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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Deaves Affair, by Hulbert Footner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Deaves Affair
+
+Author: Hulbert Footner
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2010 [EBook #31361]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAVES AFFAIR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Al Haines
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE DEAVES AFFAIR
+
+
+By HULBERT FOOTNER
+
+
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+_"The Owl Taxi," "The Substitute Millionaire,"
+  "The Fur Bringers," "The Woman from Outside,"
+    "Thieves' Wit," etc._
+
+
+
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY
+
+Publishers  New York
+
+
+Published by arrangement with George H. Doran Company
+
+Printed in U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+COPYRIGHT, 1922,
+
+BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
+
+
+
+PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
+
+
+
+
+TO
+
+THE NOANKERS
+
+KATHERINE FOREST
+
+RUTH GREEN HARRIS
+
+AND THE CHERUB WHO SITS UP ALOFT
+
+W. SHERMAN POTTS
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+     I  A Penny Change
+    II  A Rich Man's House
+   III  Snooping
+    IV  The New Lodger
+     V  The Happy Little Family
+    VI  The Little Fellow in Grey
+   VII  Platonic Friendship
+  VIII  Evan is Re-engaged
+    IX  The Compact is Smashed
+     X  Maud's Interest
+    XI  The Steamboat _Ernestina_
+   XII  Evan Loses a Round
+  XIII  A Little Detective Work
+   XIV  Number 11 Van Dorn Street
+    XV  The Club House
+   XVI  Back to Earth
+  XVII  The _Ernestina_ Again
+ XVIII  The Accident
+   XIX  Four Visits from George Deaves
+    XX  The Beginning of the Night
+   XXI  Later that Night
+  XXII  Towards Morning
+ XXIII  Simeon Deaves Turns Philanthropist
+  XXIV  Conclusion
+        Postscript
+
+
+
+
+THE DEAVES AFFAIR
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A PENNY CHANGE
+
+Evan Weir's pipe was foul; he threw it down with an exclamation of
+disgust.  Its foulness was symbolic; everything was out of kilter.  He
+looked at the picture he had been painting for a week--rotten!  It was
+a still life; a broken jar and three books on a rag of Persian
+embroidery.  Picking up his pen-knife he deliberately cut the canvas
+out of the stretcher, and setting a match to a corner of it, tossed it
+in the empty stove.  He paced up and down the room wondering what the
+devil was the matter with him; he couldn't work; he couldn't read; his
+friends bored him; life was as flat as beer dregs.
+
+His attic studio was lighted by a dormer window at a height convenient
+to receive his elbows on the sill.  He came to a pause in that position
+morosely staring out on Washington Square basking in the summer morning
+sunshine.  In some occult way the gilding on the green leaves stabbed
+at his breast and accused him of futility.
+
+"What the deuce am I doing up here in this dusty garret painting bad
+pictures while the whole world is alive!" he thought.
+
+He picked up his hat and went slowly down the three flights to the
+street.  At the corner of the square he turned down Macdougall street
+into the Italian quarter.
+
+This intimate thoroughfare was as crowded as a bee-hive.  Happy, dirty,
+big-eyed children played in the gutters while their obese mothers
+squatted untidily on the stoops.  No lack of the zest of life here.  It
+shamed the pedestrian without cheering him.
+
+"They haven't much to live for," he thought, "and they're not
+complaining.  Why can't I take things as they come, as they do, without
+searching my soul?"
+
+It was a point of pride with Evan not to look like a denizen of
+Washington Square.  So his hair was cut, and his clothes like anybody's
+else.  He even went so far as to keep his hat brushed, his trousers
+creased and his shoes polished.  For the rest he was a vigorous,
+deep-chested youth of middle height with rugged features and glowing
+dark eyes.  He had a self-contained, even a dogged look.  Like all men
+susceptible of deep feeling, he did not choose to wear his heart upon
+his sleeve.
+
+Half an hour later found him in that quaint corner of the island
+bounded by Liberty street, Greenwich street and the river.  It is
+generally called the Syrian quarter, though shared by the Syrians with
+immigrants of all nations, whose boarding-houses abound there,
+convenient to the landing station.  A feature of the neighbourhood is
+the cheap clothing stores where the immigrants buy their first United
+States suits.  These suits hang swinging from the awnings like wasted
+gallows birds.  A hawk-eyed salesman lurks beneath; in other words the
+"puller-in."
+
+As Evan approached such a place in darkest Greenwich street a customer
+issued forth of aspect so comical and strange that Evan was drawn out
+of himself to regard him.  It was a tall, lean old man who moved with a
+factitious sprightliness.  He was clearly no immigrant but a native of
+these United States.  He was wearing a hand-me-down which hung in weird
+folds on his bones.  The trousers lacked a good four inches of the
+ground, and the sleeves revealed an inch of skinny wrist.  The wearer
+looked like a gawky school-boy with an old, old face.  Yet he bore
+himself with the conscious pride of one who wears a new suit.  On his
+head he wore a brownish straw hat which was a little too small for him,
+and had seen three summers.  As he walked along with his sprightly
+shuffle, which did not get him over the ground very fast, his head
+ceaselessly turned from side to side, and he continually looked over
+his shoulder without seeming to see anything.  His mouth was fixed in
+the lines of a sly smile, which had nothing to do with the expression
+of his eyes.  This was furtive and anxious.  His little grey eyes
+searched in all the corners of the pavement like a rag-picker's eyes.
+To Evan there was something familiar about the face, but he couldn't
+quite place it.
+
+The old man turned a corner into one of the little streets leading to
+the river.  Evan, bound nowhere in particular, and full of curiosity,
+followed.  There was something notable about the old figure in its
+ridiculous habiliments; this was no common character.  Under his arm he
+carried a bundle wrapped in crumpled paper, which presumably contained
+his discarded suit.
+
+He stopped at a fruit-stand, and as Evan overtook him, was engaged in
+scanning a tray of apples as if the fate of nations depended upon his
+picking the best one at the price.  The fruit-vendor regarded him with
+a disgusted sneer.  Evan loitered, and as the little comedy developed,
+stopped outright to see it out.
+
+The old man after an anxious period of indecision finally made his
+choice.  After having satisfied himself that there was no concealed
+blemish in his apple he proffered a nickel in payment and extended a
+trembling hand for the change.  The Syrian dropped a penny in it, and
+turned away with a suspiciously casual manner.
+
+"Where's my other penny?" demanded the old man in a high-pitched,
+creaking voice.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" demanded the vendor with a wholly
+disproportionate display of passion.  "That's all you get."
+
+The old man pointed an indignant forefinger to the ticket on the tray.
+"Two for five!" he shrilled.
+
+"That's right.  Or four cents a piece," was the rejoinder.
+
+"No you don't!  Half of five is two and a half.  You make half a cent
+on the deal anyhow."
+
+"Well, if y'ain't satisfied, gimme the penny and take another!"  With
+an unerring eye the vendor pounced on the smallest and knobbiest apple
+in the tray and offered that.
+
+The old man would have none of it.  "Give me my other penny!" said he.
+
+"That's all you get!"
+
+"Give me my other penny or I'll call the police!"
+
+"Yah!  For a penny would you!  You're a big man of business you are!
+Call a cop, go on, and see what he'll say for a penny!"  The vendor
+passionately searched under a shelf, and producing a ticket marked "4¢"
+defiantly stuck that alongside the "2 for 5."
+
+"No you don't!" cried the old man.  "You can't raise the price on me
+after I've bought!"
+
+"One for four, two for five!  I guess I charge what I like!  I don't
+have to charge half the price for one!"
+
+"You're a robber!"
+
+The vendor appealed to Heaven to witness that he was maligned.  He
+brandished a fist before the old man's nose.  "You lie!  You lie!" he
+cried.  "Get out of here.  I don't want you by my stand!"
+
+"Give me my penny!"
+
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+
+Evan was not the only grinning on-looker.  A crowd collected out of
+nowhere as crowds do.  The anxious vendor had now not only to keep up
+his end of the argument, but to watch his exposed stock as well.  But
+he showed no signs of giving in.
+
+"Get out of here!  I don't want you round me!" he cried.
+
+"Give me my penny!"
+
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+
+They repeated it with incredible passion, over and over.
+
+The crowd at first egged on both parties impartially:
+
+"Go to it, men!  A penny's a penny at that!"
+
+"Don't let him jew you, old man.  All them dagoes is robbers!"
+
+"Soak him one, Tony, the tight-wad!"
+
+"Sue him for the penny, Grandpa.  I'll go witness for you."
+
+"Aw, give him his penny, Mike.  He needs a new lid."  And so on.
+
+"Gimme my penny!"
+
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+
+Finally the old man threw the apple back on the tray.  "I won't deal
+with you at all!" he cried.  "You're a robber!  Gimme my money back!"
+
+"You bruised it!" cried the Syrian tragically.  "I don't take back no
+spoiled goods.  Leave it lay at your own risk!"
+
+"Gimme back my money!" cried the old man undaunted.
+
+A grimy little hand slid out from the crowd and closed over the
+disputed apple.  In the flick of a whip it was gone, and no man could
+say where.  The crowd rocked with laughter.
+
+The vendor shrugged.  "Ain't my loss.  It's his apple."
+
+"Gimme my money back!" demanded the old man.
+
+"Ah, what do you want, the apple and the money and the change too?"
+
+The old man snapped the penny down on the glass top of the candy case.
+"Gimme my nickel," he said like a bird with one note.
+
+The vendor passionately snatched up the penny and cast it at his feet.
+"Go to Hell with your penny!" he cried.
+
+Someone put a foot on it and that likewise was seen no more.
+
+"Gimme my nickel!" said the old man.
+
+Suddenly a voice in the crowd was heard to say: "Gee! it's Simeon
+Deaves!"
+
+"Simeon Deaves, of course!" thought Evan.  That old face was
+continually in the newspapers.
+
+Instantly the temper of the crowd changed.  There was nobody who could
+read English that was not acquainted with this man's reputation.  A
+chorus of imprecations was heard:
+
+"Miser!  Skinflint!  Tight-wad!  Robber!"
+
+The sallies of the sidewalk wits were almost drowned in the mere cries
+of rage:
+
+"Tight-wad, did you say?  His wad is ossified to him!"
+
+"He wants to put that penny out at interest!"
+
+"Say, the Jews go to school to him."
+
+"He'd skin the cream offen a baby's bottle, he would."
+
+The old man looked down and back at them snarling.  Like a cowed
+animal's, his gaze was fixed upon their feet.  Fearful of blows to
+follow, he turned around, and edging away from the stand got his back
+against the wall of the building.  His face was ashy, yet oddly the
+mouth was still fixed in the unvarying lines of the sly smile.  The
+fruit vendor made haste to shut up his stand.
+
+A flushed and burly Irishwoman stepped in advance of the crowd.  She
+looked Deaves up and down insultingly.  "What kind of a man do you call
+yourself?" she cried.  "With all your millions locked up in the bank,
+and dressed in a suit that my old man wouldn't sweep up manure in!
+What are you doing down here anyhow?  Go back up town where you
+belong!"  She shook a fist like a ham in his face.  "Do you see that?
+That's an honest hand that never filched a penny.  For a word I'd plant
+it in your ugly face, you Shylock!  You penny-parer!"
+
+A youth's voice cried out: "Come on, fellows, let him have it!"
+
+The crowd suddenly swayed forward.  No one could tell exactly what
+happened.  A raised clenched fist smashed the old man's hat over his
+eyes.  Deaves went down out of sight.
+
+This was too much for Evan.  After all the man was old and it was fifty
+to one against him.  His blood boiled, and the megrims were forgotten.
+He rushed in on the old man's side, swinging his arms and shouting:
+
+"Get back, you cowards!  Give the old man a chance!"
+
+The passionately indignant voice was more effective than the blows
+against so many.  The crowd drew back shamefacedly, revealing the old
+man prone on the sidewalk, but not visibly injured.  He was able to
+scramble to his hands and knees as soon as they gave him room.  Evan
+helped him to his feet.
+
+"Come on, I'll get you out of this," he said peremptorily.  With his
+flashing eyes he searched the faces of the crowd for eyes that dared to
+withstand his, but none cared to.
+
+He started to march the dazed old man smartly towards West street.  It
+was an uncomfortable moment when they were obliged to turn their backs
+on the crowd.  Evan expected another rush.  But it did not come.
+
+They had not taken ten steps when the old man pulled back.  "M-my
+bundle," he stammered.  "I've lost my bundle."
+
+Evan could not tell what the crowd might do.  There was of course no
+policeman to be expected in that forgotten little street.  "Let your
+bundle go!" he warned him.  "Come on."
+
+But the old man planted himself like a child with immovable obstinacy.
+"My old clothes!" he said.  "They're worth money!  I'm not going to
+give them up!"
+
+Evan with an exasperated laugh went back.  The crowd which had started
+to follow backed off.  The bundle lay where the old man had fallen.  It
+had come unwrapped and the deplorable garments were fully revealed.
+Evan, gritting his teeth, stooped over and rolled them up.  He knew
+what a chance he was providing to the wits of the crowd.
+
+"Old clo'!  Old clo'!"
+
+"Rags, bones, bottles!  Any rags, bones, bottles!"
+
+"Say, fella, what do you think you'll get out of it?"
+
+"Aw, Simeon Deaves 'll give him his old clothes."
+
+The envious note was clearly audible.  Individuals in the crowd were
+beginning to ask themselves now, why they hadn't had the wit to take
+the old man's part, and earn his gratitude.  Evan held himself in from
+reply.
+
+"What's the use," he thought.  "Scum!"
+
+Rejoining the old man he led him to the West street corner.  Deaves had
+had a bad shock, and he was still trembling all over, and stumbling
+slightly in his walk.  He betrayed no consciousness of gratitude
+towards his rescuer.  His mind was still running on the lost nickel.
+
+"Robber!  Outrage!  Thieving scoundrel!" he was muttering.
+
+They waited for a Belt line car.  Another man waited alongside of them,
+a quiet little youth in a grey suit whom Evan had seen as an onlooker
+in the crowd.
+
+When the car came the old man was still so shaky that it seemed to Evan
+only the part of common humanity to accompany him.  But on the step
+Deaves turned sharply.
+
+"You needn't come," he said.  "I can take care of myself."
+
+"That's all right," said Evan politely.  "It's no inconvenience."
+
+"I won't pay your fare," said Deaves.
+
+Evan laughed.  "I'll pay the fares," he said.  To himself he thought:
+"It's not often one has a chance of standing treat to a millionaire."
+
+Deaves did allow Evan to pay the fares, and indeed seemed quite pleased
+as if he had got the better of him in a deal.  But something about Evan
+disconcerted him.  He continued to glance at him sideways out of his
+restless, furtive little grey eyes.  Finally he said:
+
+"I'm not going to give you anything for coming with me."
+
+"Don't expect it," said Evan.
+
+"What are you coming for then?" Deaves demanded.
+
+Evan laughed in an annoyed way.  "Well, now that you put it to me, I
+don't exactly know.  I suppose I owe it to myself not to let an old man
+fall down in the street."
+
+Deaves thought over this quite a long while.  Along with his shrewdness
+there was something childish in the old man.  "You're a good boy!" he
+announced at last.
+
+Evan appreciated that this was an immense concession.  "Much obliged,"
+he said dryly.
+
+"Just the same, you needn't think you're going to get anything out of
+me," the old man quickly added.
+
+"I don't."
+
+Having established this point to his satisfaction Deaves seemed
+disposed to become friendly.  "What are you doing out on the street in
+the middle of the morning?" he asked.
+
+"I might ask the same of you," returned Evan good-naturedly.
+
+"I'm retired.  I've a right to take my ease.  But all young fellows
+ought to be at work.  Haven't you got any work to do?"
+
+"I'm an artist."
+
+"Pooh!  Waste of time!"
+
+Evan laughed.  It was useless to get angry at the old boy.
+
+"Why aren't you working at it now?" Deaves demanded to know.
+
+"It wouldn't come to-day," said Evan.
+
+"Stuff and nonsense!  You'll never get on that way!  Look at me!"
+
+Evan did so, thinking: "I wouldn't be like you for all your millions!"
+
+Deaves went on: "Keep everlastingly at it!  That's my motto.  That's
+what's brought me to where I am to-day.  I've retired now--though I
+still have my irons in the fire--but when I was your age I worked early
+and late.  I didn't waste _my_ time fooling round like young men do.
+No, sir!  My only thought was how to turn everything to advantage.  I
+denied myself everything; lived on two bits a day, I did, and put my
+savings to work.  The cents and the dollars are good and willing little
+servants if you make them work for you.  I watched 'em grow and grow.
+That was my young man's fun."
+
+Evan looking at him thought: "You are an object-lesson all right, old
+man, but not just the way you think."
+
+The current of Deaves' thoughts changed.  "You're a strong boy," he
+said, with a glance at Evan's stout frame.  He felt of his biceps
+through the thin coat.  "Hm!" he said scornfully.  "I suppose you're
+proud of your strength.  I suppose you spend the best part of your days
+exercising.  Waste of time!  Waste of time!  A strong man never comes
+to anything.  They're simple, mostly.  It's the head that counts!  How
+many of those ruffians did you knock down?"
+
+"Not any," said Evan carelessly.  "They ducked."
+
+"Well, you're a good boy.  You stick to me, and I'll show you something
+better than messing in colours.  I'll show you how to make money!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A RICH MAN'S HOUSE
+
+They rode up to Fifty-Ninth street, and transferring to a cross-town
+car, got off at the Plaza.  Evan's subconsciousness registered the fact
+that the little fellow in grey was still travelling their way, but he
+took no particular notice of him.  Deaves led the way to one of the
+magnificent mansions that embellish the neighbourhood.  He handed his
+bundle to Evan.
+
+"You carry it," he said.  "Maud always makes a fuss when I bring
+bundles home."
+
+"Who is Maud?" asked Evan.
+
+"My son's wife; a great society woman."
+
+"You want me to come in with you then?" said Evan.
+
+"Yes, you're a good boy.  I want to give you something."
+
+Evan was surprised.  "A dime, or even a quarter!" he thought, smiling
+to himself.  Nevertheless he went willingly enough, filled with a great
+curiosity.
+
+The house was a showy affair of grey sandstone built in the style of a
+French château.  But Evan's trained eye perceived many lapses of taste;
+it was not even well-built; the window-casings were of wood when they
+should have been of stone; the side of the house, plainly visible from
+the street, was of common yellow brick.  It looked like a jerry-built
+palace for a parvenu.  Evan wondered how the old money-lender had come
+to be stuck with it.
+
+"My son's house," said Deaves with a queer mixture of pride and scorn.
+"I live with them.  Sinful waste!"
+
+He avoided the front door with its grand grill of polished steel.  The
+street widening had shorn off the original areaway of the house, and
+the service entrance was now a mere slit in the sidewalk with a steep
+stair swallowed up in blackness below.  Down this stair old Simeon
+Deaves made his way.  Evan followed, grinning to himself.  It was
+certainly an odd way for a man to enter his own home.
+
+"We won't meet Maud this way," Deaves said over his shoulder.
+
+The remark called up a picture of Maud before Evan's mind's eye.
+
+In the basement of the great house they met many servants passing to
+and fro, before whom the old man cringed a little.  These superior
+menials turned an indifferent shoulder to him, but stared hard at Evan.
+Evan flushed.  Insolence in servants galled his pride.  "If I paid
+their wages I'd teach them better manners!" he thought.
+
+Somewhere in the bowels of the house, which was full of passages like
+all ill-planned dwellings, the old man unlocked a door and led Even
+into a vaultlike chamber without a window.  Carefully closing the door
+behind them he turned on a light.
+
+"This is where I keep all my things," he said innocently.  "Maud never
+comes down here."
+
+Evan looked around.  A strange collection of objects met his view; old
+clothes, old newspapers, old hardware, in extraordinary disorder.  It
+was like the junk room in an old farmhouse.  The walls were covered
+with shelves heaped with objects; old clocks, broken china ornaments,
+empty cans, pieces of rope, bundles of rags.  On the floor besides,
+were boxes and trunks, some with covers, some without; the latter
+overflowing with rubbish.  Evan wondered whimsically if the closed
+boxes were filled with shining gold eagles.  It would be quite in
+keeping, he thought.  But on second thoughts, no.  Your modern miser is
+too sensible of the advantages of safe deposit vaults.
+
+Deaves found a place for his bundle of old clothes, and seeing Evan
+looking around, he said with his noiseless laugh, which was no more
+than a facial contortion:
+
+"You never can tell when a thing will be wanted."
+
+Turning his back on Evan he rummaged for a long time among his shelves.
+Evan was somewhat at a loss, for his host appeared to have forgotten
+him.  He was considering quietly leaving the place when the old man
+finally turned around.  He had a small object in his hand which he made
+as if to offer Evan, but drew it back suddenly and examined it
+lovingly.  It was a pen-knife out of his collection.
+
+"Almost new," said Deaves.  "The little blade is missing, but the big
+blade is perfectly good if you sharpen it.  Here," he said, suddenly
+thrusting it at Evan as if in fear of repenting of his generosity.
+"For you."
+
+Evan resisted the impulse to laugh.  After all the value of a gift is
+its value to the giver.  He pocketed it with thanks.  It would make an
+interesting souvenir.  To produce it would cap the climax of the funny
+story he meant to make out of this adventure.  He turned to go.
+
+"Don't be in a hurry," said Deaves.  "Sit down and let's talk."
+
+He evidently had something on his mind.  Evan, curious to learn what it
+could be, sat down on a trunk.
+
+"You're a good boy, and a strong boy," said the old man.  "I'd like to
+do something for you."
+
+"Don't mention it," said Evan grinning.
+
+"Why don't you come every day and go out with me.  I like to walk
+about.  I can't stay cooped up here.  I like the streets.  But people
+recognise me."
+
+"And make rude remarks," said Evan to himself.
+
+"But with you I could go anywhere."
+
+"Ah, a body-guard," thought Evan.  The idea was not without its
+attractions.  It would be an amusing job.  He said:
+
+"If you want to hire me I'm willing.  I need the money."
+
+"Hire you!" said the old man in a panic.  "I never said anything about
+hiring you.  I just mean a friendly arrangement.  You have plenty of
+time on your hands.  I'll give you good advice.  Show you how to become
+a successful man."
+
+"Thanks," said Evan dryly.  "But the labels I paint bring in ready
+money."
+
+"Many a young man would be glad of the chance to go around with Simeon
+Deaves," he went on cunningly.  "It would be a liberal education for
+you."
+
+Evan got up.  It was the best argument he knew.
+
+"You could have your meals here," Deaves said quickly.  "They eat well.
+There's enough wasted in this house to feed an orphanage."
+
+"Sorry," said Evan.  "It doesn't appeal to me."
+
+"Well, you could have a room on the top floor.  You look pretty good;
+Maud wouldn't mind you.  Your living wouldn't cost you a cent."
+
+Evan thought of the supercilious servants.  Not for a bank president's
+salary would he have lived in that house.  He said: "I'm open for an
+offer as I told you, but only during specified hours.  I'd eat and
+sleep at home."
+
+"You're a fool!" said the old man testily.  "Free board and lodging!  I
+haven't any money."
+
+"All right," said Evan moving towards the door.  "No harm done."
+
+"Wait a minute.  Maybe my son would lend me the money to pay you a
+small salary.  He says I oughtn't to go out alone."
+
+"A small salary doesn't interest me," said Evan boldly.  "Fifty dollars
+a week is my figure."
+
+Simeon Deaves gasped.  "You're crazy.  It's a fortune.  At your age I
+wasn't making a third of that!"
+
+"Very likely.  But times have changed."
+
+The old man now opened the door for Evan.  As he did so there was a
+scuttle in the passage and a figure whisked out of sight.  "Snoopers!"
+thought Evan.
+
+"Will you show me the way up-stairs?" he said.  "I don't care to use
+the servants' entrance."
+
+"Sure, that's right," said Deaves soothingly.  "I hope we won't meet
+Maud.  Always picking on me."
+
+As they headed for the stairs he said cajolingly: "Fifteen dollars a
+week; that's plenty to live on.  Youngsters ought to live simply.  It's
+good for their health."
+
+"But how about putting something by?" said Evan slyly.
+
+"Well, I think my son might go as high as seventeen-fifty if I asked
+him.  Because you're a good boy and a strong boy."
+
+"Thanks.  Nothing doing."
+
+As Evan resolutely mounted the stairs, the old man hobbling after said:
+"Well, I'll add two and a half to that myself.  But that's my last
+word!  Not another cent!"
+
+"Nothing doing," said Evan again.
+
+At the head of the stairs Deaves said nervously: "Better let me take a
+look to see if Maud's around."  He peeped out.  "All right, the coast
+is clear."
+
+They were now in a square entrance hall of goodly size, very showily
+finished like a hotel with veneered panels, which already showed signs
+of wear.  Imitation antique chairs stood about, and in front of the
+fireplace, which was certainly never intended to contain a fire, was
+spread a somewhat moth-eaten polar bear skin.  Still it was grand after
+a fashion, and the old man in his hand-me-downs looked oddly out of
+place.
+
+"Better think it over!" he said.  "Twenty dollars a week!  It's a
+splendid salary!"
+
+"Nothing doing," said Evan, grinning.  In a way he liked the old
+scoundrel.
+
+Deaves affected to lose his temper.  "Oh, you're too big for your
+shoes!" he cried.  "Your demands are preposterous!"
+
+Evan continued calmly to make his way towards the front door.
+
+Just before they reached it the old man made one last appeal.  "Twenty
+dollars!" he said plaintively.
+
+A door at the back of the hall opened and an old-young man came out;
+that is to say he was young in years, but he seemed to bear the weight
+of an empire on his shoulders, and looked very, very sorry for himself.
+He was dressed as if he had to be a pall-bearer that day, but that was
+his ordinary attire.  He looked sharply from the old man to Evan.
+
+"Who is this, Papa?" he demanded with the air of a school-master
+catching a boy red-handed.
+
+The old man cringed.  "This--this is a young man."
+
+"So I see."
+
+"Well, I--I didn't exactly ask him his name."
+
+"Evan Weir," spoke up the young man for himself.
+
+"He came home with me," said Deaves.  "There was a little trouble."
+
+The younger Deaves was horrified.  "Another disgraceful street scene!"
+he cried.  Addressing Evan he said: "Please tell me exactly what
+happened."  He glanced nervously over his shoulder.  "But not here.
+Come up to my library."
+
+He led the way up-stairs, across another and a loftier hall with an
+imitation groined ceiling, and into a large room at the back of the
+house, which by virtue of a case of morocco bound books, clearly not
+often disturbed, was the library.  The young man flung himself into a
+chair behind an immense flat-topped desk and waved his hand to Evan
+with an air that seemed to say: "Now tell me the worst!"  Between the
+two, Evan's sympathies were with the father.
+
+He was not invited to sit.  He told his story briefly, making out the
+best case that he could for the old man.  The latter was not insensible
+to the favour.  His little eyes twinkled.  The young man became
+gloomier and gloomier as the story progressed.
+
+"We shall hear more of this!" he said tragically.
+
+The old man pished and pshawed.  "I offered him a steady job," he said,
+"to go round with me.  But his notions are too grand."
+
+"Why, that would be a very suitable arrangement," his son said
+pompously.  "How much do you want?" he asked of Evan.
+
+"Fifty dollars a week."
+
+"That's ridiculous!" young Deaves said loftily.  "I'll give you
+twenty-five."
+
+The scene of down-stairs was continued, with this difference that the
+son was not so naïve as the father.  Evan kept up his end with firmness
+and good-humour.  After all there was some fun in contending with such
+passionate bargainers, and he saw that for some reason the son was more
+anxious to get hold of him than the father.  They finally compromised
+on forty dollars a week, provided Evan's references were satisfactory.
+Simeon Deaves was scandalised.
+
+"It's too much! too much!" he repeated.  "It will turn his head
+completely!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+SNOOPING
+
+Young Deaves (his father addressed him as George) passed out through a
+small door on the left presumably to telephone to Evan's references.
+His father followed him, still protesting tearfully that the salary he
+purposed paying Evan would ruin them both.  Evan was left standing in
+the middle of the room.  Before he had time to take a further survey of
+his surroundings the door from the hall was softly opened, and a smug,
+pale young man in a sober suit sidled into the room, a servant.  Evan
+learned later that "Second man" was his official title.  "Spy" was writ
+large on him.  The house seemed to be swarming with them.  This fellow
+had undoubtedly been listening at the door.
+
+"Good God! who would be rich!" thought Evan.
+
+The servant with a sly, meaning look in Evan's direction went to a
+console at the left of the room, and affected to busy himself in
+arranging the objects upon it.  In reality his long ears were stretched
+for sounds coming through the little door.  Having satisfied himself
+that the Deaves' were good for several minutes in there, he came
+towards Evan with an ingratiating leer.
+
+"Nice day," he said.
+
+Evan's impulse was to call the fellow down, but he reflected that if he
+was to become an inmate of the house, it would be just as well for his
+own protection to learn what this snooping and eavesdropping signified.
+
+"Fine," he said non-committally.
+
+"Are you going to be one of us?"
+
+"I don't know yet."
+
+"It's a rummy joint."
+
+"So I gather," said Evan dryly.
+
+"Have you seen the Missus yet?"
+
+"No."
+
+The lackey cast up his eyes and whistled softly.  "Oh boy!  You've got
+something to see!"
+
+This was Evan's first experience of the below-stairs point of view.  It
+was a revelation.
+
+"Were you planted here?" the servant asked with a mysterious air.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Evan.
+
+The other quickly turned it off.  "Oh nothing."  He glanced towards the
+little door.  "When you work for a bunch like this you don't feel like
+you owed them anything.  It's every man for himself."
+
+"I suppose so," said Evan.
+
+"But there's a square bunch down-stairs.  Come down to the butler's
+room when you can and get acquainted."
+
+"Thanks."
+
+"Take it from me you won't find it such a bad house if you stand in
+with the crowd down-stairs.  There's money to be made on the side if
+you're smart enough."
+
+"How?" asked Evan.
+
+The second man winked at him knowingly.  "Let's you and I get better
+acquainted before we get confidential."
+
+"Sure," said Evan.  "I see you're a wise guy."
+
+"Wise!" said the other.  "Solomon wasn't one two three with me."
+
+"What do they call you?"
+
+"Alfred.  I'll make you acquainted with the bunch down-stairs.  The
+women----"  He suddenly broke off, and stiffened into the blank-faced,
+deferential servant.
+
+Young Deaves and old Deaves returned through the little door.
+
+"If you please, sir," said Alfred quickly, "Mr. Hilton sent me to ask
+what wines you would have for dinner."
+
+"I'm busy!" snapped George Deaves.  "Tell Hilton when I want wine I'll
+let him know."
+
+"Yes, sir, very good, sir."  The rubber-shod one wafted out of the
+room, shutting the door behind him as softly as a flower closes.
+George Deaves looked sharply to see that it was closed, then looked as
+sharply at Evan.
+
+"Was he talking to you?" he demanded.
+
+Evan quickly decided that the only safe hand to play in this strange
+house was a lone hand; he would take no one into his confidence.
+"Nothing in particular," he said.
+
+"Why don't you fire him, George?" asked his father.
+
+The younger man shrugged wearily.  "What's the use?  The next one would
+be no better."  He turned his attention to Evan.  "Your references were
+satisfactory," he said.  "You may consider yourself engaged.
+Thirty-five dollars was the sum we agreed on, I believe."
+
+"No, sir, forty dollars," said Evan firmly.
+
+"Ah, my mistake.  It's a great deal of money.  I hope you'll be worth
+it.  You will be at my father's call whenever he wants you."
+
+"I will come at nine o'clock every morning and stay until five.
+Sundays are my own of course."
+
+George Deaves turned to his father.  "On your part, if I pay out all
+this money, you must promise me that you will not go out except with
+this young man."
+
+The old man gave an ungracious assent.
+
+"I will report at nine to-morrow," Evan said.
+
+"But I want to go out now," the old man said like a child.
+
+"You've had quite enough outing for to-day, Papa," George Deaves said
+severely.
+
+Simeon Deaves said to Evan spitefully like a balked child: "Well, your
+wages won't begin until to-morrow, then.  To-day doesn't count."
