The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 7, 1906, Page 4

hed laughed at him; her lover, rd, bah! he had even threat- Chastise him? Could a a toad—a reptile? debt due his caste. Hanway-Harley?—a wvapid fool! spised her. He despised them ted them all They had af- m. And for those injuries pride he would punish and He, Storrl, would bring sor- to them; he would mark K Storri Dorothy that Ri~hs obleman ¢ t drew great st the Harleys. To perior cleverness, Reve how he into forging his Harley told od M. e to the here is phant cried the that I may To-mor- 1 could have this a criminal's cell! jay I shall do that. Meanwhile, e knows; the proud girl knows. It for vengeance I go to the Harley San Reve love. 1 sit at their table od, I drink their wine I and I_gloat over them- tle people! Yes, my San of the coward Harle: he lifts his giass; the fair, shows me my triumph ks and frightened Hanwa being a fool! It r be poison in ., You should u should ow they torri!” -Harle ce of your ened, but the gloom She did not be- e ate a Yes, he over Mr. Har- way into the shut the door b ok her 1d succeed, too! »me to love him a »ved. Dorothy wom. loved s an him eve attitude, a she break the the locks ation were more rd than by Dor- a dogged n enough » men. had his work and he deeply than before found him in the Hanway, albeit Richard and latter gentleman these days was est of tempers. Nothing could hopeful than the non on. Senator ndefatigable for St t Speaker State delega- Also the presi- Anaconda, from whom Sen- ry week. de- sentiment in Ana- incible. The na- in the interests of and over the objec- friends of Governor Ob- been fixed for the last of was a help: Senator Han- es were organized and Gov- were not. The less candidate and h for Senator Han- Gruff and Richard ator Hanway's study ator pointed out on number of States, o send a Hanway the nomination. were held to-mor- G “we The effort now encroschments by ate’s ed that e better Senator er in Se , to carry ove came on an occasion when confidential trouble to Senator gentleman’'s en- een to say nothing silence was becom- Governor Obstinate was offensively for gold In a horn-lowering, _threaten- and just a buffalo bull ve been for gold. This settled standing of Governor Obstinate in ommunities; they would have h Those same silver peo- however, demanded all the more r Hanway define his posi- money war. They gave ngue those pig-and-poke objec- tions voiced by Senator voot. It was clamors such as these, 50 Senator Gruff told Richard, that made silence a work of weariness. Now 1 thought” observed Richard, “that Mr. Bayard talked wisely upon sil- ver and gold the evening of the dinner. Why wouldn't it be well to talk to the people in the same manner, even if one not adopt the theories expressed? Senator Hanway clearly announce views and give his reasons. The lat- should defend him with thinking the nking men,” retorted Senator Gruff experienced smile, re in a hope- inority. 7alk reason to the public? might as well talk reason to the Politics as a science is not ad- Gressed 1o the elligence but to the rance of men.’ nator Hanway after sundry confer- wes with Senator Gruff and others of- ered the resolution asking for & com- to meet with the Ottawa Govern- the matter of that Georgian y-Ontario canal. The majority opinion of those consulted was that the resolu- ti ought to strengthen Senator Ha Certain railways might object there were influences infinitely larger, however, that would applaud. Besides, the resolution had & big look and sounded like statesmanship. It could not do oth- erwise than dignify Senator Hanway in public estimation. Senator Hanway gave Richard for the Daily Tory an interview f depth and power, in which he urged the international value of such a water- way. America and Canada should dig and own it together; it would be a bond to unite them. It would promote friend- ship, and what was better than friend- ship between countries? Senator Hanway sald nothing about Credit Magellan, nor did he intimate any relationship between . his Georgian Bay-Ontario canal and the investigation of Northern Cansolidated. Storri had become very fond of the com- pany of Mr. Harley. He would find him in the marble room in the rear of the Senate chamber, or he might cross his path at Chamberlin’s. Washington is a small town: there it is not difficult to keep a man in sight. Storri kept Mr. Harley excessively in sight; and it wore visibly on Mr. Harley, whose health was breaking down. Storri llked the paln his presence gave Mr. Harley, and, besides, he