Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-23

cried In fierce suppressed tones. stand
still and keep your mouth shut, or I'll
drill a hole through you. You're safe II
you do as tell you. Crust. I'm onto your
little game I'm not saying you are the
guilty man. but you know who he is
and II won't work" .'..s & ''s' '... '' '..
Manuel Crust was as rigid as a block
Of stone. He did not even turn his head
TO look Into the face Of the man who
held him.
Michael Malone and Landover were at
Percivais side In an instant. From their
position on the steps they could see
what was not visible to the crowd be-
yond--the revolver that was pressed
against the small Of Crust's back.
&"Cover this man." whispered Percvai
70 Malone. shoot IL he opens his
mouth"
iMalone's revolver was jammed against
the "Portugee's" back, and Percival
sprang back up the steps.
Manuel Crust shot a look of surprise
at Abel Landover.
choked off the words at a command from
Malone While Perclval was rapidly
calling out orders from above, he broke
out recklessly again, addressing the
Are you my friend or not?' he snarl-
ed What kind of a man are. you?
Speak up! Tel them I'm z, all NJ right"
FLandover's eyes met the searching,
questioning gaze of the Portuguese:
Lanuel Crust apparently was satisfied
SIeam % Of confidence ieaped into his own.
His chest swelled with tremendous IN
take of breath.
The remarkable personality--o!r per;
again asserted itself. He made no al
lusion to the thing uppermost In his
mind as he spoke hurriedly. emphatic
ally to the tense throns. When he al.
picked men with him up into the woods
to bring down the captive. there were
nfutterings but no move on the part OF
low the detachment. a few terse words
to Buck Chizler sent that active young
man after Fits, the bearer of instruc.
tions. Sancho Mendez was to be brought
given a chance to kill him when they
realized that the scheme had failed and
he would be allowed to tell his own
story. .,,. ,,., -, r,,,s ,,a ,,s
men, Percival ordered the people to re-
turn to their cabins. He promised them
that Sancho Mendez should have his just
deserts. Slowly. reluctantly the crowd
broke UP and shutfied away In small
groups across the dewy Green. Manuel
Crust was free to go. The few words
that passed between Landover ana Per-
cival, although unheard by the man, sur
need to put courage back into his heart.
He had come to look upon the banker as
his pal! And his pal" had not failed
him ,,,
whatever may be in your mind, Per-
cival. | want to say this TO you: l was
happened. There were eight Of US there;
I can point out to you the other six. !
must beg you to overlook the fact that
We are not friends. and believe what
II viii take your wcrd for it. Mr..
Landover" said Perclval, after a mo-
ment. II am aware Of your dealings
with Crust and his crowd. l don't
that you have been fostering discomfort
1t may even amount to revolt-amcns
these men. II you say you We're with
Crust and that he was not out OF your
You may be n misguided. domineering
fool, Mr.. I.andcver. but you are honest.
You have failed to appreciate what you
were stirring, up----what you were let
in for. that's all"
Landover flushed. He compressed his
lips for a second or two before speak
my opposition to you as n dictator.
Percival, hardly warrants the implica-
ton that I am in sense responsible
for the devilish thing that happened last
night" ,
Nevertheless, II 10 your purpose to down
true?"
scme of us that you are not the man
to rule this camp. You may call 1t
politicss; II you like-or revolt. If you
"Werl call 1t politics. Mr.. I.andover.
1t was not politics that made me the
superintendent Of construction here, how
ever. Two locked after the JOB to the
tire Shenever Vi S 0i' the people s decide theyye
found better man. You may be right
In supposng% that Manuel Crust Is the
right man for the job-but don't
Landover started. Nothing is farther
from my thoughts than to turn tho
ahairs OF this camp over to Crust" he
said
Once more I agree with you. But
that In what you will be doing, just the
same. II you think that Manuel Crust |
Is going to play second hddle to you
Mr.. Landover. you'll suddenly wake UP
what Crust Is advocating. don't you?
Well, ! guess there's nothing more to be |
said on the subject"
We will drop It, then" said Land
understand that Crust mad no hand |
n last nights affair can vouch for
can YOU youch for each and every
member OF his gang?"
u know NOTHING. about his. gang,
as you call It., II am not mistaken.
this fellow Mendez is one OF your pet
supporters. He may be double-crossing
you"
We'll see, For the present. your
friend Crust Is safe. AS long as no
lives within the law, hS is all right, Were