+
+As Evan had his hand on the door he became aware that George Deaves was
+making signals to him to remain.  He lingered, wondering what was in
+the wind now.  George said to his father:
+
+"Lunch is ready.  You'd better go down."
+
+Forgetting all about Evan, the old man hastened out of the room with an
+expectant air.
+
+When he had gone George Deaves hemmed and hawed, gazed at the ceiling,
+made scratches on his desk pad and beat all around the bush.  The gist
+of it as finally extracted by Evan was something as follows:
+
+"I am not paying you all this money as a simple attendant for papa.  I
+could get two at the price.  The fact is papa has an unfortunate
+faculty for getting involved in street disputes.  On account of his
+prominence a certain publicity is attached to it.  Very distressing to
+the family.  I shall expect you to keep him out of such troubles.  You
+will have to be firm.  He is very obstinate.  But I authorise you to
+take any measures, any measures to save him from his own folly."
+
+Evan was tempted to ask: "Even to cracking him on the bean?"  But
+instead he said demurely: "I quite understand."
+
+
+Evan made his way home down the Avenue ruminating upon what had
+happened.  "In the words of Alfred it's a rummy joint," he said to
+himself.  "Father and son are a pair of birds.  What do I care?  I'm
+not going to let them get under my skin.  I'll give them their money's
+worth for a month or so, then bid them ta-ta and hike to the blessed
+country on my savings.  Meanwhile the affair has its humorous side.
+Mystery, too.  Like a play."
+
+If Evan had not recollected when he got to Thirtieth street that he
+needed certain small articles of apparel to make himself presentable in
+his new job, he would probably not have discovered that he was being
+followed.  But as he retraced his steps to the shops his attention was
+caught by a man's back, a narrow back clad in grey.  The owner of the
+back was looking in a shop window.  It was the little youth that Evan
+had seen before that morning.  The inference was that he had stopped
+merely to give Evan time to pass him.
+
+"By God! another snooper!" thought Evan.  "This one dogged our
+foot-steps all the way up-town from the fruit-stand.  Well, I'll give
+him a little run for his money."
+
+Entering one of the big stores Evan made his purchases.  He then
+hastened up one aisle and down another.  It could have been no easy
+task to follow him through the crowded store, but his little grey
+shadow never lost the scent.  In their gyrations Evan had an
+opportunity to get a good look at his tracker.  He was not like Alfred;
+he had a decent look, or rather he looked neither decent nor mean, but
+simply watchful.  An impenetrable mask was drawn over his face, out of
+which his eyes looked quietly, giving nothing away.  In years he was no
+more than a lad.
+
+"Not a very dangerous customer, anyway," thought Evan.
+
+Issuing from the store Evan jumped on a moving bus bound up-town.  He
+took a seat on top; the youth got in below.  At Forty-Second street
+Evan changed to a cross-town car; his pursuer rode on the platform.  At
+Third avenue he changed again--but without shaking the other.  Half an
+hour later making his way through Waverly place towards Washington
+Square, he was well aware that the grey figure was still behind him,
+though pride forbade him turning his head to see.
+
+Reaching the Square, Evan dropped on a bench and waited to see what
+would happen.  The slender figure passed him, eyes calmly bent ahead,
+and sat down on a bench fifty feet farther on.  Evan rose again, and
+retracing his steps, walked down the east side of the Square, and
+entering from the Fourth street corner, sat down again.  Once more the
+youth passed him and sat down beyond.  There were but few people
+around; it was hardly possible that he thought his movements had not
+been perceived by the man he was following.  "As a sleuth you're an
+amateur," thought Evan.  "You don't care whether I'm on to you or not.
+But I must say you have your nerve with you.  I'm considerably bigger
+than you."
+
+He got up and approached the other.  The stripling looked straight
+ahead, affecting to be unconscious of his coming.  Evan came to a stand
+before him and said abruptly:
+
+"What's the idea, kid?"
+
+The youth looked up startled, then quickly drew the mask over his face.
+"I don't understand you," he said.
+
+"Come off," said Evan mockingly.  "Do you think I'm a blind man not to
+notice the particular interest you are taking in my doings?  What's the
+idea?"
+
+The boy's eyes held to Evan's steadily; they were the eyes of a fanatic
+rather than a crook.  "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
+
+"You've been trailing me for the last two hours."
+
+"You're mistaken.  I never saw you before."
+
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "That's childish!  Do you mean to say
+you didn't pick me up in Troy street two hours ago, after that row with
+the fruit vendor?"
+
+"I don't know where Troy street is," was the answer.
+
+Evan changed his tactics.  Dropping into the seat beside the boy he
+said: "Look here, I'm a regular fellow.  Loosen up, kid.  Give me the
+dope.  What's it all about?"
+
+The other was silent.
+
+"God knows why anybody should take after me," Evan went on.  "I haven't
+committed any crime that I know of.  And I don't own a thing in the
+world anybody could covet.  Who hired you to trail me?"
+
+"Nobody," said the boy.  "You're mistaken."
+
+Evan began to get hot under the collar.  He got up.
+
+"By God----!" he began, clenching his fist.  Then he stopped, because
+his anger rang false to him.  In fact he couldn't work up a genuine
+anger against the strange-eyed boy who neither cringed before him nor
+defied him but simply looked.
+
+"It would be a shame to hit you," he went on, "you're too little.  But
+I warn you to keep away from me hereafter.  The next time I stumble
+over you I won't be so gentle, see?  You keep out of my way, that's
+all."
+
+He strode off across the Square in the direction of his own place.  He
+felt exasperated and helpless.  He was clearly the injured party, yet
+he had come off second best in an encounter with a mere child.  To make
+matters worse he was perfectly sure that the youth was still trotting
+after him like a little dog that refuses to be sent home.  He would not
+look around to see.  As he passed in the door of 45A he did look
+around, and there sure enough was his little sleuth across the street.
+Evan slammed the door and went up-stairs swearing.
+
+The next time he had occasion to leave the house, the youth had gone.
+He saw him no more--that day.  "Perhaps his game was to learn where I
+lived," thought Evan.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE NEW LODGER
+
+Evan's pal Charley Straiker occupied the adjoining room on the top
+floor of 45A and the two pooled their household arrangements.  It was
+Evan's week to cook the dinners, consequently when dinner was eaten his
+was the privilege of occupying the easy chair with the stuffing coming
+out and cock his feet on the cold stove while Evan washed up.
+
+During the afternoon Evan had painted and delivered a label that had
+been ordered of him, and had cleaned up generally as if in preparation
+for a journey.  But he had not yet said a word to Charley of the events
+of the morning.  As a matter of fact Evan had a prudent tongue, which
+Charley most decidedly had not, and it had occurred to Evan that he had
+better find out where he was at, before entrusting the tale to his
+garrulous partner.
+
+Evan drew at his pipe and gloomed at the wall.  Now that the mild
+excitement induced by the morning's events was over, a heaviness had
+returned to his spirit.  Meanwhile Charley ran on like a brook.
+
+Charley was a lean and sprawling youth with lank blonde hair, a long
+nose, and an incorrigible smile that spread to the furthest confines of
+his face.  To quote himself, he was a bum artist and a squarehead.  He
+took people at their own valuation and was consequently a universal
+favourite.
+
+"Carmen rented her back parlour this afternoon," he was saying--Carmen
+being their own moniker for their landlady Miss Carmelita Sisson.  "To
+a female.  What do you know about it?  Carmen hates 'em round the
+house.  Too nosey, she says.  But the room's been vacant since spring,
+and roomers in summertime are as scarce as snowballs.  So she succumbed.
+
+"Haven't seen her yet--I mean the new roomer, but my hope and my prayer
+is that she's a looker.  I think she is because Carmen sniffed.  Does
+our Carmen love the beautiful of her sex?  She does--not!  She's a
+singing-teacher, Madame Squallerina, Carmen called her, with the rare
+wit for which she is famed.  Already moved in with her piano and all.
+I heard her moving round, but the door was closed.  I'm afraid she's
+not going to be sociable.  Hell! the parlor floor always looks down on
+the attic!  That's a joke in case you don't know it; parlor floor
+looking down on the attic!
+
+"Wish I could think of a good excuse to knock on her door.  It 'ud be a
+stunt, wouldn't it, to raise an alarm of fire in this old tinder-box.
+Say, if there's ever a fire I bags the new roomer to save--that is
+until I get a look at her.  If it's over a hundred and fifty, I'll give
+the job to you, Strong-arm."
+
+This failed to draw a smile from Evan.
+
+"Say, you're as lively as the dressing-room of a defeated team.  Wot
+th' hell's the matter?  Come on out and see a movie.  I'll blow."
+
+"I'm off pictures," said Evan.  "Go on yourself.  Maybe you'll meet
+Squallerina on the stairs.  Take her."
+
+"You've said it," said Charley.  "I'm off."
+
+The gas made the room hot, and Evan turned it out.  The instant he did
+so, he became aware of the moonlight outside, and he went and rested
+his elbows on the sill in his customary attitude.
+
+The moon herself was behind the house, but the Square beneath his
+window was mantled in a tender bloom of light.  As every painter knows,
+moonlight is most beautiful when the moon herself is out of the
+picture.  By moonlight the dejected old trees of the Square were shapes
+of perfect beauty, the grass was overlaid with a delicate scarf of
+light; the very figures on the benches were as strangely still as if
+the moon had laid a spell on them.
+
+But all this beauty only had the effect of putting an edge on Evan's
+dissatisfaction.  The gnawing inside him was a hundred times worse by
+moonlight.  "What's the matter with me?" he thought querulously.  "I
+wished for something to happen.  Well, something did happen, but
+there's no fun in it.  There's no fun in anything any more.  Moonlight
+makes me hate myself.  Oh, damn moonlight anyhow!  It turns a man
+inside out!"
+
+He flung away from the window and planted himself in his chair with his
+back to it.
+
+Presently he became aware of a sound new in that house.  His door stood
+open for ventilation and it came floating up the old stairs.  He was
+aware of a vague pleasure before he localised the sound.  It was music;
+a piano--but not the usual rooming-house instrument; a piano in tune,
+softly played.  It drew him to the door and to the banisters outside, a
+poignant, haunting melody rippling in a minor treble, a melody that
+queerly sharpened the knife that stabbed him, yet drew him on
+irresistibly.
+
+He stole down the dark stairs, guiding himself with a hand on the rail,
+his eyes as abstracted as a sleep walker's.  The sounds were issuing
+from the back parlour of course.  The door was partly open--so she was
+not as unsociable as Charley had feared, or perhaps it was only that it
+was hot.  The room was dark inside.  Evan leaned against the banisters
+with bent head, scarcely daring to breathe for fear of breaking the
+lovely spell.
+
+The music came to an end and his spirit dropped back to earth.  He
+lingered, silently praying for it to resume and give him wings again.
+Instead, the door was suddenly opened wider and he saw the tenant of
+the room on the threshold.  All he could see of her was that she was a
+little woman with a lot of hair.  The moonlight shimmering through the
+edges of her hair made a halo around her head.  Moonlight made two
+square patches on the floor of the room.
+
+It was too late for him to escape.  "I--I beg your pardon," he
+stammered.  "I couldn't help listening."
+
+"Oh!" she said.  "Who are you?"
+
+"Evan Weir.  I live up-stairs."
+
+"Oh!" she said again, but with a different inflection.
+
+By her voice Evan knew she was young and adorable.  It was a
+low-pitched voice for so little a woman, low and thrilling; a
+mezzo-soprano.  His spirit went to meet that voice.
+
+For a moment or two they stood silently facing each other in the dark.
+Evan was not conscious of any embarrassment; he was too deeply moved.
+His conscious self was in abeyance.  Moonlight, music and woman had
+bewitched him.  He was in the grip of forces that played on him like an
+instrument.  But someone had to speak in the end.  It was Evan.
+
+"What was that you were playing?" he asked simply.
+
+"The moonlight sonata," she answered.
+
+"Of course!  That's why it sounded so exactly right.  Won't you play
+again--please?"
+
+She could not but have been aware how genuinely moved he was, but
+however it may have pleased her, womanlike, she sought to pull down the
+conversation to a safer plane.
+
+"Oh, I can't!" she said.  "I have unpacking to do.  I was coming out to
+get a match to light the gas.  I can't find any."
+
+"I'll light the gas for you," he said eagerly.  She stood aside to let
+him enter.  The simple act thrilled him anew; she was not afraid of
+him; her spirit greeted his.  When she turned around he could see her
+face etherealised in the moonlight, a lovely pale oval with two dark
+pools.  There was a subtle perfume in the room that made him a little
+dizzy.  In the act of striking a match he paused.
+
+"Oh, it's a shame!" he said involuntarily.
+
+"What is?" she asked.
+
+"To light the gas on such a night."
+
+She laughed.  It was a delicious little sound.  It seemed to bid him be
+at home there.  "One must!" she said.  "What would the landlady say?"
+
+But the tone of the denial encouraged him to insist.  "A little more
+music," he begged.  "I never heard anything so lovely."
+
+She went to the piano bench obediently.  "Sit down if you can find a
+place," she said over her shoulder.
+
+Instead he came and leaned his elbows on the edge of the piano case.
+Once more her fingers rippled over the keys, and another delicate minor
+air ravished his soul.  She did not seem to strike the keys, but to
+draw out the sounds with the magical waving of her pale hands.  She
+kept her head down, and he could not see into her face.  Nor could he
+be sure of the colour of her hair, but only that it was shining.
+
+In the middle of the piece the flying fingers began to falter.  No
+doubt the intense gaze he was bending on the top of her head confused
+her.  At any rate she broke off abruptly and jumped up.
+
+A cry broke from Evan: "Oh, please go on!"
+
+"I cannot!  I cannot!" she said.  "Light the gas."  As he still
+hesitated she stamped her foot with delightful imperiousness.  "You
+_must_ light the gas!"
+
+With a sigh he struck the match.  The gas flared up with a plop.  Their
+curious eyes flew to each other's faces.  Evan saw--well, he was not
+disappointed.  His instinct had rightly told him in the dark that she
+was adorable.  Not regularly beautiful; the most charming women are
+not.  There were fascinating contradictions.  The bright hair was
+gloriously red: the eyes too large for her face and brown,
+extraordinary eyes revealing a strong soul.  They were capable both of
+melting and of flashing, but especially of flashing; the soul was
+imperious.  As for the rest of her, the dear straight little nose was
+non-committal, the mouth fresh and childlike, with a slight, appealing
+droop in the corners.  In short, Nature the great experimentalist had
+in this case endowed a most sweet and kissable little body with the
+soul of a warrior.
+
+Evan could not have argued this all out, but his inner self perceived
+it.  His feelings as he gazed at her were mixed.  The dear little
+thing! the enchanting playmate; his arms fairly ached to gather her in.
+At the same time the deeper sight was whispering to him that this was
+no playmate for a man's idleness, but a soul as strong as his own--or
+stronger, to whom he must yield all or nothing, and he was afraid.
+
+As for her, she simply looked at him inscrutably.  He could not tell if
+she were pleased with what she saw.
+
+Finally self-consciousness returned to both with a rush.  They blushed
+and turned from each other.
+
+"You must go now," the girl said gently.
+
+He understood from her tone that she did not greatly desire him to go,
+but that it was up to him to find a reason for staying.
+
+"Let me help you get your things in order," he said eagerly.  "You
+can't shove trunks and furniture around."
+
+She hesitated, thinking perhaps of the censorious landlady.
+
+Evan made haste to follow up his advantage.  "This trunk.  Where will
+you have it put?"
+
+She gave in to him with the ghost of a shrug.  "It has nothing in it
+that I shall want," she said.  "Shove it as far back in the closet as
+it will go."
+
+In the closet her dresses were already hanging.  The delicate perfume
+he had already remarked made his head swim again.  As he bent down to
+shove the trunk back, her skirts brushed his cheek like a caress.  They
+were burning when he came out.  Perhaps she guessed; at any rate she
+quickly turned her head.
+
+"You don't want the sofa in the middle of the room," Evan said to
+create a diversion.
+
+"Put it with its back against the fireplace, please.  I shall not be
+having a fire for months to come.  That will leave the space by the
+window for my writing-table."
+
+While they discussed such safe matters as the disposal of the furniture
+they never ceased secretly to take stock of each other.  What people
+say to each other at any time only represents a fraction of the
+intercourse that is taking place.  Under cover of the most trifling
+conversation there may be exciting reconnaisances going on, scout-work
+and even pitched battles of the spirit.
+
+Evan could not make her out at all.  She seemed to single him out, to
+encourage him as far as a self-respecting woman might, yet an instinct
+warned him not to bank on it.  There was an unflattering impersonal
+quality in her encouragement; behind it one glimpsed formidable
+reserves.  She was wrapped in reticence like a mantle.  Evan had a
+feeling that if she had been really drawn to him she would not have
+been so nice to him.  On the other hand "coquette" did not fit her at
+all; not with those eyes.  Evan thought he knew a coquette when he saw
+one; their blandishments were not such as hers.
+
+So for a while all went swimmingly, and the moments flew.  Evan managed
+to make the business of arranging the furniture last out the greater
+part of the evening.  To save her face she bade him go at intervals,
+but he always contrived to find an excuse to delay his departure.
+
+There was no reticence in Evan.  He loved her at sight and his instinct
+was to open his heart.  Of course he was not quite guileless; the
+portrait of himself that he drew for her was not exactly an
+unflattering one, but it was a pretty honest one under the
+circumstances.  He was careful not to bore her, and to grace his tale
+with humour.
+
+Oddly enough the more of himself that he offered her, the less pleased
+she seemed to be.  As the evening wore on she developed a tartness that
+was inexplicable to Evan.  He cast back in his mind in vain to discover
+the cause of his offense.  Yet she would not let him stop talking about
+himself either, but drew him on with many questions, interested in his
+tale it would seem, merely for the sake of making sarcastic comments.
+As for talking about herself, nothing would induce her to do so.
+
+It was a more unamiable side of her character that she revealed, but
+the enamoured Evan, even while she flouted him, forgave her.
+"Something is the matter," he said to himself.  "This is not her true
+self."  He told her of the black dog that had been on his back all day.
+
+"But now I'm cured," he said, looking at her full.
+
+She chose to ignore the implication.
+
+Evan began leading up to a desire that he had not yet dared to express.
+"My partner said you were a singer," he said.
+
+"Have you been discussing me?" she said with an affronted air.
+
+"Why, yes.  Nothing so exciting as your coming ever happened in this
+old house."
+
+"I teach singing," she said carelessly.
+
+"Won't you sing me a song?"
+
+She decisively shook her head.  "Not to-night."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"Dozens of reasons.  One is enough; I don't feel like it."
+
+"To-morrow night, then?"
+
+"Aren't you taking a good deal for granted?"
+
+"But you said not to-night.  That suggests another night."
+
+"Oh, one doesn't weigh every word."
+
+"Well, I'll be listening out to-morrow night on the chance."
+
+For some reason this annoyed her excessively.  A bright little spot
+appeared on each cheek-bone.  "Then you'll force me to keep silent
+however I feel."
+
+"Why--what's the matter?" said Evan blankly.
+
+"You imply that if I happen to sing you will regard it as an invitation
+to come down here."
+
+"Why, I never thought of such a thing," he said in dismay.
+
+His honesty was so unquestionable that she got angry all over again,
+because she had made the mistake of imputing such a thought to him.
+Indeed a disinterested observer could not but have seen that some
+perverse little imp was playing the devil with this charming girl.
+Angry at him or angry at herself--or both, she had ceased to be
+mistress of the situation and her forces were thrown into confusion.
+Whatever she said, it instantly occurred to her that it was the wrong
+thing to say.
+
+"You're spoiled like all the rest," she said.  "A woman cannot be
+decently civil to you, but you immediately begin to presume upon it."
+This was said with a smile that was supposed to be tolerant, but she
+was angry clear through, and of course it showed.
+
+It was all a mystery to Evan.  With a hand on the table he had just
+moved, he was staring down at it as if he had discovered something of
+absorbing interest in the grain of the wood.  He knew she was
+unreasonable, but he did not blame her; he was merely trying to think
+how to accommodate himself to her unreasonableness; he was pretty sure
+that whatever he might say would only make matters worse, so he kept
+silent.
+
+But no red-haired woman can endure silences either.  "If you've nothing
+further to say you'd better go," she said at last.
+
+"I was wondering what I had done to offend you," said Evan.
+
+She laughed, but it had not a mirthful sound.  "How funny you are!
+Strangers don't quarrel.  They've nothing to quarrel about!"
+
+"But you are angry."
+
+"Nonsense!" she said languidly.  "I'm very much obliged to you for your
+help.  But there's nothing else you can do."
+
+"Meaning I'd better beat it."
+
+She was magnificently silent.
+
+"I'm going.  But it's hard to go, not knowing what's the matter."
+
+She had the air of one dealing with a trying child.  "How often must I
+tell you that there's nothing in the world the matter?"
+
+"You are not the same as you were when I came."
+
+For some reason this flicked her on the raw.  She flushed.  She stamped
+her foot.  "You're--you're impossible!" she cried.  "_Will_ you go!"
+
+As Evan backed out she all but shut the door in his face.  How
+astonished would he have been could he have seen through the door how
+she flung herself face down on the sofa and wept.  That was the softer
+girlish part of her.  But not for long.  She sat up and digging her
+chin into her palm thought long and hard.  That was the warrior.
+
+"I will not give in to him--and spoil everything," she whispered.  "I
+will not!"
+
+Meanwhile, out in the dark hall Evan was leaning against the banisters
+trying to puzzle out what had happened.  At first only a blank dismay
+faced him.  Women were inexplicable.  But presently a slow smile began
+to spread across his face.  He said to himself:
+
+"Well, whatever it is, she's not exactly indifferent to me.  I've made
+an impression.  That's something for the first meeting.  And she's in
+the house.  And to-morrow's another night!"
+
+He went up-stairs with a better heart.
+
+He went straight to his window-sill and cooled his hot cheeks in the
+night air.  The old trees still stood sentry duty in the moonlight, the
+people sat still as dolls left out all night, the noises of the town
+were reduced to a pleasant murmur.
+
+"God! what a good old world it is!" thought Evan, unconscious of his
+perfect inconsistency.  "How good it is to be young and alive; to see;
+to feel; to laugh; to love; to know things!  I guess I'm a little drunk
+on it now, but I want more, more!  I shall never have my fill!"
+
+As he lay in bed it suddenly occurred to him that he was head over
+heels in love with a woman whose name he did not know.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE HAPPY LITTLE FAMILY
+
+At the Deaves mansion next morning it was Alfred who opened the massive
+steel grill to admit Evan.  The second man favoured him with a sly wink.
+
+"Cheese it, kid," he murmured out of the corner of his mouth.  "They're
+layin' for you."
+
+This meant nothing to Evan.
+
+In the centre of the house where the hall opened up he found George
+Deaves walking up and down with his head bowed and his hands clasped
+behind his back, the very picture of a harassed man of affairs.  There
+was a histrionic quality in all young Deaves' attitudes.  The old man
+in slippers was hunched in a pseudo-mediaeval chair, while a fat
+servant, Hilton, the butler Evan guessed, was standing at the foot of
+the stairs.  Another man in chauffeur's livery was beside him.
+
+It all had the look of a set scene, and from the way their faces
+changed at the sight of him, the inference was inescapable that it had
+been set for Evan.  He wondered greatly what it was all about, but felt
+no particular uneasiness.
+
+George Deaves bent a venomous glance on him.  "Follow me," he said
+hollowly.
+
+The whole procession wended its way up the winding, shallow stairs;
+first George Deaves, grasping the hand rail and planting his feet
+virtuously, then old Deaves, his heels coming out of his slippers at
+every step, then Evan, then the three servants.  Evan heard them
+sniggering behind him.
+
+At the door of the library George Deaves said: "You come in, Papa.
+Hilton, Wilson and Alfred, you wait outside in case I call you."
+
+"Does he expect me to assault him?" thought Evan.
+
+In the library young Deaves flung himself back in his chair, and
+placing the tips of his fingers together said pompously: "Now, my man,
+I advise you to tell the truth."
+
+Evan began to get hot.  "That is my custom," he said quietly.
+
+Notwithstanding his pompous air the younger Deaves was visibly nervous;
+he had not his father's force of character.  "It is useless for you to
+feign innocence," he said.
+
+"I don't know what you're talking about," said Evan.
+
+Deaves said: "I may as well let you know I have a policeman waiting
+down-stairs."
+
+There is no man however sure of himself that would not be to some
+degree disconcerted by this announcement.  Evan changed colour.
+Deaves, quick to notice it, smiled disagreeably, and Evan's cheeks grew
+hot indeed.
+
+"Have him up-stairs," said Evan.  "I don't know what this flummery is
+all about.  Hand me over to the police and maybe I'll find out."
+
+"Give me a specimen of your handwriting," said Deaves, shoving writing
+materials towards him.
+
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "I have no reason to be ashamed of it."
+
+"Write five thousand dollars, first in figures, then spelled out."
+
+Evan did so, and shoved the paper back.  Deaves compared it with a
+letter which lay in front of him, the old man peering over his shoulder.
+
+"Nothing like," the latter said disappointed.
+
+"That doesn't prove anything!" snapped the son.  "I didn't suppose that
+he worked this single-handed.  He has confederates."
+
+Evan's momentary discomfiture had subsided.  The situation was becoming
+too absurd.  Was he accused of forgery or blackmail?  He began to grin.
+
+"You said you were an artist," said George Deaves with a sapient air.
+"Can you prove it?"
+
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "If you'll come to my studio.  There are
+dozens of my canvases there."
+
+"But how would I know you painted them?"
+
+"Oh, I'll do you one while you wait."
+
+"Facetiousness won't do you any good," said Deaves severely.  "This is
+a serious matter.  Please explain how you came to be in that little
+obscure street where you met Papa yesterday?"
+
+"There is no explanation," said Evan.  "I was just walking about."
+
+The young man sneered.  He tossed over the letter that lay before him.
+"Read that," he said.
+
+Evan applied himself to it with no little curiosity.  Meanwhile he was
+aware that the two were watching him like lynxes.  The letter was
+written in a neatly-formed, highly characteristic hand on a sheet of
+cheap note-paper without any distinguishing marks.  Evan read:
+
+
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Sir:
+
+We take pleasure in enclosing copy of a humorous little story that has
+been prepared for the press.  None will appreciate it better than you
+and 'Poppa' we are sure.  If you think it is too good to be offered to
+the public it will cost you five thousand dollars for the exclusive
+rights, including motion pictures and dramatic.  But unless we hear
+from you before the day is out we will take it that you don't want to
+buy, and it will be offered to the _Clarion_ for to-morrow's edition.
+The _Clarion_ is always delighted to get hold of these human interest
+tales.  Copies will be mailed to everybody in the social register, and
+especially to Mrs. George Deaves.
+
+But if you want to reserve the fun to yourself bring five
+one-thousand-dollar bills to the reading-room of the New York Public
+Library this morning.  Call for Lockhart's History of the Crimean War
+in two folio volumes and insert the bills in volume one at the
+following pages: 19, 69, 119, 169, 219.  Then return the books to the
+desk.
+
+With kindest regards,
+
+Yours very sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+A noiseless whistle escaped from Evan's lips; his eyes were bright.
+For the moment he forgot that he was the accused.  His sole feeling was
+one of the keenest curiosity.  A fascinating mystery was suggested.
+The impudent letter was like a challenge.
+
+"May I see the enclosure?" he asked.
+
+"No," said Deaves stiffly.
+
+Evan shrugged.  "What's the nature of it?"
+
+"It's a would-be humorous account of the events in that little street
+down-town."
+
+"Is it a true story?"
+
+Young Deaves turned to his elder.  "Is it true, Papa?"
+
+"In a way it's true," was the snarling reply.  "From a certain point of
+view.  But it's blackguardly just the same."
+
+Evan stroked his lip to hide a smile.  "What makes you think I wrote
+it?" he asked.
+
+"Nobody else could have known all the circumstances."
+
+"But we were watched and followed every step of the way."
+
+"So you say."
+
+"Why, you're surrounded by spies.  I expect every servant in the house
+is in the pay of this gang.  I hadn't been in the house half an hour
+before they approached me."
+
+"What did I tell you?" the old man snarled to his son.  "Why don't you
+fire them?"
+
+"How many times have I fired them?  What good did it do?  As fast as we
+get a new lot they're corrupted from the outside."
+
+"Then it's been going on for some time," said Evan.  "I never had any
+connection with Mr. Deaves until yesterday."
+
+"How do we know that?"
+
+"That's why you were so eager to get a job here," added the old man.
+"To have a better chance of spying on me."
+
+"Never thought of such a thing.  The offer came from you."
+
+"You paid your own fare on the trolley-car, didn't you?  Mine, too!"
+
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "Well, if that's an incriminating
+circumstance I'm guilty!" he said.
+
+"Don't be a fool, Papa," muttered George Deaves.
+
+Evan went on: "If I was a member of the gang would I show my hand so
+clearly?  Would I betray the sources of my information?  I tell you
+Alfred told me yesterday there was good money to be made on the side in
+this house."
+
+"Why didn't you tell me that yesterday?" demanded Deaves.
+
+"I wanted to find out what was up first.  I know now."
+
+George Deaves began to look impressed.
+
+Evan made haste to follow up his advantage.  "Have up the policeman.  I
+can tell him no more than I've told you.  But the whole affair must be
+well aired, I suppose."
+
+George Deaves winced.  He and his father exchanged a glance.  "There's
+no hurry," he said.  "We may have been mistaken.  At any rate we don't
+want any unnecessary publicity."
+
+"You don't mean to say you're going to _pay_!" cried Evan involuntarily.
+
+"Wouldn't you advise it?" asked the old man craftily.
+
+"No!  Fight!  Call their bluff!  The nervy blackguards!  Oh, to give up
+to them would be too tame!"
+
+"I guess he isn't one of them, George," Simeon Deaves said dryly.
+
+George apparently agreed with him, though he made no direct
+acknowledgment.
+
+Evan struck while the iron was hot.  "Look here, here's a proposition
+for you.  This thing interests me a whole lot.  That letter was written
+by a damn clever crook, humorous too.  I'd like to match my wits
+against his.  Let me have a try at running them down.  Won't cost you a
+cent more than my salary, and you won't have to let in any outsiders on
+the affair.  Of course I've had no experience, but if I fail you'll be
+no worse off than you are now.  If you go to the police it will be the
+newspaper sensation of the year."
+
+Father and son looked at each other again.  Evan had given them two
+potent reasons for listening to his proposal.  But before they had time
+to express themselves there was an interruption.
+
+A lady swept into the room like a northwest gale, one whose attire put
+the rose and the lily to shame; comely in her own person too after a
+somewhat hard and glassy style.  Evan guessed this was Mrs. George
+Deaves, otherwise Maud.  At the sight of her stormy brows father and
+son looked like two schoolboys caught in the act.
+
+"What's going on?" she peremptorily demanded.  "What are all the men
+servants waiting in the hall for?"
+
+"Nothing, my dear," said George Deaves in a casual tone belied by his
+anxious eye.  "They are merely waiting for their orders."
+
+"My maid told me there was a policeman sitting in the housekeeper's
+room."
+
+"Must be a friend of Mrs. Liffey's," her husband said with feeble
+humour.
+
+"Friend nothing!" was the contemptuous reply.  She marched up to her
+father-in-law, who silently snarled and gave ground like a cat.
+"You've been up to your old tricks!" she cried.  "Another disgraceful
+street scene!  I see it in both your faces.  Another blackmailing
+letter, I suppose!"
+
+Young Deaves unobtrusively sought to turn over the letter on his desk,
+but she caught the movement out of the tail of her eye, and, whirling
+round, snatched it up.
+
+"Let me see that!"
+
+Her husband looked as helpless as a sheep.  He had lost his pomposity.
+"Happy little family!" thought Evan.
+
+Having read it, she threw back her head and laughed in bitter chagrin.
+"I thought so!" she cried.  "The third time this summer!  When is this
+going to end?  Where's the story?"
+
+"My dear, what's the use?" said her husband tremblingly.  "It would
+only anger you."
+
+"Be quiet!" she cried.  "I will see it.  Where is it?"  Her eye picked
+it out from among the papers on his desk, and she pounced on it.  More
+harsh and bitter laughter accompanied the reading of it.
