Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-19

arrived. L hIltH 4iCLAl MA O4li
HeWS and Bloor and also from
~ my own observation of this mans
amazing skill in making up and
in counterfeiting personalities. but l
still thought thai l was confronted by
a stranger when I glanced toward the
tall man in we'll cut. but rather
shabby, dinner suit. who stood With his
back toward roaring fre. HIS black
hair. no longer sprinkled with gray.
vas brushed smoothly from his brow.
His cheeks were hollow to emaciation.
It was not until he smiled that I was
able to trace the slightest resemblance
to the man whom 1 had fashioned In
my thoughts.
come! I thought could count on you
to take the risk. We meet for the f1rst
time under our proper personalities.
Here 1 am for what I am-Joseph."
II didn't come to see you told
him bluntly. You are no use to me
under my parole. I wish to see Miss
Fssiter''
That" he admitted. "is part Of the
bargain. but YOU can imagine that I
cid not take the trouble to send for
you simply to afford you an interview
with the young lady. I have business
with you myself"
us Miss E-siter here?" I demanded.
"She is. You will see her before you
And. in the meantime" I asked,
"what is it YOU want with me?"
lone thing. and one thing only. l
want one interview with Martin HeWs."
For what purpose?'
For sixteen years, Martin Hews and
have been bitter enemies. The first
cause of our quarrel lies behind the
curtain. Since then we have come into
the OPEN We have ransacked the world
them. But there was this difference
between Martin Hews and myself:
Whatever I stole came back into
the markets of the world. What
Martin Hews grabbed was for his own
greedy longings, his own gloating eyes
and his alone-his own selfish joy.
Shall 1 ask you to choose between US?
my life many time, my liberty all the
time, the chance of being accounted
common thief from beginning to end.
And what did Martin Hews risk?
Nothing He sat in mis- chair. with all
the devices of science to protect him
close at hand. Grudgingly, with stingy
fingers, he paid a gang of robbers to
fight against mine, to steal where mine
would have stolen, to acquire by cum
ming what my Wolves would have torn
with their teeth. Then there came
1t was nevitable-Donkin's downfall.
There is no one left for us to fight
against. My men are fat with gain. I
myself am weary. I have credits at the
banks of every capital in the world. I
have money enough to satisfy Monte
Cristo. I have quilted the field. Mar
tin Hews is welcome to everything he
has the courage to strike for. All that
I ask before / leave the field is one
l1alf-hour alone with him. What OF
that Major OWStOn?"
But" I persisted, IT have been in
Martin Hews' employ only few weeks.
I have no influence over him. Why
not ask for your interview and have
done with it?"
Because" was the reply, 81 perhaps
know Martin HewS better than you 90.
You have been with him. as you say,
man he trusts. Thanks to you, he has
attained his ambition. With the pass
ing of the Buddha into his possession, |
he has the greatest collection OF trea-
sures in the world, and he sits there, |
shivering and afraid. He knows very |
we'll that many of those treasures have |
heen acquired by bloodshed. Many Of |
passed into his hands illegally. Very |
few of them have been bought in the |
open market BY degrees he has |
estranged the sympathies of every one |
who might have helped him. He now
sees the writing on the wall"
"All this may be true" conceded,
a little impatiently. but Martin Hews |
never pretended to be a philanthropist |
any more than you have done. I sup |
pose I am stupid, but frankly I don't |
see what you're getting at. Tell me |
what 1t is you want from me? Do |
you want me to ask Martin Hews to see |
YOU? He won't do it, He is more |
G1L e 80 I1.,,.a L
ing Eli the world. I should be just as |
likely to persuade him to make me a
present of the Buddha as to let you |
willingly cross the threshold"
There might be a consideration
Joseph murmured. "You forget that |
his niece is here"
For moment saw red.
you want me-" I said, "to propose |
to Martin Hews that he see you for
half an hour. In return for which you
promise to hand over his niece"
Precisely"
LAS against that" I reflected, Gin IL
hours after leave this place, my parole
to prevent my sitting outside your gates
until that time and taking Miss Essiter
myself"
Nothing whatever" Joseph assented,
with faint smile.
You say that Miss Essiter is here?"
/ challenged MN.
Naturally" he drawled. Leopold,
perhaps you wouldn't mind ringing the
bell"
1t all came about so naturally that
for the first few seconds could
scarcely believe in its reality. A brief
message conflded to the butler, and
moment or so later Beatrice crossed
the threshold and came into the room.
As her eyes met mine q sudden flame
crept into them.
MY dear Beatrice" Joseph an
nounced, rising with lazy courtesy, II
conceive that it has become my duty
to remove a small misunderstanding"
She and were no longer hay figures
n the drama of our meeting. Joseph's
careless use of her Christian name had
r1addened me, and Beatrice had GER
tainly ceased to be the Indifferent
.1atelaine Of Breezeley Mansion. She
looked at me with anger in her eyes.
Major Owston has been engaged for
some time Joseph explained, lin a
quixotic search for YOU"
HE might have spared himself the
trouble" she laughed. with very dis
tinct note of scorn in her tone.
Joseph held out his hands in protest.
MY dear Beatrice" he expostulated,
shear my confession. Maj. Owston did
not desert you on that memorable night
at the Blue Skies. He was in my way,
and removed him"
She looked from one to the other Of
us. Leopold wheeled up chair, but she
ignored it,
"You removed ilim?"
Precisely" he continued smoothly.
''Xou were told, ] think, that he joined