Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-09-17
CHAPTER III-Continued

.
In bllssful ignorance Of the sad
plight Of the clerk below, two men
were sitting in this room, deep in con-
versation. In q chair drawn up close
TO the desk was no less a person than
Charles Latter, M. p, and 1t was he
who was doing most of the talking
But 1t VIZ the other man who riveted
attention: the man who presumably
was Mr. Atkinson himself.
AT first he seemed to be afflicted
with an almost phenomenal stoop, and
1t was only when one got nearer that
the reason was clear. The man was
a hunchback, and the effect 1t gave
was that cf a huge bird Of prey. Un.
like most hunchbacks, his legs were
of normal length, and as he sat mo-
tlonless in his chair, hand on each
knee, staring with unwinking eyes al
his talkative companion, there was
something menacing and implacablG
in his appearance. His hair was gray
his features stern and hard; while his
mouth reminded one of a steel trap
But 1t was his eyes that dominated
everything gray-blue and piercing
they seemed able to probe ones inner
most soul. A man to whom it would
be unwise to liza man utterly I'm.
scrupulous in himself, who would yet
punish double-dealing in those who
worked for him with merciless sever.
lily. A dangerous man.
$50 you went to the police, Mr.. Lat.
ter" he remarked suavely. "And
what had our friend Sir Bryan John.
stone TO say on the matterT
AT first, count, he didn't say much
In fact he really said very little all
through. But once he looked at the
note his whole manner changed. ]
could see that instantly. There was
something about the note which in
terested him.
Let me see It," said the count,
holding out his hand.
81 left it with Sir Bryan" answered
the other. "He asked me to let him
keep 1t. And he promised that |
should be all right"
The counts lips curled.
TT woulI take more than Sir Bryan
-Johnstone's promise, Mr.. Latter, to in
sure your safety. Do you know whom
that note was fromT
II thought, count" said the other a
aittle tremulously-"I thought It might
be from this mysterious Black Cana
ahSt one has heard rumors about"
SIT was" replied the count tersely.
'Heavensw stammered Latter
''Then It's true; they exist"
"In the last month";" answered tn,
hunchback, staring fxedly at his
frightened companion, nearly twenty
of our most useful men have disap.
peared. They have simply vanished
into thin air. I know, no matter how,
that 1t is not the police: the police are
as mystified as we are. But the DO
lice Mr. Latter, whatever views they
may take officially are in ali probabil.
fly unofficially very glad of our
friends disappearance. At any rate
until last night"
What do you meanY asked the
other.
Last night the police were baked
of their prey and McIver doesn't like
being baked. You know Zabolefr was
sent over|
Eyes, of course. That is one of the
'easons came around tonight. Have
5ou seen him?"
81 have not" answered the count
rimly 1.-THE police found out he was
oming."
Mr.. Latter's face blanched: the
fought of ZabOleff in custody didnt
)peal TO him. 1t may be mentioned
at his feelings were purely selfish
iboleff knew too much.
But the Count was speaking again
faint sneer was on his face; he haC
ad the others mind like an oper
ok.
"And So" he continued, "did tn,
ack Gang. They removed zabolef
d our friend Waldock from under
very noses OF the police, and, like
twenty others. they have disap
,red."
My G-dw There was no doubt
about Mr.. Latter's state of mind
nd now they've threatened me-"
And now they've threatened you.
'eed the count. "And you, an
d to say, have done exactly what
uld have told you to do, had l seer
sooner. You have gone to tn,
ice"
But-but," stammered Latter, 9TH,
ice we're no good to Zaboleff las
hit"
And it is quite possible" returned
other calmly, shat they will b.
rally futile in your case. Candidly
Latter, am completely indifPeren
the subject of your future. Yol
re served our purpose, and all tina
tiers is that you happen to be thu
re over which the dogs are goini
fight. Until last night the dog
Int met-Oficially; and in tn,
contre last night, the police dog