argued that to see him frequently strengthened his hold upon that unhappy man. When they were together Storri's manner was hideously cheerful; he could talk Credit Magellan and consider North- ern Consolidated as though nothing were awry. This was the refinement of cru- elty, as when a cat pretends to let the mouse escape. One day when Storrl and Mr. Harley were together the former's face was pur- posely dark. Mr. Harley grew uneasy; his courage had all slipped from him by now, and he waited in terror upon the looks of Storri. “Harley,” cried Storri, having sufficient- ly enjoyed the effect or his scowl, “you, John Harley, I have ever your credit at heart. Yes, Harley, I have kept a guard, what you call a spy, about your house to see If the vile Storms would enter when you were not there to repel him. He goes each day, I find, to see the Honorable Senator Hanway. It does not please me, who am a Russian gentleman and a no- bleman, that so low a belng, although he does not personally meet her, should yet come beneath the same roof with your lovely daughter who is 10 become my Countess wife. You will correct this; eh, you Harley—you John Harley?" Mr. Harley had not named Storri to Do- rothy since that awful New Year's night. However, so worn to abject thinness was now his spirit on the constant wheel of fear that he carried Storri's latest word to her without apology. Richard must not visit Senator Hanway in his study. Mr. Harley could not go to Senator Han- way, he could not go to Richard; he could come only to her. Derothy, whose trembiing concern was her father, and who felt ever more and more like some fly caught fast in a spi- der's web, made no reply. There was nothing to say—nothing'save obedience. She wrote Richard that Storri had set a spy upon the house, and asked him to forego his calls upon Senator Hanway. The close of the letter was a hysteria of love and grief. Richard sought Bess; he saw much of the pythoness now. Dorothy, for her part, never crossed the street lest she meet him, and bring down Storri's wrath upon r father. Richard knew what Bessie would say, but he must have some one to converse with. Bess took the course anticipated: he must obey Dorothy in this as in the rest. “It comes to little either way, the call- ing upon Senator Hanway,” was Bess's comment 1t comes to this,” cried Righard, “that we are the slaves jof Storri! I'd give ten vears off my life if he and I might settle this together.’ . ““The real settlement would be made by Mr. Harley—by Dorothy. You must not Zo mear Storri. But isn't there a hint in 2 Bess considered. ‘“Would it not be . to imitate the gentleman and set a to dogging him? Perhaps something worth while might be discovered.” The thought found favor with Richard, who, under usual circumstances, would have been against the proposal. Yes, he would have Storri shadowed day and night. “It would be a retort for that spy about the Harley house. Richard sent a message to Mr. Bayard, reciting his determination and asking ad- vice. He desired to do nothing that might work an interference in Mr. Bayard's ar- rangements concerning Northern Consoll- dated. Mr. Bayard replied that he thought a better knowledge of Storri could do no harm; news of the enemy Wwas ever a good thing. Mr. Bayard went a step be- ond, and said that he would send a man to Richard whom he could trust for the work. The morning following the receipt of Mr. Bayard message a foppish, slender young gentleman accosted Richard. “Mr. Storms, I believe?”” remarKed the foppish stranger, lifting his hat. Mr. Storms,” said Richard. rd asked me to say that I am at your service.” CHAPTER XVIL How Richard Received a Letter. Inspector Val did not resemble the de- tective officer of literature. His foppish- ness arose from an overelegance of cos- tume rather than any violence of color. The famous thief-taker might have stood for what was latest in fashionable dress, with every detail of hat and glove ~and cravat and boot worked out. There befell no touch of vulgarity; the effect was as retiringly genteel as though the taste provided it belonged to a Harvard or a Vere de Vere and based itself upon ten unstained centuries or patricianism. When he lifted his hat one might see that the dark hair, speciously waved, was as accurately parted in the middle as though the line had been run by an en- gineer. The voice of Inspector Val, low and lazy, fell on the ear as plausibly soft as the ripple of a brook. His eyes wore a sleepy, Intolerant expression, as if tired with much seeing and inclined to resent