Evening star., 1927-05-04

checks, said the grand
prior. ''0r that you will not have the
priory alive"
SLOWLY Pawter took off his robe.
dropped it on the ground and thrust
his hands into his pockets. Bald.
middle aged, creature of commerce,
he had in him a something which
brought clearer light to his eye ana
n more determined thrust to his jaw.
an sign nothing" he said. You
are not Leiff Stone.
Then, before the other realized what
he was doing, Pawter had leaped at
the man with the pistol. One hand
had gripped the wrist. the other was
clawing at the mask on the face, when
something struck him and he went
down in a heap.
When he came to himself he was
sitting in a smaller and even darker
room on a stone bench. Whatever
ventilation there was came through a
small grating which showed no light.
q His wrists were fastened with hand
eEffs. his ankles were strapped and
somebody was holding him III the
angle of the wall.
Wake up"
He looked stupidity at the purple
cowl
You're not Left Stone" he said
drowsily.
"You will he a sensible man and
sign the checks" was the reply.
The grand prior was alone. but the
heavy door was a jar. and Pawter saw
the shadow of q second man in the
ad dining room.
eNe may have TO keep you here for
a few days. but I swear that you'll
come to no harm II you'll do as you're
fold"
doggedly. "and ] warn you that II
you attempt TO forge my name you
will be instantly detected. The prior
and I agreed upon a secret marking
to every check that the bank man.
ager knows. If you're the prior, you
will know what that is.
For a second the man was taken
ahack.
II know everything" ne said, and
then unexpectedly left the room. slam
ming the door behind him, leaving his
prisoner III darkness.
It must have been two hours before
he returned. He brought back with
him lug of water, poured out glass
ful. and the prisoner drank eagerly
Now, Mr.. PaWter, you Will be
wise man if you will do as | ask.
know the secret mark--a dot under
the vowels of every recipients name.
You are mistaken in thinking that /
am not Stone. There is a special rea-
son, which is no business of yours,
why wish to reward these brethren
= the order for their services. Ihere
has been a great deal of unrest
among the brethren. complaints that
certain lodges have been favored at
the expense of others. I am merely
distributing the argosies over wider
area
ssYou do not need gun for that
purpose Anyway. prior, | would not
have done this thing. You employed
me as an auditor for my honesty and
/ will not be a party to any crooked
practice that you suggest. Bring me
the disks and the books and / Will
sikn the checks"
Again the purple man went out and
came back with 10 disks, which he
laid on the bench by the side of Paw
ter.
Here they are" he said. II win
bring You the books
Save yourself the trouble" said
Pawter coldly. "These are not the
disks / drew. have pretty good
head for figures. and / could not pos
sibly have made a mistake. / pre-
sumo that these disks correspond with
the names of the people you wish me
to draw the checks for, and fatty
refuse"
ave will try another method" said
the purple man softly. There is such
a thing as pain. II you We're a mem
ber of the twenty-third degree, you
would realize that pain. hunger and
thirst are three of the most potent
factors in determining human COM
fort. / viii not put you on the rack
or introduce you to the maiden. Mr..
A faf
tongs such as a wench may use to
fringe her hair. heated by spirit
lamp, are quite as painful as any hot
iron that might be drawn from q
brazier and applied to your eyes. That
makes you quiver, my friend. Believe
me, shall not hesitate to go to ex-
freme lengths. Now what do you say?"
''I refuse"
avery we'll. The voice came almost
In a whisper. You have brought this
upon your own head