+
+"Bought a new suit at an immigrant outfitters!  I see he has it on.
+Got into a row with a fruit-vendor over a penny change.  Rescued by a
+young man and taken home.  Made his rescuer pay the fares on the
+trolley.  Oh, this is rich, rich!" she cried, trembling with anger.
+"This is the best story yet.  This will be meat and drink to the
+populace!  And this is what they're going to send to the _Social
+Register_, to everybody I know.  It's enough to make me wish I'd died
+before I took the name of Deaves!"
+
+"My dear, we are not alone!" cried George Deaves in a panic.
+
+She threw an indifferent glance at Evan.  She thought he was a servant,
+and she was of that arrogant type which acts as if servants were
+something less than human.  "Do you think anything can be hidden in
+this house?" she said.  "The men-servants are listening at the door."
+
+George Deaves had forgotten about them.  He hastened to the door and
+sent them downstairs.
+
+Mrs. Deaves addressed her father-in-law.  "Well, if you can't control
+your avaricious tendencies you'll have to pay," she said.  "Send to the
+bank and get the money so George can take it to them."
+
+"Pay!  Pay!  Pay!  That's all anybody asks of me!" cried the old man in
+a passion.  "Five thousand dollars!  None of you know what that means.
+Money to you is like the winds of Heaven that come and go.  But _I_
+know what five thousand dollars is.  For I have saved it up dollar by
+dollar at the cost of my sweat and self-denial.  And will I give it up
+to these scoundrels, these sewer rats who threaten me?  No!  I'd as
+lief give them my blood!"
+
+Mrs. Deaves' face turned crimson.  "You'll pay!" she cried, "or I leave
+this house!"
+
+"And where will you go?" sneered the old man.  "Back to share your
+father's genteel poverty?"
+
+"Who made him poor?" she cried.  "Who robbed him?"
+
+George Deaves, with the tail of his eye on Evan, was sweating with
+terror.  "Maud, I beg of you--!" he whispered.
+
+It did seem to occur to her then that she had gone too far.  She glared
+at Evan as if defying him to judge her, and marching up to him said
+bluntly: "Who are you?"  This woman was magnificent in her insolence if
+in nothing else.
+
+Evan coolly met her eye.  "I'm the young man who paid the fares," he
+said, smiling.
+
+She scowled at him.  Clearly she had no humour.
+
+Evan explained further: "I have been engaged to accompany Mr. Deaves on
+his walks hereafter."
+
+"Oh, locking the stable door after the horse is stolen," she sneered.
+"He needs a keeper."  She indicated the typewritten sheets.  "Then you
+were present at this affair?"
+
+"I was."
+
+"Is this story true?"
+
+"I have not seen it."
+
+She handed him the pages.  Evan skimmed over it hastily.  Since the
+incidents have already been related, the opening paragraph will be
+sufficient to convey the style of the whole:
+
+
+"Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Simeon Deaves, is known as a great dandy
+among his friends.  He has always refused to divulge the identity of
+the creator of the svelte garments that grace his manly form, but
+yesterday the secret came out.  Not in the fashionable purlieus of
+Fifth Avenue or Madison does Mr. Deaves' tailor hang out his sign.  No;
+it is in Greenwich Street near the Battery where the unwary immigrant
+makes his first acquaintance with American business methods, that Mr.
+Deaves buys his clothes.  He was seen to buy an elegant mustard
+coloured suit there yesterday for $4.49.  Of course not everybody could
+afford this sum, but the goods were worth it.  Take it from us,
+high-water pants will be all the rage the coming Fall."
+
+
+And so on.  And so on.  Evan bit his lip to keep from smiling, and
+handed the sheets back.  It was easy to understand how the story
+affected these people like salt in a wound.
+
+"Is it true?" Mrs. Deaves again demanded of Evan.
+
+"The facts are true so far as I know," he replied.  "Of course, the
+humour was supplied by the author."
+
+"This young man has offered to help us," began George Deaves.
+
+The remark was unfortunate; Mrs. Deaves exploded again.  "I won't have
+any bungling amateur detective work here!" she cried.  "There's too
+much at stake.  If the story is true there's only one thing to be done,
+pay!"  She addressed the old man.  "You understand; you have disgraced
+us, and you shall pay."
+
+But Simeon Deaves' dander was up and he refused to be intimidated.
+"What for?" he snarled.  "I stand by my own acts.  I ain't ashamed of
+them.  If people don't like it they can lump it.  What do I care what
+they say about me?  They're only envious.  They'd give their eyes to
+have what I've got.  Let them publish their story.  Who's hurt by it?
+Nobody but your feelings.  Am I going to pay through the nose to soothe
+your feelings?  Not five thousand dollars' worth!  I'll be damned if
+I'll pay!"
+
+He went out through the smaller door, slamming it behind him.
+
+Mrs. Deaves turned hard inimical eyes on her husband.  "Then it's up to
+you to find the money," she said.
+
+"But, my dear," he whined, "you know my circumstances.  How can I?
+Where?  It is out of the question!"
+
+"I don't care where you get it; you get it," she returned callously.
+"If that story is published I leave this house.  You know what that
+means."
+
+She marched out by the main door.
+
+Evan could not but feel for the poor, crushed, flabby creature at the
+desk.  In Evan's own phrase George got it coming _and_ going.  He was
+like a pricked bladder; all his pomposity had escaped like gas.
+
+"What am I to do?" he murmured.
+
+"Get the money together," said Evan, "and pay it over according to
+their orders.  Then let me see if I can't get it back again--and get
+them, too."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE LITTLE FELLOW IN GREY
+
+It turned out that George Deaves could lay his hands on the money,
+though perhaps it was not easy for him to do so.  George's principal
+fortune consisted in being the son of his father; he could get almost
+unlimited credit on the strength of that connection.  When Simeon
+Deaves saw that he was determined to pay the money to the blackmailers,
+he urged him to accept Evan's offer to run them down, and in the end,
+notwithstanding his terror of Maud Deaves, George gave in.  Father and
+son, who had begun the day by accusing Evan of the crime, ended by
+depending on Evan to run down the criminals.
+
+At ten o'clock George Deaves and Evan set out for the bank.  It was not
+far and they proceeded on foot down the Avenue.  Evan kept his eyes
+open about him, and before they had gone more than a block or two he
+spotted the well-remembered little figure in the grey suit still
+dogging their footsteps.  Drawing George Deaves up to a shop window as
+if to show him something inside, he called his attention to the
+stripling with the pale and watchful face.  Deaves shivered.
+
+"Do you suppose he means us personal harm?" he said.
+
+Evan smiled to himself, seeing the size of their enemy.  "Well, I
+hardly think so," he said.  "At least not as long as we seem disposed
+to pay up."
+
+Deaves was received at the bank with extreme deference.  He was not
+obliged to apply at the teller's window like a common customer, but was
+shown directly into the manager's office which looked on the pavement
+of the Avenue.  A fine-meshed screen protected the occupants of the
+room from the vulgar gaze of the populace, but those inside could see
+out, and as soon as they entered the room Evan discovered the youth in
+the grey suit hanging about the door of the bank, unaware of the
+nearness of his victims.
+
+Deaves introduced Evan to the manager as "My father's secretary."  "I'm
+coming up in the world," thought Evan.  Five crisp one-thousand-dollar
+bills were produced, and Evan perceived strong curiosity in the bank
+manager's eye.  It had been agreed between Evan and Deaves that this
+man was to be taken partly into their confidence, but Deaves now seemed
+disposed to balk at it, and Evan ventured to take matters into his own
+hands.
+
+"You were going to tell this gentleman what the money was for."
+
+"Yes, yes, of course," said Deaves nervously.  "You will of course
+appreciate the necessity of absolute secrecy, sir."
+
+"That is part of my business," said the manager.
+
+But Deaves still boggled at the horrid word, and it was Evan who said:
+"Somebody is trying to blackmail Mr. Deaves."
+
+"Good gracious!" cried the horrified manager.  "Mr. Simeon Deaves or
+Mr. George Deaves?"
+
+"Either," said Evan dryly.  "They don't care as long as they get the
+money."
+
+"Have you notified the police?"
+
+"Not yet.  We're going to take a try first at catching them ourselves.
+There is one of them outside, the thin youth in the grey suit."
+
+The manager half arose from his chair.  "What!  So close!  Perhaps he's
+armed!"
+
+"He can't see us."
+
+The manager sank back only partly reassured.  "Can I be of any
+assistance?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," said Evan.  "I want to mark these bills in your presence."
+Deaves handed them over, and the manager supplied a blue pencil.  "See!
+A tiny dot following the serial number in each case.  In case they get
+the money, and get away in spite of me, will you please see that all
+the banks in town are supplied with the numbers of these bills, and are
+instructed to have anyone arrested who presents them to be changed?"
+
+"I certainly will," said the manager, making a note of the numbers.
+
+They left a much startled banker peering through his window-screen.
+
+The public library was but a few blocks from the bank.  George Deaves
+wished to take a taxicab, but Evan advised against it.  Their little
+grey shadow followed them to the door of the great building but did not
+enter.  Having satisfied themselves of this, they got in touch with one
+of the assistant librarians, and put their case up to him.
+
+The magic name of Deaves acted like a talisman.  The plan was carefully
+laid.  George Deaves proceeded to the reading-room and, calling for
+Lockhart's "History of the Crimean War," retired to a corner and placed
+the bills between the leaves as specified.  The books were then
+returned to the desk, and Deaves with the connivance of the librarian
+was spirited out of the building by the delivery entrance.  This was to
+prevent the watcher outside from remarking that, whereas two entered,
+only one came out.  When neither returned he would naturally suppose
+that both had slipped past him.
+
+Meanwhile Evan waited in the librarian's private office, arrangements
+having been made to notify him by phone when the books were called for
+again.  They would hold up the books at the delivery desk long enough
+to allow Evan to reach the reading-room.  It was a long wait.  The
+librarian offered him books, but he could not apply his mind.
+
+"You're sure there's no chance of a slip-up among so many clerks?" he
+said anxiously.  "One may forget."
+
+"We're not trusting to their memories.  The librarian in charge of
+delivery is a friend of mine.  Lockhart's History is in his desk, and
+in its place on the shelf is pinned a ticket, 'apply to the librarian.'"
+
+At last the message came over the phone: "Lockhart's 'History of the
+Crimean War' called for from seat 433."
+
+Evan's heart accelerated its pace a little.  "Whereabouts in the room
+is that seat?"
+
+"The last table in the south end on the right-hand side."
+
+"Ha!  He wants to get in the corner!  Can I get there without marching
+down the whole length of the room?"
+
+"Yes, you can approach from the other side through the American History
+room."
+
+Hastening through various corridors of the vast building, they found
+themselves among the American History collections gathered in the
+smaller room adjoining the great hall on the south.  This room was
+completely lined with books, and lighted by a skylight.  It
+communicated with the main reading-room by an arched opening.
+
+Taking care not to show themselves in this opening, the librarian
+described to Evan the exact location of seat 433 outside, and pointed
+out a spot where Evan could command a view of seat 433 through the
+archway.  Evan proceeded to the spot, and, taking down a book at
+random, affected to be lost in studying its pages.  Then, half turning
+and letting his eyes rise carelessly, he glanced into the great room.
+
+It took him an instant or two to focus his eyes.  The line of tables
+seemed endless, the hundreds of figures reading, scribbling or snoozing
+seemed indistinguishable from one another.  Then Evan remembered the
+librarian had said: "433 is the fourth seat from the passageway between
+the tables; the person sitting there will have his back to you."
+Evan's eyes found the spot: he saw a familiar pair of thin, high
+shoulders under a grey coat.
+
+His first feeling was one of surprise.  Somehow he had not expected one
+so young and insignificant to be given so important a part in the game.
+For a moment he wondered if the strange-eyed, wary little youth could
+be their sole antagonist.  That would indeed be a humorous situation.
+But he did not believe it possible.  Certainly the letter had been
+written by one older and more experienced.
+
+Evan remained where he was, making believe to be absorbed in his book,
+and letting his eyes rise from time to time as if in contemplation.  He
+was about sixty feet from the youth in an oblique line.  Once the
+little fellow looked around, but Evan saw the beginning of the movement
+and was deep in study in plenty of time.  The sober background of
+filled bookshelves afforded Evan good protective colouring.  Across the
+smaller room the librarian was likewise affecting to be reading, while
+he nervously watched Evan and awaited the outcome.
+
+Finally Evan perceived the library attendant coming down the long room
+bearing the two big volumes in their faded purple calf binding.  He
+speculated whimsically on what a sensation would be caused should he
+drop one and a thousand-dollar bill flutter out.  But library
+attendants know better than to drop books.
+
+He laid the books on the table beside the youth, and went back.  The
+grey-clad one, with another casual, sharp glance around him, took up
+volume one, the thicker of the two, and, slouching down in his chair,
+stood the tall, open book on his lap in such a way that no one either
+in front or behind him could see exactly what he was doing.  "Not badly
+managed," thought Evan.  Evan could only guess that he was turning to
+the specified pages and slipping out the bills.  There was one action
+that Evan recognised from the movement of the shoulders.  He had
+slipped his hand in his inner breast pocket.
+
+"He's got them now," thought Evan.
+
+Sure enough the youth presently let the book fall on the table and
+wiped his face with his handkerchief.
+
+"I bet his little heart is beating," thought Evan.  Evan's was.
+
+The youth wasted no further time in making believe to read his books.
+Letting them lie on the table he got up and started to walk out at a
+leisurely pace.  Evan followed him, knowing of course that the first
+time the youth turned his head he must discover him, but it did not
+matter much now.  Their footsteps fell noiselessly on the thick rubber
+matting of the reading-room.
+
+Half-way down the great room the youth did turn, and saw Evan behind
+him.  A spasm passed over the thin little face and his teeth showed
+momentarily.  One could fancy how sharply he caught his breath.  He
+increased his pace a little, but by no means ran out of the room.  He
+had his nerves under pretty good control.  Evan made no effort to
+overtake him in the reading-room.  He hated to make an uproar there.
+
+The youth went soberly down the two flights of the great stairway with
+Evan as soberly at his heels.  He did not look around again.  To have
+refrained from doing so indicated no little strength of will.  Crossing
+the entrance hall, they passed out the main entrance and down the
+sweeping steps to Fifth Avenue.
+
+"He'll make a break to escape in the crowd," thought Evan.
+
+On the little esplanade between the two flights of steps Evan sprang
+across the space that separated them and laid a heavy hand on the
+youth's shoulder.
+
+He shrank away with a terrified gasp.  "What do you want?" he demanded.
+
+"You come with me," said Evan, sternly.
+
+"I won't!  You've no right to lay hands on me!"
+
+"You come along," said Evan, "or I'll call the policeman yonder."
+
+He marched him down the remaining steps.  The boy offered no
+resistance.  For that matter he would have stood but a small chance
+against the muscular Evan.  The passers-by began to stop and stare and
+shove and ask what was the matter.
+
+Evan greatly desired to avoid a street disturbance.  Steering his
+captive across the pavement to the curb, he hailed the first passing
+taxicab and bundled the unresisting youth inside.  In low tones he
+ordered the chauffeur to drive to the nearest police station.  It was
+all over in half a minute.  They left the curiosity seekers goggling
+from the pavement.
+
+During the drive the two exchanged no word.  The youth shrank back in
+his corner, staring straight ahead of him out of his pale and
+impenetrable mask.  Occasionally he moistened his lips.  Clearly he was
+terrified, but a determined spirit held him to the line he had chosen.
+
+Evan made no attempt to search him for the money, for he wished to have
+a witness present when the marked bills were taken from him.  But he
+watched him throughout with lynx eyes, prepared to forestall any
+attempt to make away with the bills.
+
+Arriving at the station house the chauffeur, full of curiosity, was for
+helping Evan take his prisoner in.  But Evan paid him off and told him
+he needn't wait.  The man lingered, joining the little crowd that
+always hangs around the station house steps when a prisoner is brought
+in.
+
+By this time the youth seemed to have recovered from the worst of his
+fears.  He went up the steps quite willingly in front of Evan.  Within,
+a bored and lordly police lieutenant sat enthroned at his high desk.
+Evan, who had been holding himself in all this time, burst out:
+
+"This man is a blackmailer.  I want you to search him.  You'll find the
+money he extorted in the inside breast pocket of his coat.  The bills
+are marked."
+
+The Lieutenant declined to become excited.  Such dramatic entrances
+were part of his daily routine.  "Hold on a minute," he said, opening
+his book.  "Proceed in order."  He addressed the prisoner: "What is
+your name?"
+
+"I decline to give it," said the youth--his voice was breathless but
+determined still.  "I have done nothing wrong.  This man suddenly
+seized me on the street.  I think he's crazy.  Search me.  If you find
+anything, then let him make a charge."
+
+The Lieutenant spoke to a patrolman across the room: "Ratigan, search
+him."
+
+The youth spread his arms wide to facilitate the search.  Evan, taken
+aback by his assurance, waited the result anxiously.  The patrolman
+thrust his hand in his breast pocket.
+
+"Nothing here," he said indifferently.
+
+Evan's heart sank.  "Are you sure?" he said.
+
+"Look for yourself if you want."
+
+"Search him thoroughly," commanded the Lieutenant.
+
+But Evan already guessed that he had been tricked.
+
+No money was found except a dollar bill and some change.
+
+"Is this it?" asked the patrolman solemnly.
+
+The youth smiled.
+
+Evan waved it away.
+
+"Well, what are the circumstances?" asked the Lieutenant.  "Will you
+make a charge?"
+
+"I've been fooled!" Evan said bitterly.  Suddenly a light broke on him;
+he struck his forehead.  "I see it now!  This man's job was simply to
+lead me away while another came and got the money!"
+
+"Well, will you make a charge?"
+
+Evan quickly reflected.  There was not much use airing the case in
+court if the principal evidence was gone.  "Let him go," he said.
+"He's not the one I want."
+
+Without more ado Evan hastened out.  The youth presumably was allowed
+to follow.  The taxicab was at the curb.  Evan flung himself in.
+
+"Back to the library!" he ordered.
+
+He sought out his friend the librarian.  A hasty investigation showed
+that Lockhart's History had been collected in due course from the table
+and returned to the shelves.  It had not been called for since.  The
+money was gone, of course.
+
+"His confederate was waiting there in the reading-room, perhaps at the
+same table," Evan said gloomily.  "As soon as I was out of the way he
+got the money.  What a fool I was!"
+
+"But how could you have foreseen that?" said the librarian.
+
+Evan then had the pleasant task of returning to the Deaves house and
+telling them what had happened.  Father and son were waiting for him in
+the library.  They instantly saw by his face that things had not gone
+well, and each snarled according to his nature.  When he heard that the
+money was gone the old man broke into piteous lamentations.
+
+"Five thousand dollars!  Five thousand dollars!  All that money!  Flung
+to the rats of the city to gnaw!"
+
+"What's the matter with you?" snapped his son.  "It was my money."
+
+"I earned it, didn't I?  You have nothing but what I gave you!"
+
+"We may get them yet through the banks," suggested Evan.
+
+"Yah!  We'll never get them now!"
+
+But however they might quarrel with each other, father and son united
+in blaming Evan.
+
+"Look at him!" cried the old man, beside himself.  "He knows where the
+money's gone!  Of course he didn't catch them.  I believe he engineered
+the whole thing!"
+
+"Be quiet, Papa," said George Deaves in a panic.  He turned to Evan
+with an anxiety almost obsequious.  "Don't mind him," he said.  "He's
+excited.  You'd better go now.  But I'll see you later."
+
+Evan was not deceived.  It was clear that George no less than his
+father believed that he was a party to the crime, but was afraid to say
+so outright.
+
+"I live at 45A South Washington Square," he said curtly.  "You'll find
+me there any time you want me."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP
+
+Charley Straiker came in to dinner that night in a highly effervescent
+state.  This was not at all unusual.
+
+"Listen, Ev!" he cried.  "I've seen her!  Oh, a peach! a little queen!
+Her name is Corinna Playfair.  Isn't that mellifluous?  Corinna
+Playfair!  Corinna Playfair!  Like honey on the tongue!  Listen, when I
+came in a while ago I heard a woman's voice talking to Carmen in her
+room on the ground floor.  So I went back, making out I wanted to see
+Carmen.  And there she was!  Bowled me over completely.  Red hair, you
+old misogynist!  Piles and piles of it like autumn foliage.  It's the
+colour of a horse chestnut fresh out of the bur--and her skin's like
+the inside of the bur--you know--creamy!  Oh, ye gods!
+
+"Well, she was telling old Carmen this and that; her blinds wouldn't
+work, and the gas-jet in the dressing-room was out of order, and your
+Uncle Dudley sees his chance and speaks up.  'I'll fix the gas-jet and
+the blinds,' says I.  There was nothing free and easy about her,
+though.  Made her eyebrows go up like two little crescent moons.
+Looked at me as much as to say: 'What is this that the cat has brought
+in?'  'Oh, thank you very much,' says she in a voice as friendly as a
+marble headstone.  'I couldn't think of troubling you.  Miss Sisson
+will attend to it.'
+
+"But of course old Carmen wasn't going to miss the chance of getting
+her odd jobs done for nothing.  She took my part.  'Mr. Straiker, Miss
+Playfair,' says she, grinning like the cat who's turned over the
+goldfish bowl.  'He will fix you up, I'm sure.  I wouldn't be able to
+get a man in before next week.'
+
+"Well, to make a long story short, I fixed the blinds so's they'd roll
+up, and cleaned out the gas burners.  She didn't unbend any.
+Discouraged all my efforts to make conversation.  Thanked me all over
+the place, and gave me to understand that I needn't build on it, you
+know.  But I swear I'll make her thaw out.  I've thought of a scheme.
+I tried all her burners--to gain time, you understand--and the one she
+mostly uses whistles like a peanut stand.  So I'm going out to get her
+a swell gas mantle to-night, and say Carmen sent it, see?  Trust l'il
+Charley to find a way!"
+
+Evan, of course, had his own ideas as to entertaining Miss Playfair
+this evening.  "How about the life class at the League?" he suggested
+casually--too casually.
+
+This was a sore subject with Charley.  Evan had him there.  "Oh, blow
+the class!" he said, scowling.  "A fellow doesn't get a chance like
+this once in a lifetime."  He boiled over again.  "I say, I didn't
+mention her eyes, did I?  Lord!  They're like immense brown stars!--Oh,
+that's rotten!  I mean velvety, glowing--oh, words fail me!  You'll
+have to take her eyes on trust!"
+
+Evan refused to be diverted.  "You cut the class last time," he said.
+"What do you expect to get out of it?"
+
+"Lord!  One would think you wanted to get me out of the way so you
+could make up to her yourself!" said Charley, frowning.
+
+Evan glanced at him sharply.  This, however, was a random hit.  Charley
+was quite unsuspicious.
+
+"Only I know you're a hermit-crab, a woman-hater!" he went on.
+
+"It's only last week you were chasing after a blonde," Evan persisted
+remorselessly.  "When she threw you down you swore you'd go to work."
+
+"Oh, well, I'll go to the old class," muttered Charley.  "I'll get the
+gas mantle to-morrow."
+
+Evan breathed freely again.
+
+When Charley was safely out of the way Evan made haste to array himself
+in the best that their joint wardrobes afforded.  They shared
+everything.  His conscience troubled him a little over his treatment of
+Charley, but he salved it with the thought: "Well, anyway, I saw her
+first.  I quarrelled with her before he even laid eyes on her."  Evan
+gave anxious thought to the matching of ties and socks, and spent many
+minutes in vigorously brushing out a slight tendency to curl in his
+hair.  He despised curly hair in a man.
+
+But when he was all ready a sudden fit of indecision attacked him, and
+he flung himself into the old chair, glooming.  She had all but driven
+him out of her room the night before.  Well, if he presented himself at
+her door now, it would be simply inviting her to insult him.  Even
+though she didn't mean it, even though she might want him to come (Evan
+had that possibility in mind, though his ideas as to the psychology of
+girls were chaotic), how could he give her the chance to put it all
+over him?  Surely she would despise him.  On the other hand, he could
+hardly expect her to make the first overtures.  Evan sighed in
+perplexity.
+
+It was not that he liked her any the worse for being so difficult; on
+the contrary.  But he had to think out the best thing to do under the
+circumstances, and the trouble was he wanted to go down so badly he
+couldn't think at all.
+
+He made up his mind he wouldn't go down--not that night anyway.  He
+lighted his pipe in defiance of the whole sex.  But somehow he couldn't
+keep it going.  He only smoked matches.  Nor keep his legs from
+twitching; nor his brain from suggesting vain pretexts to knock at her
+door.  He might go out and buy her a gas mantle--but that _would_ be a
+low trick on Charley.  He flung down the pipe, he walked up and down,
+he looked out of the window; a score of times he swore to himself that
+he would not go down, yet his perambulations left him ever nearer the
+door.
+
+Finally with a great effort of the will he closed it.  But almost
+instantly he flew to open it again, bent his head to listen, then threw
+it back with a note of deep laughter.  He commenced to run downstairs.
+She was singing, the witch!  She _had_ made the first overture.  Let
+her make believe as much as she liked, she must have calculated that
+the song would bring him.  Outside her door--it was closed to-night--he
+pulled himself up short.  "Easy!  Easy!" he said to himself.  "If
+you're in such a rush to come when you're called she'll have the laugh
+on you anyhow.  Let her sing for a while, the darling!  You won't miss
+anything here."
+
+It was a jolly little song, full of enchanting runs and changes; old
+English, he guessed:
+
+  "Oh, the pretty, pretty creature;
+  When I next do meet her,
+  No more like a clown will I face her frown
+  But gallantly will I treat her."
+
+
+"A hint for me," thought Evan, smiling delightedly.
+
+When she came to the end of the song, Evan, fearful that she might open
+the door and find him there, hastened on downstairs.  Miss Sisson was
+in her room at the back with the door open, and Evan stepped in for a
+chat, flattering the lady not a little thereby, for Mr. Weir was the
+most stand-offish of her gentleman roomers--and the comeliest.
+
+But it is to be feared she didn't get much profit out of this
+conversation, for Mr. Weir was strangely absent-minded.  His thoughts
+were in the room overhead where the heart-disquieting mezzo-soprano was
+now singing a wistfuller song and no less sweet:
+
+  "Phyllis has such charming graces
+  I must love her or I die."
+
+
+Miss Sisson remarked in her most elegant and acid tones: "It's such an
+annoyance to have a singer in the house.  I already regret that I
+yielded to her importunities."
+
+"You fool!" thought Evan.  "She makes a paradise of your old rookery!"
+
+At the end of the second song he was sure he heard the singer's light
+footsteps travel to the door overhead, linger there, then return more
+slowly.  The heart in his breast waxed big with gladness.  "You blessed
+little darling!" he thought.  "If it's true you want me, God knows you
+can have me for a gift!"
+
+Yet he let her sing another song before he stirred.  He bade Miss
+Sisson good-night and went deliberately upstairs.  She had stopped
+singing now.  He knocked on the door.
+
+She took her time about opening it.  "Oh, it's you!" she said.
+
+"Good evening," said Evan.
+
+"Good evening," she returned with a rising inflection that suggested:
+"Well, what do you want?"
+
+Evan was a bit dashed.  His instinct told him, though, that he must put
+his fate to the test.  In other words, he must find out for sure
+whether she detested him, or was simply being maidenly.  She had not
+thrown the door open to its fullest extent, but Evan, gauging the
+space, figured that he could just slip in without actually pushing her
+out of the way.  He did so.
+
+She faced about in high indignation.  "Well!  You might at least wait
+until you are invited!" she said.
+
+Evan had no wish to anger her too far.  "Oh, I'm sorry," he said
+innocently.  "I thought you meant me to come in."  He turned towards
+the door again.
+
+"Oh, well, as long as you're here I'm not going to turn you out," she
+said casually.  "But your manners aren't much."  She closed the door.
+
+"It's all right!" thought Evan happily.
+
+"I heard you singing," he said, by way of opening the conversation.
+
+"Yes, I have to sing every night for practice," she said quickly.  She
+wished him to understand clearly that she had not been singing to bring
+him.
+
+She sat on the piano bench, but with her back to the piano and her
+hands in her lap.  Her expression was not encouraging.  Evan sat on the
+sofa.
+
+"Please go on," he said.  "Don't mind me."
+
+"No," she said, with her funny little downright way.  "I shan't sing
+any more."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"You have provoked me.  I can't sing when I am provoked."
+
+"What have I done?"
+
+"The mere sight of you provokes me," she said with more frankness,
+probably, than she intended.
+
+"I'm sorry," said Evan.  "You're so different, so unusual, I don't know
+how to handle you."
+
+The first part of this pleased her, the last outraged her afresh.
+"Handle me!" she cried.  "I like that!"
+
+Evan saw his mistake.  "That's not the word," he said quickly.  "I mean
+I study how to please you, and only seem to get in wrong."
+
+"Don't 'study'," she said with a superior air.  "Just be yourself."
+
+"But I am myself, and it only provokes you."
+
+The brown eyes flashed.  "Oh, you're too conceited for words!"
+
+This was a new thought to Evan.  He considered it.  "No," he said at
+last, "I don't think I am.  At least not offensively conceited.  But it
+seems to me you are so accustomed to having men bow down before you
+that the mildest independence in a man strikes you as something
+outrageous."
+
+This was near enough the truth to be an added cause for offense.  She
+received it in an ultra-dignified silence.
+
+"I'd like to bow down before you too," Evan went on smiling.  "But
+something tells me if I did it would be the end of me.  You would
+despise me."
+
+Her mood changed abruptly.  "I feel better now," she said.  "One really
+cannot take you seriously.  I'll sing."
+
+Her hands drifted over the keys, and she dropped into "Mighty lak' a
+Rose."  The air was admirably suited to the deeper notes of her voice.
+The listener's heart was drawn right out of his breast; he forgot at
+once his fear of being mastered, and his great desire to master her.
+
+When she came to the end he murmured, deeply moved: "I can't say
+anything."
+
+She could have asked no finer tribute.  "You needn't," she murmured.
+
+The pleasure she took in his applause was evidenced in the warmth she
+imparted to the next song.  She made it intolerably plaintive: "Just a
+Wearyin' for You."
+
+Evan held his breath in delight.  "If the words were true!" he thought.
+But though she sang with abandon, she never looked at him.  He was
+artist enough to know better than to take an artistic performance
+literally.
+
+Nothing more was said for a long time.  She passed from one song to
+another, singing from memory; dreamily improvising on the piano
+between.  She chose only simple songs in English which pleased Evan
+well--could she read his heart?--the "Shoogy-Shoo"; "Little Boy Blue";
+the "Sands o' Dee."
+
+Evan was incapable of criticising her voice.  Some might have objected
+that it lacked that bell-like clearness so much to be desired; that it
+had a dusky quality, but Evan was not quarrelling because it was the
+voice of a woman instead of an angel.  One thing she had beyond
+peradventure, temperament; her heart was in her singing, and so it
+played on his heartstrings as she willed.
+
+While he listened enraptured, he saw the moon peek over the buildings
+in the next street.  He softly got up and turned off the impertinent
+gas.  Beyond a startled glance over her shoulder she made no objection.
+He was utterly fascinated by the movements of the bright head, now
+raised, now lowered, now turned towards the window in the changing
+moods of the songs.
+
+Moonlight completed the working of the spell that was laid upon him.
+For the moment he ceased to be a rational being.  He was exalted by
+emotion far out of himself.  He experienced the sweetness of losing his
+own identity.  It was as if a great wind had snatched him up into the
+universal ether, a region of warmth of colour and perfume.  But he was
+conscious of a pull on him like that of the magnet for the iron, a pull
+that was neither to be questioned nor resisted.
+
+At the last she turned around on the bench again, and her hands dropped
+in her lap.  "That is all.  I'm tired," she said like a child.
+
+With a single movement the rapt youth was at her feet, weaving his arms
+about her waist.  Unpremeditated words poured from him; words out of
+deeps in him of which up to that moment he was unconscious.
+
+"Oh, you woman!  You are the first in the world for me!  I know you
+now!  I feel your power!  It's too much for me.  And I'm glad of it!  I
+have waited for you.  I looked for you in so many girls' faces only to
+find emptiness.  I began to doubt.  Love was just a poetic fancy, I
+thought.  But I have found it.  Let me love you."
