Evening star., 1921-10-30

of a hand down on the table. the palm
fiat.
Achison reseated himself and glared
at his accuser scornfully.
II suppose should neither be sur
| prised nor annoyed under the circum-
! stances. The incident has also its
| humorous side" He gave a short
contemptuous laugh. you. the self
confessed receiver of stolen goods.
| holding in your possession valuable
owning. would naturally not hesitate
either to suspect or accuse another
| man OF the same lack of moral sense.
| My dear Mr.. Schofield. you do not
| deserve 1T. but I am going to give
| you a few words Of counsel. You
will have the devil of time in re-
| covering that book. You dare not
| advertise its loss, or make any open
| attempt to recover it."
II am not going to advertise its
his gaunt form still towering over
the table between them. IT want it
| now
| A Gibson drew breath of profound
"A irritation. and then with an air
| Of resigned patience lighted a ciga-
rette.
'It seems to me-" he said with a
show Of disgust. "that the person
with you might be better employed
than in fostering and abetting your
crazy obsessions. I respect your age.
and have nothing more to say"
| Don't blum, Achison." The cracked
Fold voice had a ring of power in it.
| I've played these cutthroat games
myself. You're a master of them. but
| it's Of no use. When I explain a
little further. you'll come down from
l hfr1, t4
missal."
| still harping." The lawyer gave
an indifferent shrug. eMy ducats and
my daughter"
schofleld let himself down slowly
I'm old. my friend. but I'm not
blind. I've seen ever since Frederick
| came back that there was something
on his mind. Boys of his age don't
confide in elderly uncles. but he did
His voice grew hoarse: his hands,
clasped over the top Of his cane,
trembled. 1.-The fine arrangement be-
tween you and himself! She went to
Ramsey with 1t; and he. having a
your methods, undertook to lay the
matter before me-"
Achison had not moved but his face
had hardened until it resembled a
stone mask; and over 1t lay again
|
Young brains" chuckled Schofield.
You must learn to respect them,
/ Achison. You ignore the fact that
you are growing old. However" he
went on, Ramsey and l considered
the situation from all sides. 1t was
IAN impasse. So, without consulting
Frederick-he is not even aware of
our being here tonight-we decided
on a plan.
"Ah"' as the other lifted his head
quickly. "1've caught your interest
mot in your plans" Achison
into a tray Merely in the celebra-
tions of a senile fox and a paranoiac
rabbit"
appreciative laughter.
."You're .vitriolic. Achison. but my
old hide is too leathery to scorch.
And I mustn't lose your attention.
You had the boy in a trap. The only
thing left for us was to get you into
another To catch you and show you
up would promptly kill your influence
over him as well as his sense of obli-
cation toward you. Ramsey, 1t seems
has made quite study of what he calls
your peculiar psychology. So we worked
on that lead.
"A senile fox. you called me just now"
he laughed, croakingly. We'll. the poor
old fox had the job Of coaxing the big
gest, sleekest, cleverest rat in the coun-
try into the trap prepared for him: Nc
} OF dinaty cheese for that willy rodent
he wouldn't even go after plum pud'
caviare: so we baited the trap with
caviare and we caught him. We've go'
"Then." asked Achison. with a deadly
: softness, "why are you here?"
IL Because" replied schoheld. will