Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-28


CAPTAIN FRANCIS NEWCOMER. ex-
officer in the great war, who breaks
s snso Hsry. noted eUre Of un sa
world. and in charge of various big
steals that have set London aEog.
PAUL CREMARRE. noted French
thief, who has met Newcombe in
the back waters OF the war. along
RUNNELLS. valet. who has done
some big thefts on his own account.
THE FOURTH sTRAGGLER. who
hears the crooks agree TOT combine
after the armistice and who disap-
POLLY wIcKEs. a nower-girl. whom
America to a finishing school. with
the idea of insuring social contacts
of the best before he leaves England,
after executing some big hauls. She
DORA MARLIN, daughter OF an eccen-
trio millionaire. and her guest on
big show place on the Florida keys.
where
MIR MARLIN. the mad mad m :,,;5,,ts has has
lars, the existence Of which New
n combe learns Inadvertently from
his beautiful ward.
HOWARD LOCKE. son OF rlg Dusl.
Runnells to Florida on his steam
launch. He falls in love with Polly.
Don't lie." Captain Francis New
combe coolly and viciously twisted
at the flesh in which his fingers
were enmeshed. I'm going to have
the whole story now-or else you'll
follow Paul Cremarre. You've seen
enough in the last three years to
know that l never make an idle
threat. 1t will be quite simple.
You will disappear. l myself Will
be the most solicitous of all about
your disappearance. 1t would never
be attributed to me. Is it quite
plain, Runnells? You deserve it,
anyway! Perhaps it's waste of
time to do anything but get rid OF
you now before daylight. I'd rather
like to Go it, Runnells. It's rather
bad policy to give a man chance
to stab you second time in the
back"
The man was almost in state of
collapse, Captain Francis NewcOmbe
loosened his hold, and, standing back
a little and toying with caressing
fingers at his revolver's mechanism,
surveyed the other with eyes that
in meditation now were utterly
callous.
II know you'd do it," Runnells,
gasping for his breath, blurted out
his words wildly. L know it
wouldn't do me any good to lie-but
1 amt lying. Can't you believe me?
1 wasn't in it at all. I never knew
Paul was on the Island until just
now"
GO on" encouraged Captain
Francis Newcombe ironically. $50
it wasn't you who telephoned Polly
from tho hna fhni1ao LITTLE
while ago."
Runnells' eyes widened.
Me? Mo-" he cried out vehement
ly. Il haven't been near here" -
Captain Francis Newcombe frown-
ed. He knew Runnells and Run
Eells' caliber intimately and we'll.
The mans surprise was genuine.
Another angle. 1t was possible, of
course, that Paul Cremarre had
been playing lone hand; but
against that was Runnells' own
actions tonight. Well, as it stood
now. it was a very simple matter
to put Runnells' sincerity, or in
sincerity, to the proof. "a
mo, Of course not" he observed
caustically. II didn't expect you to
admit it. Why don't you tell me
you spent the evening playing
solitaire, then went to bed and slept
like child until 1 raped on your
door,"
Runnells lifted miserable. hunted
eyes to Captain Francis Newcombe's
face.
Because I'm only telling the
truth" he said, with frantic in
sistence in his voice. And that
wouldn't be the truth. Ill tell you
notwithstanding. You can
see for yourself it's Gawd's fact. |
wasn't asleep when you knocked. /
had been out of my room. but l
hadn't been out of the house; and
1 hadn't been in bed more than ten
minutes when l heard you at the
door"
You rather surprise me, Run
nells, said Captain Francis New
combe coolly. mot at what you
say, Tor l was standing in the hall
when you entered your room-but
that for once you are guilty of an
honest statement. Go on, What
We're you doing around the house ,"
tunnels gulped nervously mas
saying his pinched throat
got to go back before we left
London. If I'm going to make a
cleani breast of it, he said, search
ing captain Francis Newcombe's
onAAouSiys II knew then
ABOUT the money out here. There
WAS a letter under your pillow the
oay you got back from Cloverley's
and when 1 propped you up in he'd
for Your lunch II took it. ana
read 1t while I was feeding rou
your His words were blotted
OUT In a sudden cry of fear, He
was staring into a revolver muzzle
thrust close to his face and he
mind the revolver were a nair ~
eyes that burned like living Goals
For Gawd's sake" h1 sbriekaI
out. captain-don't!"
captain Francis Neweombe dron.
pea the revolver to his side again
1ou are quite right, Runneils !"
ne SAID Whimsically. 1T would be
lnexcusable to stem any tide ~
'eracity flowing from you. Well ,"
sot TO make You believe Pm
.ands the truth choked Runnells.
,dd'... anu know now I have.
uiont say anything to Paul a hout
It! was keeping it to mvsaIf r5
Iauk didn't say anything to mo
uiont Know he knew about n .,d
1 uont know now how he found
out-out l suppose he must have
somehow, for l suppose that's what
Drought him here. AS for me 49,
l read in that letter didn't masa
an oinerence after all, because
ene minute l got here 1 knew wbst
e eve else knew-that the dinnv
Sld pro had got a half a miiiion
9 I hidden away somewbere !,
ne hesitated a moment, drawinr tha
a oaSk OF mis- hand several times to
tho., Iro across his lips. "Well
that at what what l was doing tonight, and
+ A., wnat | was doing lasT n,
find on nearcn hng the house trying to
money; But / didn't find IT, 49,
No." said Captain Frarc;. ~
somne grimiy; I'm quite smro 'v CIV.
oldnt. But IL you had. Rnnna,,s you