+
+She was not surprised, nor angry.  She gently tried to detach his arms.
+"Oh, hush! hush!" she murmured.  "It is not me!  It is just the music!"
+
+"It is you!  It is you!" he protested.  "I knew it when I first saw
+you.  You or none!"
+
+"But how silly!" she said in a warm, low voice.  "You have seen me
+twice."
+
+"What difference does that make?" he said impatiently.  "One cannot be
+mistaken about a thing like this.  I love you with all my heart.  It
+only takes a second to happen, but it can never be undone while I live.
+You have entered into me and taken possession.  If you left me I should
+be no more than a shell of a man!"
+
+"Ah, but be sensible!" she begged him.  He thought he felt her
+fingertips brush his hair.  "Try to be sensible.  Think of me."
+
+"I wish to think only of you.  What do you want me to do?"
+
+"Get up and sit beside me.  Let us talk."
+
+He sat beside her on the bench.  He did not offer to touch her again.
+The moonlight was in her face; the lifted, shadowy oval seemed angelic
+to him, he was full of awe.
+
+"You're so beautiful!" he groaned, "so beautiful it hurts me!"
+
+"Hush!" she said, "you mustn't talk like that."
+
+"Is it wrong?"
+
+"Yes--no!  I don't know.  I can't bear it!"
+
+"You can do what you like with me."
+
+"You don't mean that really."
+
+"I do.  I have longed to be able to give myself up wholly."
+
+"Then be my brother, my dear brother."
+
+Evan frowned.  "You mean----?"
+
+"Be my brother," she repeated.  "I need your help."
+
+"But--but how can I?" said Evan.  "I am only a man."
+
+"The other thing only frightens me," she said quickly.  "I like
+you--but I cannot return that.  This is not just the feeling of a
+moment.  It will never change.  I know myself.  But be my friend.  Take
+what I can give you.  Do not force me to be on my guard.  I wish to let
+myself go with you."
+
+"That is what I wish," he said quickly.  Poor Evan felt hollow inside:
+hollow and a little dazed.  The cloud-piercing tower of his happiness
+had collapsed.  A sure instinct told him that what she proposed was
+impossible, and what was more, absurd.  But he clutched at straws.  The
+idea of giving her up altogether was unthinkable.  Moreover he was
+incapable of resisting her at that moment.  It was easy enough to
+silence that inner voice.  He said nothing, but merely raised her hand
+to his lips.
+
+"Swear it," she murmured.
+
+"You dictate the oath."
+
+"Swear that you will be my friend, and nothing but my friend."
+
+"I swear it."
+
+Suddenly leaning forward she kissed his cheek as a sister might have
+done--but the spot glowed long afterwards.  Then she jumped up.
+
+"You must go now."
+
+"Not quite yet," he pleaded, "Corinna."
+
+"Oh!" she rebuked him.
+
+"But you're my sister now."
+
+"Very well, you may call me Corinna, but you must go.  What will the
+landlady say?"
+
+"But you said you needed my help.  How can I rest not knowing----"
+
+"But that's too long a story to begin now.  There's no immediate danger
+threatening me.  There will be other nights."
+
+"How can I wait twenty-four hours?"
+
+"How would you like to get up early and go walking in the country
+before the day's work?"
+
+"I'd like it above all things."
+
+"Then call for me at eight.  We'll have breakfast at the French pastry
+shop.  My first lesson's at eleven."
+
+"Great!"
+
+"Now go."
+
+"Say good-night, Evan."
+
+"I will when I am more accustomed to you."
+
+"But try it just for an experiment."
+
+"Well--good-night, Evan."
+
+His name was so sweet on her tongue it required all his self-control to
+remember his oath.  He turned away with a groan.
+
+"Good-night, Corinna."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+EVAN IS RE-ENGAGED
+
+He dreamed of her all night--but not as a sister it is to be feared.
+In his dream she was running through the springtime woods with the
+glorious hair flying, and he was running after her, an endless race
+without his ever drawing nearer, while the sun shone and the little
+young leaves twinkled as if in laughter.
+
+He was awake at six and sprang out of bed to see what kind of day it
+was.  The sun was already high over the tops of the buildings to the
+east, the sky was fleckless, and the empty Park was beaming.  His
+anxiety was relieved.  He dressed as slowly as possible in order to
+kill time, taking care to make no sound that might awaken Charley in
+the next room.
+
+He was not prepared to make explanations just then.
+
+Notwithstanding all his care he was ready a whole hour too soon, an
+hour that promised to be endless, for he was completely at a loss what
+to do with himself; couldn't apply his mind to anything; couldn't sit
+still.  Finally he stole down-stairs, sending his love silently through
+her door as he passed, and started circumnavigating the Park.
+
+He was subconsciously aware of the splendour of the morning, but saw
+little of what actually met his eyes.  He was too busy with the
+happenings of the night before.  A nasty little doubt tormented him.
+He knew he was slightly insane; it was not that; he gloried in his
+state and pitied the dull clods who had not fire in their breasts to
+drive them mad.  But here was the rub; would not these same clods have
+laughed at him had they known of the oath he had taken--would not he
+have laughed himself yesterday?
+
+It was carried on inside him like an argument; on the one hand the
+enamoured young man who insisted that the relationship between brother
+and sister was a holy and beautiful one, on the other hand the
+matter-of-fact one who said it was all damn nonsense; that a man and
+woman, free, unattached and not bound by the ties of consanguinity were
+not intended to be brother and sister.  Such arguments have no end.
+The thought of Charley troubled him most; he had always taken a
+slightly superior attitude towards Charley's sentimentality.  What a
+chance for Charley to get back at him if he learned of this!
+
+At five minutes to eight, having looked at his watch fifty times or so,
+he ventured back into the house, and tapped at Corinna's door.  "She's
+bound to be late anyhow," he thought, "no harm to hurry her up a
+little."
+
+But no, she was hatted, gloved and waiting just inside the door.  This
+little fact won his gratitude surprisingly; a man does not expect it of
+a woman.  In the sunlight they took in each other anew.  What Corinna
+thought did not appear, but Evan was freshly delighted.  She was an
+out-of-doors girl it appeared; the morning became her like a shining
+garment.  He forgot the argument; it was sufficient to be with her, to
+laugh with her, to be ravished by the dusky, velvety tones of her voice.
+
+Of the hours that followed it is unnecessary to speak in detail.  It
+was one long rhapsody, and rhapsodies are apt to be a little tiresome
+to those other than the rhapsodists.  Everybody has known such hours
+for themselves--or if they have not they are unfortunate.  They
+breakfasted frugally--there is a delicious intimacy in breakfast no
+other meal knows, and then decided on Staten Island.  Half an hour
+later they were voyaging down the bay, and in an hour were in the woods.
+
+Corinna was inexorable on the question of eleven o'clock, and to Evan
+it seemed as if they had no sooner got there than they had to turn back
+again.  Evan got sore, and the pleasure of the return journey was a
+little dimmed, though there is a kind of sweetness in these little
+tiffs too.  Anybody seeing their eyes on each other, Corinna's as well
+as Evan's, would have known they were no brother and sister, but they
+still kept up the fiction.
+
+As they neared home she said: "Do you mind if I go in alone?"
+
+"Are you ashamed to be seen with me?" demanded Evan scowling.
+
+"Silly!  Didn't I propose this trip?  The reason is very simple.  Your
+ridiculous landlady looks on every man in the house as her property.  I
+don't want to excite her ill-will, that's all."
+
+Evan could not deny the truth of this characterisation of Carmen.  "Go
+on ahead," he said.  "I'll hang around in the Park for a while.  See
+you to-night."
+
+She stopped, and gave him an inscrutable look.  "Oh, I'm sorry, I
+shan't be home to-night."
+
+With this the ugly head of Corinna's mystery popped up again.  It had
+been tormenting Evan all morning, but with a lover's pride he would not
+question her, and she volunteered no information.
+
+"Oh!" said Evan flatly, and waited for her to say more.
+
+But she seemed not to be aware that anything more was required and his
+brow darkened.  "If it was me," he thought, "how eager I would be to
+explain what was taking me away from her, but she is mum!"
+
+"Come to-morrow night," she said.
+
+He bowed stiffly.
+
+She hesitated a moment as if about to explain, then thought better of
+it, and hurried away, leaving Evan inwardly fuming.
+
+He plumped down on a bench across the square from 45A, and thrusting
+his hands deep in his pockets, stretched out his legs and scowled at
+the pavement.  A "platonic friendship" had no charms for him then.
+"I'm a fool!" he said to himself.  "Her brother!"--a bitter note of
+laughter escaped him, "when I'm out of my mind with wanting her!  What
+a fool I was to stand for it!  She's just playing the regular girl's
+game--no blame to her of course, it's their instinct to keep a man at
+arm's length as long as they can.  It pleases them to have us on the
+grill.  And I fell for it!  I'm on my way to make a precious fool of
+myself.  If I can't find out where she's going to-night, I'll be clean
+off my nut before morning.  But I wouldn't ask her!  And if she's going
+out with another man--!  Lord! which is worse, to know or not to know?"
+
+When he let himself in the door of 45A, Miss Sisson, according to her
+custom, poked her head out into the hall to see who it was.  She came
+out.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Weir," she said importantly, "where have you been?"
+
+"Out," said Evan stiffly.
+
+She was too much excited to perceive the snub.  "There's been a man
+here for you half a dozen times I guess."
+
+"What did he want?"
+
+"I don't know.  Says it's most important."
+
+"Who was he?"
+
+"Wouldn't give his name.  Acted most mysterious."
+
+"What sort of looking man?"
+
+"A young fellow about your age, but scarcely a friend of yours I should
+say.  A mean-like face."
+
+This meant nothing to Evan.  He looked blank.
+
+"The last time he was here he said he'd wait," Miss Sisson went on,
+"but I said there was no place inside, because I didn't like his looks,
+so he said he'd wait in the Square and----"
+
+The sound of the door-bell interrupted her.
+
+"Here he is now!"
+
+Evan opened the door and discovered Alfred, the Deaves' second man, on
+the step.  Alfred smiled insinuatingly, but with a difference from
+their first meeting, more warily.  Miss Sisson pressed forward to hear
+what he had to say.
+
+"Can I see you a moment?" he said to Evan meaningly.
+
+Evan looked at Miss Sisson, who forthwith retired with a chagrined
+flirt of her skirts.
+
+"They sent me for you," said Alfred.
+
+Evan's eyebrows went up.  "What do they want?" he asked coolly.
+
+"Search me!" said Alfred shrugging.  "They're in a way about something."
+
+"Anything new?"
+
+"Uh-huh.  Hilton says they got another letter from the blackmailers."
+
+Evan being human, could not but feel certain stirrings of curiosity.
+"Very well, I'll come with you," he said.
+
+They left a furiously unsatisfied Miss Sisson behind them.
+
+Evan and Alfred rode up-town together on the bus.  Alfred was no less
+silky and insinuating than in the beginning, but whereas at first he
+had been genuinely candid, he now only made believe to be.
+
+"He's been warned off me," thought Evan.
+
+The conversation on Alfred's side consisted of a subtle attempt to
+elicit from Evan what had happened the day before, and on Evan's side a
+determination to balk his curiosity without appearing to be aware of
+what he was after.
+
+The Deaveses, father and son, were in the library.  Before he was well
+inside the room the latter flung out at him:
+
+"Where have you been all morning?"
+
+Evan instantly felt his collar tighten.  His jaw stuck out.  "I don't
+know as that is anybody's business but my own," he said.
+
+They both opened up on him then.  Evan could not make out what it was
+all about.  But his conscience was easy.  He could afford to smile at
+the racket.  Finally George Deaves got the floor.
+
+"Will you or will you not describe your movements this morning?" he
+demanded.
+
+"I will not," said Evan coolly.
+
+"What did I tell you?  What did I tell you?" burst out the old man.
+"Send for the police!"
+
+Evan's temper had already been put to a strain that morning.  It gave
+way now.  "Yes, send for the police!" he cried.  "I'm sick of these
+silly accusations.  I owe you nothing, neither of you.  My life is as
+open as a book.  I make a few dollars a week by honest work, and that's
+every cent I possess in the world.  Satisfy yourselves of that, and
+then let me alone!"
+
+"Papa, be quiet!" said George Deaves severely.  "I will handle this."
+To Evan he said soothingly: "There's no need for you to excite
+yourself.  I've no intention of sending for the police--yet."
+
+"Well, if you don't, I will!" said Evan.  "I'll tell them the whole
+story and insist on an investigation!"
+
+George Deaves wilted at the threat of publicity.  Evan, in the midst of
+his anger thought: "Lord, if I _were_ guilty this is exactly the way I
+would talk!  How easy it would be to bluff them!"
+
+George Deaves said: "I hope you won't do anything so foolish as that."
+
+"Well, it's a bit too much to be dragged all the way up-town just to
+listen to a re-hash of yesterday's row," said Evan.
+
+"The situation is entirely changed," said George Deaves mysteriously.
+
+"Well, I don't know anything about that!"
+
+Deaves shoved a letter across his desk towards Evan.  Evan read:
+
+
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Madam:
+
+I beg to return herewith the $5,000 in marked bills that your husband
+left for us yesterday.  We are too old birds to be caught with such
+chaff.  The story, a copy of which I sent Mr. Deaves yesterday, goes to
+the _Clarion_ at eleven A.M. to-day for publication in this evening's
+edition.  If you wish to stop it you must persuade Mr. Deaves to find a
+similar sum in clean straight money before that hour.  These bills must
+be put in an envelope and addressed to Mr. Carlton Hassell at the
+Barbizon Club, Fifth avenue near Ninth street.  Your messenger must
+simply hand it in at the door and leave.  If there is any departure
+from these instructions the money will not be touched, and the story
+goes through.
+
+With best wishes,
+
+Yours most sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"Good Heavens!" cried Evan amazed.  "Do you mean to say the money was
+returned?"
+
+George Deaves nodded.
+
+"And addressed to your wife?  What a colossal nerve!  What have you
+done?  You haven't sent fresh bills?"
+
+Another nod answered him, a somewhat sheepish nod.
+
+"Maud made him," snarled the old man.  "Insisted on taking the money
+down herself and sent it in by the chauffeur."
+
+"But you've communicated with Mr. Hassell?"
+
+"Do you know him?" demanded George Deaves sharply.
+
+"Why of course, as everybody knows him.  The most famous landscape
+painter in America--or at least the most popular.  His pictures bring
+thousands!"
+
+"What good to communicate with him?" said Deaves sullenly.  "I might
+better have him arrested."
+
+"But don't you see," urged Evan, "Hassell couldn't have had anything to
+do with this, not with the money he makes and his reputation?  Not
+unless he were crazy, and he's the sanest of men!  It's as clear as
+day.  They're just using his name.  Easy enough for somebody else to
+get the letter at the club."
+
+"Is this a trick?" muttered George Deaves scowling.
+
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "Why sure! if you want it that way.
+It's nothing to me one way or the other."  He turned to go.
+
+"Wait a minute," said Deaves.  "Why wouldn't it be better to call up
+the club?"
+
+Evan shook his head.  "A man's club is his castle.  Club servants are
+always instructed not to give out information, particularly not over
+the telephone.  Telephone Hassell.  You should have telephoned him
+before sending the money.  Or better still go to him.  It's his
+interest to get to the bottom of this."
+
+"Will you go with me?" asked Deaves stabbing his blotter.
+
+Evan smiled.  "A minute ago you implied that I was behind the scheme."
+
+"I might have been mistaken.  Anyway, if you had nothing to do with it,
+you ought to be glad to help me clear the matter up."
+
+"I'll go with you," said Evan, "not because I'll feel any necessity for
+clearing myself, but because it's the most interesting game I've ever
+been up against!"
+
+"Interesting!" shrilled the old man indignantly, "_Interesting_!  If
+you were being bled white, you wouldn't find it so interesting!  I'll
+go too."
+
+"You'll stay right here, Papa," commanded George Deaves.  "And don't
+you go out until I come back!  You've brought trouble enough on me!"
+
+"Well, you needn't bite off my head!" grumbled the old man.
+
+The Deaves limousine was available, and a few minutes later George
+Deaves and Evan were being shown into the reception room of a
+magnificent studio apartment on Art's most fashionable street.  George
+Deaves was visibly impressed by the magnificence.  It was rather an
+unusual hour to pay a call perhaps, but the Deaves name was an open
+sesame.  A millionaire and a potential picture-buyer! the great man
+himself came hurrying to greet them.  He was a handsome man of middle
+age with a lion-like head, and the affable, assured manner of a citizen
+of the world.
+
+He showed them into the studio, a superb room, but severe and
+workmanlike according to the modern usage.  Before they were
+well-seated, an attendant, knowing his duty well, began to pull out
+canvases.
+
+"I--I didn't come to talk to you about pictures," stammered George
+Deaves.
+
+At a sign from his master the man left the room.  Mr. Hassell waited
+politely to be enlightened.
+
+Poor George Deaves floundered about.  "It's such a delicate matter--I'm
+sure I don't know what you will think--I scarcely know how to tell
+you----"
+
+Hassell began to look alarmed.  He said: "Mr. Deaves, I beg you will be
+plain with me."
+
+Deaves turned hopelessly to Evan.  "You tell him."
+
+"Better show him the letter," said Evan.
+
+"The letter?" said Deaves in a panic, "what letter?  I don't understand
+you."
+
+"We came to tell him," said Evan.  "We've either got to tell him or go."
+
+Deaves wiped his face.  "Mr. Hassell, I hope I can rely on your
+discretion.  You will receive what I am about to tell you in absolute
+confidence?"
+
+"My dear sir," returned the painter a little testily, "you come to me
+in this state of agitation about I don't know what.  Whatever it is, I
+hope I will comport myself like a man of honour!"
+
+George Deaves handed over the letter in a hand that trembled.
+Hassell's face was a study as he read it.
+
+"This is blackmail!" he cried.  "And in my name!"
+
+"That's why we came to you," said Deaves--a little unnecessarily it
+might be thought.
+
+"You surely don't suspect----"
+
+"Certainly not," said Evan quickly--there was no knowing what break
+Deaves might have made.  "But you can help us."
+
+"Of course!  This letter names eleven o'clock as the hour."  Hassell
+glanced at his watch.  "It's nearly twelve now.  Why didn't you come to
+me earlier--or phone?"
+
+"Well, I didn't know--it didn't occur to me," began Deaves, and stopped
+with an appealing glance at Evan.
+
+Evan said bluntly: "Mr. Deaves was not acquainted with your name and
+your work until I told him."
+
+The great painter looked a little astonished at such ignorance.  "Has
+the money been sent to the club?" he asked.
+
+Deaves nodded shamefacedly.
+
+Mr. Hassell immediately got busy.  "I'll taxi down there at once.  I
+rarely use the Barbizon club nowadays.  Haven't been there in a month."
+
+"Shall we go with you?" asked Deaves.
+
+"No.  They may have spies posted who would see you even if you remained
+in the cab.  If you'll be good enough to wait here, I'll be back inside
+half an hour."
+
+Even in his bustle he did not neglect business.  As soon as he had gone
+the servant appeared again, and began to show his pictures.  Deaves
+goggled at them indifferently, but Evan was keenly interested.  He
+studied them with the mixture of scorn and envy that is characteristic
+of the attitude of poor young artists towards rich old ones.
+
+Within a few minutes of his half hour Hassell was back again.  "Not
+much to report," he said deprecatingly.  "The envelope addressed to me
+was delivered just before eleven o'clock, and put in the H box of the
+letter rack.  It was gone when I looked, of course, but who took it
+remains to be discovered.  About thirty members had gone in and out.
+Practically everybody stops at the letter rack.  I have a list of those
+who passed in and out as well as the doorkeeper could make it out from
+memory."
+
+"How about the door-keeper?" asked Deaves.
+
+"Above suspicion, I should say.  Has been with the club for twenty
+years.  A simple soul hardly capable of acting a part.  He would hardly
+have told me that he put my letter in the rack himself."
+
+"Other servants then?"
+
+"There were several boys on duty in the hall, but they are not supposed
+to go to the letter-rack without orders.  If one of them had looked
+over the letters it could scarcely have escaped notice.  No, unpleasant
+as it is to think so, I am afraid it was one of the members--someone
+who was counting on the fact that I never appear at the club except for
+an important meeting or a dinner.  I looked over the members in the
+clubhouse, honest-looking men--but who can tell?"
+
+"No doubt the one who got the money left immediately," suggested Evan.
+
+Hassell said to Deaves: "With your permission I should like to take the
+matter up with the Board of Governors."
+
+"No, no, if you please," said Deaves nervously.  "No publicity."
+
+"Then allow me to put this list in the hands of a first-class detective
+agency.  Those fellows are secret enough."
+
+"Let me attend to it if you please."
+
+Hassell handed over the list with manifest reluctance; "If anyone uses
+my name again I trust you will let me know promptly."
+
+"You may depend on it," said Deaves, making for the door.
+
+"By the way, how did you like my pictures?"
+
+"Very pretty, very pretty," said Deaves uneasily.  "I don't know
+anything about such things.  My wife buys everything for the home."
+
+"Ah!" said Hassell with ironical eyebrows.
+
+"I will tell her about them."
+
+"Thank you," said Hassell, bowing them out.
+
+George Deaves didn't say much on the way home, but Evan was aware that
+his attitude had changed.  There were no more accusations.  Clearly
+Deaves had been impressed by the fact that the interview with Hassell
+had turned out exactly as Evan had foretold.
+
+Simeon Deaves was still shuffling around the library in his slippers.
+"Well?" he demanded.
+
+His son briefly told him what had occurred.
+
+The old man was in a very bad temper.  "Yah! let him pull wool over
+your eyes!" he cried.  "All a pack of thieves together!  Artists never
+have any money!  And this one knows more than he lets on.  He's too
+smart by half!  You mark my words!"
+
+"Please go outside," the much-tried George said to Evan.  "Wait in the
+hall."
+
+Evan obeyed with a shrug.  Outside the softly-stepping Alfred was
+loitering suspiciously.  He approached Evan.
+
+"Something doing to-day, eh?" he said with his obsequious-impudent
+leer.  "Where did you two go?"
+
+Evan's gorge rose at the man.  He saw nothing to be gained now by
+hiding his feelings.  "You damn sneak!" he said quietly.  "Keep away
+from me, or I'll hurt you!"
+
+Alfred, with a scared and venomous look, slunk down-stairs.  Evan felt
+better.
+
+Presently George Deaves called him back into the library.  At what had
+taken place between father and son he could only guess.  The old man's
+attitude had changed; he was disposed to be friendly.  Divided between
+their fears and their suspicions father and son were continually making
+these face-abouts.
+
+George Deaves said in his pompous way: "My father has re-considered his
+decision not to employ you further.  He will be glad to have you stay
+according to the original arrangement."
+
+"That's right," added the old man.  "I just spoke a little hasty.  I
+always said you were a good boy."
+
+Evan's face hardened.  "I'm not sure that I want the job," he said.
+
+"Forty dollars a week's a fine salary," said Simeon Deaves.
+
+"I'll stay for fifty," said Evan coolly.
+
+They both gasped.  "Are you trying to hold us up?" cried George Deaves.
+
+"If that's what you want to call it," said Evan.  "You force me to.  If
+I appear anxious for the job, you will soon be accusing me again of
+being in the gang.  As a matter of fact I don't care whether I stay or
+not."
+
+"Well, I'll pay it," said George Deaves with a sour face, "provided
+you'll agree to investigate the list Hassell gave us in your spare
+time."
+
+"I'll do it," said Evan.  "I'm interested.  You'd better discharge
+Alfred who is certainly a spy, and get a detective in his place to keep
+a watch on the other servants."
+
+"Those fellows cost ten dollars a day!" cried Simeon Deaves.
+
+"The blackmailers are getting five thousand out of you every
+fortnight," retorted Evan.
+
+"I do not see the necessity for a detective," said George Deaves
+loftily.  "As long as I'm paying you all this money.  You can look out
+for that side of the case as well."
+
+"Just as you like," said Evan smiling.  It was hopeless to try to argue
+with these people.
+
+Alfred entered, and giving Evan a wide berth laid a long envelope on
+George Deaves' desk.  "Brought by messenger," he said.  "No answer."
+He left the room.
+
+Deaves paled as his eyes fell on the superscription.
+
+"The same handwriting!" he murmured.
+
+He nervously tore open the envelope.  It contained some typewritten
+sheets, and a slip with writing upon it.  George Deaves read the letter
+with a perplexed expression, and handed it over to Evan.
+
+"What do you make of that?" he asked.
+
+Evan read: "Received of George Deaves the sum of five thousand dollars
+in full payment of the story entitled: 'Simeon Deaves Goes Shopping,'
+including all rights.  All existing copies of the manuscript enclosed.
+Many thanks.  The Ikunahkatsi."
+
+"Same old impudence!" said Evan smiling grimly.  "This crook is
+something of a character it seems.  Affects a kind of honesty in his
+dealings."
+
+"Oh, he's kept a copy of the story," said George Deaves.
+
+"Possibly.  But why should he go to the trouble of making believe that
+he has not?--and send a receipt?  Criminal psychology is queer.  This
+is something out of the common that we are up against!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE COMPACT IS SMASHED
+
+Evan spent the afternoon walking about with Simeon Deaves.  The old man
+was an indefatigable pedestrian.  He had no object in his wanderings,
+but loved to poke into the oddest and most out-of-the-way corners of
+the town.  They were not followed to-day so far as Evan could tell.  At
+first Simeon Deaves was uneasy and suspicious of his body-guard, but
+finding that Evan took everything calmly for granted, he unbent and
+became loquacious.  All his talk was on the same subject: how to get
+along in the world, i.e. how to make money.
+
+Evan having taken him home at last, sank into the seat of a bus with
+relief.  "Anyhow it will be good for my health," he thought.
+
+Before going home he called at the studio of a friend, a member of the
+Barbizon Club, and without taking him entirely into his confidence,
+enlisted his aid in investigating the actions and habits of the men on
+Hassell's list.  It may be said here, that nothing came of this.
+
+Evan and Charley met for the evening meal.  The irrepressible Charley
+was still singing about the red-haired girl.  In spite of his boasts it
+appeared that his advances had consistently been turned down.  Evan
+took a little comfort from this.  Sullenness was unknown to the gay
+Charley and he was not a whit less optimistic because of his set-backs.
+
+"You don't want a girl to be too come-on-ish," he said.  "A
+highty-tighty manner adds zest to the game.  They don't expect to be
+taken seriously when they turn you down, bless your heart, no.  Why, if
+I let that girl drop now, she'd despise me for my faintheartedness.
+Sure, and be as disappointed as anything!"
+
+Evan was not in much of a humour to laugh at him.  Indeed he foresaw
+that an impossible situation would presently develop between Charley
+and him unless he said something.  With an elaborately casual manner he
+began at last:
+
+"I say, Charl, you and I have always played fair with each other."
+
+"Well I should rather fahncy, as Lord Percy said.  What's on your
+chest, boy?  Unload!  Unload!"
+
+"It's only fair to tell you that I have become acquainted with the
+young lady in question."
+
+Charley stared.  "The Deuce you say!  You, the scorner of the sex!
+Since when?"
+
+"Two nights ago."
+
+"And you never said a word about it.  You let me shoot off my mouth all
+this time and never----"
+
+"What was there to say?"
+
+"You packed me off to the life class last night so you could--"
+
+"That was for your own good!"
+
+"Come off!  Come off!  Have I such a trusting eye?  On the level why
+didn't you tell me before?"
+
+What was Evan to say.  He began an explanation that was no explanation.
+Charley's sharp eyes bored him through and through.
+
+"By the Lord!" cried the latter at last, "Old Stony-heart has melted!
+St. Anthony has fallen for the caloric tresses.  Touched where he
+lives, by Gad!  Brought low and humbled in the dust!"
+
+Evan grinned painfully.  "Don't be a fool!" he muttered.
+
+"How does it feel?" asked Charley with mock solicitude, "a dull ache in
+the epigastrium or a fluttering sensation in the pericardium; some lay
+stress on the characteristic feeling of heaviness behind the occiput."
+
+"You wheeze like a vaudeville performer on small time," growled Evan.
+
+Charley roared.  He did not often get his partner on the grill like
+this.  It was generally the other way about.  But in the midst of his
+outrageous joshing it suddenly struck the warm-hearted Charley that
+under his game grin Evan was suffering very pretty torments.  Charley
+jumped up and for the briefest of seconds laid his hand on his
+partner's shoulder.
+
+"Look here," he said abruptly, "you know what I think of you really, or
+if you don't you'll have to take it for granted, for I'll never tell
+you.  I haven't the words, but only a line of cheap cackle as you say.
+Understand, from this time on it's a clear field for you, see?  Me for
+the Movies, to-night."
+
+Evan was touched, but of course he couldn't show Charley his feelings,
+for that matter Charley did not require it.  "You needn't go out on my
+account," he grumbled.  "I don't expect to see her to-night.  She has a
+date."
+
+Such was the bitterness with which he said it, that Charley could not
+help but laugh again.  "Cheer up!" he cried.  "It has been known to
+happen.  Fellows like you take it too hard.  Hard wood is slow to
+catch, eh, but Lor' what a heat she throws out!"
+
+"Don't jolly me," muttered Evan.  "I can't take it!"
+
+Charley's face softened again for an instant.  "C'mon with me," he
+said.  "Mildred Macy in the Spawn of Infamy's at the Nonpareil.  Milly
+is some vamp I hear."
+
+"Couldn't sit through a picture," said Evan.  "You go."
+
+Nevertheless when the dishes were washed up the prospect of spending
+the evening alone in the little room was too ghastly.  As Charley got
+up Evan said sheepishly:
+
+"Believe I will go."
+
+"Bully!" said Charley.  "Get your hat."
+
+As they passed her door Evan's ears were long.  No sounds came from
+within, no crack of light showed beneath.  He had been hoping against
+hope that she might be there.  Where was she?  The picture of a little
+restaurant rushed before his mind's eye, Corinna and a man on opposite
+sides of the table, their smiling faces drawing close over the cloth.
+He suffered as much as if he had actually beheld them.  That's the
+worst of having a vivid imagination.
+
+"Spawn of Infamy" proved to be what Charley termed "High-life for
+low-lifers" and they were home shortly after nine.  As they mounted the
+first flight Evan perceived a crack of light under Corinna's door and
+his heart rose.  She was home early, she had not had a good time then.
+But as they rounded the landing he heard her voice inside.  She had a
+visitor--alone in there with her!  A horrible spasm of pain contracted
+his breast.  He had much ado to restrain himself from beating with his
+fists on the door.  He followed Charley up-stairs grinding his teeth.
+He had never suspected that such raging devils lay dormant in his blood.
+
+When they got up-stairs it was quite impossible for Evan to remain
+there.  For a moment or two he walked up and down like something caged;
+he could not pretend to hide the feelings that were tearing him.
+Charley glancing at him wonderingly out of the tail of his eye, bustled
+about talking foolishly.
+
+Finally Evan said thickly: "It's stuffy up here.  I'm going down to
+walk around the Park awhile."
+
+Charley's eyes followed him compassionately.  Charley's time to
+experience this sort of thing had not arrived.
+
+When he started Evan honestly intended to go down in the Park and calm
+himself with the exercise of walking.  But unfortunately he had to pass
+her door.  In spite of himself he stopped there, and despising himself,
+listened.  He heard her say: "I won't sing to-night.  I'm not in the
+humour."  Then he heard a man's voice low and urgent, and he saw red.
+He knocked.
+
+She came promptly and opened the door, opened it wide.  She did not
+quail when she saw his lowering face.
+
+"Good evening," she said with the upward inflection meaning: "What do
+you want?"
+
+Her tone flatly denied their intimacy of the night before.  This aspect
+of a woman's nature was new to Evan; he was astonished and hotly
+indignant.
+
+"May I come in?" he asked stiffly.
+
+"Certainly," she said promptly and indifferently, and threw the door
+open wide.
+
+Evan stepped in, and his eyes flew to find his rival.  The latter was
+sitting between the piano and the window.  He was younger than Evan,
+not much more than a lad in fact, but a resolute, comely lad; one of
+whom Evan could be jealous.
