Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-15
CHAPTER XXI.
"a SCRAP OF PAPER"

"a SCRAP OF PAPER"
~ r. CHARTERS paused for 3
moment and scrutinized the
menacing face of Mr.. james
before he resumed.
"Anf old friend Of mine"-he began
"Maudie Lauderdell nowadays who
knows q lot about me-in fact. worked
with her once-saw a clear chance Of
big money, and came to me as the right
man trustworthy. sagaciou'
I fell for it at once an abso-
lutely safe Job Now, does it occur tC
your bright brain that this nice safe
$4,000 job was all the safer for thc
fact that not soul in the world could
possibly know that it was job?
The idea had come into Maud's
brain, and Maud had got it to mine
with . wink to a horse that's never
been blind. Why, she didn't even men
ton the fee in words
do you see any good reason why
should shout about it to MacAdoo and
Fanny. and Louie and you? Not that
] suggest that any member of our spl n
did team would ever be careless, but
accidents happen in the best regulated
families. A remark overheard-ano
then two and two put together and
made into five and then the fats in the
FIRE.
"Of course, trust each one of you
as 1 trust myself. but If six people
know a thing. there's three times as
much chance of an accident as there is
If only two know it
The face of Mr.. James retained it's
unpleasant expression, and his skeptical
silence gave no consent to the doctor S
platitudes.
And" continued DR.. Charters
Knight 1 now ask how you presume to
think you know that the 10000 wasn't
going into the poole"
"Oh?" sneered Mr. James. oh?
Then how was 5000 of it going into
Manosls pouch. as soon as he got wise
to the game? All going into the
poolp Like hell it was"
'Ho! Ho So you've been talking to
Manoel. and you've been thinking again
But thinking isn't your strong point
Jimmy"
Can the funny stuff and answer a
plain question" growled Mr., jams
"Where did it come in, If Manoel was
outP''
do you want to sit there and tell
me you think Id reward him with
$4,000? Like hell would"
You stopped his mouth. eh?" in
ouired Mr.. James. Put him off with
Q promise that you'd shut his mouth
with wad of SOS, 900. eh?"
you've said it, smiled the doctor.
80? And where does all this lovely
trust and fair play come in, them"
Jimmy, you make me tired. Once
again. who's running this outfit, you or
I? If Manoels fool enough to butt-in
on my game our game
aren't / free to put him off how I like?
What's biting you? You don't want to
start something when I'm at my wits
end over this internal Waye. That
man1l succeed in breaking this firm up
II we aren't careful-especially with you
helping him by playing his game OF
sowing suspicion among
Playing his camel" exclaimed Mr.
James Indignantly. What about you
playing his game by letting him come
here, threaten us, fool us, rob us-anc
get away with it :.
But you don't pull wool over my
eyes like that Say. now, sup
pose all that bunk-about meaning to
pool that l0,000-is the goods, why
must you cut it right out because Wayt
put Manoel wise?
Cant you see that that's the most
disturbing and frightening thing in the
world for us?"
The doctor. with outstretched finger
pointed at the face of his young col
league.
Get this, James. And then try II
realize what 1t means. Waye never II
his life set eyes on Maud. Not livinl
human being except her and me hat
the glimmering of an idea Of this Lau'
derdell scheme. 1t only existed in hel
brain and mine And what fol
lows: Mr. Mysterious Waye drops in OF
Manoel, and not only sells him the plot
but mentions the exact sum that I'm u