tue infliction of further spectacles. The nose was thin and high, and jaw and cheek bones were thin and high to be In sympathy. There were two important impres- sions furnished the student of faces by Inspector Val. Glanced at carelessly, one would have called him not more than twenty-five; a second and a sharper survey showed him fifteen years older. Also, there came now and then a look, quiet at once and quick, which was calculated to arrest the trained attention. What one thought following that second sharp canvass was in exact opposition to what one thought after the glance earlier and more upon the casual. Inspector Val bafled Richard's con- ception of the man concerning whom all who read papers had heard so much. Was this indolent individual that in- veterate man-hunter who, with courage of berserk and strength of steel, had pulled down hie quarry in the midst of desperate criminals, and then, victim in cluteh, cleared his path through? Some- thing of this may have glimmered In Richard's eye; if so, Inspector Val as- sumed no hint of it, ,and busied him- self in a more precise adjustment of his boutonniere, which floral n.dornm‘nt had become disarranged. The longer Richard contemplated Inspector Val the more he felt his whalebone sort. The slim form and sleepy eyes began to suggest that actlvity and ferooious genius for pursuit which are the first qualities of a ferret, “If we could be more private,” sug- gested Inspector Val, casting a tirad glance about the big public room at Willard’s where the two had met. “We will go to my house,” replied Richard. “And if you don't mind, we'll ride.” ‘This with the rising inflection of a re- quest. door.” “My own,” sald Richard, “should be across the way. I seldom require it; but I might, and so it follows me about.” Richard and Inspector Val stepped to the Fourteenth. street door. At Rich- ard’s lifted hand an olive-tinted brougham, coachman and footman liv- eried to match, drawn by a pair of restles bay hors came plunging to the curb. The footman swung down in three motions, like a soldier about some point of drill. “Home!" said Richard. The footman in three motions re- gained his perch; the whip cracked and the brougham went plunging off for Mr. Gwyn#s. " Richard came to the common-se: conclusion to lay the complete story of his perplexities before Inspector Val. A detective was so much like a doctor that frankness would be worth while, One was called to cure the health, the other to cure a situation; the more one told either sclentist the faster and bet- ter he could work. Acting on this thought, Richard related all there was to tell of himself, Dorothy, Mr. Har- ley and Storri, being full as to his ex- clusion from the Harley house and the manner in which it was brought about. ‘When he had finished, he waited for Inspector Val. That artist of pursuit did not speak at once, and asked permission to smoke a cigarette. Richard offered no objec- tion, although he privily contemned cigarettes as implying the effeminate. Inspector Val lighted one, and blew the smoke thoughtfully through the high nose. Suddenly he threw the cigarette away half smoked; it had served the purpose of its appearance. Inspector Val had smoked himself into a conclusion. “This is the way the thing strikes me,” began Inspector Val. “Storri, as you say, has a hold on Mr. Harley— has him frightened. There are three ways to frighten a man; you can threaten him physically, or with dis- grace, or with the loss of money. Stor- ri, by your report, is a coward with not half the courage of Mr. Harley; be- sides, in this case, a physical threat is out of the question. So is a threat of money loss; it is preposterous to sup- pose that this half-baked Russian has g0t the upper hand in a business way of a shrewd one llke Mr. Harley, or that the latter would permit him to drive him about like a dog if he had. No, Storri has caught Mr. Harley in some wrong-doing, or, what is as bad, the appearance of it—something that looks like crime. Doubtless it refers to money, as from Mr. Harley's sort it isn’t likely to include a woman.” Inspector Val was here interrupted by Matzai, who said in excuse that the note he bore marked “important.” “Open it,” observed Inspector Val. “Once in one thousand times a letter marked ‘important’ is important.” Richard cut the envelope with a pa- per knife and, after silently running the missive up and down, remarked: “This note works into our conversa- tion as though timed to find us to- gether. Tl read it to you. It's in French, and if you aren’t familiar