+
+"Mr. Weir, Mr. Anway," said Corinna impassively.
+
+They nodded, eyeing each other like strange dogs.  A factitious calm
+descended on Evan.  He could even smile, but there were ugly lines
+around his mouth.  His voice was harsh.
+
+"Aren't we going to have some music?" he said.
+
+By this he meant to convey to the other man that he was accustomed to
+be entertained in that room.  The point was not lost.  The younger man
+whitened about the lips.  The girl gave no sign at all.  Even in his
+anger Evan commended her pluck.  She kept her chin up; her eyes were
+scornful.
+
+"I'll play," she said going towards the piano.
+
+"I like your singing better," said Evan.
+
+"I am not in the humour," she said in a tone that finally disposed of
+the question.
+
+She played--what she played Evan never knew.  It is doubtful if any of
+them heard a note.  Evan sat affecting to listen with a smile like a
+grimace.  The other man kept his eyes down.  Whatever Corinna may have
+been feeling, it did not interfere with the technical excellence of her
+performance; her fingers danced like fairies over the keys, but
+to-night there was no magic in the sounds they evoked.
+
+Corinna's part was the easiest because she had something to do and
+somewhere to look.  She went from one piece to another without a word
+being spoken.  Evan went on smiling until his face was cracking; the
+other never looked up.
+
+Finally the sounds began to get on Evan's nerves.  "Don't tire
+yourself!" he said with bitter politeness.
+
+She stopped, and turning around on the bench waited for him to say
+something more.  Her attitude said plainer than words: "You provoked
+this situation; very well, it's up to you to save it."  This cool
+defiance in a mere girl, a little one at that, angered Evan past all
+bearing.  He smiled the more, and addressed the other man:
+
+"Fond of music, Mr. Anway?"
+
+"Very," said the other without looking at him.
+
+"What is your favourite piece in Miss Playfair's repertoire--I mean
+among the songs."
+
+"I have no favourite."
+
+"But don't you think she sings 'Just a Wearyin' for You' and 'Love
+Unexpressed' with wonderful expression?"
+
+Anway did not answer.  Corinna yawned delicately.  "You'll have to
+excuse me," she said.  "I have to go to Ridgewood early to-morrow to
+give lessons."
+
+Anway, better-mannered than Evan--or better-trained, immediately rose.
+Evan sat tight, smiling mockingly at Corinna.  "No, you don't!" the
+smile said.  His conduct was inexcusable of course, but he was beyond
+caring for that.  She had denied him and defied him to his face; let
+her take the consequences.  Anway seeing that Evan wasn't going, sat
+down again flushing.
+
+"Don't wait for me," said Evan.  "I only have to go up-stairs."
+
+Anway bit his lip.  He was not deficient in pluck, but he lacked Evan's
+self-possession.  The two or three years' difference in age put him at
+a cruel disadvantage.  Finally he looked at the girl.
+
+"May I stay a little longer, Corinna?" he asked.
+
+The Christian name stabbed Evan.  He sneered.  "Nice, well-mannered
+little boy!" his expression said.
+
+"You must both go," said Corinna calmly.
+
+Evan smiled at her again, but she refused to meet his glance.  However
+he stood up now, for he wished to start the other man on his way.
+Anway picked up his hat and gloves.  Then all three stood there
+avoiding each other's glances.  Neither man would be the first to say
+good-night, nor would Corinna address one before the other.  It was a
+sufficiently absurd situation, but it had all the potentialities of a
+violent one.  Finally Corinna cut the knot by saying:
+
+"Good-night, both of you."  She opened the door.
+
+The two young men glared at each other.  Anway was the weaker spirit
+and he had to go first.  But he lingered just outside the door to make
+sure that Evan was coming too.
+
+Evan whispered to Corinna: "I'm coming back."
+
+"Indeed you're not!" she retorted, glancing significantly at the key in
+the door.
+
+"Then I won't go," said Evan coolly turning back into the room.
+
+Corinna bit her lip.  Clearly, Evan offered her a new set of problems
+in the management of men.  Anway sought to enter again, but she stopped
+him.
+
+"Please go, Leonard," she murmured.  "This is too absurd!"
+
+The whispered colloquy was perfectly audible to Evan.
+
+Anway said: "But I don't like to leave you alone with----"
+
+She laughed slightly.  "Nonsense!  I can take care of myself!"
+
+"But, Corinna, if I go he'll think I----"
+
+"I will put him straight as to that."
+
+"Corinna," this low and thick, "what is this man to you?"
+
+"No more than you--or any of my friends."
+
+"But, Corinna----"
+
+"Go!"
+
+He went step by step with heavy feet on the stairs.
+
+Corinna came into the room leaving the door open.  Her eyes were bright
+with anger.  "Well, you won your pitiful little victory over the boy,"
+she said scornfully.  "I hope you're pleased with yourself!"
+
+The blood began to pound in Evan's temples.  "Don't speak to me like
+that!" he said thickly.  "I am no tame thing!"
+
+"You may go," she said.
+
+He smiled.  "Not so easily!"
+
+"Then I will."
+
+"Where will you go?"
+
+"To Miss Sisson's room."
+
+Evan laughed.  He had not much fear of that.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" she demanded.
+
+For a brief instant he seemed to catch a glimpse inside himself and was
+aghast at what was stewing there.  "God knows!" he said helplessly.
+
+Corinna took heart at this evidence of weakness.  "Then go away until
+you come to your senses," she said imperiously.
+
+Evan flushed darkly.  "I will not go!" he said.
+
+They stared at each other.
+
+Finally words began to come to Evan, at first haltingly: "Last
+night--you sang to me.  Love songs--that drew the very heart out of
+me----"
+
+She made an indignant movement.
+
+"Oh, I know what you're going to say, they were just songs that you
+might sing to anybody.  But you sung them to me--in a warm and tender
+voice, knowing that my ears were hungry for the sounds.  You sang down
+all my defenses.  You sang to me until I was soft and helpless.  You
+sang me to your feet.  I offered you myself--all there is of me body
+and soul.  And you took me!--Oh, I know you made conditions, what did I
+care?  I scarcely heard them.  What do words matter at such moments?  I
+offered you my love, and you took it.  I felt from that moment that I
+was yours, and you mine.
+
+"To-night when I came I found another man here--another man you were
+accustomed to sing to--how many of them are there?--the same songs, Oh
+God!  Another man who looked at you with sick eyes of longing!  And you
+denied me when I came!  You looked at me with the eyes of a stranger
+because he was here!  And now you ask me what is the matter with me.
+Am I a toy spaniel to be petted and turned out of the room by turn?"
+
+She found her voice at last.  "You have no right to speak to me like
+that!  You promised me----"
+
+"Oh, damn such promises!  That's all nonsense!  You're a woman and I'm
+a man!  Have all the little brothers you want, but count me out.  I
+will be your lover or nothing!"
+
+"How dare you!" she gasped.  "You brute!"
+
+"Yes, I'm a brute!" he said.  "I'm glad of it!  Brutal things need to
+be said to clear the air.  There's been too much sickly nonsense.  You
+despise men, don't you?  You like to see them crawling?  You need a
+lesson!  You shall be mine, and mine only and you shall respect me!"
+
+Corinna was well-nigh speechless now.  "I hate you!  I hate you!" she
+gasped.  "Leave my room!"
+
+"Not till we come to an understanding."
+
+She darted for the door.  It was a mistake in tactics.  A joyous flame
+leaped up in his eyes and he seized her.  She fought him like a little
+tigress, but he only laughed deep inside of him, and drawing her close
+kissed her pulsing throat.
+
+She ceased to struggle.  The hands that had been beating his face stole
+around his neck.  Her lips sought his of their own accord.
+
+"I love you!" she murmured.  "I can't help myself!  I love you!  What
+will happen to me now!"
+
+
+At breakfast next morning Evan was in the highest spirits.  His
+piercing inaccurate whistling of "Mighty Lak' a Rose" got Charley out
+of bed a good half hour before his time.  Charley looked at him rather
+sourly, not too well pleased to have his role of little sunshine
+usurped by another.  A scratch decorated one of Evan's cheeks which
+Charley did not overlook.
+
+"What have you been in?" he asked sarcastically.
+
+"Cut myself shaving," replied Evan with a casual air.
+
+"You must have shaved early.  It's dry."
+
+Evan's only reply was another cadenza.
+
+"Here's a change of tune!" commented Charley.  "Last night it was the
+Dead March from Saul."
+
+"Come on, slug!  Breakfast's on the table."
+
+It was impossible for Charley to be ill-tempered for long.  Presently
+he began to grin.  "Pleasant walking in the Square last night?" he
+asked dryly.
+
+Evan couldn't quite confide in him, but he was not unwilling that
+Charley should guess how matters stood.  "Out-o'-sight!" he cried.
+
+"Want to borrow some money?" said Charley carelessly.  "I'm flush."
+
+Evan stared.  "How did you guess that?"
+
+"They generally do," said Charley airily.
+
+"I'll be paid by the old man at the end of the week."
+
+"That's all right.  Here's five, son.  I can recommend the one on the
+Avenue just below Fourteenth."
+
+"The one what?" asked Evan innocently.
+
+"Florist."
+
+Evan blushed.
+
+On his way down-stairs Evan tapped on her door with beating heart.
+There was no answer.  With a sigh he went on.  Carmen, who missed
+little, had heard him stop and coming out, volunteered the information
+that Miss Playfair had gone out real early.  Evan thanked her, and
+hurried on, dreading to face the sharp-eyed spinster.
+
+All morning he walked the streets with Simeon Deaves in a dream.  In
+the middle of the day he made an excuse to avoid luncheon at the
+Deaves' and rushed home, stopping en route to buy a small-sized
+cartwheel of violets.
+
+He let himself in softly and managed to get on the stairs without
+attracting Carmen's attention.  The violets were hidden under his coat.
+Corinna's door stood open now, and his heart began to beat.  "Will she
+recognise my step?" he thought.  "I would know hers on my flight."
+
+He stood in her doorway and the heart slowly froze in his breast.  The
+room was empty, dreadfully empty.  She was gone.  The empty mantel, the
+empty floor, the empty place where the piano had stood seemed to mock
+at him.  He turned a little sick, and put his hand out behind him on
+the door frame for support.  "There is some mistake," he told himself,
+but he knew in his heart there was no mistake.  This was the natural
+outcome of the tormenting mystery in which Corinna enveloped herself.
+
+He looked stupidly down at the violets in his hand.  In a spasm of pain
+he threw them on the floor and ground them under his heel.  Their
+fragrance filled the room.  Then the violence passed and he felt dead
+inside.  He looked inside the little dressing-room--not that he
+expected to find her there, but it was a place to look.  It was empty
+of course.
+
+When he issued out again the sight of the bruised flowers caused him a
+fresh wrench.  Lying there they were like a public advertisement of his
+betrayed heart.  He picked them up and thrust them as far as he could
+reach up the chimney flue.
+
+In the midst of Evan's pain a voice seemed to whisper to him: "You
+might have expected it.  It was too much happiness!"
+
+Later he thought: "There will be a letter for me up-stairs," and ran up
+the two flights, knowing there would be no letter.  Yet he searched
+even in the unlikeliest places.  There was no letter.  To his relief
+Charley was out.
+
+He thought of Carmen.  Dreadful as it was to face her prying eyes, it
+was still more dreadful not to know what had happened.  He went
+down-stairs again.  On the final flight the unhappy wretch started to
+whistle, hoping by that to attract her to her door that he might not
+have to ask for information.
+
+The ruse was successful.  She came out into the hall.  Evan found
+himself curiously studying the odd bumps that the curling pins made
+under her frowsy boudoir cap.  She required no lead to make her talk.
+
+"Miss Playfair has gone!" she cried.
+
+"So I see," said Evan.  He listened carefully to the sound of his own
+voice.  It did not shake.  He kept his back to the light from the front
+door.
+
+"What do you know about that!  I never did like her.  One of them
+flibbertigibbets!  You never can trust a red-haired woman!  And such a
+display of her hair, as if it was beautiful indeed!  That showed her
+character.  But I should worry!  Paid me a month's rent in advance when
+she came.  Wanted part of it back this morning.  But I said, 'Oh, no,
+my dear!  That's the landlady's propensity--I mean perquisite.'"
+
+Evan wondered if the sick disgust he felt of the woman showed in his
+face.  As a matter of fact his face was simply wooden.  Carmen rattled
+on unsuspiciously:
+
+"That's enough for me.  I don't care if I never rent the rooms.  No
+more women in my house.  They lower the tone.  A man of course can do
+anything and it doesn't matter, but a woman in the house is a cause for
+suspicion even if she doesn't do anything."
+
+Evan was not interested in Miss Sisson's ideas.  He wanted information.
+"What reason did she give for leaving?" he asked carelessly.
+
+"Said she had an important musical offer from out of town.  But do you
+believe that?  I don't."
+
+"She didn't lose much time in moving her things," suggested Evan.
+
+"No indeed.  Looks very suspicious if you ask me."
+
+Evan was obliged to put his question in more direct form.  "Who moved
+her things?"
+
+"Just an ordinary truck without any name on it.  I looked particularly.
+The piano people came for the piano.  Rented.  It was a Stannering."
+
+Fearing that the next question could not but betray him, Evan was
+nevertheless obliged to ask it: "Did she leave any forwarding address?"
+
+Miss Sisson's gimlet eyes bored him through before she replied.  "Yes,
+I asked her.  She said she didn't expect anything to come here, but if
+it did I could forward it care of her friend Miss Evans, 133 West Ninth
+street.  Did she owe you any money?"
+
+This was too much.  "No, indeed," said Evan, and hurried away.
+
+He walked blindly across the Square, conscious only that Carmen was
+probably watching him through the narrow pane beside the door.  How
+well he knew her expression of mean inquisitiveness.  He was marching
+into blackness.  He was incapable of thinking consecutively.  What was
+left of his faculties was concentrated to the sole end of concealing
+his hurt.
+
+But he still had two clues.  He automatically turned down Ninth street
+looking for 133 only to find what everybody knows that West Ninth
+street ends at Sixth avenue and there are consequently no numbers
+beyond 100.  He went to the Stannering piano warerooms to ask if they
+had the new address of Miss Corinna Playfair on their books.  He was
+told that Miss Playfair had returned her piano that morning saying that
+she was leaving town and would require it no longer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+MAUD'S INTEREST
+
+Meanwhile Evan's association with Simeon Deaves was not without its
+humorous side.  By the exercise of patience and diplomacy he gradually
+learned how to manage the old man like a child, though like a child
+there were times when he was perfectly unmanageable.  Evan in a way
+became quite attached to him simply because he was a responsibility.
+
+Avarice was a kind of disease that afflicted him.  Apart from that he
+was a harmless, even a likable old fellow.  He suffered from acute
+attacks, so to speak: these were his unmanageable times.  He became sly
+and furtive, and sought for pretexts to sneak out of the house without
+Evan, or to give him the slip in the street.  Evan had to watch sharp
+to keep him out of trouble.  He had little doubt but that they were
+generally followed, but by more experienced trackers than the youth in
+grey for he could never be sure of it.
+
+Simeon Deaves had a thousand foibles, some of which Evan found sadly
+trying.  For instance it was his delight to walk up and down the aisles
+of department stores asking to be shown goods, and haggling over the
+price without the slightest intention of purchasing anything.  The
+audible remarks of the salesgirls made Evan's cheeks burn.
+
+When he remonstrated with the old man, the latter would not rest
+thereafter until he had given Evan the slip.  Under cover of the crowds
+he would slip out of a side door, or dart into an elevator just as the
+door was closing.  After a search Evan would find him perhaps entering
+a second-hand shop to trade the decent clothes that Maud made him wear
+for something out of stock with a little cash to boot.  At other times
+Evan would track him by the crowd that gathered to hear his argument
+with a shoe-string peddler or a push-cart man.  A favourite trick of
+his to evade Evan was to suddenly dart behind a moving trolley car.
+More than once this almost ended his career on the spot.  At other
+times he was quite tractable and seemed almost fond of Evan.
+
+Bargaining was his ruling passion.  Consequently they haunted such
+places as the sidewalk market in Grand street, and the fish market
+under the Queensboro Bridge.  Notwithstanding his avarice the old man
+not seldom bought things for which he had no possible use, simply
+because he thought they were cheap.  He would bring home a doubtful
+fish in a bit of newspaper or a bag of pickled apples which promptly
+found their way into the Deaves' garbage cans.
+
+His pet aversion was beggars.  Woe to the beggar who tackled Simeon
+Deaves unwittingly.  He would receive a lecture on Thrift on the spot.
+This likewise furnished amusement to the street crowds.
+
+Evan's grand object, of course, was to keep the old man from doing
+anything which would give the blackmailers a further hold on him.  One
+of his narrowest escapes took place under the very roof of the Deaves
+house.  The old man was considered safe in his own little junk room in
+the basement, and was allowed to potter there unwatched.  One rainy
+morning while he was supposedly so engaged Evan was enjoying a respite
+with a book in the little office adjoining the library, when through
+the open door into the hall he saw one of the maids whisper to another,
+then both tittered and scampered down stairs.  Evan always on the alert
+for mischief, quietly followed.
+
+He found most of the servants of that disorderly establishment gathered
+in a basement passage with heads bent, listening to sounds that issued
+through the door of Simeon Deaves' room.  Among them was Hilton the
+butler, an oily, obese rascal whom Evan thoroughly distrusted.  All
+vanished the other way down the passage at Evan's approach.
+
+Evan knocked peremptorily, and the door being opened, he saw that the
+multi-millionaire was closeted with a typical specimen of old clo' man,
+bearded, dirty and cringing.  It was their dispute over sundry articles
+in Simeon Deaves' weird collection that had drawn the giggling
+servants.  It appeared that the old man was the seller.  Evan bounced
+the old clo' man in spite of his protests.
+
+"I come by appoindmend, mister.  I come by appoindmend!"
+
+"All right" said Evan.  "Call it a disappoindmend, and get!"
+
+The old man was indignant too.  "A very honest man," he protested.  "He
+was willing to pay me twenty-five cents for my alarm clock.  I could
+have got him up to thirty.  It isn't worth more than fifteen!"
+
+"You can be sure then that he was taking a chance of picking up
+something for nothing," said Evan.  "When will you learn sense!  All
+the servants listening and giggling in the passage.  Nice story the
+alarm clock would make in the papers!"
+
+But it was impossible to make the old man realize his own absurdity.
+"Well, you needn't bite my head off," he said pettishly.  "Come on,
+let's go out.  A little rain won't hurt us."
+
+From which it will be seen that their relative positions had undergone
+a considerable change since the beginning.  Evan had become the mentor
+and guide.
+
+In the past the demands for money had come pretty regularly about once
+a fortnight, Evan learned.  As the end of the two weeks drew near a
+certain apprehension was evident in the house.  George Deaves was
+wretchedly anxious, Evan somewhat less so, while the old man went his
+ways undisturbed.
+
+And then the letter came.  One morning on his arrival Evan was directed
+to the library where he found George Deaves in a state of prostration.
+He waved a letter at Evan in a kind of weak indignation.  Evan took it
+and read:
+
+
+"Dear Mr. Deaves:
+
+Another story has been written to add to the blithe biography of your
+parent.  It is the most humorous chapter so far.  We do not enclose it,
+as we desire to stimulate your curiosity.  You can read it in the
+_Clarion_ to-morrow evening--unless you wish to reserve that pleasure
+exclusively to yourself.  In that case you may send a picture to the
+rummage sale of the Red Cross at -- Fifth avenue.  Mrs. Follett Drayton
+is in charge.  Send any framed picture and between the picture and the
+backing insert five of Uncle Sam's promissory notes of the usual
+denomination.  Put your name on the picture for purposes of
+identification.
+
+Yours as ever,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"This is the return I get for the money I have paid you!" said George
+Deaves reproachfully.
+
+"It's a bluff!" said Evan.
+
+"Can you assure me of that?"
+
+"I can't swear to it of course.  Mr. Deaves gives me the slip once in a
+while.  And there was one day I was not with him.  But he says he
+didn't go out that day.  I'm sure it's a bluff.  If they had a new
+story on him they'd send it fast enough."
+
+"Maybe they're going to print the last one."
+
+"Maybe.  But in that case why not say so?  They have shown a queer
+sense of honour heretofore in suggesting that when you paid for a story
+that was done with.  Have you got the envelope this came in?"
+
+George Deaves handed it over.  It was of medium size and made of cheap
+"Irish linen" paper.  The post-mark was Hamilton Grange.  A small
+peculiarity that Evan marked was that though it had been sent from a
+New York post-office the words "New York City" were written in full.
+
+"What do you think about this Mrs. Drayton?" asked Deaves.
+
+"A woman above suspicion.  They're using her as they used Hassell.
+Easy enough to plant somebody in the Red Cross shop to watch the
+packages received.  Someone to buy the picture you send."
+
+"You advise me to ignore this then?"
+
+"No, if it was me I'd call their bluff.  Have a better moral effect.
+Get an old picture from somewhere and stick a piece of paper in the
+back.  The fellow who wrote this letter fancies himself as a humorist.
+Answer him in kind.  Write on the paper: 'Show me first your wares.'"
+
+"What does that mean?" asked George Deaves innocently.
+
+"A quotation from Simple Simon," answered Evan grinning.
+
+The other man hung in a painful state of indecision, biting his nails.
+At last he said breathlessly with a tremendous effort of resolution:
+"Very well, I'll do it."
+
+
+But the gang proved to have another shot in its locker.  Next morning
+Evan was sent for again to the library where he found a family conclave
+in session.  The gorgeous Maud in purple velvet and pearls ("How does
+she get the money out of them?" thought Evan) was detonating like a
+thunderstorm in the hills.  George Deaves sat crushed at his desk, and
+the old man sputtered and snarled when he could get a word in.  Maud
+(it was impossible for Evan to think of her by a more respectful name)
+promptly turned to discharge her lightnings at Evan's head.
+
+"What are you good for?" she demanded.  "Aren't you paid a good salary
+to keep my husband's father from disgracing us all?  Why don't you do
+it then?  Why don't you do it?"
+
+Evan bit his lip to keep from smiling in her face.  To an outsider
+these family rows smacked of burlesque.  One could always depend on the
+actors to play their regular parts.
+
+"If you would please explain," said Evan mildly.
+
+"Read that!" She thrust a letter at him.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Madam:
+
+Your husband has declined to purchase the latest anecdote of Mr. Simeon
+Deaves, and has bidden us to let the general public enjoy the laugh.
+This we will very gladly do, but knowing you to be a lady of sensitive
+nature, it seemed too bad not to give you a chance to act in the matter
+first.  The story will be published in the _Clarion_ this evening
+unless we hear from you or from Mr. Deaves.  In case you wish to stop
+it please see our letter of yesterday for instructions how to reach us
+and what to send.
+
+In the meantime pray accept, dear Madam, the assurances of our
+distinguished consideration, and believe us,
+
+Yours most respectfully,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"Why wasn't it sent?" she cried.
+
+"Mr. Deaves decided that they were bluffing this time," said Evan.
+
+"You advised me!" said Deaves.
+
+"Certainly" said Evan.  "That's all I can do.  The decision rests with
+you."
+
+"Why wasn't I consulted?" cried Maud.
+
+And so the storm raged up and down.  Evan devoutly wished himself some
+place else.
+
+"Knowing your father's propensity for disgracing us I don't believe
+it's a bluff!" cried Maud.
+
+"Disgracing you!" retorted the old man.  "Whose money paid for those
+gew-gaws?"
+
+"Must I stand here to be insulted in the presence of my husband!"
+
+"Papa, be quiet!"
+
+"Disgracing you?  Where would you all be, but for this disgraceful old
+man I'd like to know!"
+
+But neither of the men was any match for Maud.  Within a quarter of an
+hour she had driven the old man from the room and reduced her husband
+to a palpitating jelly.
+
+In the end the latter said hopelessly: "Very well, I'll send the money."
+
+Maud swept triumphantly out of the room.  Evan looked after her with a
+new eye.  During the last few minutes an extraordinary suspicion had
+come into his mind, an incredible suspicion, but it would not down.
+
+The wretched George Deaves played with the objects on his desk.  "All
+very well to say I'll send it," he muttered.  "But where am I going to
+get it?  Useless to ask Papa."
+
+Evan was silent.  There was nothing for him to say.
+
+George Deaves looked at him aggrievedly.  "You think I'm wrong to send
+it."
+
+"I should think it would be hard enough to send it when they had
+something on you, let alone when they were only bluffing."
+
+"It is hard," whimpered the other.  "I think it's a bluff myself.  But
+suppose it isn't and the story is printed.  What would I say to Maud?
+How could I face her?"
+
+"It's for you to decide," said Evan.
+
+George Deaves rapped on his desk, bit his fingers, looked out of the
+window, got up and sat down again.  Finally he said tremulously: "Very
+well, I'll take a chance."
+
+
+With what anxiety they awaited the appearance of the _Clarion_ may be
+guessed.  Simeon Deaves and Evan started out immediately after lunch to
+get a copy.  The old man wanted to go direct to the publishing office
+to get it damp from the press, but Evan persuaded him it would never do
+to betray so much anxiety in the matter.  The _Clarion_ office might be
+watched.  Indeed it was not unlikely the gang had an agent there.
+
+They found that none of the newsstands in the vicinity of the plaza
+carried the _Clarion_: "a socialistic rag" it was called in that
+neighbourhood.  They had to walk all the way to Third avenue to find a
+dealer who would confess to handling it.  It would be up at four he
+said, so that they had an hour to kill, which old Simeon spent very
+happily in the fish-market.
+
+For the last fifteen minutes they hung around outside the newsstand
+while the proprietor watched them suspiciously from inside his window.
+When the newswagon drove up Simeon Deaves snatched a _Clarion_ from the
+top of the pile.  The newsdealer held out his hand for the two cents,
+but it was ignored.
+
+Evan got a copy for himself.  Skimming over the headlines he failed to
+find the name of Deaves and breathed more freely.  A more careful
+search column by column revealed not so much as a stick of type devoted
+to Simeon Deaves.  Evan and his employer looked at each other and
+grinned.
+
+The newsdealer demanded his two cents.
+
+"Shan't need the paper now," said Simeon, calmly putting it down.
+
+Evan averted an explosion by hastily paying for both copies.
+
+On the way home the old man was in such an extraordinary good humour
+that he actually bought Evan a five-cent cigar.  Evan keeps it to this
+day as a curiosity.
+
+At home they found an ashy and shaken George Deaves waiting for them in
+the library.
+
+"It's all right!" said Evan.
+
+A look of beatific relief overspread the other's face.  He immediately
+began to swell.  "That is most gratifying! most gratifying!" he said
+pompously.  "I am really under obligations to you, Weir.  We both are,
+aren't we, Papa?"
+
+"Sure, Evan's a good boy.  I always said so.  I bought him a cigar."
+
+"Tcha!  A cigar!  I should really like to do something for you, Weir."
+
+"You can raise my salary if you want," said Evan slyly.
+
+A comical transformation took place in both faces.  "What!  Raise your
+salary!  Again!  Impossible!" both cried.
+
+Evan laughed.  "Well, you proposed doing something for me."
+
+Someone else in that house had bought a copy of the _Clarion_.  Mrs.
+George Deaves entered in what was for her a high good humour with a
+copy of the sheet under her arm.
+
+"Well, I see you sent the money," she said.
+
+George Deaves looked self-conscious.  He greatly desired to lie, but
+lacked the effrontery to do so before the other men.  His father saved
+him the trouble of doing so.  Eager to get back at Maud he said:
+
+"No, he didn't!"
+
+Mrs. Deaves' face fell.  The black eyes began to snap.  Another storm
+portended.  "You promised me----" she began.
+
+"But you see we were right," interrupted her husband.  "It was a bluff.
+There's nothing in the paper."
+
+"You don't know it's a bluff!" she cried.  "Perhaps they were too late
+for the paper.  It will be in to-morrow.  You have got to send the
+money at once as you promised!"
+
+But George Deaves' momentary relief had put a little backbone into him.
+"I still think it a bluff!" he said doggedly.  "I'm willing to take a
+chance."
+
+The storm broke.  "Oh, you're willing, are you?  How about me?  How
+about me?  Here you sit all day.  What do you know about how people
+talk?  I have to go about.  I have to see people smile when they think
+I'm not looking and whisper behind their hands.  Do you think I don't
+know what they're saying?  Oh, I know!  'That's Mrs. George Deaves, my
+dear.  Wife of the son of the notorious miser.  You've heard how he
+squabbles in the street with newsboys and fruit vendors over pennies!'
+Well, I've had enough of it!  Enough, I say!  I won't stand it!"
+
+In the full course of her tirade she happened to look at Evan.  Evan's
+suspicion had become almost a certainty.  His eyes were bent steadily
+upon her.  He was not smiling, but there was an ironical lift to the
+corners of his mouth.
+
+She pulled herself up.  "Well, if there's anything published to-morrow
+you know what to expect," she said, and swept out of the room.
+
+Evan glanced at father and son.  Nothing showed in their faces but
+simple relief at her going.  Evan marvelled at their blindness.  He had
+yet to learn that habitually suspicious people never see what goes on
+under their noses.
+
+Evan had plenty of food for thought.  An extraordinary situation was
+suggested; one in which it behooved him to move with exceeding caution.
+For the moment his best plan appeared to be to continue to keep the old
+man out of trouble, while he watched and waited and found proof of what
+he was already morally sure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE STEAMBOAT _ERNESTINA_
+
+On a shining morning when the Northeast wind had swept the sky as clean
+as a Dutch kitchen, Evan was on his way to work, trying to make out to
+himself with but poor success that all was right with him and with the
+world.  As a matter of fact the loveliness of the morning only put a
+keener edge on his dissatisfaction.  He could not but remember other
+lovely mornings when the heart had been light in his breast.
+
+Every pretty woman that he met put him in a rage.  "All alike!  All
+alike!" he said to himself.  "God help the man that takes them at face
+value!  Well, they'll never get their hooks in me again!  I know them
+now!"  It did not occur to him that there was rather an inconsistency
+in raging at something so perfectly unimportant; nor did he enquire too
+closely into the motives that led him to search ceaselessly among the
+feminine passers-by and to turn his head to look down every side
+street.  His search for a certain red-haired individual of the despised
+sex had become involuntary.
+
+At Thirteenth street he suddenly perceived Anway coming towards him
+down the avenue, and his heart bounded.  Never was a man gladder to
+stumble on his rival.  Luckily Evan saw him first.  Hastily turning his
+back, he stared in a shop window until he judged the other had passed
+behind him.  Then he took up the trail, forgetting his job, and indeed
+everything else save that Anway must possess the clue to Corinna's
+whereabouts.
+
+He was led to the corner of Broadway and Twenty-third street, where
+Anway stopped, evidently to wait for an eastbound car.  This was a
+little awkward, for the cars bound in that direction were but sparsely
+filled at this hour.  Evan bought a newspaper.  Anyway boarded a
+cross-town car and sat down inside.  Evan swung himself on as the car
+got in motion, and remained out on the back platform, using his paper
+as a screen.
+
+As the car progressed to the far East side it gradually emptied until
+only Anway and Evan remained on board.  Evan became rather nervous.
+"Well, if he spots me I'll follow him anyhow," he said.  "What on earth
+is he doing on this ragged edge of the town?"
+
+At the end of the line Anway got off the front end of the car without
+having discovered Evan, and headed down the water-front street to the
+South.  A number of groups of people, having the gala look of those
+bound on an excursion, were going the same way; and Evan concealed
+himself among them.
+
+On the river side the new city piers stretched out into the water.  Not
+having been leased yet, all kinds of craft were tied there;
+canal-boats, lighters, schooners, launches.  All the people, including
+Anway, were heading towards a pier where a queer little old-fashioned
+steamboat was lying.  She had a tall, thin smoke-stack and immense
+paddle-boxes.  She looked like one of those insects with a tiny body
+and a wholly disproportionate outfit of legs, antennas, etc., spreading
+around.  Her name was painted in fancy letters on the paddle-boxes:
+_Ernestina_.
