Evening star., 1918-06-02
HE six shots followed one an
other with the precision and
rapidity of the snorts of To-

tion on an up grade. When the smoke
had cleared a little from the shooting
gallery in the basement of his River
side Drive house. Jesse L. Moxon low
cred his revolver and blinked down
the narrow apartment to where the
stolid face of his valet was just being
raised beyond the shield at the far
end.
How many, john" the millionaire
inquired His tone was as weighty as
when, in his office, he ordered a report
concerning one of the stocks upon
which he was accustomed to risk
fortune. How many that time?"
He was a tall. heavy man. with
leathern face that bore testimony to
his years Of power in the street. He
was clean shaven and his gray hair
was close-cropped.
The servant examined the target,
revolving disk on the edges of which
a half dozen clay pipes had been fixed
erect, the bowls upward.
Three. sir" said he.
"Out OF SIX" commented the marks
man. His lips were thick. and when
he spoke they did not open far. You
haven't increased the speed?"
mo. sir"
Moxon grunted dissatisfaction.
That won't do" he said. "set 'em
Amid the smoke the servants head
reappeared.
Better. SIR" he reported. in the
monotone of those who wear the do
nestle yoke. You done five; sir
He was still still holding the smok-
ing revolver in his hand when an
other servant entered the gallery.
Moxon turned.
"Well, Brisn?"
'Mr. Barton to see you. SIR
Eh? Oh. yes. 1 told you to show him
into my study when he came"
"Yes, sir. He's there now, sir"
Moxon thrust the still warm weap-
on into side pocket of his dinner
VERY WELL" he said. with a glance
ut his watch. "you needn't go back to
him. I'll come right along" He
turned to his valet, John. think you
said your sister was celebrating an
other christening in Jersey City to-
"In Harlem, sir. Yes. sir" said
"she's doing we'll This is the sec
ond in three months"
mo. Mr., Moxon. sir: beg your par
don. but the other was funer@"
'Never mind" A thick hand had
been raised to silence the correction.
"You may go to. II. I'll be busy with
Mr.. Barton till bedtime. for I'll turn
in early tonight l shan't need you
till morning" The valet was smiling
gratitude. but Moxon mistook the
smile: he did not like those under him
to suppose that they were gaining an
advantage over their master. "Only
you must be back here by 6 a.m.," he
therefore added.
He did not wait to hear the end Of
Johns thanks. In the midst of them
he turned his broad back and walked
to the automatic elevator, setting the
indicator for the first floor above the
level Of the street. Arrived there. he
made for his own suite of rooms.
On the death of his wife, five years
before. Moxon had these rooms al
tered to suit his new requirements
and had abandoned nearly all the rest
of the house to his daughter and the
servants The shooting gallery, of
course. remained his own; he fire.
quently used the library, and he came
down to breakfast and to dinner; but,
except when Miss Moxon played the
hostess to some Of her friends. or the
millionaire gave one Of those heavy
and solemn dinners which occasion
now and then wrested from him, his
club. his officers in Wall street and
this suite in the north wing of his
Riverside drive, house were Moxon's
home.
The suite was cut off from the rest
OF the house by a hallway. at the
farther end OF which was a small
room. which was Johns. Below, in
what had once been a conservatory,
was the library. which opened on the
garden. and when he had made the
alterations Moxon had built no rooms
above. There was a large study that
looked over the garden toward the
drive. and behind IL came a bedroom.
dressing room and a bath The only
door Of entrance from the hall opened
upon the study.
This door Moxon now opened. He
entered the room and closed the door
quietly behind him.
Hello. Barton" he said
An electric lamp stood on a writing
table that, for length and width. II
not for height and material, might
have come from the office of a civil
engineers craftsman. The lamp was
OF high power. but 1t was heavily
shaded. and its light left most of the
apartment in semi -obscurity; nor
was this appreciabIy lessened by
low fire which glowed in a CRATE be-
tween the two windows opposite the
door. One could only make out a
high wainscoting and the gilt of many
pictures ornately framed. and could
just detect more windows at the
front: but one stray gleam of light
was caught and held by the polished
: steel door of a safe set in the wall
at the farther end beside the door
that opened into Moxon's bedroom.
you're on time. l see." Moxon con-
tinued. "In all our years together