with that language I'll translate.” Inspector Val said that he preferred a translation, and Richard gave him the following. The address and the entire note were in typewriting: “Mr. Storms: Count Storri’s hold on Mr. Harley consists in this: Mr. Har- ley wrote Count Storri's name on five stock certificates aggregating two hun- dred shares of the Company Provence of Paris, France. It was done to bor- row money, but with honest intentions and at Count Storri's request. Now Count Storri, who has the shares in his possession, threatens Mr. Harley with a charge of forgery. In that way he compels him to do his bidding. The man who writes you this does not do it for your interest, but for HIS OWN.” “This did not come through the mails,” said Inspector Val. "Ask your man who handed it in.” “Will you mind,” said Inspector Val, “if I call a man from across the street?” S “Certainly not,” somewhat astonished. Inspector Val stepped to the win- dow. Over the way a man was saun- tering, for all the world like a sight- seer from out of town. He was ad- miring the stately residences, and seemed interested particularly in Mr. Gwynn's. Inspector Val made a slight signal, and the sightseer came over and rang Mr. Gwynn’s bell. “Have him up.” said Inspector Val to Richard. Then, as the sightseer was marshaled into the room by Matzai: “Mr. Storms, this is Mr. England.” Mr. England's eye was bright and quick like a bird's; with that exception he was commonplace. Inspector Val, without wasting time, began to ask question: “Who shoved this note under door?” “A colored man, sir. He sneaked up and tucked It beneath the door as though trying not to be caught at it. Then he pushed the bell and skipped. The thing loked queer, and Mr. Duff thought he'd follow him. Hell. be back, Mr. Duff will, presently.” “That will do,” sald Inspector Val. “When Mr. Duff returns tell him to come in.” Mr. England withdrew, and recom- menced his sightseeing on the opposite side of the street. “Mr. England and Mr. Duff,” explain- ed Ipspector Val, “came down with me. I shall use them to shadow Storri, as that kind of work is their specialty. It is dificult work, too, and demands a man who has talents for seeing without being seen. Also, he must be sharp to think and act, and full of enterprise. To keep at the heels of a gentleman who may take a cab, or a street car, or enter a building by one door for the purpose of leaving it by another, Is no simple task; so I brought with me the best in the businese.” “How did your men comec to be out- side the door?” asked Richard, whose curiosity concerning metropolitan de- tective methods had been sensibly aroused. “To save delay,” peturned Inspector al, “which is the t rule in detec- “There are carriages at the replied Richard, the tive work. They were within ten feet of us when I met you; they saw us drive away, called a ocoupe, and fol- lowed. I should ha: given them a Jjacketing if they hadn’ Inspector Val asked Richard to slow- ly translate the note, while he made a copy in English. Thrs Richard did; at the close, being interested in the work- ings of the man-hunting mind, he ask- ed Inspector Val for his theory of its truth and origin. “Why, then,” observed Inspector Val, pausing over Richard’'s translation as he had written it down, “this would be my surmise. The note tells the truth. It was written by a French- ‘woman who probably came from Otta- wa. She is in love with Btorri, and jealous of Miss Harley, whom she thinks Storri aims to marry. You said nothing about Storri seeing Miss Har- ley, but he does. Miss Marklin was afraid to tell you and Miss Harley was afraid to write you that feature of the situation, fearing you would pitch in rough. It shows they have sense.” This was the first time Richard had heard how Storri enjoyed the privilege of Dorothy’'s society while he was warned from the door. The thought ‘was fire, He sprang to his feet, growl- ing an oath under his breath. “Take it easy,” sald Inspector Val, with a manner fall of warning. “Don't spoil a game just as the cards begin to run your way. After we get our hands upon those French shares you may raise what row you like. But take it easy now; try another ciga The prudent sagacity of Inspector Val was not thrown away, and Richard saw the force of that gentleman's ar- guments. “Tell me how you arrive at those be- lefs about the note,” said Richard. “That's not so simple,” returned In- spector Val. “It's like asking a pointer to tell you how he scents a partridge. My argument takes somewhat this route: I think the note