Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-12
CHAPTER XIII.
Courterpiot.

the feeling that came over me in
that moment. The word is paaic
half rose from my chair with the i'm.
pulse 10 make a mad rush for the
door, but before my muscles could
act | heard The voice OF my tormentor
again--once more suave and c0urte.
Gus and reassuringly friendly.
Don't get excited he said 81
beg your pardon for using the tone in
which | just spoke to you. | have
been under considerable strain since
Your last appearance here--not 50
much the thought OF how you might
come again, but the strain of watch.
ing my coworkers here and Of trying
10 find out just what their intentions
are in the little matter of putting me
out of the way
Il can assure you that you are per
fectly safe with me. providing you
do your part IN the project that | have
in mind. 1t will not be to your lik
ing, | know, but, unfortunately, you
offer me my own last chance of es
cape and, under the circumstances,
think | can scarcely be blamed if my
arguments to win your aid become
even so strong as to necesstate the
use of the little toy that have in my
pocket"
He paused moment as though to
awe me time to regain control of my
faculties Then he resumed.
First, | take it that Casserta has
really met with an accident, or els,
you would hardly have done anyth ng
so foolish as to come here. Tell me
frankly-is he badly hurt?'
| saw that further acting in the
hope of deceiving this man would be
useless, and that, besides, he really
needed me, and with everything made
clear would be able to force him to
bargain with me for my little girls
safety.
NO" | said, he is not injured a,
all. but his aeroplane is smashed so
that he will remain prisoner until
| choose to free him or send him
help
He nodded brightly.
Then | take it that his position
will make it easy for US TO dispose OF
him when The time comes?" he asked
The sinister suggestion which lie
made so calmly appalled, me.
You mean"
"Oh, come, Carrigan" and again
he laid his hand upon my shoulder
you and must not be squeamish
about life or two. Why, man dear
do you realize that this little group Of
novels is worth something like twenty
millions of dollars"
Twenty milions?" | sasped.
He laughed lightly.
Approximately that" he said
"And there is another five millions
on that schooner waiting for you and
me to fly out and get it tonight. Do
you wonder now that | hold life
cheaply when am playing for such
stakes?"
But could only continue to stare at
him blankly
"Twenty million dollars" re-
peated duly. my senses still refusing
to comprehend the vastness of the
sum,
This time Lacey laughed outright.
He had an infectious laugh, one that
rang with genuine enjoyment and that
was vibrant with the utter reckless.
ness with which he viewed the world
and the little lives upon it.
He was the most fascinating man
with whom | have ever come in con.
tact, and even my later knowledge
that he was the most stupendous of
criminals cannot to this day alter the
fact that feel glow of genuine hu.
man liking when | think of him.
"Yes,' he said Possibly | had
better give you time to realize all that
that means. And please try to realize
also what my position is in the mat.
ter. The money is crooked money;
III admit that in the first place, but |
won't tell YOU how 1t has been gather.
ed here because too many people
know about that already. And every
one who knows II has got to die
He said it quite calmly and dispas.
sionately, but again heard That tone
of menace in his voice which told me
that he meant exactly what he said.
There is your gentle friend, Sam,
and his henchmun, Msnoel, wit. two
others of the same kind. Then there
is Provan and his daughter"
But at this I pulled myself together
and managed to assert myself with
some degree Of beligereney.
Look here. Lacey. said. 81
might as well tell you now that I will