Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-08-27

paid, at the table,-Lord fremont to
settle with him. when they got down
to their cabin later. There'd been.
a drink or two-correct me if I'm
wrong, Lord fremont" he interpolat-
ed with a smile, and from this point
when you had turned int your bunk
he handed up to you what you sup
posed to be an I o U for your share
of the loss, which you said you'd find
it more convenient to pay him when
you reached London. It vas as u
matter of fact a permit to copy the
Van Dyke, to which you scribbled
your signature without detecting his
little game"
THE dirty dog!" g-inned Alec sour
~. II wondered why he didn't turn
up for his money at the hotel in Lon
don, as I told. him to do. And then
I never thought of the fellow again."
Wonder you didn't recognize him
rGeoffrey,-"or at least recall his
name.
HUI! I don't wonder at anything"
Alec retorted scathingly, in disgust at
himself.
Hes a mighty slick customer. this
Cardcni," drawled RUFUS. Il m rot
easily hoodwinked. but by sad he
managed to douole-cross na all
right" st- 97a7e5sess
"Why-what 90 ynu mean: You've
got the original tlc.. la.s.n't your"
asked Alec, half in panic:
"fesl mean as regards the copy.
You see" he added, h was copying
the Van Dyke to my order !.
There was II dead silence-until
Sir Godfrey, throwing his head Back.
nuohed afONd
For goodness sake, fremont" he
begged. "Cut the thrills! This Is
too much for our delicate British
~nerves,"
Rufus laughed with him.
Sorry, old man" he apologized.
II suppose I'm making the most Of
tiny hour you know! Why, it's
soon as Cardoni got to England, he
traced my address. and followed up
Norshby's clue by cabling me at Sc
attic TO the effect hat he had the
rare opportunity of making a copy
of the Breem Van Dyke, etc, etc.
He gave references as to his Compel
ence as a copyist, and I cabled him
I should be coming yer directly and
would see him in London. I sailed
at once, and he came to my hotel. He
told me that he had paid a substan-
-e0S ~ SoAp AoAoI AASA2oAkt 1oI
the right to copy the portrait. and
that his permit was subject to the
condition that nothing whatever was
to be divulged either by himself or
by the party for whom he might
make the copy; the proceeds of the
ultimate sale of the copy were to be
shared between you, he said. He
would only do the work on my agree
lag not to communicate with any one,
v-1,e~~alr Syrrls,So al ~ 49, -ls--
ter"
And you, let him go ahead. on the
basis of that cock-and-bull story?'
questioned fremont willingly.
1T vas no business of mine to ques-
ton it," replied Rufus coolly. "And
il You come to think OF it. why should
/ not believe it to be quite likely?
didn't know o then, you see." he
smiled humorously.
And later when you did. it seemed
even lore likely TO be true, what
fremont? Go ahead and Alec lean.
ed back again in his chair.
But why" asked. Sir Geofftey
since you were determined to get
hold Of b original, fremont. did
you worry yourself with Cardoni's of
!. Ter of q copy?"
Well" drawled fremont, there.
! many q slip. o know-and l fore
AW Ln2S the copy might serve q u
pose in various coatingencieA. h,
smiled.
How came it that cardoni double.
crossed yon?.
Il He informed me. when his vorl
here was finished, that no must CON.
! plete Il in his studio in IOndon-ffn-
ishing touches, and a secret process
Of rapid 'melIowfng.s and an that. ID
said he would let me know directl,
1t was ready. and / could come and
ftake delivery and pay him tho baIancs
due beyond the deposit I had alread,
made on giving the CIDER.
-Meanwhile he came back here I
night that ] was observed In tie hall
and made Oh with the originai-whicl
he experted. doubtless in due cours.
either 70 ssil At = far higger pric,
than the copy. or 10 hold MP to ran,
some rs 1t He felt safe. It seems
SIS regards myself, knowing that n,
theft would look fishy Tor me anS
thus relied on my keeping Silence.
7 Was not difficult To track him
thOwsver. ! had pretty wen aired IN,
man MP ana had obtained finn infor
Eation about him a. fhe outrc.. Wnel
Re found ! was not . promising spb