tells the truth, as there's no reason why it should le. Moreover, it is a reasonable explana- tion of Storri's command over Mr. Har- ley. I know a woman wrote it because she’s at such pains to call herself a man. Another thing, a man wouldn’t have marked this note ‘Important!” It's important, but it gains no advantage from being labeled. A woman, who acts from feeling, marks it ‘important’ because she feels its importance. Now a man might feel its importance, but he acts from reason rather than feel- ing, and in that respect is the anti- thesis of a woman. It would never oc- cur to a man to mark the note ‘impor- tant,’ because it would never occur to him that by so doing anything would be gained. Then a man would have sent this through the postoffice. A man is more cunning than a woman. The mails would have served as well, and a messenger might be recognized and followed. To send messengers is essen- tially a trick of the feminine. Your District Messenger Service will tell you that nine-tenths of its calls are from women."” “You have read Edgar Allan Poe, T take it,” observed Richard, smiling over the processes of Inspector Val. “I've read Poe, Gaboriau and Conan Doyle,” returned Inspector Val; “all de- tectives have. They are amusing if not instructive. But to resume: There is s another reason why I'm certain a wom- an wrote this note. All the writer knows the writer got from Storri. It's a long yarn; it must cover In its tran- saction a dozen interviews between Storri and Mr. Harley. And they were not interviews at which a third party was présent. You will see the truth of that the instant I mention it. No; Storri told the whole tale to the writer of the note. Mr. Harley wouldn't , tell it. for obxious . reasons. Neither ! would He write it to you or anybody else; it i8 the publication of it that he fears. Storrl was the only one besides Mr. Harley who knew of those French shares; or of Mr. Harley's imitation of Storri's' signature and the threats of arrest for forgery which Storri made. It's as plain as the stars at night that Storri furnished the information upon which this letter is based. Now whom would he tell? Not a man; there would be nothing to gain and much to risk in that. A woman, then? Sure; this fellow has been strutting and bragging to a woman. It is the com- monest weakness of the congenital criminal. It is his way of swaggering and seeming powerful. But mark you; he never takes a woman into dangerous confidences unless he thinks she loves him. Do you follow? Storri has told this to a woman in whose love he be- lieves.” “You reason well, at any rate,” served Richard. “Yes, sir, 1 reason well,” returned Inspector Val. “I have reasoned like thig a thousand times, and a thousand times I was right. To go on; I agree with Storri; the woman does love him. Why does she write this letter? Be- cause she wants to break Storri's grip on Mr. Harley. On Mr. Harley's ac- count? No, she cares nothing for Mr. Harley. In a clash between the two her sympathies would be with Storri, whom she loves. Now the woman in telling a lie—the only one in the letter —has also told an important truth. It is her last sentence. She was thinking to throw you off as to her sex, and went out of her way to do it. She was hunting a chance to write ‘man’ and ‘his’ and at the same time not advise you of her purpose. The ‘man’ and ‘his’ were to be by way of incident. With her mind on fooling you as to her sex, she was so wholly engagled that she told an unwitting truth; she did write this letter in her own service. One step further: The object of the lady, as I've said, is to break Storrl’s hold on Mr. Harley. Now how could the lady who writes you benefit by that? What could there be about Storri’s ascend- ency over Mr. Harley to which a woman who loves Storri would object? I will tell you. That ascendency gives him not only a hoid on Mr. Harley, but a hold through him on some woman whom the writer fears as a rival. And there you are; I've brought the argu- ment to Miss Harley, Storri threatens Mr. Harley. What does he demand? “Tnat you be excluded from the Harley house. Why? Because you see Miss Harley. Why should Storri object to that? Because he desires to court the lady himself, and would do away with dangerous competition. His simple ha- tred of you, and nothing more, would not set Storri to talking forgery charges to Mr. Harley; that would sound too much like burning a barn to boil an egg.” Richard growled an acquiescence. “Very well; the woman who wrote the note would have you get possession of those