The evening world. Newspaper, June 1, 1914, Page 13

out a chair and seated myself opposite to him. ‘you, Bill,” I observed, “but I'm not i ‘The Ev ‘worry to dis- fit to die just yet.” . that little dust.up we had in Buenos it i pe i i £ | y i : i H | t | | : El l : E i j i ; f i £ i e i i , : H i i ‘| ae tf if i : id y nt ; i E 2 i i E 5 i & i | ’ R' 2 B E tit “anyhow, 1 didn't wait to find ‘try wae stiff with Indians. I can money, It's not @ one-man job. power to be of considerable service to me, Mr. Burton.” near 1 ald, lighting « cigar. “On the other hand,” he went santos cee @ chance that might SES ss I thought of the his inoothe, and then’of my besutital Bolivian goldfield. aoa Quite possible,” I admitted, ly. “Tell me something ebout yourself,” he demanded. “Who are you?” RAN isk Pine orld Daily Maga house weeks done. Park Lane, and for three to live there as l’should have If you are still alive ut the @ end of that time, which is extremely loa was to strike ft % unless I'm . I came over ‘a my landlady,” I said. “She fe friendly enough as long as I pay but that’s about the full ex- social circle.” you be red run a very considerablearisk o of los ing it?” He the table and eyes, “If you will do what I want,” he eaid slowly, “T will give you ten thou- gand pounds, fifty thousand in your American currency.” CHAPTER I1. AM fairly used to surprises, bat was @ magnifi- cence about this unexpect- 04 offer that for a moment took away my breath. I leaned back and surveyed my double with ine admiration. “You certainly do business on a large scale, Mr. Northcote,” ft sali “Do you pay in cash?” . For an answer, he thrust bis hand inte an inside pocket and pulled out @ leather case. This be opened, ex- tracting four bank notes, which he Jaid on the table. dollars “Here are two thousand pounds,” 12) be said quietly. “If you accept, I will give you @ cheque for the re- mainder.” “It must be a very unpleasant job,” , “will you give me your 4 Word of honor to keep what I { and bac! ‘The loafer, agtonished \bruptly in the circle of white ’ cas! by ihe electric lamp. * “Beg: pardon,- or,” hée whined; fen'y goln’.to open the door for yer, or.’ lorthcote’a Gold blue eyes ecru- ssinteed him keenly for a moment. a all right. my man," he said, in ather @ different voice. “Here you are!” ; He flung a allver coin—a half-crown {it looked like—onto the pavement, @nrd with a gasp of amasement the man dived to pick It up. As he did 0. Northcote, atill watching him, :@fpped forward to the cab and flung PP on st int Mr. Burton, will yout" ‘ou get in, Mr, Burton, you A ‘then, as t us be frank," he eald, sud- “It happens that you have the going to say entirely private, wheth- er you decline or accept?” “er T eaid, without hesita- on. “Very well." Again he stopped for @ mnoment apparently hesitat! @ choice of words, “Within a few days,” he said slowly, “unless I take certain eteps, there is every likeli- hood of my bene @ dead man.” I thought of the little incident of the tattered beggar and I felt that ho was speaking the truth. “To put it plainly,” he sald, “I must disappear. If I stay in London un- der my own name I shall certain! be killed, It may be a matter of di or weeks or even months, The tlemen who are #o anxious to celerate my passage to heaven are doing me the honor of paying me a very close and intelligent attention, 1 might possibly be able to avoid them—to-night, for instance, I be- Neve I have done so—but whether I could get out of the country alive is @ yery open question.” at do you want me to do?” “I want you to take my place in t wer, I want you to change clothes with me to-night and go out ot thle restaurant as Stuart North- I took a deep breath and bent for- ward, gripping the table with my “Yes,” I anid, “and what then?” “I want you to go back to my improbable, you can do asything you “But it's imposstble,” I broke out. “Even if your servants failed to see the