The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-11-04
"pravada used I. be very stupid

sS WASH OS 0ts ~ SSSlAlAS W OS |
satisfied he learned all about the de.
tells Of the plan. and he knew that
Brown, to avoid pursuit. intended to
take the way to Norwich.
"He knew that If Brown went
through Norwich he would stop for
several drinks. He would need them
If he was disappointed. He would have
to have them if he had the manuscript
and was excited by 1t. So Dravada
went to Norwich. It all worked out,
and when Brown got to the village, he
found Dravada. Then he telephoned
to the fellow Sim to let me 60. l was
perfectly harmless. 1t was an inter-
esting situation"
II could wish Dravada had tortured
you," l said to Jed. "He has the
means now, through you. to torture
this family"
II said l knew Dravada had the
manuscript" said Jed. Il did that for
effect. What l ought to have said was
that l knew he thought he had the
manuscript. If had no more than the
intelligence you credit me with, doctor,
I could not have conducted this affair
so long. What Dravada has is no the
diary Of Mr.. Sidney"
Until l felt the relief following Jed's
explanation that the blackmailers had
stolen Only a decoy, I did not fully
realize into what dependency II
predicament up to that time ha"
thrust me. If Mr.. Sidney's diary vice
being read by INSCRIPTIONS men, we
might expect anything.
The lawyer. whose shrewdness and
lack of morals made him formidable,
"a dead. The Spaniard would soon
discover his disappointment and would
be furious. I thought the physical
danger to Jed was greater than ever
and found some pleasure in telling
him so.
He was convinced of that himself
and was not happy.
"Why don't you end your %rascality?"
l urged him. "Why don't you give the
manuscript to Mrs. Sidney and allow
her to make whatever disposition she
wants of it? Then your conscience
will be easy-your position in this
house will for the first time. be tolera.
BILE to a decent man, and your physi.
cal security will be promoted"
He would not. He seemed to hest.
tate for a. moment, but his purpose
was too long fixed and too much a
part Of his life.
He no longer was surly with me,
and | seemed to have lost my ability
to enrage him. We parted with my
telling him that there would be no
possible truce or peace between us
unless he respected the women of the
household. He bowed.
Anything else, sir?" he asked; and
then he departed as the servant.
Mrs. Sidney's relief to find that
the robbery had proved only a hoax on
from escape from tangible horrors
The lady had been keeping control OF
herself. as vas necessary to protect
her husband and daughter from hel
own agony of mind and to keep the
household from finding significance ir
what could be passed owe as a triv
ial piece of robbery.
When she learned that the alarm
was ver she relaxed Imply in heI
chair, and l feared that she nigh
J COLLAPSED; but in q moment she hat
struggled back to command of herself
Then she excused herself and wen
into her bedroom-for prayer, l knew
Mr. Sidney's joy at the return O.
Jed was robust, and Jed went to bee
very tipsy with two bottles Of wine
in him. l found him in the hall as
went my rounds Of the house. HI
was singing.
!. l knew we'd hear again and soor
from Dravada, but not in what Ia
ner. Naturally l was apprehensive
and no doubt Jed was more so, al
though to save himself from my con
tempt he tried to conceal his fears.
The Spaniard could not be expected
to accept his failure as final. HI
would try again. That expectation
!, was fulfilled in a disconcerting fash
ion.
!, Thus far we had been dealing witt
chance, with apparitions and threats
, We now came to deal with Inevitable
!, ity. Our experiences had been disa
greeable. but they had not presented
unacceptable consequence. We had
choice of ways. Now we entered s
; way from which there was no es
+ cape.
j, -Four days after Jed's return a mar
came to Hartley house and inquired
for me. He was a detective. His
name was Morgan; he was the head
, of the Morgan Metropolitan Detective
agency. l thought on first seeing him
while yet wondering what his bust
ness with us could be, and yet know
ing inStinctively hat it had to do Will
!, Dravada-that this newcomer had
more than a suggestion of shrewd
~malevolence in his face.
Before he was through his inter
view with me, or rather his inquiries
Of me, ! knew that inevitability had
. entered our case. We were no lOnue,