Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-04

companion. but his mouth had grown,
If anything. more sinister in its curve
and his expression more evil. The firm
of Porle a. Graunt had become fairly
well known in New York as importing
fruit brokers from the South. Their
business, wound up that day, had been
a highly successful undertaking, al
though there we're a few knowing ones
who smiled at the name of the firm
and the description of their activities
Perhaps they had reason. Messers
Porle and Graunt had certainly not
confined their operations to the i'm
porting of fruit.
They lunched exceedingly we'll, al
though they drank nothing but iced
water. Victor Porte looked down at
the magnificent prospect with a frown
upon his forehead His regular features
and slightly hooked nose gave him al
most a scholarly appearance. He
raised his glass
we drink our farewell to New York. :"
he said. do you realize, Solomon. my
friend. that IN less than a dozen years
We have made, almost honestly, q great
fortune in this wonderful city?.
Solomon Graunt nodded. There was
a scowi upon his face, though, remi-
niscent glitter in his eyes.
Il realize that, and very grateful I
am" he acknowledged New York
has done us well. For the moment,
however, was thinking we were
nearly broken, Victor"
Once" the other admitted softly,
we touched bottom. God. shall / ever
forget the agony of that day, the misery
OF the night In prison, the fieas, our
fest, the tcver!"
There Is something to come for that, !"
Solomon Graunt muttered.
There Is most surely something to
come" Victor Porle agreed as he called
for the check.
They left New York In leisureiy and
dignffied fashion, Those days belonged
70 the past when they had slipped away
from great centers quietly and anxious
~. Prosperity had smiled upon them.
In every way, their retirement, the
winding up OF their affairs, the closing
down Of the firm, had been above
suspicion. They walked the gangway
with firm steps and watched the de-
tectives on the quayside with smile.
After dinner they sat out en- the deck
eeranca ignoring their coffee. Forgetting
their cigars. but drinking liquor brandy
10 the establishment of the steward out
Of large-Sized vine glasses II was
Victor Porle who commenced the con-
yersation There was q nenacine gilt
ter in his hard brown eyes.
The time has come now, Solomon, !"
he said, when we should speak OF this
matter which is taking us to England. .
1T has indeed come" was the ready
assent. FOR many years we have been
silent. We had other things to think
OF. Poor men can do nothing in this
world. We both realized that, Victor. /"
The latter.s tone was fun Of gentle
dissatisfaction.
We realized 1t, and we acted accord
ingly," he admitted We were a
little bold, perhaps. but success has
justified our efforts We are wealthy
men"
And bearing that In mind" Solomon
Graunt pronounced. What I say Is.
let us remember this; crime is a neces-
/ sity TO the poor; it Is only luxury to
the rich. There are other ways"
Victor Pofle made no reply. There
was, in those hard eyes. as he looked
seward, gleam Of that lust for MUIR
der which had shone In them when he
| snatched the weapon from the little
brown soldier. Presently his COM
| panion continued:
Fifteen years 1t Is a long time.
J Surprising he Is dead?"
! that"
/ There was brief silence. Then for
the first time for is years the name OF
! the woman passed Victor Porle's lips
1t may be that Laurita Is Gead,
/ he continued she was never strong.
and the life at San Paulo was hard.
| If she Is not dead, by nov she will be
ugly. II the child has lived, she will be
| II years old. An interesting age, Solo
m9nl"
"A wonderful agei"
Il have heard you yourself declare
| that at II girl is more beautiful than
at any time before or after"
| Solomon Grauflt smiled glowly~-a
/ smile that was almost leer,
Victor Porle smiled indulgentiy.
Il know what you are fearing, Solo
| mon" he said. You think that In
England / shall make use Of The same
methods ] might have employed al
San Paulo Oh up In the mountains, THAI
iG not my idea To XIII quickly lis not
my conception Of vengeance. IL Ii TOD
mereiful thing. There are other
ways When We have found him, we vii
sit down and reflect. Ills nerves viii
not be AS good AS they were, Solomon
OF that ! am well assured. ] can SCI
him. sitting In house Of fear, ahiver.
ing and waiting. That Is better thar
the speedy bullet. Some day or 0theI
he knows that something viii arrive
because he knows what manner OF mef
, we are, but he will not know when Oh
how. II will be better like that"
Wonderful" his companion muir
! INJURED appropingly,
i There viii be the girl, too. Yoi
remember the little BABY He Was fona
of her That feeling may have grown
Fortunately. have kept eli my doeu