THE ENDS OF JUSTICE,

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13484, 25 July 1907, Page 6

THE ENDS OF JUSTICE,

FRED. M. WHITE.

[eOPYRIfcHT.I

CHAPTER XVll.— Continued.

Renton smiled in a mysterious manner. It was evident that he knew a great deal more than he cared to say for the present. "Nous verrons," he said cheerfully. " Personally, I think otherwise. Seth Powell knows a great deal, but he doesn't kn"»tv everything. Neither do you, for that matter. I have astonished you pretty well this morning, but that is nothing compared to the surprise that I am going to give you before long." " How did j'ou get on Powell's track?" Cathcart asked. "Well, that was an easy matter. You see,' I had carefully examiiied Powell's writing, which was a great point in my favour. When I realised that the blackguard was alive, and that the whole plant had been got up by Mostyn, I tried to "find out if 'James Stevens' was also aware of the fact. I thought it was possible that Mostyn had kepi him in th^ dark on this point, and he had. Bu«fh scoundrels as those are never true to each other, Cathcart." ' But how did you find that out?" " Quite easily. Powell drinks. • This being so, it was mere prudence on Mostyn's part to keep him short of money. This being granted, I felt pretty sure that Powell would write to Mostyn for money — worry him, in fact." "At his private address, do you mean?" "Exactly. Well, he did. He wrote to Mostyn very often for cash ; and I was soon in a position to .certif y the handwriting. As a matter of fact, that not very pleasant part of the business was done for me by a private inquiry agent. The following Monday he showed me a letter addressed to Mr. S. Powell — a neat idea for Powell not to sink his own name — at 74 Bardell St. Voila tout." Renton spread out his hands in a dramatic gesture. " And when you got here the bird had flown?"* "The bird must have been alarmed. It will be my business to find out from whence the alarm came. But it's quite time our man was back again. Still, I'm not afraid of his playing me false." Seth Powell slid into the room presently with his most ingratiating smile. Ho was quite at the disposal of h^s friends, lie said. t V Then let us go into the doctor's room," Renton suggested. "I am informed that he is out this afternoon." Powell admitted such to be the case, and led the way through the folding doors. The place .was neat and tidy and well furnished, and conveyed the impression of being occupied by a doctor in fair practice. On- a large table between the windows stood a telephone of the latest Edison design. " A most admirable arrangement," Rent6n "exclaimed. "The suiHkle cut off from the world can sit here and communicate with his friends, minus the risk of interference by a vulgaf and inquisitive police force. The whole scheme was exceedingly well thought out. By the way, where did you get the message from that caused you to abandon these very pleasant quarters so hurriedly?" " It came from a friend in Sheffield," Powell said glibly. " Urn," said Renton. " You are sure it didn't come from Lewtqui?" " No, sir, it didn't," Powell snapped. " As I said before it came from a " "No reason to repeat the lie. It came from Hull/ Powell gasped. His face grew dull and grey. Renton followed up his advantage. " Try and fool me again/ said btf | sternly, " and I'll out or the house and I leave you to your fate. Where did ' that message come from?" ! "It came from Hull," said Powell, I as if the woi-ds were dragged from him. \ " Now we, can get along," Renton i went on. " Sit there, just by that mii strument. I'll take my place here so that I can follow the conversation and dictate replies to you without being heard at the other end. Ring up 00175, Bank." "Why, that is Mr. Mostyn's number," Powell said in feeble dismay. "Well, what, of it?" Renton demanded. " It's by no means the first time you have talked over the wire to the great man. You are going to* speak to him with the most engaging frankness to-day. He owes you money?" "He has not sent me an allowance for a fortnight." " TJm. Even great financiers arc occasionally short of ready money. Ring him up." With a trembling hand Powell turned the handle, •' Put me through to Mr. Mostyn's room," Powell said in a piping voice, not in the least like his own. " Yes. Are you there, sir? I won't keep you a minute." "Tell him that unless he sends you some money to-day you will, write a full account of all you know to Mr. Renton, the owner of the ' Lone Star.' " With a groan Powell sent the message along. There was a burst of wrath from the other end, and a string of threats that caused the operator to tremble. " Never mind," Renton whispered. " Our capitalist seems to have lost his temper about something. What was the last thing he said?" "Wants to know what I have to toll," said Powell, carefully muffling the mouth of the receiver before he spoke. " And what have I got to tell, sir?" "Tell him that you know far more than he imagines," Rpnton replied. "Tell him there are peojile in Hull who may be more liberal." Powell passed the message on in as truculent a tone as he could manage. The effect of these words was peculiar. There was no explosion of wrath in x-e-ply, but a quiet, thin voice that de- • nmnded to know what Powell was talking about. Once more he plugged the receiver, and asked for instructions. 5 '* Say you know all about the ' Lone " said Renton. "Say that you are going to place all the facts on paper, and send them to Mr. Renton. Say that if you only go to him you will got as much money as you require."

Towel] f-poke with iiib teeth s>luit clo.se\y togetJier. ''Capital!" Renton said botto voce. " Couldn't lie better. There was a natural tone about that speech that would have deceived even Mostyn. What's that-"' "Do nothiuj; yel," the voice ci Mostyn r.nsweied. '"I'm bu>y. Wait till four o'clock this „(tornooii, and then 1 may " "Finished:" pijicd a shrill voice. There was a click and the communication was cut off. Powell put up the receiver with a clatter. His face was white and damp, his lips had a blue tinge about them. " I'm goins to write a letter," Henton said coolly. It was a long letter, but it was finished at lenuth. There was n clatter in the street, and a hansom pulled up before the house, and a big figure got down. The boll rang lustily. "Who is it?" Powell asked, turning a shade paler if possible. "You don't mean to say that it's " Renton jumped back from the window. " Lockwood Mpstyn himself," be whispered exciteWV. "He's come to bee you, Powell. I half expected this.* ! See him in your own room, and close the doors. This is a real slice of luck for us, Catl:----rt." (To be continued.)