+
+From the rear Evan saw Anway pass on board.  He wondered what the
+elegant Anway had in common with all the poor and humble people who
+were bound on the excursion.  Many of them obviously did not even
+possess any Sunday clothes to put on for the trip.  There is, surely,
+no greater degree of poverty.  Children were very largely in the
+majority, pale, great-eyed, little spindle-shanks.  All had red tickets
+in their hands.  If, as it seemed, this was a charitable excursion,
+Anway must be one of those in charge.
+
+As he drew closer Evan saw that the tickets were being collected by a
+man at the shore end of the gangway.  Here was a proper source of
+information.  This man had the pale and earnest look of the
+professional philanthropist, a worthy soul, some half a dozen years
+older than Evan, with a wife and four children undoubtedly.  Evan took
+up a place near him and watched the procession wending aboard with
+brightening faces.
+
+"You couldn't have a better day for the trip," he hazarded.
+
+The ticket-taker responded amiably: "Great, isn't it?  We'll bring 'em
+back with rosy cheeks."
+
+"Is this the outfit Anway told me about?" asked Evan, feeling his way.
+
+"Yes, the Ozone Association trips.  Are you a friend of Anway's?  He's
+just gone aboard."
+
+"He told me so much about it I thought I'd stroll down and take a look."
+
+"Go aboard if you'd like to.  We won't be leaving for ten minutes yet."
+
+Evan desired a little further information before trusting himself
+aboard.  "You must need quite a crowd of helpers to look after the
+kids."
+
+"Miss Playfair takes care of that for me.  She's a host in herself."
+
+All the blood seemed to leave Evan's heart for a moment, and then came
+surging back until it seemed as if that much-tried organ would burst.
+He heard his informant saying:
+
+"But if you know Anway, no doubt you're acquainted with Miss Playfair?"
+
+"I've met her," said Evan, carefully schooling his voice.
+
+"A wonderful little woman!"
+
+"Quite so," said Evan dryly.  "Look here," he went on, "I'd like to go
+with you to-day if I wouldn't be in the way.  I mean, work my passage,
+of course; help take care of the kids, or amuse them, or feed them, or
+whatever may be necessary.  My name's Evan Weir."
+
+The other man looked Evan over and was pleased with what he saw.
+
+"I'd be delighted to have you," he said.  "We can always use more help.
+My name's Denton."
+
+"Well, then, give me a job," said Evan.
+
+"First of all, take my place for a moment," said Denton.  "The
+ice-cream hasn't come.  I must go and telephone."
+
+"Sure thing!"
+
+"You needn't be too strict about tickets," Denton added in an
+undertone.  "I mean in respect to women and children.  The main thing
+is to keep the bad and healthy little boys off."
+
+"I get you," said Evan.
+
+Denton hurried away.  Evan took his place and the procession passed
+before him deprecatingly presenting its squares of red pasteboard.  At
+first Evan scarcely took note of them, he was so busy with his private
+exultation.  He had found her!  And once they got away from the pier he
+would have her all day on the boat where she couldn't escape him.  His
+luck had changed.  For the present he kept his back turned to the
+_Ernestina_ that he might not be unduly conspicuous to anyone happening
+to glance out of the cabin windows.
+
+He was recalled to the business in hand by a plea: "Say, Mister!  Let
+me and me brutter go, will yeh please?  We had our tickets all right,
+but a big lad pasted us and took 'em offen us."
+
+Evan looked down into a little angel face and clear shining eyes.  The
+"brutter" waited warily in the background.  Evan knew boys, and had no
+doubt but that this was a pair of incorrigibles, but he couldn't refuse
+anybody just then.
+
+"What's your name, boy?"
+
+"Ikey O'Toole."
+
+"Well, you are out of the melting-pot for sure!"
+
+"No, sir; I live in Hester street."
+
+"That's all a stall about losing your tickets," Evan said, trying to
+look stern.  "But I'll let you go.  I'm going too, see?  And if there's
+any rough-housing you'll have me to deal with."
+
+The surprised and jubilant urchins hurried aboard.
+
+This incident was witnessed with visible indignation by two pale and
+solemn little girls who stood apart.  They knew the bad little boys
+told a story if the gentleman didn't.  Lost their tickets, indeed!
+During a lull Evan beckoned them.  They came sidling over, each
+twisting a corner of her pinafore.
+
+"Are you waiting for somebody?" he asked.
+
+A shake of the head.
+
+"Haven't you got any tickets?"
+
+Another shake.
+
+"Do you want to go anyway?"
+
+An energetic pair of nods.
+
+"What will your mother say?"
+
+"Ain't got no mutter.  Sister, she don't care.  She works all day."
+
+"All right.  Skip on board."
+
+Denton and the ice-cream arrived simultaneously.  Shortly afterwards a
+warning whistle was blown.  A small pandemonium of singing and
+delighted squealing was heard from the upper deck.  Evan stuck close to
+Denton.  They remained on the lower deck while the gangplank was drawn
+in and the ropes cast off.  Meanwhile Evan was gathering what further
+information he could.
+
+"How often do you make these trips?"
+
+"Twice a week--Tuesdays and Saturdays."
+
+"What is the Ozone Association?  I never heard of it."
+
+"I can't tell you much, though I work for them.  I've always understood
+it was some rich man who wished to keep his name out of the thing.  I
+was hired by a law firm to manage the trips, and the money comes to me
+through them."
+
+"How did you get hold of all your helpers?"
+
+"Oh, one way and another.  Miss Playfair gets her friends to help."
+
+When the _Ernestina_ finally moved out into the stream, Denton remained
+below, attending to the stowage of the ice-cream and to other matters,
+and Evan stayed with him.  To tell the truth, he dreaded a little to
+put his fortunes to the touch by venturing up above.  They were
+unpacking sandwiches when Denton suddenly said:
+
+"Here's Anway.  Anway, here's a friend of yours."
+
+Evan looked up with a wary smile.  As it chanced, the busy Denton was
+called from another direction at that moment, and he did not see the
+actual meeting between the two.  Evan had his back to the light and
+Anway did not instantly recognise him.  Anway's expression graduated
+from expectancy at the sound of the word friend to blankness as he
+failed to recognise Evan, and to something like consternation when he
+did.
+
+"What are you doing here?" he blurted out.
+
+"The same as yourself," replied Evan.  "Only a volunteer."
+
+Without another word Anway turned.  Evan went with him.  He had no
+intention of letting him warn Corinna.  They mounted the main stairway
+side by side, Anway gazing stiffly ahead, Evan watching him with a grin.
+
+As soon as they rounded into the saloon Evan saw Corinna, and his head
+swam a little.  She was so very dear and desirable he forgot how badly
+she had used him.  She was kneeling on the carpet, feeding a hungry
+baby with cup and spoon.  The baby sat in the lap of a woman so spent
+and done, she could do no more than keep the infant from slipping off.
+It was an appealing sight.  In such an attitude Corinna was all woman,
+her face as tender as a saint's.  Evan laid a restraining hand on
+Anway's arm.
+
+"Let the kid have his meal anyway," he whispered.
+
+But some current of electricity warned Corinna.  Looking up, she saw
+Evan at a dozen paces' distance.  Evan trembled for the cup.  It was
+not dropped.  Corinna had herself better in hand than Anway.  No muscle
+of her face changed; only the light of her eyes hardened.
+
+"She thinks you brought me aboard," murmured Evan wickedly.
+
+Anway flushed.
+
+Corinna resumed her feeding of the baby.
+
+Evan was divided between admiration and chagrin.  Secretly he had
+counted on his appearance creating a more dramatic effect than this.
+
+Anway hung around in a miserable state of indecision.  If Evan had only
+given him an excuse to punch him he would have been glad no doubt.
+Finally he said:
+
+"You see what she's doing.  Come away and let her be."
+
+Evan good-humouredly shook his head.  "The sight gives me too much
+pleasure," he said.  "But don't let me keep you."
+
+But Anway lingered unhappily, walking away a little and coming back.
+
+Corinna did not look at Evan again.  Her self-control was too
+provoking.  "By Heaven, I'll make her show some feeling before the
+day's out!" he vowed to himself.  When the cup was empty she came
+straight toward him with her chin up.
+
+"How do you do, Corinna?" said Evan.
+
+She looked at him with the faint air of surprise she knew so well how
+to assume.  Then, as if suddenly placing him: "Oh!  You must excuse me
+now.  I have a dozen hungry babies to feed."
+
+Evan, with a smile, allowed her to pass downstairs.  It required no
+small amount of self-control.  "Patience, son!" he said to himself.
+"You have all day before you.  If you lose your temper, she'll have you
+exactly where she wants you.  However she bedevils you, you must be
+little Bright-eyes still!"
+
+Corinna presently returned with more food and proceeded to the next
+baby in line.  In the meantime Anway, finding himself both unnecessary
+and helpless in this situation, had drifted away--to confer with his
+"brothers," perhaps.  The second baby's mother was perfectly capable of
+feeding her own offspring, and Evan saw that Corinna was merely using
+the infant as a shield against him.  But he could not seem to interfere
+between a helpless baby and its food.
+
+When she passed him again bound down below he said: "Let me help you."
+
+"Thanks, this is hardly in your line," she said coldly.
+
+Nevertheless he followed her down and saw that she went to the galley
+for a soft-boiled egg for the next child.
+
+"You're wasting your time running up and down," he said with obstinate
+good nature.  "Let me be your waiter and fetch the different orders
+while you feed."
+
+"Thanks; I don't need your assistance," she said.
+
+But he saw that her temper was beginning to rise, and took heart.  If
+he could only put her in the wrong!  He blandly followed her back
+again, and as she started to feed he found out for himself what the
+next baby required.  This was a small one and its order was for six
+ounces of milk with two ounces of barley water and a teaspoonful of
+sugar added, the whole in a bottle well-warmed.
+
+He procured it from the galley in due course.  Corinna received it of
+him with a very ill grace.  "She'd make a face at me if she didn't have
+her dignity to keep up," thought Evan.  After that he had her.  They
+worked their way down one side of the saloon and back on the other, to
+all outward appearance at least like two pals.  Evan was careful to
+confine his remarks to milk, oatmeal gruel, beef broth and orange
+juice.  Corinna could not find matter in this to quarrel over.  She was
+as acidly sweet as one of the oranges.
+
+Only the little ones and the sick were specially fed in the saloon.
+The others were taken down in relays to the dining-room on the main
+deck aft.  Corinna's and Evan's task came to an end at last.  As he
+carried the last cup back to the galley Evan said to himself: "Now's my
+chance!"
+
+But when he returned he saw that Corinna, for the sake of the
+convalescent children not allowed out on deck, had started to tell a
+story.  They were pressing around her in close ranks that presented a
+triple line of defence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+EVAN LOSES A ROUND
+
+Evan, somewhat crestfallen, went out on deck and lit a cigarette.  "Oh,
+well, it can't last forever," he told himself.  He found a seat near an
+open window where he could overhear the story.  To his mind Corinna had
+not much of a talent for it.  He thought he could have told a better
+one himself.  It was the chronicle of an unpleasantly good little girl,
+and when Corinna was gravelled for matter to continue with, she filled
+in by lengthily describing the heroine's clothes.  "Just filibustering
+like the U. S. Senate," thought Evan disgustedly.
+
+Corinna, suspecting perhaps that she had too critical a listener,
+changed her seat on the pretext of a draught and he could hear no more.
+
+Meanwhile the good ship _Ernestina_ was industriously wig-wagging her
+walking-beam down the upper Bay.  She was a quaint, crablike little
+craft.  Her tall and skinny smokestack was like a perpetual exclamation
+point.  Her gait resembled that of a sprightly old horse who makes a
+great to-do with his feet on the road but somehow gets nowhere.  At the
+end of each stroke of her piston she seemed to stop for an instant and
+then with a wheeze and a clank from below, and a violent tremor from
+stem to stern, started all over.  Her paddle-wheels kicked up alarming
+looking rollers behind, but with it all she travelled no faster than a
+steam canal-boat.  Not that it mattered; the children got just as much
+ozone as on the deck of the _Aquitania_.
+
+Evan's patience was not inexhaustible.  By the time they reached
+Norton's Point he was obliged to go in to see how the story was
+progressing.  It was no nearer its end, as far as he could judge.
+Corinna's Dorothy Dolores was donning a party dress of pink messaline
+with a panne velvet girdle.  The children's interest flagged and they
+drifted away, but there were always others to take their places.
+
+Ikey O'Toole and his pal happened to pass through the saloon bound on
+some errand of their own, and Evan had a wicked idea.  "Come here,
+boys," said he, "and I'll tell you a story about robbers."
+
+Their eyes brightened.  Evan took a seat opposite Corinna's and began:
+
+"There was a band of train-robbers and cattle-rustlers who lived in a
+cave out in Arizona, and they had for a leader a guy named
+Three-fingered Pete.  Pete could draw a gun quicker with his three
+fingers than any other man with five."
+
+And so on.  There was magic in it.  Let it not be supposed that little
+girls are proof against a story of robbers however they may make
+believe.  They came drifting across the saloon.  In ten minutes there
+were twenty children surrounding Evan, while Corinna's audience had
+dwindled to four and they were restive.  Corinna kept on.  Her pale,
+calm profile revealed nothing to Evan, but he doubted if she were pale
+and calm within.  Corinna was not red-headed for nothing.
+
+When her hearers were reduced to two she abruptly rose.  Evan wondered
+if sweet Dorothy Dolores had been brought to a violent end.  He got up
+too.
+
+"To be continued in our next," he said.
+
+"Aw, Mister!  Aw, Mister!" they protested, clinging to his coat.
+
+"After lunch," he promised, freeing himself, and hastening down the
+saloon after Corinna.
+
+He thought he had her cornered in the bow, but she dropped into a seat
+beside a woman with a sick baby and enquired how it was getting on.
+The two women embarked on what promised to be an endless discussion of
+the infant's symptoms.  Evan felt decidedly foolish, but stubbornly
+stood his ground.
+
+Denton unexpectedly came to his assistance.  "Miss Playfair," he said,
+"I've got a seat for you in the dining-room, and one for Mr. Weir.
+Won't you come down now?"
+
+Two seats!  Together, naturally.  Evan's heart went up with a bound.
+But Corinna was not going to be led into any such trap.  She asked the
+woman beside her if she had had her lunch.  The answer was a shake of
+the head.
+
+"Then I'll hold the baby, and you go with these gentlemen," said
+Corinna blandly.
+
+"Let me hold the baby," said Evan.
+
+"Oh, thank you, sir; but he don't like men."
+
+Evan went down with Denton and the woman, but he did not mean to be put
+off so easily.  Seeing the crowd in the dining-saloon, he said:
+
+"They're rushed here.  Let me help serve for a while.  Save two seats
+when Miss Playfair comes down."
+
+"Sure," said Denton amiably.
+
+Down the length of the lower saloon there was a double row of tables,
+each with an end to the side wall.  Every seat was taken.  In addition
+to Denton the waiters were Anway and a black-haired youth with a hot
+eye who greeted Evan with a frank scowl.  Denton introduced him as
+Tenterden.  "Another of Corinna's 'brothers'," thought Evan.  "The boat
+is manned with her family!"  He turned in to help with a will.
+
+Nearly an hour passed before Corinna appeared for her lunch, and the
+dining-saloon was beginning to empty.  Seeing Evan there, she naturally
+supposed he had finished eating and had remained to help.  She took a
+seat next the window at one of the tables, and thus protected herself
+on one hand.  Indicating the chair on the other side of her she said to
+Denton:
+
+"Sit here.  You can be spared now."
+
+"Thanks, but I promised this seat to Weir," said Denton innocently.
+
+Corinna bit her lip.  The said Weir made haste to slip into the seat,
+before anything further could be said.  Corinna quickly started a
+conversation with a youth across the table, another helper, and
+supposedly a "brother"--at least he looked at Corinna with sheep's eyes.
+
+Evan, determined not to allow himself to be eliminated, said firmly: "I
+have not met this gentleman."
+
+Corinna said coldly: "Mr. Domville, Mr. Weir."
+
+Next to Domville sat another helper, an older man with a queer, clever,
+bitter face, Mr. Dordess.  Some belated mothers made up the tableful.
+Anway waited on them.  As he placed a plate of soup before Evan with
+set face, Evan suspected he would rather have poured it down the back
+of his neck.  Evan thanked him ironically.
+
+Corinna did her best to keep the conversation of the whole tableful in
+her hands, but of course it was bound to escape her sometimes.  And
+there were lulls.  At such moments Evan could speak to her without
+anybody overhearing.
+
+"Corinna, what's the use?"
+
+Affecting not to hear him, she asked a question across the table.  Evan
+patiently bided his time.
+
+"'What's the use?' I said."
+
+"I don't understand you."
+
+"What's the use of trying to evade something that's got to be faced in
+the end."
+
+"What's got to be faced?"
+
+"Me."
+
+"Is that a threat?"
+
+"No.  You know, yourself, after what happened you owe me an
+explanation."
+
+"The explanation is obvious."
+
+"Then I must be very dense."
+
+"If you were the least bit sorry, I could talk to you; but to glory in
+it, to try to trade on it----"
+
+"Sorry for what?"
+
+"Oh, of course you have nothing to be sorry for."
+
+"You're talking in riddles.  You know I love you."
+
+She laughed three notes.  He frowned at the sound.
+
+"It's a funny way you have of showing it," she said.  "To try to humble
+me further!"
+
+"But you ask for it, Corinna--with your high and mighty way.  I told
+you that before."
+
+Silence from Corinna.
+
+"I don't know what cause you have to be sore at me," he resumed when he
+got another opportunity.  "It seems to me I'm the one----"
+
+"Oh, you'll get over it, I suspect."
+
+"Corinna, why did you run away?"
+
+She rolled a bread ball.  "Because I was ashamed."
+
+He looked at her in honest surprise.  "Ashamed!  Of what?"
+
+"You know very well what I mean."
+
+"I swear I do not!"
+
+"I will hate you if you force me to say it."
+
+"I'll take my chance of that," he said grimly.
+
+"Very well.  Don't you understand that a person may be carried away for
+the moment, and do things and say things that they bitterly regret
+afterwards.  Of course if you have no standards of right and wrong you
+wouldn't understand."
+
+"Thanks for the compliment."
+
+"What happened that night," she went on, "that sort of thing is
+horrible to me!"
+
+At last he understood--and frowned, for it was his deepest feelings
+that she slandered.  But he was not fully convinced that she was
+sincere.  "Then you lied when you said you loved me?"
+
+"I was carried away.  That sort of thing isn't love."
+
+This angered Evan--but he held his tongue.  He sought to find out from
+her face what she really thought.  She looked out of the window.
+
+"Now I hope you understand," she said loftily.
+
+"You have a lot to learn," said Evan, "about love and other things."
+
+"At any rate I hope I have made you see how useless it is to follow
+me," she said sharply.
+
+"It is useless," said Evan--"to talk to you," he added to himself.
+"When I get you off this confounded steamboat we'll see what we'll see."
+
+"Don't stare at me like that," said Corinna.  "It's attracting
+attention."
+
+Evan thought: "If there was only another girl on board that I could
+rush!  That might fetch her!"
+
+Evan saw indeed that Dordess was regarding him quizzically.  Of all the
+men (saving Denton) Dordess was the only one who did not scowl at Evan.
+Evan was not deceived thereby into thinking that he had inspired any
+friendliness in this one.  It was simply that Dordess was more
+sophisticated, and had his features under better control.  To create a
+diversion, Evan asked him:
+
+"What has your particular job been to-day?"
+
+"Serving at the water-cooler," was the response, with a wry smile, "to
+keep down the mortality from colic."
+
+Thereafter Evan took part in the general conversation, and when the
+time came to rise from the table, he let Corinna go her way unhindered.
+He pitched in with a good will to help wash dishes, and to pack up the
+Ozone Association's property in the galley.  But let him work and joke
+as he might, he won no smiles from the "brothers."
+
+"Lord, if it was me, I'd put up a better bluff to hide my feelings," he
+thought.
+
+Later he took over part of the deck to watch and keep the children from
+climbing the rails and precipitating themselves overboard.  Later
+still, as they neared home and the small passengers became weary and
+obstreperous, he resumed the tale of the bandits in the saloon to an
+immense audience.  Evan, perhaps because of his casual air towards the
+children, became the most popular man on the boat.  He did not try to
+win them, and so they were his.
+
+Corinna could not quite fathom his changed attitude towards her.
+During the whole afternoon he let her be.  More than once he caught her
+glancing at him, and laughed to himself.  He was taking the right line.
+
+On one occasion the sardonic Dordess joined him on deck.  Dordess had
+excited more than a passing interest in Evan.  He was different and
+inexplicable.  He had eyebrows that turned up at the ends like a
+faun's, giving him a devilishly mocking look.  The essence of
+bitterness was in his smile.  He had the look of a man of distinction,
+yet his clothes were a thought shabby.  "Clever journalist gone to
+seed," was Evan's verdict.
+
+Dordess said very offhand: "How do you like your job of nursemaid?"
+
+"First-rate!" said Evan.
+
+"How did you happen to stumble on our deep-sea perambulator?"
+
+Evan was wary.  "I just happened to be passing, and saw the kids
+crowding aboard.  I stopped to look, and Denton asked me if I wanted a
+job."
+
+Dordess cocked one of his crooked eyebrows in a way that suggested he
+didn't believe a word of it.  Evan didn't much care whether he did or
+not.
+
+Dordess said dryly: "Denton said you were a friend of Anway's."
+
+"He misunderstood," said Evan carelessly.
+
+"Are you going to be with us regularly?" asked Dordess with a meaning
+smile.
+
+"I only volunteered for to-day."  Evan's tone implied that the future
+could take care of itself.
+
+Dordess said deprecatingly: "I hope the boys haven't made you feel like
+an outsider."
+
+"Not at all," said Evan cheerfully.  "I wouldn't mind if they did," he
+added.  "The main thing is for the kids to have a good time."
+
+"Sure," said Dordess dryly.  "You see, the boys get the idea that these
+excursions are a sort of family affair, and they're apt to resent the
+help of strangers."
+
+"I see," said Evan.  "Are you one of Miss Playfair's 'brothers' too?"
+
+"No; I'm an uncle," said Dordess with his bitter smile.
+
+He walked away.  There had been nothing in his words to which Evan
+could take offence, nevertheless as plainly as one man could to another
+he had conveyed the intimation that Evan was not wanted on board, and
+that if he ventured on board again it would be at his peril.
+
+"The brotherhood evidently fears that I'm going to break up the
+organization," thought Evan.
+
+As they approached the end of their journey Evan began to consider what
+measures he should take upon landing.  His part was a difficult one to
+play with good humour; that is, to force himself on a young lady who
+said she detested him, and who had half a dozen brothers and an uncle
+to take her part.
+
+"She'll do her best to give me the slip," he said to himself.  "When we
+tie up I'll stand by the gangway on the pretext of keeping the kids
+from falling overboard.  Some of them or all of them will take her
+home, no doubt.  I'll tag along, too.  They can't very well openly
+order me away, and I don't give a damn for their black looks and
+meaning hints.  The main thing is to find out where she lives.  I can
+choose my own time to call.  Perhaps she won't open the door to me.
+Well, my patience is good."
+
+As they approached the pier Evan went down to the main deck.  Corinna
+was not visible at the moment.  Only the forward gangway of the
+_Ernestina_ was used.  Her shape was so tubby that she couldn't bring
+any two points alongside a straight pier simultaneously.  While they
+were making a landing all the children were kept roped off in the stern
+and up in the saloon.  The only persons in the bow space beside Evan
+were Denton, Anway, Domville, Tenterden, two other "brothers" and two
+deckhands to stand by the lines.
+
+Up forward there was an additional stairway from the saloon.  This was
+enclosed and had a door at the bottom, locked at the moment to keep the
+children out of the way.  In the centre of the deck was a hatch for
+freight, used presumably when the _Ernestina_ served as a carrier.
+
+As the steamboat sidled up to her pier Evan heard Corinna's voice call
+down the stairway: "Oh, Mr. Denton; will you come up here for a moment?"
+
+Denton unlocked the door and disappeared upstairs.  The door was locked
+after him.  At the same moment Domville and one of the unidentified
+young men threw back the hatch cover.  The latter said: "Let's get the
+cargo ashore first."
+
+Evan wondering what cargo the excursion boat could be carrying, stepped
+forward in idle curiosity to look down the hatch.  Suddenly he became
+aware that the young men were circling behind him.  Before he could so
+much as turn around, he was seized from each side and a hand clapped
+over his mouth.  With a concerted rush they swept him into the hole in
+the deck, falling on their knees at the edge, and letting him drop in.
+He fell on a mattress and was not in the least hurt.  From above he
+heard a loud guffaw from the deckhands.  Then the hatch cover was
+clapped down, and he heard heavy objects being piled upon it.
+
+Evan raged silently in his prison.  Pride restrained him from making
+any outcry.  He had no fear that his murder was contemplated.  They'd
+have to let him out again.  In the meantime they'd get no change out of
+him.  And the future could take care of his revenge.
+
+He was in a small cargo space between two transverse bulkheads.  He
+could touch the beams over his head.  The place was perfectly empty
+except for the mattress.  The mattress suggested that this had been
+carefully planned.  It was not dark, being lighted by a fixed porthole
+on either side, not much bigger than an orange.  These lights were only
+a foot or two above the waterline, and when the _Ernestina_ reversed
+her engine in making the pier, the water washed up over the glass.
+
+Evan could hear all the sounds attendant upon making a landing; the
+casting lines thrown ashore, the hawsers pulled over the deck, the
+jingle to the engine room signalling that all was fast.  Then the
+gangway was run out and the feet poured over it.
+
+Evan found that through the porthole on the pier side he was able to
+catch a brief glimpse of the passengers as they stepped ashore.  He saw
+the children scurry away, never dreaming that the admired story-teller
+was immured below.  The big girls followed more sedately, and after
+them the mothers with backs sagging under the weight of babies.  Last
+of all he had the unspeakable chagrin of seeing Corinna pass with
+Denton grasping her arm.
+
+"That's why I was put down here," he thought.  "To allow her to make
+her getaway."
+
+In the fraction of a second that she was visible to him, her head was
+turned back towards the boat.  When a woman glances over her shoulder
+her true feelings come out; she cannot help herself.  There was anguish
+in Corinna's backward look.  Evan marked it, but he did not love her
+then.  Not that he meant to give over the pursuit; on the contrary he
+swore that she should pay.
+
+Five minutes later the hatch cover was lifted, a short ladder was let
+down, and Evan was bidden to come up.  He mounted smiling.  What that
+smile cost him none but he knew.  But he also knew that with six or
+more against him to show truculence would only have been to make
+himself ridiculous.  He paused on the deck, and coolly looking around
+him, tapped a cigarette on the back of his hand.
+
+Dordess was now with the others.  He had the grace to look away, as
+Evan's glance swept around.  The younger men betrayed in their faces
+their hope that Evan would show fight, and thus give them a chance to
+justify themselves.  Evan saw it, and had no idea of gratifying them.
+
+Tenterden, he of the hot black eyes, who seemed to be leader in this
+part of the affair demanded aggressively: "Well, what are you going to
+do about it?"
+
+"Much obliged for the mattress," said Evan, coolly meeting his gaze.
+"Very thoughtful of you." He counted them ostentatiously.  "Six of
+you--and a couple of deckhands in reserve.  You flatter me, gentlemen!"
+
+He strolled over the gangway.  How they took it he did not know, for he
+would not look back.  At least none of them found a rejoinder.  He had
+the last word.
+
+"They think they have me scared off," he said to himself.  "Just let
+them wait till the _Ernestina_ sails again, that's all!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A LITTLE DETECTIVE WORK
+
+At first Evan had some doubts as to what ought to be his course of
+action in respect to Mrs. George Deaves.  While it was true that her
+husband had definitely given him to understand that he was hired for
+the purpose of running down the blackmailers, he did not suppose that
+George Deaves would thank him for proof that his own wife was
+implicated.  But that didn't alter his duty.
+
+"I'm being paid to deliver them from the gang," he said to himself.
+"As long as I take their money I've got to do what I can to earn it.
+It's none of my affair where the trail leads.  If they want to kick me
+out for my pains, why that's up to them."
+
+It promised to be no easy matter to watch Mrs. Deaves.  Evan rarely saw
+her.  During the few hours that he spent in the house she was
+presumably either in her own rooms, or out in the motor.  One
+suspicious circumstance he did not have to look for, because everybody
+in the house was aware of it.  Maud Deaves was continually in money
+difficulties.  Her creditors camped on her trail.
+
+Two lines were open to Evan: to bribe her maid and to watch her
+letters.  The maid, Josefa, was a light-headed creature perfectly
+willing to plot or counterplot with anybody.  Unfortunately she was of
+very little use to Evan, because her mistress did not trust her in the
+least.  As for the letters, it was scarcely likely that if Maud Deaves
+were carrying on a dangerous correspondence she would have the letters
+come openly to the house.  Nevertheless Evan determined to get to the
+house early enough in the mornings to look over the first mail before
+it was distributed.
+
+On the morning following his trip on the _Ernestina_ he found a letter
+addressed to her that gave him food for reflection.  The address was
+typewritten.  The envelope was of medium size "Irish linen" of the kind
+that never saw either Ireland or flax; in other words, just such an
+envelope as those which had brought the blackmailing letters.  In
+itself this was nothing for many thousands of such envelopes are sold.
+But it was postmarked "Hamilton Grange" and it was addressed "New York
+City."  The three little facts taken together were significant.  Evan
+slipped it in his pocket.
+
+But though it had the look of a mere business letter or a bill, he
+still had qualms about opening it.  Useless to tell himself that it was
+his duty to do so.  To tell the truth Evan was not cut out by nature to
+be a detective.  He finally decided to put his problem to George Deaves.
+
+"Mr. Deaves," he said, "am I employed to accompany your father on his
+walks or to discover the blackmailers?"
+
+"Primarily to run down the blackmailers," was the prompt reply.
+"Merely to go with my father is not worth all the money I'm paying you."
+
+"Very good.  Then I'm supposed to follow the trail wherever it may
+lead?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Even in this house?"
+
+"Of course.  I told you particularly to watch the servants.  Whom do
+you suspect?"
+
+"I have no evidence yet.  I merely wanted to know where I stood.  Would
+I be justified in opening letters that looked suspicious to me?"
+
+"Why, yes.  The guilty person wouldn't tell you of his own accord."
+
+"Thanks; that's what I wanted to know."
+
+"Have you found out anything?" Deaves asked eagerly.
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"Mind, you are to find out everything you can, but you are not to take
+any action without consulting me."
+
+"I understand."
+
+While the servants were at breakfast Evan went to the water heater in
+the basement and, opening the valve, steamed the envelope open.  He
+took the contents to the little room off the library to read.  This is
+what met his eyes:
+
+"Madagascar Hotel
+  August--
+
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Madam:
+
+I am exceedingly sorry to be obliged to inform you that my customary
+fortnightly contribution to your charity must be omitted on this
+occasion, the reason being that the activity of a certain agitator has
+resulted in shutting off the income from my business, and I am without
+funds.  I am sure you will agree with me that these agitators ought to
+be discouraged in every possible way.  Let us make a stand against
+them.  You can reach me at this hotel at any time.
+
+Yours faithfully,
+  RODERICK FRELINGHUYSEN.
+
+
+This had an innocent sound, and for a moment Evan supposed he had made
+a mistake in opening it.  But he read it again, and began to grin as
+the various implications of the note became clear to him.  "Damn
+clever!" he thought.  "If this was found lying about no one could
+suspect anything from it.  Not even George Deaves.  Why, it almost took
+me in and I was forewarned!"
+
+Evan thoughtfully considered all that the letter meant.  "First of all
+it shows that Maud is not a regular member of the gang, but that they
+have been whacking up with her just to gain her good will.  That's why
+she supplies the pressure from this end.  It all fits in!  Of course I
+am the agitator that he refers to, and he's suggesting to her that she
+get me fired.  But why does he give her an address so that she can
+write to him?  By George!  I have it!  He's giving her a chance to send
+him a story that can be used against the old man!"
+
+He took a copy of the letter, sealed it up again and slipped it back
+among the rest of the mail matter in the hall.
+
+During the morning he was obliged to accompany Simeon Deaves on one of
+his peregrinations.  When they returned for lunch Evan sought out
+Josefa, the lady's-maid.