difference, I should certainly be arth out directly I met any of your “How?” he asked. “Th Taught think I had become f ecoen- Ee. bes what else could tugy ine?" “Oh, think of the hundred things I should be ignorant of; people’ names, your appointments and bi iness affairs—even my way about the house. Why, I should be aound to betray myself.” “I bave thought of all that,” he anew bars! “If. I couldn't should mot have I' at bim curiously. “And here to prevent me from taking your money and maki no ettompt to keep my side of the = in “Nothing,” he said, “except your word of honor.” na yor hrugged m; “Now, let me see if I have got this interesting offer quite cor- rect, In for ten thousand pounds—' jusand in notes and the rest by check—I am to become Mr. pes Northcote for three weeks. It this unfortunate interruption, I then be at liberty to resume my own character.” Northcote bowed, half mockti as it seemed. ‘‘You have atated idea admirably,” he said. “If it is not too inquisitive & ayes- tion,” I wald calmly, “I should or like. to know why your removal is a matter of such urgent importance to some one?” ne zorowes and hie ‘@, singulasly ..un) ia a private stain he answered coldly, “and I'm afraid must remain so. I can assure you, however, that in taking my place you will not be in danger pt of assas- ination, I have committed no crime" —he laughed—“at least, no crime in the excellent eyes of the English 7 iy, “That is comforting,” “but, all the same, I inclined to accept if I mask. ‘Well, I think you have @ proverb about two being able to Disk at the same game. I can only tell you that the danger is real and ter minent. I @ good reason for, be- leving that my own servants are but beyond that I would trust "I gald sadly, “that I shall have to a! J y indoors, Northcote thrust his hand into bis ‘ket and pulled out a leather notebook. “After the first ten a,” be sald “you can please yourself, with, you would ere, certain engagemen' which you will find in this book.” “And you {magine I could do that successfully?” —— Northcote nodded. “You have” ex’ cellent nerves and plenty of com- mon sense. Provided you ad your word of honor to carry the part through to the best of your ability, I am perfectly ready to trust you. you fail"——he shru; his shoulders —"at least I ahi have had my wo etart.’ A sudden mischievous joy in the promised excitement of the situation came flooding through my heart. With an ‘almost involuntary ure I thruet my arm across the le. “Very well,” I said. “I promise you I'll do my best.” He gripped my hand, and for a moment we sat there on either side of the table without speaking a word. Then Northcote tore a slip of out of bis pocket-book #nd, 1a; * on the table, began to draw a y ty, perhaps you had better. al be ssuasinated: ailing trusted in pencil. I pulled my chair round ao that I could se what he was doing. “T making you @ fo! aketch of the inside of the Roused’ he said. “This is the ground floor, and here’s the dining-room and the billiard- room. Your study and bedroom are on the first floor, scr above. They open into each other—like this.” He outlined the various rooms neatly and skilfully, writing their names in the centre of each aquare. inet Pan AS 6 “What servants?" “There are only three of them—two women, and_Miiford, the butler. I have got rid“of all the others during the last two weeks. These three have all been with me since I took oe "ve trea by way of being rather grateful.” a “Well,” I “if he swallows me ‘as Stuart Northcote, I expect I shall Dull through.” “Yes,” returned Northcote. “The only other person you need worry about is my cousin—Maurice Furni- val.) He pauséd. “TI believe I have romised to go down and stay with Rim for several days in Suffolk. If you can get out of it without Cree in De iy be ado not to ae a ollp Co Rag you see him. . kind of @ man is be™ I asked. Northcote frowned. ‘I am not sure. He is te only relation I