The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-11-20

The fortress itself was built Of a kind
of xray-colored brick, square. solid
building. with curiously unexpected
pointed top. The barred windows
were no more than Sits. The space OF
omen ground by which the main build
ing was surrounded was inches deep
In dust.
A porter in stained and limiting
uniform admitted Gerald to the build
ing. escorted him across the yard. and
passed him on to duplicate of him.
self. to whom Gerald once more pre-
scented the card which had obtained
him admittance. He was led down q
stone passage. which had apparently
neither been cleaned nor swept for
months. into a lofty hut bare apart
ment at the farther end. Krossneys.
who was sitting before wooden
table. apparently expecting him. dis
missed the attendant and motioned
Gerald tn sit down He looked at his
visitor In unfrientIly fashion.
"why did Won not come to me direct
instead Of going to Elsa FrancksF
he demanded.
Gerald was not unprepared for the
question.
81 knew your reputation az SOL
der and a man Of honor" he replied.
"I feared that unless this matter was
nut to Won in the proper light. tact
fully, as a woman can put 1t, you would
have nothing TO say to me-"
The governor grunted.
ut was q mistake" he declared sour
IL. sThe woman IL greedy. She viii
demand her full share Of the money.
It Is scarcely Justice"
81 am sorry" Gerald said. II acted
as i was advised"
"Supposing I accede," Krossneys
went on, after q short pause, show do
you propose to get Number Twenty
nine out of the country
81 was hoping" Gerald admitted,
''that you might have been able to help
with some suggestion"
The governor stroked his beard.
Suggestions" he muttered, ARE
worth money"
Gerald acquiesced.
81 have not command OF much more
than the amount spoke Of" he said.
'but II you can show me how to get
our friend safely out Of the country,
I will add q thousand pounds to your
SHARE"
(which sum-" the governor insisted
quickly, twill not be mentioned to Elsa
Francks and will belong to me alone"
Agreed" Gerald acquiesced.
"Show me your papers" the gov
ernor demanded.
Gerald produced them without hest
tation-his passport, an urgent letter
Of recommendation by the one states
man who was in good odor In both
countries, bankers drafts, which need
ed only his signature to produce .
never-ending flow Of cash. The gov.
errors eyes glittered as he turned
them over In his hand. 1t was horri-
BILE that q share Of these treasures
must 20 to the woman! She was well
enough under his thumb, the slave OF
his command, but with money In her
pocket-they were neither Of them In
their first youth, but, so far as looks
went, in his eyes she still had charm
If she were Independent Of him. Ill
sorts OF things might happen. BE
threw down the documents with little
oath. The passport. however, he kept
In his hand. His manner, as he looked
at Gerald. changed. He became almost
servile
.You, too, are an aristocrat. then
he remarked.
81 am of the English aristocracy,"
Gerald admitted. II have another
passport In my pocket, which proclaims
me an American citizen"
The governor nodded. He pushed Q
box Of black cigars across to his Wis
itor. The latter contented himself.
however, with accepting a cigarette
Then he touched bell. The attend
ant brought In beer, which was poured
into two glasses. AS soon as they were
alone. Krossneys motioned Gerald to
draw his chair close to the desk.
"Now here il my scheme" he said
"Number Twenty-Five is Of your height
and build. You shall see him for your
self and Judge. Number One Hundred
and One, also a young man. died yes.
terday afternoon Of malarial fever
His death has not yet been officially re.
ported. Very goodi I take you to the
cell of Number Twenty-Five. You ex.
change clothes with him. You give him
your American passport. You 60 In
with me to his cell. He comes out
with me. You remain"
1.-THE devil do !" Gerald muttered.
"Do not be foolr' the governor
exclaimed impatiently. Il beg your
pardon, excellency," he added mo-
ment later, az he remembered his visi.
itor's identity. "Your stay there VIII
not be long. shall explain In q mo-
ment. I drive Number Twenty-nine to
q small station on the line, eleven
miles OF. 1 take leave Of him there
He II an American who has bought
nv oil concessions. The station 10 u
the middle Of the district. My pres
ence with him will remove all sus'