Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-20

thp servants haQ itAt tAtC
He filed his companion gla9s
ara his own. but he did not even ~
d,,Ire in that connoisSeur ntSt Stp
before he began 10 unouroeil ili" -,
Martin" he said. the whole StoFf
=, 10 th,nos that lie between those
two r,rn and myself ! cannot tel YOU
ron I was a penniless speno'nrlIt
w-hen I came into contact with theHi
a1S Slleh moral sense as ] ever pos
xesSe6 ! had lost in adversely. We were
mariners for nine years IN various
f,lsces along the South American coast
Z Sr.w veil over those nine years,
7 ror,9 n he closing act in The drama
81 nv existence With them because II
il the one which concerns baurlta.
He nausea and. satisfied with having
made \ start. drank half his giaSSlui
81 port His critical appreciation.
rowever. had departed. He seemed 70
drink mechanically and without IN
tereSt. -
we three were living together IN
q shack amongst the hills about 90
miles inland from San Paulo," he con-
eanued. we we're living on the site
Of deserted mine which We had ac-
ouired in one Of the gambling haunts
az the city. The mine was utterly
worthless. but ne used 1t as a naSe
for swindling operations. We had just
returned from San Paulo, where we
had made a fairly good haul from
kon1e Americans We were supposed
10 share equally In all profits. BY
the n1erest chance I discovered that
7 had been cheated by those TWO men,
that they had pocketed at least t5O0
more than they had told me OF
without giving me my share. BROOD
&C over this. uncertain how TO act
We had had several disagreements
and / knew perfectly well what the
end must BE-. Later that night !
learned more. They had proposed
this excursion up to the mine with
the sole idea Of ending our partner
ehip-ending It. that is to say, IN the
usual and logical manner. / vas the
gupsrfiuous person. All my influence
was exhausted and my money gone.
II was their intention TO pick quar-
rel with me and throw me oveE the
nine shaft with q bullet through my
head"
Lord Ardrington paused. finished his
wine deliberately. waited until his
guest had done the same. and then
rsflling the glasses. Martin was SPELL
bound There was something curious
IL dramatic about the thin. clear voice
o terrible past in surroundings so Sc
date and magnificent The oil paint
inss upon the walls, the beautiful
paneling, the suits of priceless arn1or.
chs stately proportions Of the room
with its oriel windows; the silver and
glass upon the table-the whole en-
vsronment seemed to lend strange
ard indescribable piquancy to this
Amazing recital
Il went out for an hour with my
gun that evening" Lord Ardrington
continue6-"an excuse to get away
and think Il was a dreary stretch
Of country mud heap on the first
range Of hills Leading 10 the noun
tains I shot few quail and then
sat down upon q rock and reasoned
the mater out II was either nv
life or theirs. my wits against theirs.
I vas perfectly prepared 10 Kill them
bntll IL needs be- unless / could think
OF an easier way. In the end / de-
cided upon q SORT OF plan. When /
made my way back to the bungalow /
had thought il out in every detail
Another pause. Lord Ardrington
seemed to be gazing out of the win.
dow toward the park. but his eyes
were set and Martin knew very well
It was another scene upon which h.
looked.
I'VE had clumsy old American
car" he proceeded. in which we made
the journey backward and forward to
San Psulo. Before ] returned / went
into the shed where we kept II. dOc-
TIRED IT up a. well a. 1 could and
put on q fresh tire When / made
my way round 10 the front my two
partners vere playing cards on the
versnds They did not even look
Up a. my coming and when ! entered
the living room ! found that they
had finished their supper and left me
FIRST attempt 70 start quarrel. ! TOOK
no notice. but prepared myself some
thing 10 eat and. watching for my opv
portlnity I emptied the whole Of q
flask Of bromide ! had bought ct the
chemists at San Psulo the day be-
fore into the brandy bottle ! hac
AcSrcely done il when Solomon GFauni
came IN Where's the brandy he
demanded Where you left it. I sup
p0Se,' I answered cooiiy enough You
know ] don't touch It. It's the WHISKY
want filled myself a glass oi
WHISKY and water and began 70 drink
Solomon Graunt took the brandy out
nith him and could near the cards
60 pstlerlng Upon the table whilst
they playeo ! saw that my revolver
wss charged IN every barrel and loose
IL my pocket Then III my pipe
enc vent out " them What about
draw poker2' ! suggested The moneS
had wasn't " much account x
them. nat ] suppose they thought Il
@oJ.o ~ sport 10 get IL from mr.
before they proceeded 10 extremes
The agreed n play and We al sal
down. sippec M whisky End the'
drank their BRANDY A. another time
II would nave amused me- IN water
the skill with which they manipulated
the csrcs. ! pretended no, 10 notice
Once Crsunt cheated hagrsnly
ktill refused o. notics That was eq1
GENTLY another attempt ~ start thi
quarrel Ali the time ! was drinkin;
my Whnss They themselves WeTt
hsEyy drinkers but they could scarce
~ keep pace with me Once / has
9 fright Funny flavor about thi
brandy, Victor Porte declared. smell
Ing IT Perfectly eli right. Graun
pronounced sleepily Best eve
lasted Very likely. Oraunt saved m,
life II must have irritated him aft
NWaYo To realize that could sei
Eiaenl growing brewster and droW
slsr Presently most ~ my none
was Oh the table. and rose with
sseaI YOU fellows have al th
luck / multered arm c0nVincel
ths, u gsA their intention 10 nav
finished the matter there. on the "
rsnoa ! could see Porie's gun stick
tng out Of bis lseke, pocket Wher
Re could gel 81 # quickly They Wer
bolh 20 sieepy nov though tina, The
never even answered me | sirolle
swsy snd mace few preparation
svhen came back vent round N
tce q the house with my revolver