A STRONG MAN ARMED. CHAPTER X.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13966, 26 July 1909, Page 1

A STRONG MAN ARMED.

CHAPTER X.

By JOHN K. PROTHERO.

Publish^ by Special Arrangement.

Author of "An Eye for an Eye," "The Way of Transgressors," "In the Name of John Leland," "The Grip of Fate," Etc., etc.

THE ODD TRICK.

It was true. Thrale cursed himself for the blunder that had been made. Then, with a quick breath he had measured his man, and risen to the crisis. "How much!" he said. "My dear sir, I don't understand. I've com© here to tell you of the fraud that Ins been perpetrated by your — }"»:■• .epresentatives." "We can cut all that. I sent a supply of or© from The Wigmore property to the smelters. They have obviously made a mistake, and sent me the wrong metal. Now then the question comes, what do you want to keep the intelligence dark! It would be an awkward thing if the mistake were made public." "You're very crude," the quiet man flushed. "I am direct. I've neither time nor disposition for round-about methods. How much do you want?" "Two thousand," the quiet man smiled. "If I refuse?" "You'll be a fool. I shall publish the intelligence in the press to-mor-row." "I should be beforehand with a narration of this interview." "You'd lose more than you'd gain. Public confidence ia a tricky thing. Once lose your grip on the investor and it's a hard job to recover it." Thrale did not.^ answer. His mind was rapidly revolving chances. It was important Vesey's silence should besecured, but at the same time what guarantee had he that the secret might not leak out through another source. Other people might spot the difference between African and Australian gold. "You've a knowledge of mining? The quiet man shook his head. "A smattering of geology only.". "If I pay you the matter may still be made public." "You must deal with that when it arises. At present the danger is with me." "No one knows besides yourself?" "I have t<l<i nobody— regard for the market valu*^ of my information kept me silent." "I'll give you two thousand; but you must leave me the nugget." "My dear sir, nothing *rould induce me to part with such a souvenir. It bears your initial. -remember." "Precisely, and can therefore be identified. By the Lord though 1 don't know that I want.it — it's a proof of my innocence of the matter. Had I dreamt the smelting people would have made such a mistake — " lie paused. "You wouldn't have endorsed it?"' Vesey finished the sentence. "You take a just view of the situation. When do you propose to pay me?" "Call to-morrow at my offiee — three o'clock. I'll have the money ready for you." "I should have preferred it to- . night." "You can't have it — I'm not signing any cheques. Is it a deal?" "Needs must if you drive. I'll call at the office. I must have a little cash to go on with, Thrale." He spoke with ; an eagerness not present before. The millionaire glanced ' shrewdly at his face. There was leaden pallor in the cheeks and his oyes were dull. "I must have a little cash," he spoke, with rising irritation. He drugs ! Thrale formed the verdict < on the instant and then and there re- ( vised bis plans. . "I can give you twenty pounds," ] he took a packet of notes from his , pocket and counted out four fivers." "Thanks — very much." Tarlton . Vesey rose with deliberation, and his hands sought the back of a chair as ■ for support. i "I— l'll be at Broad Street Avenue to-morrow," he said, slowly, speaking with difficulty as if he had to fetch , the words from a long way off. "That's all right. Will you have ' anything to take — a whisky and soda?" ' "Nothing, thanks. If you could ' send for a cab." He swayed a little, ; holding tightly to the chair. "With pleasure. Ray!" The inimit- ' able valet answered the bell. "A hansom, please, and" — he followed the man ■to the door; "note the address," he whispered. There was a change in the financiei ' as with a show of friendliness he grasped the other's hand and said "Goodnight." The blackness of anxiety had 'gone — he was alert once more, with eyes serene and nerves taut as a cable. The alteration reached Vesey's consciousness, growing rapidly apathetic. "You'll have the cash ready," he said in a flat voice. "On the snot. Mind the stairs, my dear chap: there's a sharp turn at the bottom. Good-night J" He walked the room with eager and impetuous strides, until the wheels of the cab died away in the distance, and Marsh Ray, deferential and observant re-appeared with his coat and hat. He mentioned an obscure street in Solio as the destination of the cab, and stated that a taxi awaited his master. "Good!" Thrale nodded his appreciation. "If you weren't such an invaluable valet, Kay, I'd make you my confidential secretary/ be remarked. "I'll remind you of that some day, sir. Miss Duchesne was a good secretary, sir. She left some papers behind her at The Chase. They may be of interest to you" — his eyes were discreetly lowered — "letters, and so forth, sir." "I'll see 'em, when I've time. I don't know when 1 shall be back, Ray. Let her ladyship know I've been called out on business." He settled himself comfortably in the taxi, and watched the streets fly past him as they raced along. The motion exhilarated him as distance was compassed with an insolent ease. He likened the speed out-distancing the few belated vehicles on the streets, to his own triumphal progress through life. He was the god in the car, those obstacles he could not pass he crushed. .Vesey's hansom was overtaken, and Vesey himself traced to cafe in the Italian quarter. There was a dim light softly shining through red curtains in the ground floor, and Vesey's knock was answered by a drowsy-looking Oriental. Thrale paid off his taxi and ■ chartered Vesey's hansom. "Wait till that gentleman comes i out," he said. "I'm a friend of his, j and I want to see him safely home." "It's a hummy sort of place," ob5 served the Jehu. "I reckon it'll be an hour or more before 'c conies out, rabby looked at Thrale inquiringly. "I'm fair starved for a cup of coffee, guvnor, and the nag's as quiet as a * biby in the cradle. If you'd sit in the 'ansom and 'old tho reins Yd be like a lamb, 'c would." Thrale nodded. "Get your coffee," he said, and tosfced him half-a-crown. Things were going well with our strong man that f night. It is an indictable offence for a ' cabman to leave hfs hansom unattended. In such circumstances the fare * who minds the horse is not likely to be ' subject to a too inquisitional investigation. Thrale held the reins, and light- * ing a cigar, he kept his eye on the , door of the shop with the red curtains. It was close on five, the dawn wag tinting "The Alhambra" with a pink haze, and investing "The Empire" with a mystery and romance strange to its annals when Vesey reappeared. He had passed the interval in the consumption of opium, and while rejoicing in a mental exhilaration, was dead tc _ external happenings. Thrale took him firmly by the arm ; and settled him in the hansom; witl I dexterous fingers — he had the sense ol touch, almost of sight, 'in every tip— r- he found the waistcoat pocket and th< nugget, and transferred the golden pel k>t to himself. Then with a shrill whis tie he summoned cabby, as previousl; arranged. In the interval before hi _ arrival, Thrale extracted Ve&ey's pocke book — Vesey, with vacant eyes and pen r dulous jaw, making no resistance — am ■' discovered his address — a house in th suburb of Nutting Hill. Grateful and perspiring from eoff v or much haste, cabby appeared at th' be double, received his instructions, like wise his fare, and escorted Vesey t hi» home,

Thrale laughed long and loudly, and with boyish exuberance took off his hat. The sparrows were twittering in Leicester Square, the trees were rustling their morning* greeting to the god of day. The statue of Shakespeare, calm and unperturbed through winter fog and summer sunshine, shone through the pearly-coloured light. But the sparrows and the sunshine, the green, branches and the poet's face left Thrale untouched. Theirs was a world unknown to him. He jumped into a cab and hastened home.