have in the world, and to a certain extent I have him. I sometimes think I have been foolish. If I knew for certain’—— His brow darkened still more, and his hands clenched until the white skin ‘stood out upon his knuckles, “There la a suggestion of thor- oughnees about your methods, ortauote” I observed, “that rather appeals to. me. “If I had stuck at trifies,” sald Northedte ‘grimly, “I: shouldn't : be * He pulled out a cheque- beck, a d, taking up his pen again, ; Bite ins choad for eight thousand “Here'e the meng he said. “There are a few hindred pounds in mr. unt besides this, and if ou likd I'll sign @ couple of cheques at you can fill in for current ex- penses. By the ‘way, it may be Becessary for you to imitate my alg. punre-te you think you can do “My experience as a forger is Mmited,” I said, “but I dare say I can manage it with a little practice What are you going to do about money yourself™ He ‘laugted.§ “My arrangements Mave been made’ for some time. I have only been waiting the chance of putting them into practice.” Our complete transformation must have taken ud about a quarter of an hour, With the exception of his pa- tent leather shoes, which for absolute comfort were certainly half a size too email, Northcote's clothes fitted me with extraordinary accuracy. I put them on with a certain deliberation, red enjoying the sensation of finding my- eelf in really well-out garmente—an experience to which I had been a stranger for a good many years. in ith po eatio- faction. As far as looks went, t! Geception was perfect. Northoote, who had meanwhile hi my own @way in my Voltaire’a last words oA nd Fr perhaps ti tated; moun! stone steps, I thrust to the door. It opened and with a deep breath over the threshold. ly ap) @ curtained at the hall. He was a q looking fellow of about with an alert, clean-shaven face, and hair just beginning to turn A His clothes were the conven costume of an English butler, ne T sald to myself, “must be ord.” ‘ I took off my hat, #0 that the light fell full on my face. Amid letters, Milford?” I asked easily. I was wateh' him es I looking out keenly for the tugbeest tart of hint that he tiad last Pit air,” he said, placed them in the study. “Thanks,” I said, and ty in thie respect at the Milan. 6 asa final drink seemed to be « gd custom of Northcote’s, I thought ee follow his usual - es,” I said, u can bring it up.” I, mounted the wide steirédase, which was carpeted in the’ same lux- ‘urious gre ae the hall, and, cross- ing the lan at the top, the door of the room which North- cote had marked as study. The inside, afd I electrio switeh was. the us oof, leh turned it on, fi apartment with a light thrown from an unseen arrange- ment of lamps somewhere beliind the It wee Dig and magnificedtly wi a nished room. I stood with my f+ 4 to the open red-tiled hearth, over it all with’ distinct approval, Hitord cones tee carota oye, ‘which contained a decanter, a ‘call fable, oy replace, ai le by the then withdrew as nolsclessiy ‘a0 be emered. On the further side of the room stood a handsome oak desk, tes ee Sumer reams conduc: an pondence. I walked pote a seated myself in the chair. “I pulled out Northoote’s pocketboo! opening it at the jotted down his ments, began to As I did eo, my ous, unconclous wa; ith the fran.ework . ebe whieh stood on one aide of the jeak. . 7 was the tiniest sound behind me that attracted my attention—a sound , #0 soft that, if my hearing had not been portowar acute, I should certainly have failed to notice it. th, Without ie.” t; moving,“I glanced sideways in the mirror. ® long which apparently concealed a recess at the aide of the replace, was being gently moved aside. With every muscle tense, I watched the process, miy heart beat- ing ateadily in swift, insistent atrokes. suddenly, to my amazement, 'l stepped out noiselesely into the room. Her face was deadly pale, and half hidden by the drooping hat that she was wearing; but even in the mirrer.