The Washington times., 1918-04-09

brought to close quarters with q
man OF superior phyIicuAto him
self. e..
Must Look Elsewhere
He took his departure, walking
stif1Iy, and raging in spirit. Lillian
he'd nads q fool OF him over this;
how came II that she did not know
This Mr.. Adean and his affairs bet
teri Hsi took, It as personal Of
fenss. She had said that what she
proposed to do was 20 submit the
man to public ridicule. but she had
quite overlooked the possibility OF
bis not minding. WelL there was
nothing more to be done with MT.
Adean: the remaining $40, 900 must
be made up betwsen Captain Stainer
and the General.
The doer had hardly closed be-
hind Pietfb when AdeRn threw him
self backiin his chair and laughed
heartily.se
SwhatA BLUM" he cried. What
q most excellent BLUM"
You old fraud" exclaimed his
friend, hs of the drawl; but
thought that was your game. 80 I
played Up to- you for all I was
worth"
They Fool the Italians.
Jolly well you did it, too. old
man. Bot what made you mention
Mrs. carTfher2- 81 Ea,-.
"why.s knew, there was some
yarn abSpt you and her at Mrs.
clewer'ss 1 guessed that IL that
chan hEd. come to blsekmail he
would Be upon that track. So
thought ttStuEfS aSgNellttols s1et him
know thstsli Y5i ecilid laugh at the
story she iceeFd 40 ~, stgo -.
"a eood a6eg 5ul Fenfss Rnrnard;
Won Eraspes Sc hon ~ once
You seer am E,Efl5sg what the fell.
low wasraaIiysd ysdristnE st nrSt, but
I made ub ny mind ~ blnhStn any
case. wAea hes1polrP Of saarss sClew-
erI knew bHk q ter1nfnsdte 70 stick
40 a. and ist Ii Af1EE dIdnA care
a BIT But 1Sf soukses ! did teally;
1t would be the very devil for me
Il that story got published abroad
"And for Mrs. Caruther. too.
"Yes. poor little woman, especial
" lust now. But, my dear Barn
ard, I'd sooner risk that than yield
to blackmail, and, as it is. 1 be-
lieve we've successfully bluffed
these worthy folks out OF doing
anything whatever. II there's moth
TO be gained by 1t they won't put
themselves to any trouble OF risk.
/ know the breed. You chaps stood
by me like the best OF pals, and
I'm obliged to you"
'T believe" said Barnard. "and
sincerely hope that you'n never
hear any more OF H." .-.'. -
The End Of the Adean Matter.
And Barnard was quite right. The
mystery as TO Mr.. Adean's lost, key
remains a mystery unsolved today.
II took Pietro a little time to re-
cover from his unceremonious re-
ception and extremely uncomfort-
able treatement at Mr.. Adean's. and
II was approaching noon when he
reached Captain Stainer's flat. He
had been received very curtly by
he captain on the occasion OF his
previous visit, but, nevertheless,
fhe blackmailer felt more sure OF
himself over this transaction He
had a more definite game to play,
his accusations were more direct,
the Issues were of gerater import
snce. He had his doubts with re-
card to Mr.. -Adean from the first.
and he blamed Lillian extremely
for having exposed him to such
isk.
Another Victim Is Seen.
Captain Stainer was at home, and
would see him.zsPietro was shown
into a room wfffeh was for the most
part furnished as a study, though
certain Of it's decorations were
hardly in keeping with the usual
character of eVch an apartment.
Captain Stainer was famous trav-
eler. and the fact was evident from
his choice of furniture. hangings.
pictures and other Embellishments.
The room was, in fart, a small
museum. mass Of strange weap-
ons decorated the walls, gaudily-
coIored garments were displayed
here and there. strings OF beads,
hideous masks. On the top OF a
bookshelf was grinning skull;
another head, black. dried and hor-
rible. faced 1t as IL hurling unend-
ing defiance at an unconquered
enemy There were stag's antlers
over the door and above the mirror,
and a tigers head, a savage looking
beast with snarling jaws, in q glass
case. giving the impression that
even in death it was better Gagged.
$4,000 or Publicity.
Captain Stiner was a big, square
iy-buiIt' man OF splendid physique.
He had not a superfluous ounce Of
flesh upon him. His features were
regular, but hard and cruel: the
type OF face was that which char
acterized many OF the emperors OF
ancient Rome.
Il have received a communica-
tion," said the, captain slowly, from
q lady with whom was once on
friendly terms, asking me for
$4,000 as a condition Of silence
upon certain matters. the revela-
Sion of which would be damaging
20 me. You have. I understand.
come as her emissary."
II regret.r said Pietro. 1--WE cannot
now accept $4,000. We must ask
for $4,000"
Captain Stainer frowned. You
may ask for what you please" he
said. 1T 10 another matter II you
will get Il. These statements are
of small use.without proof. May ]
ask where is your evidence against
ma7" .- .-
SWe Have the Evidence"
certainly" replied Pfstr0. with
. sheerfui smile. The evidence IL
dearly written on yoHF own bs<iEf''
-Yoa bear the ,sTiAsass against