French shares. Storri has de- scribed you to her as Miss Harley's lover; that sets her to writing you— you who have an interest as strong as her own. Storri has never told her that he loves Miss Harley. She has guessed it and accused him of it, being jealous; and he in reply and denial has laid especial emphasis upon you as Miss Harley’s lover. It's more than a ob- chance he told her the whole story as part of a jealous row. As to the woman being French, I infer that from the note. She couldn’t trust her English or she would not have writen In French. That note, being in French, would narrow any search for its au- thor; and that, too, whether the author were English of French. Certainly there are fewer people in Washington who can write French than English. You see the point?’ “But you said a Frenchwoman from Ottawa.” “The note is on paper that was made and sold in Ottawa, as you see by the raised mark in the corner. We've no trade with Canada for note-paper; besides, our stores wouldn’t handle such as this. It's not of fashionable shape and size as Americans under- stand fashions in note-paper. It's scented, too; and that's vulgar from American standpoints. Also, it's femin- ine. No, my word for it, the woman who wrote that note bought the paper in Otawa and brought it here. She did the typewriting herself, which was but natural; and she is not an adept, as any one may tell by the clumsy, Irregular way In which she begins her lines. Now take——" Matzal came in and announced Mr. sald Inspector Val, and then, turning apologetically to Richard, he added: “Pardon the lib- erty of giving comands In your hous I'm so eager to hear whether Mr. Duff's investigation corroborates my theory that for a moment I thought I wi back in Mulberry street. Well, Mr. Duftf,” as that worthy was ushered in, “what did you learn? This gentleman is Mr. Storms.” Mr. Duff seemed to know all about Richard; probably his partner sight- seeing over the way had told him. He nodded blandly as Inspector Val gave his name, and then proceed to answer that superior officer. “The man is a laborer in the Treas- ury Department. He went to the Treas- ury building from here, and made a stralght wake for a woman who works at drawing plans and that sort of thing in the office of the Supervising Archi- tect. He whispered something to her, and she nodded. When he got about ten feet away, he turned like a man wno has overlooked a point, und said: ‘I rang the bell; they’'ll get it right off. Then he went away. The woman's name is San Reve—Sara San Reve. She's a French woman, and came from Ot- tawa. She has had her place only a short time, and was appointed on the recommendation of a member of the Senate—Senator Hanway.” “Senator Hanway!" repeated Inspec- tor Val, looking duwlously at Richard. “He's a brother-in-law, you say, of Mr. Harley?” “Your deductions were none the less right,” returned Richard, who saw the doubts which the name of Hanway bred in the other’s mind. *“T'd wager my life on it. I never heard of this Miss San Reve, but she is from Ottawa, Mr. Luft says. I ought to have told you that Storri came to Washington from Ottawa.” “Oh, I see!” exclaimed Inspector Val, his brow clearing. “Storri came from Ottawa, and brought his swectheart. Storri worked Senator Hanway through our friend Mr. Harley, and Senator Hanway found her a place.” “Yes,” returned Richard, “I think you've hit it off. The next thing is to get hold of those French shares.” “Right there,” said Inspector Val, “let me say a word. I'll first go and put my people on the track of Storri; they’ll run him, turn and turn about, until further orders, and report each morning. That done, you and I will take the limitéd and run over and talk with Mr. Bayard. It will require his help to get those French shares. Ill *meet you at the station then at four.” “I shall be there,” responded Rich- ard. “Before you go, let me give you tuis by way of anticipated expense,” and Richard tendered Inspector Val a check for one thousand dollars. Chat wasn't necessary,” sald Inspec- tor Val, as he calmly pocketed the cneck. ‘When Richard arrived at the station he found Inspector Val already there. “I've taken a drawing-room,” said the latter. “Tt may be a weakness, but my inclination runs heavily toward concealment. I have a horror of being seen.” “I have horrors of much the same color,” returned Richard. Richard showed Mr. Bayard the note he had received, and told of its ap- pearance, and the construction of the note as given by Inspector Val “And the question 1s,” concluded ichard, “can