Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-05

~" he said softly. And why is there
no money there to meet it?'
Because it was drawn out three
days ago. I thought said Pinto
incoherently. II saw Ferguson and
he told me that a check for the full
amount came through from the Bank Of
England.
I'm whose favor was It drawn1"
Pinto cleared his throat.
''In favor Of the chancellor Of the
exchequcr,". he said. That's why
Ferguson passed it without question.
He said that otherwise he would have
sent a note to you
The chancellor. of the exchequerT,''
mean?"
Look here! Ferguson showed 1t to
me himself" He took a copy Of the
Times from his pocket and laid 1t on the
table. pointing out the paragraph with
trembling fingers.
1t was 10 the advertisement column
and it was brief
THE chancellor Of the exchequer
desires to acknowledge the receipt OF
eighty .one thousand pounds conscience
money from Colonel y. b.
Conscience money!
The colonel sat back in his chair and
laughed softly. He was genuinely
amused.
"Of course we can get this back" "
he said at last. 1--WE can explain to
trick that has been played upon us, but
that means delay. and at the moment
delay ia really dangerous. l suppose
both you fellows have money OF
your own. I know Pinto has. How
| do Won stand Crcwe?'
Il have a little said Crewe, "but
honestly I was depending upon my
share Of the gang fund.-
What about you. colone!?' asked
Pinto meaning!y. IF may suggest
it we should pool our money and
divide.'
The colonel smiled.
Don't be silly" he said tersely.
II doubt whether my balance at the
bank is more than a couple Of thousand
pounds"
deposit box"' persisted Pinto. AHA {!
You didn't know knew that, did you?
As n matter of fact. Ferguson told me
that
What the devil does Ferguson
mean by discussing my business?" sold
tell your
HE told me that tho package was
received and that he had put It with
the other in your SAFE"
'Tackage?" The colonel's voice
was quiet. almost inaudible. The
package was received? When was the
package receivedT'
Yesterday said Pinto. He said
it came and he put it with the other.
Now what have YOU got in
D,,t H. Nl,.,.
his bedroom with rapid strides. Pres
coat on.
Come with me. Crewe. we'll go
down to the bank he said. You
stay here. Pinto, and report anything
that happens
When they were on their way he
confidcd to the other:
Il have little money put aside and
I'm willing to finance you. You
haven't been o bad fellow. Crewe. The
only rotten turn you ever did us was
introducing that fellow. Snow Gregory.
and you didn't even do that. fer had
met him before you brought him from
you found anything about him.
81 have a letter here from Oxford. "
said Crewe. putting his hand in his
pocket. II hadn't opened my letters
when Pinto came. You'll find all the
news there, if there is any news
He handed the envelope to the other.
and the colonel transferred 1t to his
pocke-.
"Thatll keep" he said. "What was
| talking about? Gh, yes--Gregory
The whole of this business has come
about through Gregory; Gregory made
Jack o Judgment and Jack O Judg-
ment has ruined us
He sprang from the taxi at the door
Of the bank with an agile step and went
straight to the managers office. With
out any preliminary he began.
What Is this package that came for
me yesterday. Fcrguson?'
The manager looked surprised.
at was nm ordinary package, similar
to that which you put in the safe the
other day. II was sealed and wrapped.
wondered you hadn't brought it your
the presence of two clcrks.'
I'D like to see it, said the colonel.
Ferguson led the way down the stairs
10 the vault and snapped back the lock
Of box twenty. AS he did SO Crewc
was conscious Of a faint n,usty odor.
II smell something said the colonel
suspiciously.
Ho reached MS mana INTO the DON anu
pulled open the long drawer, and as he
did 50 cloud OF sickly smelling vapor
rose from its interior. For the first
time Crewe heard Boundary groan. He
pulled the drawer out under the light
and looked in. There was nothing but
a black mass Of pulp. out of which
glnted and cleaned dozen pin points
Of light.
With howl of rage the colonel
turned the contents upon the stone toor
of the vault and raked it over with the
end of his walking stick. The diamonds
were intact. and they ut least wcrr
something: but the greater part of eight
hundred thousand dollars was indistin-
ouishable from any other kind of paper
that had been treated with one of the
most destructive acids known to chem
teal science.
The colonel wiped his burned and
discolored hands after he had dropped
the last diamond into medicine bottle
which the bank manager happened to
have In the room.
wreck, at any rate he said.
He had gone suddenly old and his
mouth trembed. Ns many a younger
moutb had trembcd in despair 50 that
Colonel Boundary might become a rich
man, ;,
Something saved from the wreck,
he repeated slowly.
The managers grave eyes were fixed
ON his. r .,
"I'm not blaming you, Ferguson.
said the colonel. 1t was a plot to ruin
me, and It succeeded. go.
What do you think happened?'
asked the troubled Ferguson.