Evening star., 1923-11-23
ccontinued from Yesterdays Starr
IN Z YHO l am?" he repeated,
What do you mean?'
" " Crang for tho moment
was silent He seemed

EN I yHo l am?" he repeated,
H What do you mean?'
" " Crang for tho moment
was silent He seemed
to be waging Il battle with himself
TO control his passion.
I'm too clever a man to lose my
temper. now I've got you he rasped
finally. That's about the size of/sour
mentality! The sweet. naive, inno-
cent role, Yes, l said snivelinG
hypocrite! You don't eat dope, but
perhaps you've heard OF n man named
Larmon--Mr. Gilbert Larmon of San
To John Bruce it seemed as though
c'rung's words in their effect were
something like one of those blows the
same man had dealt him on his
wounded side in the fight Of the
other night. They seemed to jar him
and rob his mind OF quick thinking
and ytrility--and yet he was quite
sure that not muscle of hts face
had moved.
You needn't answer" Crang
met him you'll have the opportunity
of doing SO in n few hours. Mr..
I.armon will arrive in New York to-
night in response to the telegram
you sent him"
II know you said you were clever.'
no doubt this is proof of it. But
what is the idea? l did not send a
telegram TO any one"
. "Oh, yes. you did," Crans was
ohucktng eVilly. "It was something
TO the effect that Mr.. Lannon'S imme-
diate presence IN New York was i'm
perativc; that you were in serious
difficulties. And In order that Mr..
1Iarnon, might have no suspicious or
anxiety aroused as to his own per-
Sonal safety, he was to go on his
arrival to the Bayne-Miloy Hotel,
but was, at the same time, to register r
under the name of r. L. Peters, and
10 make no effort to communicate
The answer to the telegram was to
be sent to a-er-quite different ad-
dress. And here's the answer"
His revolver leveled. Crang laid Il
telegram on the table, and then
backed away q few steps.
John Bruce picked up the message.
IT was dated from San Francisco
several days before and was authentic
beyond question. 1t was addressed to
John Bruce in the care of one william
Anderson. at an address which he
took to be somewhere over on the
East Side. He read it quickly:
Leaving at once and will follow
instructions. Arrive Wednesday
night. Am exceedingly anxious.
GILBERT LARMON.'
This is Wednesday night" sneered
Craug.
John BruC" laid down the telegram
That Crang in some way had discov-
cred his. Johnu Bruce's, connection
with Larmon, was obvious. But how
and what did il mean? He
smiled coldly. There was no use in
playing the fool by denying any
knowledge of I-armon. II was simply
question Of exactly how much
Crang knew
'tWeIl?" he inquired indiffercntly.
The door was. pushed open. and
Birdie came in. He carried pen and
ink. large sheet of paper and an
envelope.
Crang motioned toward the table.
Put them down there--and get
out!'' he ordered curtly: and then.
AS the man obeyed, he stared for an
instant in malicious silence at John
Bruce. Il guess were wasting time
he snapped. Il sent the telegram TO
Larmon a few days ago, and | know
all about you and Larmon and his
ring of gambling houses. You talked
your fool head off when you were
delirious-undcrsta tand? And"
John Bruce, his face suddenly
white, took d step forward-and
stopped, and shrugged his shoulders
Crang's outfung revolver was on a
Jewel with his eyes. And then John
Bruce turned his back dciibe rately
and walked to the far. end of the
little room.
Crang laughed wickedIy
i am afraid ] committed Il breach