Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-22
CHAPTER XXXV
The Tragedy

WHEN Jerry. in high dudgeon.
w walked out of Mr.. Buckngham's Of
flee he almost stepped into Victor upon
Hello Hello what's the gloom?" ex-
claimed the happy Victor, as he noted
Jerry's frowning face. And what do
ticing just what office it was from which
Jerry was emerging.
What do you think that blind egotist
in there just had the effrontery to pro-
pose to me?" demanded Jerry indig-
nantly.
Not an idea" confessed Victor.
laughing at his friends seriousness.
Jerry's mood, however, was not to be
put out of countenance by levity.
Strange isn't it?' he fumed. how
when a man gets lot of money--an
awful lot like Buckingham--he can't put
show has done to him has been to make
him feel that he's bought the wrong
thing. He was trying to buy me now
with tn something he hasn't got to cffer.",
Victor still so bubblingly happy with the
turn in his most intimate personal af-
fairs that he could see no earthly reason
for any such glowering solemnity az
what's the story?"
Jerry related briefly the details of the
interview. Victor listened interestedly
shoulder and noting all that went on in
the street behind him and on that sweep
of cement sidewalk that lay between the
gutter and the entrance to the offices
At the curb stood a shiny limousine
with chauffeur and footman, and with
crest and monogram upon the door The
monogram was w. II. B. 1t was Buck
ingham's car and it was waiting to take
him home. Next to the car stood a
pushcart, with depleted stock of fruits.
Apparently the street merchant had
dropped into position here in the hope
OF picking up few minutes trade from
the employees streaming out at the close
or the working day from the great Office
building in which the bank was housed
Listening to Jerry's heated narrative
with one lobe of his brain. as 1t were,
Victor reflected with the other on the
the $4,000 car and the Sc cart. and casu-
ally kept his eye on both.
The fruit vender was restless He ar
ranged and rearranged his stock, ne
darting occasional glances across the
pavement toward the offices with its
names upon the windows, the name Of
Buckingham. In one of the intervals
between transactions he fulnbled in his
cart and presently brought out some
thing which he fingered attentively for
moment, then turned and shot an
other Of those keen scrutinizlng glances
across the pavement TO the entrance to
the bank.
This action excited victor's curiosity
and he craned his neck sufficiently to
see that what the vender held in his
hand was a knife. short, thick butcher
knife, obviously the one with which he
severed bananas from the stalk. But
he was toying with its edge in a most
peculiar and suggestive fashion. while
an expression of mingled cunning and
malignance appeared upon his face.
This demanded a more concentrated at
tention that Victor had been able to
give up to now.
fellow" said Victor, nudging Jerry and
nodding in the direction of the fruit
vender.
Jerry turned and followed the direc-
Why" he exclaimed in surprise
That's Aurentsky -
"Aurentsky! My Cod"
A whole chain of associations started
to the story Sylvy had told him few
hours ago. Instinctively Victor turned
toward the entrance to the offices. and
there was buckingham in palm beach
descending the steps to the street. After
that the scene reeled itself off like a
moving picture. Jerry, already advanc-
face hight with sudden fury and he
leaped forward. brandishing his knife at
Buckingham.
Both Jerry and Victor dashed to In
tervene. the former In the lead by favor
Of that one advanced step he had al
ready taken. For a few moments there
after everything was confusion. The four
men reeied about the center of the pave
ment as II In some kind of wild dervsh
dance. the knife flashing. Mr.. Bucking-
hams cane waving, his voice grunting
resentment and expostulation. Then abb
ruptly the figures fell apart, except that
the powerful Robinson stood gripping
Aurentsky by the neck and his knife
hand, holding the excited Jew almost
clear Of the ground and shaking him into
complete subsection.
Buckingham staggered backward,
painting. staring and still barking breath
less expostulations at the man who had
attacked him.. Jerry stood moment,
gazing at Aurentsky with an expression
of horror in his eyes. and then. ignoring
everybody else, took two strides to the
granite steps and sat down upon them.
His head was bowed and one hand held
his side.
He is stabbed" shouted Mr.. Bucking-
ham frantically. "A doctor! Will no.
body call a doctor? Quick It's young
Archer. He saved my life"
Jerry meanwhile was much cooler,
Methodically he struggled with a refrac-
tory button on his light blue serge coat,
finally conquered II and threw back the
garment. revealing an enlarging GRIM
son stain on his white silk shirt with
puncture in the center through which
blood was yelling. He contemplated
this for moment and then with a