+
+"What's your mistress been doing all morning?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, Maud's got a new bug!" was the scornful answer.  "Been practising
+on the typewriter for hours."
+
+Evan pricked up his ears.  "The typewriter?"
+
+"She went out right after breakfast and brought home a second-hand
+machine.  Been beating the Dickens out of it ever since."
+
+"What is she writing?"
+
+"Search me.  Won't let me come near her.  Looks like a story or
+something."
+
+"Get a glimpse of it if you can."
+
+"No chance.  She's got eyes all round her head."
+
+"Can you work a typewriter?"
+
+"A little bit."
+
+"Well, when she goes out stick a piece of paper in the machine and
+strike every key once, see?  I want an impression of every character."
+
+"I get you."
+
+After lunch Evan had to waste more precious hours walking around with
+the old man.  When they returned Josefa reported that Mrs. Deaves had
+finished her typewriting about three, and had then done up the sheets
+in a large envelope, and after carefully destroying the spoiled sheets,
+had carried the envelope out, presumably to post it.  Josefa gave Evan
+the paper he had asked for, with a print of each character of the
+typewriter.
+
+It was then five o'clock.  City letters require two hours or more for
+delivery, and supposing this package of Mrs. Deaves' to be an answer to
+"Mr. Frelinghuysen's" note, it would soon be due at the Hotel
+Madagascar.  Evan determined to go and ask for it himself.  He did not
+suppose that Mr. Frelinghuysen was stopping at the Madagascar.  That
+would be too simple.  He knew, as everybody knows, what an easy means
+the "call" letters at a great hotel offers for the exchange of illicit
+correspondence.
+
+The Madagascar, as all the world knows, is one of our biggest and
+busiest hotels.  Evan went boldly to the desk and asked if there were
+any letters for Mr. Roderick Frelinghuysen.  The name sounded imposing.
+The busy clerk skimmed over the letters in the F box, and, tossing him
+a bulky envelope, thought no more about it.
+
+Evan, in high satisfaction, wended his way to another hotel in the
+neighbourhood, and there at his leisure tore the envelope open and
+read--well, very much what he expected: a story designed to be used for
+blackmailing purposes against Simeon Deaves.  No letter accompanied it;
+none was necessary.
+
+This story dealt with ancient history, and contained uglier matter than
+mere ridicule of the old man's avarice.  It had to do with the
+circumstances of the marriage of George Deaves to Maud Warrender and
+what followed thereupon.  In other words, Maud had been engaged in the
+amiable occupation of fouling her own nest.  According to this account
+Simeon Deaves had instigated his weak and complaisant son to woo Miss
+Warrender because her father was President of a railroad that Simeon
+Deaves coveted.  As a result of the marriage Deaves, who up to that
+time had only been a money-lender, had succeeded in entering the realms
+of high finance.  No sooner was his own position secure, so the story
+went, than Simeon Deaves set himself to work to undermine Warrender,
+and in the end ousted him from his railway and ruined him.
+
+This tale had none of the finesse and humour of that written by the
+blackmailers; it was simply abusive.  Yet Maud had not so far forgotten
+herself as to show her hand.  The facts were such as many persons
+beside herself might have been aware of.
+
+Evan painstakingly compared the sheets of the story with the paper
+Josefa had given him.  Every typewriter, save it is just from the
+factory, has its peculiarities.  There was enough here to make out a
+case: "e" was badly worn and had a microscopic piece knocked off its
+tail; "a," "w," "s" and "p" were out of alignment; there was something
+the matter with "g," so that the following letter generally piled up on
+top of it.
+
+In short, Evan held in his hands positive evidence of Maud Deaves'
+treachery.  But upon consideration he decided not to put it before her
+husband at least for the present.  In the first place, he didn't relish
+taking the responsibility of breaking up the Deaves family, and in the
+second place it was clear that the woman was only a tool in the hands
+of a rascal far cleverer than she.  To deprive him of his tool would
+not break up the rascal's game; he could get another.  Therefore Evan
+decided to keep his discovery to himself, and use it if possible to
+land the principal in the affair.
+
+He considered whether he should have the desk at the Madagascar watched
+with a view to apprehending "Mr. Frelinghuysen" when he asked for his
+letter, but decided against that also.  So clever a fox would hardly be
+likely to walk into so open a trap.  He would send an innocent agent
+for the letter, while he watched in safety.  On the whole it seemed
+best to do nothing that might put him on his guard, but to wait until
+he attempted to use his story, for a chance to land him.
+
+He procured another envelope, had the hotel stenographer address it,
+and, sealing up the manuscript, carried it back to the Madagascar and
+handed it in at the desk "for Mr. Frelinghuysen," careful to choose a
+different clerk from the one who had given it to him.
+
+It must have been called for shortly afterwards and acted upon at once.
+Next morning, when Evan arrived at the Deaves house, the story was
+already back there.  The customary violent family conference was in
+progress in the library.  Evan guessed from their expressions that his
+name had entered into this quarrel.  Indeed, Mrs. Deaves was for
+ordering him out of the room again, but the old man was too quick for
+her.  He placed the latest letter in Evan's hands.  Mrs. Deaves turned
+away with a shrug.
+
+"Well, you know what I think of it," she said.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Sir:
+
+You thought we were bluffing, didn't you, when we said we had a chapter
+to add to your father's biography?  Well, here it is.  Your rejection
+of our proposal was received during the absence from town of our chief.
+That accounts for the delay.  Upon his return our chief instructed that
+you were to be given a chance to read the matter before it was
+published.  So we enclose it.  In the absence of any further
+communication from you before noon, it will appear in this evening's
+edition of the _Clarion_.
+
+To-day your procedure for communicating with us must be as follows:
+Bring the specified sum in cash to the house at 11 Van Dorn street.  It
+must be enclosed in an envelope or package.  You must approach on foot.
+Ring the bell; hand it to the woman who opens the door with the words:
+'For the gentleman up-stairs' and leave at once.  You may bring a
+single attendant with you if you choose--you would probably be afraid
+to come without one.  But neither you nor he must linger, nor question
+the woman, nor seek to penetrate beyond the front door.  If you do so,
+or bring any other persons with you or after you, let the consequences
+be or your own head.
+
+Yours as ever,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Evan of George Deaves.
+
+Maud snatched the answer from her husband's lips.  "He's going to pay!"
+she cried.  "He can take you with him if he wants, as there's no one
+else available.  I've no objection to that.  But if you go you're to do
+exactly what the letter tells you and no more!"
+
+As Evan continued to look to George Deaves, the latter was obliged to
+nod a feeble assent.
+
+"He hasn't got the money," put in Simeon Deaves.
+
+"Then let him get it from you!"
+
+"Not if I know it!"
+
+"Well, I don't care where he gets it from.  This story is
+ruinous--ruinous!  This story hits directly at me!  If this is
+published it would be impossible for me to go on living with George!"
+
+"Bravo, Maud!" thought Evan.  "You're some actress!  What a bombshell I
+could explode in this room if I wanted to!"
+
+Maud's parting shot was: "At ten o'clock when the bank opens I will
+take you there myself in the car."
+
+When she had gone the wretched George mumbled to his father: "No use my
+going to the bank.  I'm overdrawn there.  I can't ask for another loan
+unless you'll guarantee it."
+
+"Not another cent!  Not another cent!  Let 'em publish and be damned!"
+He shuffled out of the room.
+
+Evan could not but feel sorry for the unfortunate George, though his
+pity was mixed with contempt.  George's first impulse was to apologise
+for his wife.
+
+"You must make allowances," he said.  "Mrs. Deaves is so dreadfully
+upset by this matter."
+
+"So I see," said Evan dryly.
+
+"I don't know what I'm going to do!"
+
+"You don't need any money," said Evan quietly.
+
+"Eh?" said Deaves dully.
+
+"You've got a real chance to catch them now!"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Trap them in this house in Van Dorn street!  I was sure they'd get
+careless in the end."
+
+Deaves began to tremble.  "But how can we?  How do we know how many
+there are?"
+
+"You'll have to call in the police and have the house surrounded."
+
+"Oh, no!  No!" Deaves cried in a panic.
+
+"But that's what they're counting on: that you're afraid to call on the
+police!"
+
+"The whole story would come out in the papers!"
+
+"Not necessarily.  Those matters can be arranged.  And if they should
+slip through our fingers, we can buy up the story at the _Clarion_
+office later.  We'd be no worse off."
+
+"What could I say to Mrs. Deaves?"
+
+"Don't tell her anything.  She couldn't help but approve after we land
+them behind the bars."  Evan said this with an inward smile.
+
+"But she'll insist on my going to the bank."
+
+"Let her take us there.  She won't come in."
+
+"I can't!  I can't!" he quavered.  "The risk is too great!"
+
+"But if this payment is hard to meet, how about the next, and the next
+after that?"
+
+"Oh, they'll ruin me!" he groaned.
+
+"Then strike for your freedom while there's time!"
+
+George Deaves would not positively consent, but he was so spineless
+that Evan was able to rush him along the path that he wished him to
+follow.  Evan telephoned to police headquarters and made an appointment
+with the inspector in charge of the detective bureau to meet them at
+the bank.
+
+Therefore, when Mrs. Deaves dropped them at the bank, and drove away,
+satisfied that things were going as she wished, instead of obtaining
+the money they went into consultation with the Inspector in plain
+clothes in the manager's office.  Evan did the talking.
+
+"Mr. Deaves is being hounded by a gang of blackmailers," he began.
+
+The Inspector bowed as if blackmailing was a mere bagatelle to him.  He
+had the mannerisms of the army.  Evan was not so sure, though, of his
+capacity.  But one must take an inspector as one finds him.
+
+"He received this letter this morning."  Evan handed it over.
+
+It was read and handed back with a military nod.
+
+"The opportunity seemed a good one to land the crooks."
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"We asked you to meet us here, because if we were seen going to
+headquarters the news would soon reach them.  They were counting, you
+see, on Mr. Deaves not being willing to consult the police.  But of
+course Mr. Deaves has nothing to hide.
+
+"Of course not!"
+
+George Deaves began to look anxious at this, but Evan did not intend to
+be taken too literally, as his employer soon saw.
+
+The Inspector was not so stiff and correct but that he could feel an
+unregenerate curiosity.  "May I see the enclosure the letter speaks
+of?" he asked.
+
+"It has been destroyed," said Evan coolly.  "It was merely scurrilous,
+and Mr. Deaves saw nothing to be gained in keeping it.  The criminal
+intent is shown in the letter."
+
+The Inspector looked disappointed, but bowed as usual.  "Nevertheless I
+should be informed as to their previous activities," said he.
+
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "But if you will excuse me, the time is so
+short!  I thought we should immediately take our measures.  All the
+facts will come out at the hearing, of course."
+
+Their plan was soon made.  It was arranged that in the first place a
+man in plain clothes should be sent through Van Dorn street to locate
+the position of number eleven.  Being an odd number, it would be on the
+north side of the street.  He would then spot the corresponding house
+in the next street to the north, Carlton street, and four men would be
+sent to that house to be in readiness to take the Van Dorn street house
+in the rear.  Six other men would be in readiness to follow George
+Deaves and Evan to the front door.  In order to avoid warning the
+inmates of the house these six would be sent through the block in a
+covered van to leap out as the door was opened.
+
+"What signal will there be for the concerted attack?" asked Evan.
+
+"No signal," said the Inspector.  "The double approach will be timed at
+a fixed moment, military style.  You will ring the door bell at eleven
+o'clock precisely.  Let me see, we'll give them forty-five seconds to
+open the door.  Zero for us will be forty-five seconds past eleven.
+You can depend on us.  Are you armed?"
+
+Evan shook his head.
+
+"As you are to be the first to enter the house it would be as well.
+Take this."
+
+"This" was a neat and businesslike automatic.  George Deaves shuddered
+at the sight of it.
+
+The Inspector compared watches with Evan and departed in his automobile
+to make his arrangements.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+NUMBER 11 VAN DORN STREET
+
+Evan borrowed a newspaper at the bank and cut from it five pieces of
+the size and shape of bills.  These he enclosed in an envelope and gave
+it to George Deaves.  The latter was already longing to turn back from
+this expedition, but Evan gave him no opening to do so.
+
+It was about half-past ten when they left the bank.  In case they
+should be under observation Evan had to find some plausible reason for
+delay.  They taxied back to the Deaves house as if they had forgotten
+something, and then down-town again.  They dismissed their cab in
+MacDougall street, and proceeded on foot according to instructions.
+
+Few people in New York could lead you to Van Dorn street, but Evan
+happened to have marked it during his wanderings with Simeon Deaves.
+It is only three blocks long, from MacDougall street to the river; one
+of the forgotten streets of the real Greenwich Village, not the
+spurious.  Down the first block extends a double row of little old red
+brick dwellings; number eleven was presumably one of these.  The
+remaining blocks are given up to great storehouses.
+
+It was not any too easy to time their arrival to a second without
+rousing the suspicions of anyone who might be watching them.  Evan
+dared not consult his watch too often.  He made careful calculations of
+the time they took to walk a block.  As it was he arrived in sight of
+the corner some seconds too soon.  He used up this time by asking the
+way of an Italian grocer who had no English.
+
+It was ten seconds to eleven when Evan guided the shaking George Deaves
+into Van Dorn street, and they mounted the steps of number eleven
+precisely on the hour.  A great bell was tolling as Evan pulled the
+old-fashioned knob.  In the depths of the house a bell jangled.  Evan's
+heart was beating hard in his throat; George Deaves was as livid as a
+corpse--nothing strange in that, though, if anybody was watching.
+
+The little brick house with its beautiful old doorway and wrought iron
+railings was the very epitome of respectability--they had left the
+swarming Italian quarter around the corner.  With its shining brass
+knobs, neat window curtains and scrubbed steps one would have sworn
+that good, church-going people lived there--but you never can tell!
+
+There was no wagon or van in the block that might have contained the
+police, but it was only a hundred feet or so to the corner.  Evan had
+faith in the inspector.  As a matter of fact, the van was about half a
+minute late in arriving; not a very long time, but long enough to make
+a fatal difference in modern tactics.
+
+They heard steps approaching the door from within--still no sign of the
+police.
+
+"Fumble for the envelope," Evan swiftly whispered.  "It'll gain time."
+
+The door was opened by a woman as respectable in appearance as her
+house, in short a hard-working, middle-aged American woman with an
+expression slightly embittered perhaps as a result of the influx of
+"dagoes" in her neighbourhood.  She looked at them enquiringly.  George
+Deaves fumbled assiduously in his inside breast pocket.
+
+"What is it?" she asked sharply.
+
+"I have something for the gentleman up-stairs," he muttered.
+
+"Oh!"  She waited five seconds more.  "What's the matter?"
+
+"I can't seem to find it."
+
+Still no sign of the police.  Evan was on tenterhooks.  To create a
+diversion he asked:
+
+"Has the gentleman lived here long?"
+
+"Only took the rooms yesterday.  Hasn't moved in yet."
+
+Evan's heart went down.  "Oh, then he isn't in?"
+
+"Yes, he and his friend are up there waiting for the furniture."
+
+She was evidently a victim rather than an accomplice.  Still no sign of
+the police!  George Deaves had not the assurance to keep up his
+pretended search.  Evan signalled to him with a look to hand over the
+envelope.  He did so with trembling hands.
+
+At the same moment Evan, whose ears were stretched for sounds from
+within the house, heard a voice say, not loud: "They're coming over the
+back fence!"  And another voice answered: "Beat it, then."
+
+To Evan it was like the view halloo of the huntsman.  He could not
+resist it.  Never thinking of danger, he pushed past the astonished
+landlady and sprang for the stairs, pulling his pistol as he ran.  As
+he left the stoop he had an impression of a motor van turning the
+corner from MacDougall.
+
+The woman screamed, and George Deaves yelled to Evan to come back.  The
+woman slammed the door in Deaves' face with the impulse of keeping out
+at least one intruder.  This was unfortunate for Evan, for it delayed
+the entrance of the police.
+
+As Evan went up the first flight he heard flying feet on the stairs
+overhead, and he made no pause on the second floor.  He heard a door on
+the third floor slam.  It was in the front.  Houses of this type have a
+window on the stair landing and Evan had no difficulty in seeing what
+he was about.
+
+On the third floor there were four doors on the hall, all closed.  Evan
+went directly to the door he had heard close, the door of the principal
+front room, and throwing it open, stepped back, half expecting a
+fusillade from within.  But none came.  After a moment he stepped to
+the door and looked in.  The room was empty.  But there was a door
+communicating with the rear.
+
+That was as far as his observations carried him.  Suddenly a
+suffocating cloud was thrown over his head from behind and drawn close
+about him.
+
+A voice said: "Give him one; he's heeled!"
+
+A sickening blow descended on his skull.  His strength became as water.
+Still he did not lose consciousness.
+
+A different voice said: "Let him lie!  Come on!"
+
+The first and more determined voice replied:
+
+"Bring him, I tell you!  It's too good a chance to miss!"
+
+A rope was hastily wound around Evan's body, and he was partly dragged,
+partly boosted up a ladder and through a scuttle to the roof.  The last
+sound he heard from the house was the trampling of heavy feet in the
+entry below.  He was put down on the roof.  He was still incapable of
+helping himself, but he heard all that went on as in a dream.
+
+He heard them cover the scuttle.  He heard the more resolute voice say:
+"Help me lift this slab from the parapet."  The other replied
+agitatedly: "Oh, what's the use!  Come on!  Come on!"  The first said:
+"Do what I tell you!  Only one man can stand on the ladder at a time:
+he'll have all he can do to push this up."
+
+A heavy object was dropped on the scuttle.  Evan was then picked up
+between the two and carried over the roofs.  They laid him down on the
+low parapet that separated each house from its neighbour, and jumping
+over, picked him up again.  In this manner they crossed the roofs of
+six houses.  Evan heard vague sounds of excitement from the street
+below.
+
+He was put down again.  One of his captors climbed above him: he heard
+his voice come down.  With one pulling from above, and one boosting
+from below, with strenuous efforts Evan was hoisted to a higher roof.
+The second man climbed after.  As he did so he said:
+
+"They're out."
+
+The other replied: "Bolt the door as you come through."
+
+A door slammed to behind them and was bolted.  Evan was jolted down
+many stairs.  Someone began to pound violently on the door above.
+Other doors on the way were opened.  Women exclaimed in astonished
+Italian.  "Out of the way!  Out of the way!" commanded the resolute
+voice, and none sought to interfere.
+
+They ran down a long passage and down a few steps to the open street
+again.  Evan was carried across the pavement and flung into an
+automobile.  The door slammed.  Running feet were heard from another
+direction.  The resolute voice said:
+
+"Beat it!"
+
+The car jerked into motion.  A hoarse voice ordered them to stop.  A
+pistol was fired.  The bold voice said:
+
+"Step on her hard!"
+
+The car roared down the street with wide open exhaust, turned a corner
+on two wheels, and another corner, and soon outdistanced all sounds of
+pursuit.
+
+The power of movement was coming back to Evan, but he still lay still;
+he was at too great a disadvantage to put up a struggle.  That which
+enveloped him was a thick cotton comforter; it clove to his tongue, and
+the stuffy smell of it filled his nostrils.  Moreover, he had a lively
+recollection of the blackjack or whatever it was that had laid him out
+in the beginning.  It was useless to cry out; even if he should be
+heard above the noise of the engine, who could stop the flying car?
+
+As his wits cleared he set them to work to try to puzzle out the
+direction in which he was being carried.  He could tell from the lurch
+of the car whether they turned to the right or the left.  In the
+beginning they turned so many corners that all sense of direction was
+lost, but after a while they struck a car-line and held to it for a
+long time.  He knew they were running in car-tracks by the smoothness
+of their passage, broken by occasional bumpings as they slipped out of
+the rails.  It was a street with little traffic, for their progress was
+rapid and uninterrupted.
+
+Presently he heard an elevated train roar overhead, and he knew where
+he was.  "Greenwich street or Ninth avenue," he said to himself.  As
+they still held to their car-line he knew they were bound up-town;
+headed the other way, they would have reached the end of the island
+before this.  Bye and bye they coasted down a long hill and puffed up
+the other side.  He guessed this to be the valley between Ninety-third
+street and One Hundred and Fourth, and presently knew he was right,
+when he heard the wheels of the elevated trains grinding on a curve
+high overhead.  The Hundred and Tenth street curve, of course; there is
+no other such curve on the island.
+
+The car turned to the right and then to the left again, still running
+in the rails.  "Eighth avenue now," he said to himself, "and still
+heading north."
+
+Later he heard a car-gong of a different timbre and the unmistakable
+hiss of a trolley wheel on its wire.  There are no overhead wires on
+Manhattan Island except at the several points where the off-island
+railways terminate.  "Union railway," Evan said to himself.  "We've
+reached the Harlem river."  Sure enough, they passed over a
+draw-bridge; the double clank-clank of the draw could not be mistaken.
+"Central Bridge," thought Evan.
+
+But in the smoothly paved streets of the Bronx he lost every clue to
+his whereabouts.  They ran in the car tracks for a while, then left
+them; they made several right and left turns and crossed other tracks.
+Evan guessed they were in a well-travelled motor highway for he heard
+other cars, but that told him nothing; there are a dozen such highways
+radiating from Central Bridge.
+
+He lay against the feet and legs of his two captors.  He listened
+eagerly for any talk between them that might furnish him with a clue.
+But if they conversed it must have been in whispers.  On one occasion,
+though, he heard him of the milder voice say:
+
+"He's so quiet!  Do you suppose he's all right?"
+
+"Search me!" was the indifferent response.  "His body is hot enough on
+my feet, I know."
+
+"Hadn't I better look at him?"
+
+"Sure!  And print your face on his memory forever!"
+
+"I believe that comforter is half suffocating him."
+
+"What of it?  You can't make a cake without breaking eggs."
+
+Gradually the noises of the street lessened, and Evan gathered that
+they were getting out into the sparsely settled districts.  They were
+bowling along rapidly and smoothly.  About twenty minutes after they
+had crossed Central Bridge (if Central Bridge it was) the more
+determined voice suddenly said to the chauffeur:
+
+"Don't turn in now.  There's a car behind.  Run slow and let it pass.
+Then come back."
+
+This was evidently done.  They turned in the road.  As they came back
+the voice said:
+
+"All clear.  Go ahead in."
+
+The car turned to the right and jolted over what seemed to be a shallow
+ditch.  The road that followed was of the roughest character.  If it
+was a road at all it was a wood-track; Evan heard the twigs crackle
+under the tires.  They lurched and bumped alarmingly.  Once they had to
+stop to allow the chauffeur to drag some obstruction out of the way.
+Evidently they had not had the car that way before, for the chauffeur
+said anxiously:
+
+"Are you sure we can get through?"
+
+The resolute voice answered: "We've got to."
+
+The chauffeur said: "I couldn't turn around here."
+
+The other voice replied: "There's a clear space in front of the house."
+
+This way was not very long; a quarter of a mile, Evan guessed.  They
+came to a stop, and the two men climbed out over Evan.  He was
+unceremoniously dragged out feet foremost.  They carried him a short
+distance--Evan heard grass or verdure swishing around their legs.  They
+entered a house and laid him down on a floor, a rough worn floor.
+
+Here Evan heard a new voice, a woman's voice with slurred accents and a
+fat woman's laugh.  The strong-voiced man said:
+
+"Here's a guest for you, Aunt Liza."
+
+"Lawsy!  Lawsy!  What divelment you been up to now!"
+
+A general laugh went round.  To the bound Evan it had a blackguardedly
+and infamous sound.
+
+He was abruptly turned over on his face.  While one man held the folds
+of the comforter tightly round his head, the other two knelt on his
+back and, pulling his arms behind him, tied his wrists together.  Evan
+put up the best struggle he could against such heavy odds.  The man who
+had taken the principal part against him laughed.
+
+"You see, there's life in him yet," he said.
+
+After his wrists they tied his ankles, and got up from him.  The
+comforter was still over Evan's head, and he was powerless to throw it
+off.  The same voice said:
+
+"After we're out of the room you can uncover his head, and give him
+air.  And feed him when dinner's ready."
+
+A door closed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE CLUB HOUSE
+
+The coverlet was thrown back from Evan's head, and breathing deep with
+relief, he saw bending over him a grinning, fat negress, not
+evil-looking, but merely simple in expression.
+
+She exclaimed like a child: "Laws! it's a pretty man!"
+
+"Where am I?" asked Evan.
+
+"Deed, I do' know, chile!"
+
+"I'll pay you well if you'll help me out of here."
+
+"Deed, I cain't help you, honey.  I'm here, but I don' know where it is
+no more than you do.  White folks brung me here, and white folks will
+take me away again I reckon."
+
+Evan looked around him.  He seemed to be in a room of an ancient
+abandoned farm-house.  There was no furniture.  The ceiling was low;
+the great fireplace was certainly more than a century old.  The smell
+of rotting wood was in the air; the plaster was coming down, revealing
+the wrought hand-split laths beneath; the floor was full of holes.
+There were two windows with many missing panes.  The sun was streaming
+in.  From Evan's position flat on his back on the floor he could only
+see the sky through the upper sashes.
+
+In contrast with the wreckage that surrounded them the old negress was
+neat and clean.  She wore a black cotton dress and a gingham apron and
+on her head was a quaint, flat-topped cap made from a folded newspaper.
+She seemed neither ill-disposed nor well-disposed towards Evan but
+regarded him simply as an amusing curiosity.
+
+It ought not to be difficult to bend one so simple to his will, Evan
+thought, and set to work to conciliate her.
+
+"Aunt Liza, you seem like a decent woman.  What are you doing in a den
+like this?"
+
+She affected not to understand him.  "Excuse me, suh, I don' understand
+No'the'ners' talk very good."
+
+"I say this is a funny looking place."
+
+"Well, I reckon they's gwine fix it up some.  Ain't had time yet.  The
+other rooms is better than this."
+
+"Who lives here?"
+
+"Nobody lives here.  It's a club."
+
+"What club?"
+
+"Ain't got no name as I knows.  It's a private club."
+
+"Well, who comes here?"
+
+"Jes, my boss and his friends."
+
+"What's your boss's name?"
+
+"Mistah Henry."
+
+"What's his other name?"
+
+"Henry."
+
+"What's his first name, then?"
+
+"Henry too.  Mistah Henry Henry."
+
+Evan looked at her sharply, but her face was black and bland.
+
+"What do they do here?" he asked.
+
+"Same as gemmen allways does in a club I reckon; smokes and talks and
+plays cards and mixes juleps."
+
+"Well, do they generally bring their guests here tied hand and foot?"
+
+Aunt Liza dissolved into noiseless fat laughter.  "No suh!  No suh!
+That's somepin new, that is!"
+
+"Well, what do you think of it?"
+
+"Laws!  I never thinks, suh.  I leaves that to the white folks.  I jus'
+looks on and 'preciates things!"
+
+Evan was sure now that she was simply using her simplicity as a cover.
+In such a contest he could only come off second best, so he fell
+silent.  He was anxious to get her out of the room now that he might
+get a glimpse out of the window.
+
+"Somebody said something about dinner," he said.  "How about it?"
+
+"Ready d'rectly, suh.  I'll go look at it."
+
+She went out.  The room had but the one door which she locked after
+her.  After a series of struggles Evan succeeded in getting to his
+knees.  If this sounds easy let the doubter have his hands tied behind
+him, and his ankles tied together, and try it.  This brought his head
+above the level of the window-sill, but the view out the window
+scarcely repaid him for his trouble.  It was much what one might have
+expected from the condition of the house, a door-yard grown high with
+grass and weeds, a clump of tiger-lilies, some aged lilac bushes, a few
+rotten palings marking the line where a fence had run.
+
+Beyond the fence was the road, only a slight depression now in the
+expanse of weeds.  The automobile that had brought Evan was standing
+there.  It was a shabby little landaulet with the top up.  It looked
+like a taxi-cab but carried no meter.  Beyond the line of the road the
+view was shut off by second-growth woods, with a larger tree rising
+here and there.
+
+It looked like a spot long forgotten of man, yet Evan doubted if it
+were more than eight miles from Harlem river, and the chances were that
+it was actually within the New York city limits.  Indeed while he
+looked he heard the faint-far-off chorus of the noon whistles in town.
+
+Hearing the old darkey's shuffling step in the hall, he hastily lay
+down again.  But her sharp eyes instantly marked the change in his
+position and detected the dust on his knees.
+
+"Ah reckon the sun's too strong for yo' eyes," she said dryly.  There
+were stout, old-fashioned wooden shutters folded back into the
+window-frames.  These she closed and hooked, and Evan was left in gloom.
+
+There was nothing the matter with the dinner she presently brought him;
+corn soup, fried chicken and hominy.  She fed him with the anxious
+solicitude of a nurse.  Indeed Aunt Liza throughout evinced the
+greatest willingness to make friends; she was so fat and comfortable
+she just couldn't help it.  It was only when Evan started to question
+her that she showed what a tricksy spirit inhabited the solid frame.
+
+After dinner Evan heard the automobile leave.  He guessed that he and
+Aunt Liza were now alone in the tumbledown house.  During the long hot
+afternoon she left him pretty much to his own devices.  He could hear
+the bees humming outside, and the twitter of birds.
+
+In stories Evan had read when the hero was captured and tied up he
+always succeeded in "working himself free" at the critical moment.
+Well Evan patiently set to work to free his hands, but after hours of
+effort, as it seemed, he had only chafed his wrists and his temper and
+drawn the knots tighter.
+
+The extreme stillness of the house suggested that Aunt Liza might be
+indulging in a siesta, and he determined to reach the window if he
+could.  Patiently rolling and hunching himself in the desired
+direction, he finally made it.  He then by a course of gymnastics
+finally succeeded in getting to his feet.  With his chin he knocked up
+the hook that fastened the shutter, and after many attempts succeeded
+in pulling the shutter open with his teeth.  Even then he was no nearer
+freedom, for the sash was down, though most of the panes were missing.
+And Aunt Liza came in and caught him in the act.
+
+"Sho!  honey what yo' tryin' to do!" she said reproachfully.  "Turn
+around and sit down."
+
+There was nothing for Evan to do but obey, whereupon she coolly seized
+his heels, and pulled him across the floor.  She fastened up the
+shutter again.  After that she visited him more frequently, and as long
+as he was a "good boy" was disposed to be quite friendly and sociable.
+
+Towards the end of the afternoon the "club-members" began to arrive.
+Evidently they came on foot for there was no sound of automobile.
+Evan, whose only useful sense was hearing, thought he could distinguish
+eight or nine individuals at different times.  None opened his door.
+The principal gathering place seemed to be the room over his head.  A
+low-voiced hum of conversation came down to him but he could
+distinguish no words.  Frequently there was laughter, which had a
+particularly devilish and unfeeling ring to Evan.
+
+Aunt Liza served another meal.
+
+Later she entered his room carrying a bandana handkerchief.
+
+"What's that for?" demanded Evan.
+
+"To blind yo' eyes, honey."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"The gemmen wants to see yo' upstairs."
+
+Any prospect seemed better than lying bound alone in the semi-dark, and
+Evan submitted.  Aunt Liza made very sure that he could not see under
+the bandage over his eyes.  Then untying the knots that bound his
+ankles, she helped him to his feet, and steered him out through the
+door.  Placing his foot on the bottom step she bade him mount the
+stairs.  At the top she led him towards the front of the building and
+through a doorway into the middle of a room.  Here she left him.  He
+heard her steps recede, and heard her close the door behind her.
+
+There he stood bound and blind facing--he knew not what.  A thick
+excitement choked him.  Nobody spoke, but his sharpened senses told him
+that he was surrounded by people.  He heard them breathe.  The
+continued silence was cruel on his nerves.  He imagined them moving
+cat-footed about him, smiling meaningly at each other as they prepared
+to attack.  If he only had a wall at his back!
+
+"Keep cool!  Keep cool!" he told himself.  "They're trying to break
+your nerve.  Stand fast!  Make them speak first!"
+
+Finally one spoke.  It was he of the resolute, cynical voice.  "Well,
+Weir, here we are!  What have you got to say for yourself?"
+
+"It's not up to me to say anything," coolly retorted Evan.
