Evening star., 1922-03-26

~ the story with which. should he
meet Ashton. he would introduce him
self 1t was one arranged to At with
his theory that Ashton was a crook.
If Ashton were a crook Ford argued
that to at once ingratiate himself in
his good graces he also must be
crook. His plan was to invite Ash ton
to cooperate with him in some
scheme that was openly dishonest. By
SO doing he hoped apparently to place
himself at Ashton's mercy. He be-
lieved if he could persuade Ashton he
was more of a rascal than Ashton
himself, and an exceedingly stupid,
rascal, any distrust the bookmaker
might feel toward him would disap-
pear. He made his advances SO OPEN
ly, and apparently showed his hand
so carelessly, that, from being bored.
Ashton became puzzled. then inter-
ested: and when Ford insisted he
should dine with him he considered it
SO necessary to find out who the youth
might be who was forcing himself
upon him that he accepted the invi-
tation.
They adjourned to dress and an
hour later, at Ford's suggestion, they
met at the Carlton There Ford or
dered a dinner calculated to lull his
newly made friend into mood suited
to confidence, but which had on Ash
ton exactly the opposite effect In
Ford's hospitality, he saw only cause
for suspicion. If. as he had first feared.
Ford was a New York detective, it
was most important he should know
that. No one better than Ashton un-
derstood that. at that moment, his
presence in New York meant. for the
police. unalloyed satisfaction, and for
himself undisturbed solitude. 1t was
true Ford was familiar with all the
habits of Broadway and the Tender
loin. OF places with which Ashton
was intimate, and of men with whom
Ashton had formerly been well ac-
quainted, he talked g1ibly. But, if he
were a detective, Ashton considered,
they certainly had improved the
class.
The restaurant into which for the
first time Ashton had penetrated. and
in which he felt i'll at ease, was to
Ford, he observed. a matter Of course.
Evidently for Ford it held no terrors.
He criticised the service, patroniZed
the head walters, and grambled at the
food: and when, on leaving the, res
taurant. an Englishman and his wife
stopped at their table to greet him. he
. accepted their welcome to London
without embarrassment
Ashton. rolling his cigar between
his lips, observed the incident with
increasing bewilderment.
you've got some swell friends" he
grow1ed. "I'u bet you never met them
at Healey's!"
"I meet all kinds Of people In my
business" said Ford. II once sold
that man some mining stock. and the
joke of it was" he added. smiling
knowingly, ut turned out to be good"
Ashton decided that tho psycholog-
ical moment had arrived.
What Is your business?'' he asked.
I'm q company promoter" said
Ford easily. '1 thought told you"
II did not tell you that was a COM
pany promoter. too. did To- demanded
Ashton. y
NO" answered Ford. with apparent
surprise. Are you? That's funny"
+ + +
A SHTON watched for the next nove,
"A but the subject seemed in no way
to interest Ford. Instead Of following
it up he began afresh.
"Have you any money lying idle?'
he asked abruptly. About . thousand
pounds"
Ashton recognized that the mysteri-
Gus stranger was about TO disclose
both himself and whatever object he
had in seeking him out. He cast q
quick glance about him.
"I can always find money" he said
suardedly. whats the proposition?
With pretended nervousness Ford
leaned forward and began the story
he had rehearsed. It was . new ver-
sfon Of an old swindle and to every
sels-respecting confidence man Was
wen known. as the 'slch saginssEe
eame. The plot II very simplA The
SICK snsinser II suoDosed b he q Hsin-
u - GASkS