we by any chance get hold of those French shares?” “Can we get those French shares?” repeated Mr. Bayard, as though revolv- ing the question in his thoughts. = should say we might; yes, I'm quite sure. I think it will offer no more of difficulty than just finding out where this Storrl negotiates his loans. I know where to go for the information and, if I ask It in person, it will be forthcoming.” While Mr., Bayard spoke his wits were working like a flashlight, displaying for his considera- tion every possibility presented by the situation. His confidence must have been strengthened by the survey, for he closed with emphasis, saying: “I am a false prophet if I do not place those French shares in your hands, your own property and bought with your own money, within a fortnight.” “Within a fortnight!” exclaimed Rich- ard, his face brightening with the sat- isfaction the promise gave him. There was that in Mr. Bayard's man- ner which invested his utterance with all the credit granted his signature at the banks. Richard felt as though the French certificates, which meant so much to Dorothy and to him, were as good as in his hands. ‘““When I say a fortnight,” observed Mr. Bayard, “I ought to add my reasons. The source of my news is unimportant, but you may accept it as settled that Tuesday next has been secretly pitched upon by our worthy President for divers warlike declarations, founded on the Monroe doctrine, and pointed at Ger- many, whose cruisers are just now nos- ing about on a debt-ccllecting errand against one of the South, American states. The President will resent the nosing, call German attention to our Monroe doc- trine as the line fence between the hem- ispheres, and then mount guard over the sacred rails of that venerated bar- rier with a gun. All of which might ex- cite but little interest were it not, as’a demonstration, to send the market tumbling like a shot pigeon. I'm not cer- tain that the whole affalr hasn't some such commercial purpose. Be that as it may, the day following that valorous manifesto will be a time of panic, and ‘the bottom will fall out of stocks. You remember what I told you as to the ‘bear’ N portunity. When the market toss and heave and fall with those White House antics touching Germany and the Monroe doctrine, Senator Hanway's re- port will be sprung in the Senate. He will give it to the press the night before, so that the morning papers may ring an alarm to the ‘bulls.’ This will be the procession of affairs: The President will threaten Germany on Tuesday; Senator Hanway’s report will be in the papers and the Senate on Wednesday; by Wed- nesday night our ‘bear’ pool will have been clamorofisly selling Northern Con- solidated all day. Per incident, we will have been buying Northern Consolidated all day. By Friday evening—I give them three selling days In which to work their ruin—I shall wire you that they are caught in the trap by all their feet at once. It is then I shall mail you those French shares.” “No letter will ever mean so much to me, be sure,” sald Richard. “You shall recefve it.” returned Mr. Bayard. “By the way, we are prepared to the last detall for that rald. I've bought more than §000 shares of Northern Consolidated in Europe at an average of forty-two. In order that our raiders may have what rope they require to thorough- ly hang themselves, I've brought more than 2000 of those shares to this country. It is placed where they may reach it for the purpose of borrowing stock for de- livery. In fact, our arrangements are perfect; they make as complete a dead- fall as ever walted for its prey.” Richard and Inspector Val returned to ‘Washington, Richard to write Dorothy a letter freighted of promise and hope and love. In it he told her that soon he would have canceled the last element of Storri's power, removed the last fear of Mr, Harley, and, in loving brief, de- stroyed the last bar which separated them and kept them apart. Dorothy read the letter again and again, and then kissed it pending the advent of something more kissable. Rich- ard's promise was like the smell of flow- ers to refresh her jaded, fear-wearied heart. The one regret was, since Rich- ard had forbidden it, that she could not share the blessed promise with her father. Richard wrote nothing of the note of warning; nor did he speak of Inspector Val and his deductions as to Storrl's visits to the Harley house. His only thought had been to cheer the drooping soul of Dorothy with the glad nearness of happler days. The word of comfort came in good time, for the shameful