New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-15

of this kind if it were to convict all
the blackmailers in America"
"Can you let me see the letters?"
Eyes. There are only two" He
put his hand in an inner breast
pocket. "And they seem absolutely
futile-for purposes Of blackmail."
Babbing nodded. II was afraid
they had not gone far enough" He
glanced at the letters. II see. Yes.
There's nothing there" He returned
them. He tilted himself back in his
swivel chair, cheerfully at his ease,
as if the important part of the in
terview were over. And he contin-
ued chattily: "These people have
been working with a dishonest law
yer in this way: the woman's in
position to hear most of the gossip
Of what our newspapers call the
smart set, and as soon as she gets
rumor Of any marital difficulties she
sends such letters as yours to the
aggrieved party, anonymously. She
follows them with letter to the eff
feet that the dishonest lawyer has
evidence to prove the anonymous &C
cusations. The lawyer almost in
variably gets the case. He betrays
his client into the hands Of the black
mailers, who proceed to involve the
client in a criminal conspiracy to
manufacture evidence for the divorce
proceedings, and when the divorce
has been obtained the clients finds
himself-or herself-threaten with
exposure and compelled to pay for
silence. They were evidently work
ing toward some such conclusion
with your sister.
Van Amberg Strengthened up.
'They'll betray my sister into no
such conspiracy"
"No," Babling agreed. ~ thought
it unlikely. They have an alterna-
tive plan, however"
can alternative"
"Mrs. Harper, you say, is very
ill?"
"She has been. Yes. She's had
what was supposed to be malaria.
We find it was peripatetic typhoid. :"
"And her son."
"Nothing whatever the matter with
him."
"But if anything happened to his
mother he would be her sole heir,
wouldn't he?"
Eyes"
"And being a minor, his father
would be his guardian?"
Until few days ago, yes. My
sister has recently made new dis
position of her estate"
Making you the boys guardian?"
eyes"
"Does his father know this?"
"No. But l don't see"-
"Mr. Van Amberg," Babbling in
terrupted, you have wisely inter
cepted the letters that came to your
sister. | would advise you, now, to
let it be generally known that in the
event of your sisters death you will
be her sons guardian and her estate
will be in your hands. That will
protect her husband from blackmail
and save him from being betrayed
as she might have been--into the
hands Of these criminals"
Van Amberg was frowning at him,
puzzled II don't understand you"
"It isn't necessary that you
should" Babbing rose to end the
interview, smiling. Pm very much
obliged to you for bringing me your
letters. l think can guarantee that
you'll not receive any more"
Babbing shook hands with him.
eff Pm wrong-and you continue to
be annoyed-let me know. I'll be
glad to return the compliment of
your assistance and help you all I
can. Barney, show Mr.. Van Amberg
the way to the hall"
"This way, SIR" Barney put in.
Van Amberg drifted out, piloted
by Barney, who opened and closed
the doors for him. They did not
speak. Van Amberg was evidently
busy with the rnystification in which
Babbing had involved him, and Bar
ney was preparing himself for the
examination which he expected to
face when he returned to Babbing's
desk. He found the chief saying to
Archibald: "He can get in to fix the
electric lights. Plant it by telephone
first. Have him search for evil
dences of experiments in germ cult
ures. Look at his books, too. Medi-
cal books. Go ahead"
Archibald went out. Barney
waited Babbing looked at him over
his glasses. "Well, anything wrong
with Van Amberg?"
81 didn't see anything, chief"
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