
whole story, that I spare nothing,
that 1 call you a murderer because
1 wish to make you confess your
self Sc. In this succeed. Ecco,
II was very simple. A little trap,
but you fall in ii easily"
Il am ill-terribly upset" NUT
tered the old man. MY brain is
in a whirl, and I hardly know
what ] am doing. There is much
more that I want 20 ask you. But
/ cannot collect my thoughts. You
must come to me again. 1 will
give you a check now. What price
am 1 to pay?"
$4,000 Blaekmail.
"Ten thousand dollars on a
check to Mrs. wIlloughby." replied
the Italian promptly. ''In a few
days l come to you again. ! bring
the paper OF which l speak to you.
You shall buy ii OF me. Then ] go
away and you see me no more"
Senator Epstone gave a gasp that
was more than half a sob. in the
hands OF blackmailers-I" he
moaned. He took his pen and
wrote the check. And I am forced
TO yield" Suddenly something OF
his old manner returned. He struck
the desk violently. You DEVILS"
he cried. "You blackmailing, thiev-
ing devils! May the money you rob
me OF be a curse to you!'
I'VE shall meet again in q few
days time" Pietro said gently. Till
then-addio!"
Pietro Calls on Another Victim.
From Fryant square to Eighty
third street was no long journey
for Pietro. 1t was now about the
luncheon hour, and he felt that this
was the best time to find DR.. Spen-
Ger Wflbraham at home; at all 9TH
er hours Of the day the famous sur
geon was engaged in his profess
sional business. He was a man who
took little rest, so much Pietro
knew of him. The Italian antici-
pated rather more difficulty with
the surgeon than he met with Ep-
stone, for DR.. Wilbraham had given
him an impression OF strength when
he had called in Eighty-third street
the day before-an impression very
different to that which he had
FORMED OF Epstone-
II knew" he muttered to him.
that that blatant parsonage had no
real courage. A fool-the son of q
fool. 1t is astonishing what forms
folly will take to veil itself. He
has been able to deceive the world
with bluster. He has realized that
I know him better. I shall make
a good thing out Of Epstone." He
rustled the check in his pocket with
greedy fingers, and wondered
vaguely IL that check would short
ly have a companion.
The Surgeon Sees Him.
To his surprise he was admitted
without demur. He was shown
into a small room which was evil
IDENTIFY not used for any professional
purpose, and asked to wait. He
was kept waiting until he had al
most lost patience.
At last the surgeon appeared. He
entered the room calmly and
gently shut the door. He was q
tall, well-built man, with iron gray
hair and mustache. His features
were stern. and he was seldom
known to smile. People were wont
face the reflection OF all the pain
with which he was daily brought in
contact. He advanced slowly and
stood facing Pietro. with his back
TO the empty CRATE. The Italian
felt awkward, and moved in his
chair.
Pray keep your seat" said the
surgeon. with no display Of emo
ton. Il gave orders that you
should be admitted because on re-
ceipt of Mrs. WilIoughby's letter
this morning, / thought well to
alter my decision OF yesterday.
Please understand that this is from
no fear OF blHckmsil. Neither Mrs.
Willoughby nor you could prove
anything whatever against me. and
II any statement such as is limited
at in Mrs. Willoughby's letter were
made public, I should Immediately
take proceedings for malicious libel.
And l should win my case"
Willing to Help Her.
az wonder. then. that you see me-"
This was all that PIetro could find
70 say. He felt that Il was a very
lame remark.
81 do SO because It seems to mo
that you may be able 10 give some
infOrmation-and for that informa-
tion ] am ready to pay. knew
Mrs. Willoughby, too, some years
ago. and am not averse to helping
IL she IS really in trouble. Is it
true that your people are holding
her sequestered until a certain sum
OF money is raised for her rele8se?"
81 come from them upon her be-
half" said Pietro.
DR.. WilbrahRm examined him
critically. Il should Judge you as
the chief OF the thieves, and II
had not a certain regard for Mrs.
Willoughby, / should risk the re-
taliation which your people might
take upon her by giving you in
charge OF the police. SO much I
told you yesterday. However, do
not propose to take this course, SO
we need not discuss It, Let us
come to the point. as my time is
valuable. The question Mrs. WILL
oughby asks is: who was the fool
who signed your wife's death GER
tif1cate? l can tell you at once;
the fool was Godfrey Grant, and
he is quite able to answer for him
self. So much / can say to the
world II l am libeled. To you and
between ourselves-you have no
witness OF this interview, you see
admit that had Godfrey Grant
known OF events Immediately pre-
ceding my wife's death he might
have hesitated before signing the
certificate. But no inquest would
have shown anything but that my
MI IL