¥ could see that she was as- toniahingly pretty. For a moment stie paused, then very cautiously she pulled out a smal! Are You Going Away for the Summer? comet and eodly matter. out of town for the summer you may find it & to provide yourself with the right sort of reading Why send to the city for novels at $1.25 or $1.50 each or buy them at a fancy price in some Conny Fare! You can supply yourself with best, most delightful summer reading for six cents a week. By, satacribing to The Evening World for the summer montis you Seay 4 conmpiete novel sel eek: Not some old book a dealer has not able to by rorereent hing 8 Bear this in mind, not only for who expect to spend the sell, but the finest up-to-date fiction yourself but for any of your friends country. summer in the % Sa CHAPTER Ill. [ Er, ay fe il i rT é i j Fi Fe H 2 5 I E i i : I E FE 3 fi iy iit 8 Be Me i L | i 4 i if Fs Ht i iy eles arent pbidfeied FEReieehe ral x 3 eg! an rt i i Ui | B A 2 i : o i i zt ic i af i 5 i E E & 33. Hf 5 533 8 if s* #3 i i & # é i if 3 3: i f ; j E 1 ~ 4822 age Hi Hi at which there me ti . “It's only me, sir, I heard comeing drop in your room, and came to see if I could be of any @asistance.” For @ second I hesitated, and then Walking to the door, I opened it wie somes to prevent him wrote ‘noth than! eee §. : pens eaid: I wan Gleaming ba nie Miatoh emash look at tt in the sorniog, By th a! wane was curt Oh Salt Sr me shook his head. “No, air.” ll, T may run out and post a letter before I turn in,” I added; “so if you hear any one walking about, gon imagine it's a burglar. Good- night." “Good-night, sir.” f 1 closed the door, and listened to the footsteps of my faithful retainer dying away in the distance. Then I fastened the lock, and came back to my visitor, haps it would he as weil,” I ‘lf you gave me back my latch- key before you fo She had risen to her feet ana stuod facing me like some beautiful animal at bay. Her cloak had fallen back, betraying the graciously moulded lines of her figure, shown off to per- fection by closely-fitting black ver 4 that she was wearing under. neath, From her belt hi jeather bag, of the kind eee8 Bond street ai win: . Ghe opened this, and without ing tek out & key, and threw it down on a. ik you,” I said. “And now, if you won't think me inquisitive, ma; T ask why you wanted to shoot me?” ene werre at ~ with a look in wi loathing an: surprise were very ily mingled. > * lo you pretend you n't know? ohe asked contemptuously, Ishook my head, ‘On my honor,” I eaid, “I haven't the remoteat idea,” Her lip curled delightfully, and drew herself up to her full height. & emall that one ‘T just from the in must s the o Sriver. who at once ES” FOR | 1 Caeoed ¥ 1cto: of i i § iH : fs f uy 1 a b -f iH ie i i i +} 8 sl ag sf i ? H i I FF & i iH 53 | 5 z é sf z $f. i i : i H af 4 rm ‘ ‘| i j i 8 i f F i ia] 4 ? : i H I : Hi f B f 5 age Hi bi + abe. : i {. ad Py 4 834 3 i I | f iy misadven latoh of the front door as ly as possible, I opened it sufficiently wide to allow my visitor to pass t! A® soon as ghe was outside, I fol- lowed her, closing the door behind me. “I'll just stroll along behind pl pick up @ cab,” I said cate: In the lamplight I saw a fash of terror leap into her eyes, 0, nor ahe prgpoee to find you a cab.” She hurriedly laid her hand on my arm. “I don’t un id,” ehe sai wetely. “It's all eo different from w expected, but oh! please— ple There was a rumble of wheels, and ry looking hansom came I signalled to dejected: slowly trundiing cheer- fully; “so that settles the matter.” == TROMANCE THAT IS FAR STRANGER AND MORE EXCITING THAN “TARZAN,” BY THE SAME WRITER, AN ABSOLUTELY NEW, ORIGINAL IDEA IN FICTIO ’: NEXT WEEK’S COMPLETE NOVEL ‘ IN THE EVENING +e te WORLD Author of “Tarzan -AT THE EARTH’S CORE By EDGAR RICE BURROUGH of the A é 3 i i #8 a) 3 s iH ; it ‘ i i E l : : # : . td 8 ts 3 | i f i E iti | i ng