Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-20

~ san FRANCISCO snat
"You did," said the other ooel -
: That Is how I came to know f5H
Though not personally In evidences ~ i
house itself, San Francisco - ZfX
home, and my information as TO WI =
goes on there at least Is fairly accs- x
rate" g1
The youne man resumed his pacing ~
ana down the sand. u q
And might add." slid the tai! - Y
after a moment. that from q point ;'
moral status between one who COZ
to gamble and one who furnishes so3T
other with the opportunity to 90 ~
You are perhaps hesitating to take eDeAf
hurdle on that account!" s
"Moral status!" exclaimed the youne
man sharply. He halted abruptly betose
the Other ,s, Noa, -i,i least ssso am .n oas,si n
VERY well. then said the other;
II will 60 farther. 81.
II will give you everything In hte
that you desire. You will live as .
gentleman Of wealth surrounded b
every luxury that money can procure,
for that is your role. You may gamble
TO your hearts content. ten, twenty,
fifty thousand night--in my houses.
You will travel the length and breadth
Of America. ] will pay every expense:
There is nothing that you may not
have. nothing that sou may not do.
The young man was silent for a fuu
minute: then, with his hands dug In
his pockets, he fell to whistling under
his breath very softly--but very de-
libcrately
An almost sinister smile spread ovss
the tall mans lips as he listened.
,s.a.I .Inv. hn ~
served dryly. that is the aria from
Faust.
Yes" said the young man-and
stared the other in the eye. ut is the
aria from Faust. "
The tail man nodded--but now his
lips were straight. ,.
II accept the role of Mephistopheles.
then" he said softly. "Dr. Faustus,
you know, signed the bond"
The young man squatted on the sand
again. His face was curiously white;
only the ugly welt. dull red. across his
checks, like the mark of some strange
branding iron. held color.
Then, draw it!" he gsaid shortly.
"And be damned to you y #.
The tall man took notebook and q
fountain pen from his pocket. He
wrote rapidly, tore on, the leaf, and
on second leaf made copy OF the
first. This. too. he tore out. -,
II will read it, he said. "You will
that I have still reserved the privilege
of keeping my identity in allowances
until the document is signed. This Y
what ! have written: For good and
valid considerat tion the second sigilatory
to this contract hereby enters unre-
servedy into the employ Of the first
sisnatory for a period which shall IN
clude the lifetime Of one or other OF tie
undersigned. or until such time as this
agreement may be dissolved either by
mutual consent or at tho will OF the
first signatory alone. And the first
signatcry to this contract agrees to
maintain the second signatory in sta.
ton in life commensurate with that OF
q gentleman of wealth irrespective OF
expense. and further to pay to the see
ond signatory as stated salary tine
sum Of $1,000 q month"; lie looked up.
"Shall sisn:'
BODY and soul murmured the
young man. lie appeared to be fas-
cina;ed with the restless movement OF
the quill toothpick in the others
you could let mc have?" he inquired
casually.
The tall man mechanically thrust his
fingers into his vest pocket; and then.
|
as though but suddenly struck with the
lrreieNahc!. a.u rnnS .,mS ~. IN SnrnI
OF the rtu1S;., 1;. ','sn tba .r,;cio IN
hinist:., .: """Ne WV
queSs,,oIi; s;.,," III. t,re was
s.,.,,an 80" ~, T., nnderstood tbat the
sterner: ~ ~ m uIers'SIa n"na S%a ,rd ,nat .rs
| sisnTTtu'cs ;nn n :. r. iS nm;ta under.
1e,s,. S,sh ~, ~ on - sInnio Inii, ,.;.hor,
Sto1d. Inc Toams s.S"d ,..d" - soAs ha sr~ro.soI
looking up, nt serH'tI " ot ~ ~
In Garetuii! sh'tns d .d' n",';r.d no'. u ,,;,i, M
guili to"thpfcN "e huu "'4""eu VIZ"
DIS khile. a;.s ho,, sh..,s %.,r,
Inc 9ther 's's"eu wv" s"ee'" AA"'N
the hoteDook. o,,.o, ,ho .,0 s,,n.
Inc young nun J ue,.pie' .t tne wv .os.a; .mps
OF paper. but refused the pfonefeo
fountain pen.
In the moonlight he read the others
signature: Gilbert Larmon. His lips
tightened little. IL was a big name
in San Francisco, a name OF power.
Few dreamed pernhPs Epete 'us "uews
of tha, power came from: He drew
from his pocket n small bottle. un-
corked it. dipped in the quill tooth
pick. and with his improvised pen
wrote with II rasping, spluttering noise
beneath the Others signature Oh each Of
the two slips Of paper. One Of these
slips he returned to the othcr--but be-
meath the tull mans signature there was
no mark # any kind whatever.