Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-21

and shut every window in the place,
as presumably he had. The drip
and trickle. the running water.
would have deadened any little
sound made in forcing the window,
and after that to reach in and
manipulate the shade would have
been but child's play.
Locke's eyes shifted now to the
old mailman. What was to be done?
His mind was working keenly,
swiftly now. Suppose he made some
excuse to leave the aquarium and
stole around outside to that win
dow? No: that would not do. In
the first place. he probably could
not get away from the old madman:
and, if he could, he dared not, for
the length of time it would take
him to accomplish any such pur-
pose. leave the other alone with
that money on the table and sub
ject to attack from an open window
only a few feet away. There was
only one thing to do. The man ont
side the window there. unaware shat
his presence was known, would
naturally not consider that he,
Locke, was q factor to be reckoned
with when, say. the old madlaan
left the aquarium here to return tie
money to it's hiding place. wherever
that might be; and therefore, if he.
Locke, could manage to keep ward
over Mr.. Marlin without being seen
himself, the man out there would
almost certainly rise to the bait and
bring about his own downfall.
II then, without unduly alarming
him. Mr.. Marlin could be persuaded
to remain in the house with his
money tonight, it would not only be
the safest thing the old mailman
could do, but would afford him.
Locke, if he were right in his sup
pos'tion, an excellent chance 10 trap
the man in the mask Will; the lat
ter waited for his prey to come out.
Locke leaning forward now,
crossed his arms on the table. and
nodded his head earnestly u: the old
maniac. One corner OF the table at
least was distinctly visible from
where the window would be along
that little apeyway between the rows
or tanks. but he was careful not to
glance in that direction. The re-
f1ection CT the masked face still
showed in the same place. What
was the old mailman saying? Well,
it didn't matter. did it? He inter-
rupted the other now.
You are right, Mr.. Marlin" he
said gravely. Il agree with every
thing you have said. 1t is a most
serious situation. L had no idea
that there existed any such vital
and immediate necessity of realizing
cash for every description of asset
that We can lay our hands upon,
And l had no idea of the immense
potential value that this money
hora 70 10 s,,yy
sesses. AS you say, when the crash
comes it will he worth untold mil
lions-a fabulous amount"
Yes. yes" agreed the old man
excitedly. He began to pat and
Millions! Millions! Hundreds of
millions"
'The amount is so vast" said
Locke still earnestly, that l cannot
help thinking about what you said
there in the woods last night.
don't think you should risk any
chance Of being followed tonight
when You have all this great wealth
with you, even though you are quite
sure you have put whoever 1t may
be off the scent. and that he. or
they, will be busy somewhere else.
l don't think, If / were you, 1 would
go out of the house again tonight"
The old mailman Strengthened up,
and for a moment stared at Locke;
and as he stared the red spots began
to overspread his cheeks. and the
pupils of the blue eyes seemed TO
enlarge and darken. And then with
a sudden sweep of his arms be
gathered the bundles of bank notes
together. wrapped them up frantic