weight of the situation was cruskiing Dorothy. Mr. Harley these days walked in trou- bles as deep as those of Dorothy, but not the same. Mr. Harley was not borne upon by the shame of the thing; that did not deoress him any more than the knowledge ihat he was gulitless of wrong upheld him A man of finer nature would have been strengthened by his inno- cence. To such a man his self-respect would have been important; while he re- tained that support he could have sum- moned up a fortitude to bear the worst that lay in Storri's hands. But Mr. Harley was no such one of fineness, upon whom he would have looked down as a visionary and a sentimentalist. ‘There arose the less cause why he should be, perhaps, since Mr. Harley was sure of being popular with himself in spite of any conduct that could be his. His ideals were not lofty, his moral senses not keen, and what original decent point the latter might have once possessed had long been dulled away. True, Mr. Har- ley was shaken of an ague of fear; but his tremblings were born of the practi- cal. He was agitated by thoughts of what havoc in his own and in Senator Hanway's affairs of politics and business naming him formally as a forger would work. Such a disaster would be tangi- ble; he could appreciate, and, appreci- ating, shrink from it One thing to feather the wing of his apprehensions and set them soaring was his uncertainty concerning Storri. He could not gauge Storri; he would have felt safer had that nobleman been an American or an Englishman. Storri was 80 loaded of alarming contradictions; he could so snarl and purr, threaten and promise, beam and glower, smile and frown, and all in the one moment of time! Mr. Harley could not read a spirit so perverse and in such perpetual head- on collision with itself! Nor could he, being fear-blind, see that in most, if not all of these, Storri was acting. If Mr. Harley had realized what a joy it was to Storrl to frighten him, the knowledge might have made for his peace of mind. As 1t was, he looked upon Storri as at the best half mad, and capable, in some beckoning moment of caprice, of any lunatic move that should level the worst against him. Mr. Harley had one hope, and that rested with Northern Consolidated. If he could stand off disaster until the rald on Northern Consolidated had been made, and the profits, namely the road, were in their hands, he might then arrange a permanent truce. In this he reckoned on Storri's rapacity, to which a million of dollars was as a mouthful. Given a fore- taste of what riches should dwell there- in, Storri would desire with triple inten- sity to push forward in his earth-gird- ling dream of Credit Magellan. The con- quest of Northern Consolidated would teach him to look upon the rest as sure. Being In this frame, Mr. Harley argued that Storri, feeling his inability to go forward without him, might be softened to the touch of reason. Under these pleasant new conditions, with Credit Ma- gellan hopefully launched, Storri could be treated with. Mr. Harley would then feel his way to some safe compromise; he would invent an offer for those French shares which should present both peril and profit. He would threaten to go no further with Credit Magellan unless Storri put those French shares in his hands; and he would give him twenty- fold their value if he 4id. Mr. Harley harbored the thought that Storrl would yield; and yield all the more readily since his passion for Dorothy and his appetite for revenge against Mr. Harley would have had time to cool. Thus rea- soning, and thus hoping, and, one had almost said, thus fearing, Mr. Harley gave himself to the task in two parts of keeping Storri in paths of peace, and praying for a break in the market so that the attack on Northern Consoli- dated might begin. You are not to suppose those changes in Mr. Harley and Dorothy went un- counted by Mrs. Hanway-Harl 5 would be claiming too much against the lady’s vigilance. In her double role of wife and mother, it was her duty to observe the haggard face of Mr. Harley and the woe that settled zbout Dorothy's young eyes, and Mra Han- way-Harley, as wife and mother, ob- served them. And this is how that perspicacious matron read those signs. She translated Mr. Harley's haggard looks at a glance; he was losing money. Legislation, or stocks, or both, were going the wrong way; but In legislation, or stocks, or both, or the way they went, Mrs. Hanway-Harley refused to have an interest. If Mr. Harley had lost money, Mr. Harley must make some more; that was all. (Continued Next Sunday.)