The Washington times., 1918-04-02
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Pietro, the Blackmailer, Makes SEN
ator Epstone Writhe With a Story
of His Youthful Folly

could call him a fool and q eowardi
Pietro drew q chair to the desk
facing Epstone and leisurely took
his seat. He crossed his long legs
and showed his teeth in that Pc
culIar smile OF his which had 50
much resemblance to a snarl. He
was . sharp Judge Of character; no
man can be successful as q black
mailer without this ability. He
fully recognized the buster In
his victim. and had determined to
be the nrst to make use OF abusive
phrases. ~
senator Epstone. he continued.
"lt isi . little story I have TO tel"
You know nothing against me
you can know nothing" Epstons
.stammered painfully, and much as
his son had stammered In his pres
ence, at should not have refused
TO see you II I had Wrought you
had any means OF hurting me-but
did refuse"
hit Is All a Bluff" He Said.
"It was at your peril-and you
knew It,"
NO; believed. and still believe.
q that what that woman wrote was
bluff, a piece Of bluff designed to
force money out Of my pocket She
is clever at the game.@
Drops OF sweat stood on the old
mans wrinkled brow. He passed
his handkerchief across It furtively,
as IL afraid Of the action.
'It Is not blrn. What the Sig
norma Lillian knowsEsne knows,
and she able to prove II. Listen end
will tell you q story. II shall mot
be long. but Il Is interesting. II
concerns you. II am at fault you
will say 80, but think you ind I
have the details correct"
Ptetro laid his broad -brimmed
felt hat on the floor by his sidA
He was perfectly at his ease, for he
knew the game was in hts hands.
Epstone leaned forward over his
desk, his head supported upon hts
palms, his eyes hidden by the hard.
bony fingers that met In front OF
them He made no sign as the Itai-
Ian proceeded with his story.
Pietro's Story.
"I 90 back some thirty-odd years,
Senator. I present to you a young
man who has not long left college,
a young man OF Birth and educa-
tion. We will call him ChariesS
the name Is as good as another. 10
II not so? The father OF Charles
is a stern, hard man-very like you.
In fact. He not let Charles enjoy
himself in. the way Of young men,
he tell his son that II he do this
or this-or this-he cut him on. OF
course. this fall very hard upon
the young man. who like to enjoy
himself as most young men do.
"And so In secret Charles enjoy
himself. He does not want for
money. though II Is so that II he
So he very careful that all he does
Is not known. think he take an
other name when he go-as he call
tout for lark. You Ike not the.
expression? It Is the one which
Charles use often enough
swell, all goes without trouble
for some years-two, three. or fourc
Charles think II easy to deceive his
father, for he not got found out He
enjoy himself thoroughly-he goes
the pace. I think that Is how you
say II in English. But at last he
falls really in love-or he thinks
he does-and the lady OF his choice
she is-ah. II Is sad. but she Is an
actress OF no repute. She has
pretty face, and 1t Is for that that
Charles loves her. Perhaps you re-
member her name. 1t was Mia
Simpson. So vulgar, so common.
just Nita Simpson"
Epstone's fingers, the fingers
which concealed his eyes. twftehed,
and his body shook. Suddenly ne
lifted his head and his hands fen
heavily to the table.
ITO Be Continued Tomorrow
GCuuyriEst hy W. \ HsArst.1