+
+There were several chuckles in the room.  Their laughter was hateful to
+Evan.  He gathered from the sounds that the room was of considerable
+size.  Evidently this house was a more pretentious building than he had
+supposed.  The voices echoed as they do in a bare room.
+
+"You are in the presence of the Ikunahkatsi," the voice went on, "that
+is to say of some of them.  We're not at all ill-disposed towards you
+personally.  On the contrary we admire the pluck you've shown.  It's
+been some fun to get the best of you.  Confess, we fooled you neatly in
+the library that day."
+
+Evan thought: "This is the humorous guy that writes the letters."
+Aloud he said: "Say your say and have done with it."
+
+The voice resumed: "As I say, it's been a good game.  We'd be willing
+to go on indefinitely matching our wits against yours, but the dice are
+loaded against us, you see.  We're outside the law.  With that
+advantage on your side you'd be bound to get us in the end."
+
+"It's not all fun with us, you see.  We have a serious purpose in view.
+You are in the way of that purpose and so, regretfully, we've got to
+remove you.  You're much too good a lad to be in the pay of an old
+rascal like Deaves.  You ought to be on our side, with the free
+spirits.  But there you are.  I know you wouldn't switch now."
+
+"To a gang of blackmailers?  No thank you," said Evan.
+
+"It would be just as well for you to speak civilly," the voice warned
+him mildly.  "All the gentlemen present are not as patient as I am."
+
+"What do you want of me?" demanded Evan.  "Say it."
+
+"You are absolutely in our power here, yet we are willing to release
+you on a certain condition."
+
+"What's your proposition?"
+
+"Give me your word of honour that you will leave Simeon Deaves' employ,
+and have no further relations with him or his son."
+
+Evan considered what trap might be concealed behind this seemingly fair
+offer.
+
+"What will the old miser ever do for you?" the voice went on, "or his
+slack-twisted son for that matter?  Let them stew in their own juice.
+Give me your word, and you'll be taken home to-night."
+
+"And if I won't?" said Evan.
+
+"Oh, we'll have to keep you prisoner until we have pulled off our big
+coup.  I can't say how long that will be."
+
+Evan said coolly: "Well, I'll see you all damned first."
+
+There was a stir in the room.  "Ah!" said the voice that fronted him,
+coolly.  "As a young man of spirit I suppose you feel that is the only
+possible answer.  It's too bad.  You may go down-stairs."  He called
+for Aunt Liza.
+
+Evan was returned to his prison on the ground floor.
+
+Aunt Liza said: "Sit down, honey.  Be a good boy and let me tie yo'
+feet together.  If you acks ugly I'll have to call the gemmen."
+
+Evan submitted.  His ankles were bound, the bandage over his eyes
+removed, and he was left to his own devices.
+
+The leaden minutes slowly added themselves up to hours.  For a long
+time in his rage he could not think clearly.  He was all for defiance,
+defiance though his life paid the forfeit.  But in the end he was bound
+to cool off and a craftier voice began to advise him.
+
+"I owe this gang neither truth nor loyalty," he thought.  "They struck
+me from behind.  They carried me off.  They trussed me up like a fowl
+for roasting.  They're about a dozen to one against me.  By fair means
+I haven't a ghost of a show against them.  Very well, I'll use foul.
+If they are simple enough to let me lie myself out of their hands, I'll
+do it."
+
+Late in the evening he was sent for again.  He was eager now to face
+his jailors.  As before his eyes were blindfolded, and his ankles
+freed.  Aunt Liza took him up-stairs and retired.
+
+The mocking voice said: "Well, Weir, I didn't want to leave you in that
+rat-infested room all night without giving you a chance to change your
+mind.  Wouldn't you rather sleep between your own sheets?"
+
+"I would," said Evan coolly.  "I have changed my mind.  As you say,
+Simeon Deaves and his son are nothing to me.  I will let them alone
+hereafter."
+
+"Good man," said the other.  "You promise to have nothing further to do
+with them?"
+
+"I promise to have nothing further to do with them."
+
+A new voice spoke up, a voice that vibrated with anger and hate:
+"That's too thin!  He's trying to fool us!  Can't you hear the lie in
+his voice?"
+
+"Wait a minute," said the other, "I'll put him under oath."  Addressing
+Evan he said mockingly: "I don't know what your attitude towards the
+bible is, but I'll take a chance.  Will you swear it on the bible?"
+
+It suddenly came to Evan that they were just playing with him, that
+they had no intention of letting him go.  Moreover that hateful voice
+had roused a fury in him that was incapable of making further pretences.
+
+"I'll swear nothing," he said sullenly.
+
+"That's too bad!" said the man who faced him, with hypocritical regret.
+Evan was sure now that they were grinning among themselves.  "I'll have
+to return you to your luxurious chamber."
+
+The harsh voice broke in again: "We're taking too big a chance, leaving
+him here.  We can't stay here ourselves, and the woman is no match for
+him.  He'll break out."
+
+"What do you propose then?" asked the other man.
+
+"He'll never let up against us.  Look at that stubborn jaw.  It's us or
+him!"
+
+"What do you want me to do?"
+
+"Put him out of the way!"
+
+Evan thought: "They're bluffing!"
+
+But he heard the gentlest voice among them murmur: "Oh, no! no!"  And
+that was more convincing than the other man's abuse.  A chill struck to
+his breast.
+
+The angry man turned on him who had protested.  "You be quiet!  Your
+chickenheartedness has spoiled our game more than once!  What's the use
+of half measures?  We're all good for prison sentences if we're caught.
+Mark my words this man will put us all behind the bars if we don't put
+him where he can do no harm."
+
+He whom Evan had taken to be the leader said: "This is not a question
+for us to decide.  Put it up to the chief."
+
+So he was not the chief then.  One of them left the room.  Evan
+wondered about this leader who held himself so far above his men that
+he disdained to take part in their meetings.  Meanwhile he waited for
+the return of the messenger as an accused murderer waits for his jury.
+Silence filled the room.  Through the windows came the voices of the
+cheerful katydids and the shrill tree-toads.  A sudden sense of the
+sweetness of life stabbed Evan like a poniard.
+
+The man was not gone long, nor did he keep Evan waiting for the
+verdict.  "Chief says I am right," he blurted out--it was the
+harsh-voiced one.  "Orders are let him pass out before we go home
+to-night."
+
+A pent breath escaped from all those in the room.  A rush of
+conflicting emotions made Evan dizzy; fear, the determination not to
+show fear, and that unmanning sense of the terrible sweetness of life.
+Oh, for a wall behind his back!
+
+"So be it!" said the man in front of him soberly.
+
+The other went on: "The arrangements are left to you.  How are you
+going to do it?"
+
+"I have the pistol that I took from him."
+
+"What will we do with the body?"
+
+"Let it lie.  We're ready to flit from here anyway.  It will be
+unrecognisable before it's discovered."
+
+Evan visualised his own body putrefying, and the heart shrivelled in
+his breast.  He clenched his teeth.  All he had left was pride.  "I
+will show nothing," he repeated to himself.
+
+With too much suffering, the whole scene became slightly unreal to him.
+He heard their talk as from a little distance:
+
+"We will draw lots.  Who's got a sheet of paper?  Anything will do....
+This will do.  Tear it in eight pieces....  No, seven.  Leave C. D.
+out.  He couldn't pull the trigger if his own life depended on it....
+I mark a cross on one piece, see?  Now fold each piece in four....
+Call Aunt Liza up-stairs....  A hat?  All right.  Drop them in.  Shake
+it up....  Don't let on anything to Aunt Liza....  Be quiet; here she
+is....  Aunt Liza hold this hat above your head, so....  Now come up to
+her one at a time and draw a paper.  Do not open it until the last one
+is drawn."
+
+A dreadful silence succeeded.  The hard breathing of many men was
+audible in the room.  Little cold drops sprang out in front of Evan's
+ears.  A horrible constriction fastened on his breast, so that he could
+scarcely draw breath.
+
+"Am I a coward?" he asked himself--and that caused him the sharpest
+pang of all.  "Other men have died without flinching.  Why do I suffer
+so?"
+
+The resolute voice said: "Leave the room, Aunt Liza."
+
+Evan heard the old negress shuffle out.  She was the nearest thing to a
+friend that he had there.
+
+"Now," cried the man, with a sharp catch of excitement.
+
+Evan heard the crackling of the little bits of paper, and heard their
+breath escape them variously.
+
+"Who has it?"
+
+"I have!"  It was the harsh voice.  "It's no more than fair, since I
+proposed it."
+
+"Oh, it's too horrible!  It's too horrible!" sobbed the gentler voice.
+He ran out of the room.
+
+"Let him go," said the harsh one.  "This is no sight for kids."
+
+"Here's the gun," said the other.
+
+Evan thought: "Well, I won't take it standing still!"
+
+Somewhere behind him the door was open.  Putting his head down he
+charged for it.  Instantly half a dozen pairs of hands seized him.  He
+was borne back until he crashed against a wall.  He felt of it
+gratefully.  A deep instinctive need was supplied by the feeling of
+something solid at his back.
+
+"Take your hands off him," said the principal voice.
+
+Evan was freed, but he knew they still stood close beside him.  The
+voice went on peremptorily.  "Stand still if you don't want to be
+pinned against the wall like an insect."
+
+"Unbind my eyes!" cried Evan.  "Let me see what's coming to me."
+
+The voice replied in its grim drawl: "Sorry, but we can't let you take
+mental pictures of us even to the other side."
+
+"You're afraid to face me, you cowards!"
+
+"Maybe.  If you want to send any messages I'll transmit them."
+
+Evan snatched at the chance.  "I'd like to send a letter."
+
+"All right."  There was a pause while the speaker presumably found
+pencil and paper.  "Go ahead."
+
+Evan dictated Charley Straiker's address.  "Dear Charl: I have cut
+loose.  I have taken to the trail.  You will not see me again.  I leave
+everything I have in my room to you.  It will not make you rich.  With
+one exception.  I want to send my least-bad picture to a friend.  It's
+the one I call 'Green and Gold,' the view of the Square from my window
+in the morning light.  There's a little frame that fits it.  Write on
+the back of it--write--Oh, don't write anything.  Wrap it up and
+address it to Miss Corinna Playfair.  Take it to the steamboat
+_Ernestina_ which will be lying at the pier foot of East Twentieth
+street on Saturday morning up to Nine-Thirty.  Be good, old son.
+Here's how.  Evan."
+
+"Are you ready?" demanded the harsh voice unexpectedly close.
+
+"Shoot and be damned to you!" said Evan.
+
+He felt a little rim of cold steel pressed against his temple.  With
+that touch all Evan's agony rolled away.  After all, what was life but
+a jest?  Thank God! he was not a coward!
+
+The other man was still speaking--Good God would he never have
+done!--"I will give you the word."  Then he began to count: "One, two,
+three----!"
+
+Evan cried gaily: "So long, all!"
+
+"Fire!"
+
+There was a deafening crash.  Everything went from him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+BACK TO EARTH
+
+Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like
+music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike
+unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of
+wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.  "What existence is this?" he
+asked himself.  Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question
+it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.  He lay exulting in his
+sensations.
+
+As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be
+denied.  "I breathe," he thought.  "I feel my breast rise.  Therefore I
+have a body.  I hear a sound like the stirring of a breeze among
+leaves, and another sound, a strange, faint hum.  And I see, though I
+am surrounded by darkness.  It is night and out-of-doors."
+
+The feeling of having awakened in a new existence wore off.  He
+accepted that which surrounded him as the same old world.  He found
+that he was lying on a soft bed of leaves in a wood.  He was wrapped in
+a bed covering, a cotton coverlet in fact.  He did not recognise it.
+He instinctively felt about for his hat and found it near.  He stood
+erect, and found that his legs were able to perform their office.  He
+started to walk blindly through the wood.  There were no stars.
+
+A certain part of his brain had stopped working.  It was that part
+which reasoned from memory.  He remembered nothing.  He did things
+without knowing why he did them.  He came to a road; he knew it was a
+road, and knew what roads were for.  He followed it.  He was dimly
+conscious that he was not in a normal condition, but the fact did not
+distress him: on the contrary he experienced a fine lightness of
+spirit; it was enough for him that the blood was stirring in his veins,
+and the night air was cool and sweet.
+
+Presently he heard a whirring sound familiar to his senses, and saw the
+oscillating reflection of a bright light around a bend in the road; an
+automobile.  He hastily dived into the underbrush at the side.  He had
+no reason to be afraid, but he felt a shivering repugnance to showing
+himself to his fellow-creatures in his present state.
+
+When the car had passed he returned to the road.  A few paces further
+on the trees at his right hand opened up, and a wonderful panorama was
+spread before him; a great, dark, gleaming river far below, and on the
+other side myriads upon myriads of fairy-like white lights like
+fireflies arrested in mid-flight.  From this direction came the faint
+hum he had remarked.
+
+Evan knew instinctively that this was the city, and that he must get
+there.  He saw further that he was bound in the wrong direction.  The
+way he was heading the lights were thinning out; the thickest clusters
+were behind him.  His instinct further told him that where the lights
+were thick he would find a means of crossing the river.  So he retraced
+his steps.
+
+Bye and bye houses began to rise alongside the road, all dark-windowed
+and still.  "It is very late," thought Evan.  Finally the road came to
+an end at the gates of a ferry-house.  Evan automatically produced a
+coin to pay his fare, and passed on board the boat.  There were but few
+passengers.  He gave them a wide berth.
+
+Reaching the other shore he started walking towards the centre of the
+city.  Coming to a place where trains of cars passed to and fro on a
+trestle overhead, he climbed a flight of steps to a station, and
+producing another coin, took a seat in the first train that came.  He
+was perfectly able to see, to hear, to read the advertising cards in
+the train, but it was all new and inexplicable to him.  Some power
+outside of his consciousness was directing his steps.  In the
+brightly-lighted car he shivered under the gaze of his
+fellow-passengers, but nobody paid him any special regard.
+
+At a certain station something stirred his feet, and they bore him off
+the train, down the steps and through certain streets to a certain door
+facing upon a little Park.  Fronted by this door his hand dived into
+his pocket and brought forth a key which opened it.  Like a
+sleep-walker he mounted to the top of the house and entered a room
+there.  Something in the aspect of this room caused a deep sigh of
+satisfaction to escape him; he knew where everything was without
+lighting the gas.  Undressing and climbing into bed he fell into a
+dreamless sleep.
+
+He was awakened by a pillow flung at his head.  He beheld a grinning,
+sharp-featured face under a shock of lank, molasses-candy-coloured
+hair, a face as dear and familiar to him as the room, and he knew that
+the owner of it was called Charley.
+
+"Aren't you going to get up to-day?"
+
+"Go to Hell!" said Evan, grinning back.  Oh but the sight of his friend
+was good to his eyes!  Something real, something familiar, something
+that identified this poor wandering soul and gave it a locus.
+
+"You must have made a night of it," remarked Charley.
+
+Some deep instinct still bade Evan to conceal his condition.  "What's
+for breakfast?" he cried, jumping up.
+
+"Same old stunt!  Beggs and acon."
+
+"Gee!  I'm as hungry as a hunter.  Break me three Humpty-dumpties and
+fry them sunny side up."
+
+Charley perceived nothing amiss.  Breakfast was partaken of to the
+accompaniment of the usual airy persiflage.  Evan knew very well that
+Charley could supply the clues to his lost identity, but he couldn't
+bring himself to ask him directly.  He kept his ears open for any
+chance remarks that might throw light on the matter, but Charley's
+style was so flowery he didn't get much.  Charley finally departed on
+some errand of his own.
+
+Left alone, Evan went about his room, touching the familiar objects,
+looking into everything, trying to fill in that blank space in his
+mind.  As soon as he saw the paraphernalia he knew he was a painter.
+His pictures interested him greatly.  He knew they were his own
+pictures, but he had lost all sense of kinship with them.  In a way it
+was a great advantage; he brought a fresh point of view to bear.
+
+"I see what's the matter with them," he said to himself.  "You have
+been trying to convey the inner spirit of things without being
+sufficiently sure of their outward form.  What you've got to do is to
+study the outsides of things further, and invite the spirit to express
+itself."
+
+So interested was he that he put a fresh canvas on his easel on the
+spot, and started to paint.  Any object would serve to prove his new
+theory; their brown pitcher with a broken spout and a green bowl beside
+it on the table.  An hour passed without his noticing its flight.
+
+Charley returned.
+
+"Hello!" he said.  "Had another row with your old man?"
+
+"Old man!" thought Evan.  "Oh, nothing much," he said aloud.
+
+"Well, I must say you take your job pretty lightly," said Charley.
+
+Evan thought: "So I have a job."
+
+Charley went on: "There was a story in the paper this morning about one
+of your lot.  I brought it in.  Sounds fishy."
+
+Evan pricked up his ears.
+
+Charley read: "A reporter assigned to police headquarters happened to
+see Inspector Durdan, chief of the Detective Bureau, and five plain
+clothes men climbing into a covered motor van on Mulberry street
+yesterday, and scenting a good story, followed in a taxi-cab.
+Naturally the Inspector does not personally take part except in raids
+of some importance.  The chase led to No. 11 Van Dorn street.  Van Dorn
+is an obscure little street on the far West side.  An agitated
+individual was discovered on the steps of this house whom the reporter
+recognised as Mr. George Deaves, son of the multi-millionaire.  He
+cried out to the police: 'He's gone in!  He's gone in!'  The police
+forced their way into the house.  One was left at the door, and the
+reporter was not allowed to enter.  Through the open door he saw other
+police inside, who must have entered from the back.  They were
+searching the house.  One called down-stairs: 'They've gone over the
+roofs towards MacDougall street,' whereupon several of the police
+started to run down the block to the corner of MacDougall and the
+reporter followed.  He was just in time to see two men issue from a
+tenement house carrying what looked like the corpse of a third between
+them.  The body was wrapped in an old cotton comforter.  They threw it
+in a waiting taxi and made a getaway though the police fired in the
+air, and ordered them to stop.  At police headquarters all information
+was refused.  At Mr. Deaves' residence word was sent out that Mr.
+Deaves had not been out that morning.  The woman who keeps the Van Dorn
+street house, a Mrs. Patten, either would not or could not tell what
+had happened."
+
+At this point in the story Charley looked up to see how Evan was taking
+it.  Seeing Evan's expression he forgot to read the rest.  Evan was
+staring into vacancy as if he saw a ghost.  As a matter of fact
+complete recollection had returned in a great flash, and the reaction
+was dizzying.  His first conscious act was to feel of his temple.  It
+was whole.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" cried Charley.
+
+"I--I was that corpse," stammered Evan.
+
+"Have you gone crazy?"
+
+"Here, I've got to see about this!" cried Evan, and seizing his hat he
+ran out.
+
+Evan took a taxi-cab to the Deaves house.  He took out his pocket book
+to pay the driver.  It was the first time he had used it.  The money in
+it was intact, but something had been added, a little note.  Evan read
+it while the driver made change.
+
+"You've got good pluck.  When the pistol missed fire we decided to let
+you off.  Take warning.  Keep away from the Deaves outfit or next time
+you'll get a ball."
+
+Evan thought: "The pistol did not miss fire.  It was loaded with a
+blank.  The whole scene was staged just to break my nerve.  I passed
+out temporarily just as a result of self-suggestion.  Lord! what a
+weak-minded fool I was!  But by God!  I'll get square with them!  This
+is how I answer their threat!"
+
+He glared around him defiantly, hoping he was watched, and rang the
+bell of the Deaves house.
+
+The servant who opened the door looked at him queerly.  This successor
+to Alfred was more respectful, but Evan did not trust him much further.
+"Where is Mr. George Deaves?" asked Evan.
+
+"I don't think you can see him just now, sir," was the answer.  "He's
+up-stairs."
+
+"And Mr. Simeon Deaves?"
+
+"He's in the library, I believe."
+
+"I'll go up there."
+
+As they got further into the house shrill cries, muffled by several
+doors, reached Evan's ears.
+
+"What's that?" he asked startled.
+
+"Mrs. Deaves, sir," said the man demurely.
+
+"What's the matter with her?"
+
+"Hysterics, I believe, sir."
+
+"Ah!" said Evan.
+
+He found Simeon Deaves in the library.  The old man greeted him with
+the unvarying sly grin.  There was something inhuman about that grin.
+Nothing could move the old man much--save the threatened loss of money.
+
+"So you got here," he said with cheerful indifference.  "George told me
+they carried you off.  How did you get clear?"
+
+Evan told him briefly what had happened--keeping certain details to
+himself.
+
+"Pooh!  Sounds like a melodrama!" said the old man.  "Don't believe a
+word of it!"
+
+Evan, well-used to his ways by now, simply shrugged.
+
+"There's the devil to pay here this morning," the old man went on,
+grinning like a mischievous boy at others' misfortunes.  "Maud got a
+letter from them, and went into hysterics."  He pointed up-stairs and
+laughed his noiseless laugh.  "Hear her?  George is up there slapping
+her hands and begging her to come to, and he'll pay the money.  That's
+no way to treat hysterics.  George is a fool."
+
+Evan heard a heavy step on the stairs.  "Here he comes," he said.
+
+The old man notwithstanding his expressed contempt for his son was not
+anxious to face him.  "Well, well, I've got to go down-stairs," he
+said, shuffling rapidly out by the small door.
+
+George Deaves entered.  Evan could not but feel sorry for him, absurd
+figure though he was.  He looked as if his backbone had lost its pith;
+he sagged.  His necktie was awry, and his hair hung dankly over his
+forehead, his mouth hung open; he looked like a man nauseated with
+perplexity.
+
+"So you're here," he said to Evan, not any more concerned about his
+fate than his father had been.
+
+Evan repeated his brief tale.  George Deaves made no comment; scarcely
+seemed to listen to it in fact.
+
+Evan said: "I suppose the police are looking for me?"
+
+Deaves nodded.
+
+"Then I had better report to them?"
+
+This partly roused Deaves from his apathy.  "Leave that to me," he
+said.  "I will see that they are told what is necessary.  I don't want
+any more fuss."
+
+"Mr. Simeon Deaves tells me another letter has been received this
+morning."
+
+"I can't discuss that with you," said George Deaves stiffly.
+
+Evan's eyebrows went up.  "Indeed!" he said.
+
+The weak man could not face out Evan's indignant stare.  "Oh, I don't
+blame you," he mumbled.  "But I'm sorry I listened to you yesterday.
+Mrs. Deaves is heartbroken at what she considers my deception."
+
+Evan reflected grimly that a broken heart does not customarily take
+itself out in hysterics, but he kept the reflection to himself.
+
+"You will have to go," said George Deaves.
+
+Suddenly a hurricane blew into the room in the person of Maud Deaves
+with her hair and kimono flying.  The innocent Evan stood aghast at the
+terrible secrets of the boudoir that were revealed.  The magnificent
+Mrs. Deaves was reduced by rage to the level of a furious fish-wife,
+but lower, for no fish-wife ever so far neglects self-interest in her
+rage.  Mrs. Deaves' face was splotched and livid; unbridled passion had
+added fifteen years.  She addressed her husband with a ridiculous
+assumption of calmness.
+
+"They told me this person was here.  I came down to see that you did
+your duty!  This clever rascal has twisted you about his finger once
+too often for me!"
+
+Evan flushed up.  "Are you referring to me?"
+
+"Yes I am!" she cried.  "You've been a nuisance in the house from the
+first with your officious meddling!  You take too much on yourself!
+You forget your place!"
+
+"Good Heavens, madam, _I_ didn't write the story about your marriage!"
+said Evan with meaning.
+
+It never reached her.  In the fury she had worked up, she had
+conveniently forgotten that she had written it herself.  "Don't answer
+me back!" she cried, beside herself.  "I don't know whether you did or
+not.  I don't know whether you're more a rascal or a fool!  But I know
+we're done with you.  You're discharged, do you understand?  You can
+go!"
+
+Evan stared at her in frank amazement.  Then he laughed.  He was sorely
+tempted to tell what he knew, but when he looked at the crushed figure
+at the desk, he hadn't the heart.  He wasn't going to take his
+dismissal from her, though.
+
+"Mr. Deaves, do you wish me to go?" he asked.
+
+George Deaves nodded.
+
+"Very well," said Evan.  "It suits me!"  He bowed ironically to each of
+them, and left the room.
+
+In the lower hall on his way out he was arrested by a cautious "Sst!
+Sst!"  The old man appeared from around a corner.  With many a furtive
+look over his shoulder, he pulled Evan into the small reception room
+off the hall.
+
+"Did they fire you?" he asked.
+
+"They did," said Evan grimly.
+
+"Well, well, well!" said the old man with that unalterable grin.
+"You're a good boy too!  I always said so!  But what can anybody do
+with a wilful woman!  So we've had our last walk together, eh?"
+
+He really seemed to be sorry.  So was Evan.  In spite of all, Simeon
+Deaves was a funny old cuss.  "Our last walk!" said Evan.
+
+"But of course you're not worth what George pays you," he added,
+quickly.  "Nothing like!  Nothing like!"
+
+The old fellow was incorrigible.  Evan laughed.  "Well, good-bye," he
+said without any hard feeling.
+
+"Wait a minute.  Say, I hate to think of those blackguards getting away
+with the money after all."
+
+"So do I," said Evan quickly.
+
+"Why don't you go after them yourself?"
+
+"Where is the money to be sent to-day?"
+
+"To the library."
+
+"Do you remember what book was mentioned?"
+
+"Yes.  'Carlyle's Essays,' Riverside edition."
+
+"Well, maybe I will," said Evan.  "I owe them something on my own
+account."
+
+"That's right!  That's right.  If you land those rascals behind the
+bars, I'll mention you in my will."
+
+"That's kind of you," said Evan dryly.
+
+Evan didn't care to show his eagerness to the old man, but as a matter
+of fact his heart jumped at the suggested chance of getting back at the
+gang.  He could hardly hope to do anything at the library in his own
+person, but Charley's assistance might be enlisted.  Evan hastened home
+to get him.
+
+An hour later Evan and Charley called upon the librarian who had
+assisted Evan and George Deaves on the former occasion.  In the
+meantime Charley had been told the story of the previous night's
+happenings, and he was eager to take a hand in the game.
+
+Evan said to the librarian: "Mr. Deaves received another demand for
+money this morning."
+
+The librarian naturally assumed that Evan was still in his employ, and
+it was not necessary for Evan to lie in that connection.
+
+A similar arrangement to the previous one was made.  An inquiry
+revealed the fact that "Carlyle's Essays" had just been returned to the
+shelves.  They were brought to the librarian's office, and Evan found
+that the bills were indeed in volume one.  He marked them and the books
+were returned with instructions that they were to be notified when they
+were again called for.  Evan and Charley waited.
+
+They were called for in an hour, and from the same seat in the
+reading-room as on the former occasion, number 433.  Charley and the
+librarian departed for the reading-room.  Charley's instructions were
+to make very sure that the bills were actually abstracted from the
+book, and then to apprehend the man who took them without waiting for
+him to get out of the building, and to call on any of the library
+attendants for assistance if need be.  Meanwhile Evan waited in the
+librarian's office, prepared to take a hand when the alarm was raised.
+
+But no alarm was raised.  Evan waited half an hour in the keenest
+impatience and then the librarian returned alone.
+
+"What happened?" demanded Evan.
+
+"Nothing--as yet," was the answer.  "I took your friend around through
+the American History room, just as I took you that day, and explained
+to him the location of seat 433.  Since there was no danger of his
+being recognised he went right into the reading-room and took a seat at
+the same table.  I scarcely liked to show myself, so I waited in the
+adjoining room.  I had an attendant there in case he needed help.
+
+"But we heard no sound, and when I finally looked into the reading-room
+I saw that your friend had gone, and that seat number 433 was also
+empty.  The Carlyle books were lying on the table.  The money had been
+taken.  So I came back here to tell you."
+
+Evan was anxious and perplexed.  "I don't understand what could have
+happened," he said.  "If the crook got away in spite of Charley, why
+didn't he come back here to report?"
+
+"Perhaps he's still on his trail."
+
+"But he was told not to let him get out of the building.  There's
+nothing for me to do I suppose, but wait here."
+
+Evan waited in the librarian's office until after lunch, but Charley
+neither came back nor sent any word.  By the end of that time Evan,
+divided between anger and anxiety, was in a fever.  He decided to make
+a trip home.
+
+By the time he reached Washington Square anxiety had the upper hand.
+The gang must have got the better of Charley he told himself, or he
+would have had some word.  Evan had had experience of the desperate
+lengths to which they were prepared to go.  Would they now put their
+final threat into execution upon his hapless friend?  Evan blamed
+himself bitterly for having sent Charley into danger.  "If I do not
+hear from him during the afternoon, I'll send out a general alarm at
+police headquarters," he thought.
+
+When Evan opened the door of 45A, Miss Sisson, according to her custom,
+stuck her head out into the hall.
+
+"I suppose you haven't seen Mr. Straiker," said Evan.
+
+"Yes, I have," she answered.  "He came in about lunch time."
+
+"What!" said Evan staring.
+
+"He came in and packed his trunk and took it away in a taxi-cab.  Said
+he was going away for a few days.  Wouldn't tell me where he was going.
+Seemed funny to me he wanted his trunk if it was only a few days, but
+of course I couldn't object for his rent is paid up and he left his
+furniture anyway, though that wouldn't bring much.  I will say he acted
+funny though, to an old friend like me.  Wouldn't give me any
+information."
+
+Evan stared at the woman as if he thought she had suddenly lost her
+mind.  Then without a word he ran up the three flights of stairs.  A
+glance in Charley's room confirmed what she had told him.  Things were
+thrown about in the wildest confusion.  But all Charley's clothes were
+gone, as well as all the personal belongings that he treasured.
+
+Evan never gave a thought to the five thousand dollars; what cut him to
+the quick was the suggestion that his friend had betrayed him.  There
+is nothing bitterer.
+
+"I needn't have been so anxious about him," thought grimly.  "This is
+more like treachery!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE _ERNESTINA_ AGAIN
+
+The next day was Saturday, and whatever had happened to Evan, he did
+not forget that this was the day of the _Ernestina's_ excursion, nor
+would he relinquish his determination to take it.  In his present sore
+and bitter state of mind the prospect of a row was rather welcome than
+otherwise.
+
+He timed himself to arrive at the East Twentieth street pier at
+nine-twenty, that is to say ten minutes before the steamboat was due to
+leave.  He found Denton taking tickets at the gangway as before, but it
+was a very different face that Denton turned to him this morning;
+censure, reproach and apprehension all had a part in his expression.
+"He's been filled up with great stories about me," thought Evan.  There
+was a policeman standing near Denton.  Evan's eyes glittered at the
+sight of him.
+
+Evan made believe not to notice any change in Denton's manner.  "Good
+morning," he said cheerfully.
+
+Denton made no reply.
+
+"What can I do to-day?" asked Evan.
+
+Denton shook his head.
+
+Evan affected to be greatly surprised.  "Why, what's the matter?"
+
+"I guess you know," the other said sorely.
+
+The policeman stepped up.  "Is this the guy as made trouble for you
+last trip?" he asked hoarsely.
+
+Denton nodded.
+
+The policeman turned self-righteously on Evan.  "Say, fella, you'd
+ought to be ashamed of yourself!  Don't you know no better than to make
+trouble for a charity!"
+
+"You've got me wrong, officer," said Evan sweetly.  "I didn't make any
+trouble.  It was the other fellows made trouble for me!"
+
+"Yes, they did!" was the scornful rejoinder.  "That's what they all
+say!  Well, they're running this show, see?  And they don't want you.
+So beat it!"
+
+Evan did not suppose that any charge would be pressed against him, but
+even if he were arrested and allowed to go, it would end the trip as
+far as he was concerned.  He decided upon a strategic retreat.  A new
+idea had occurred to him.
+
+"That's all right, old fellow," he said indulgently.  "Don't
+apologise."  He turned to go.
+
+The policeman turned a shade pinker than his wont.  "Don't you get gay,
+young fella!  I ain't apologising to the likes of you!"
+
+"My mistake," said Evan, laughing over his shoulder.  "Keep the change!"
+
+As he passed out of hearing the blue-coat was saying sagely to Denton:
+"He's a bad one, all right.  You can see it."
+
+When Evan reached the shore end of the pier, he was cut off from the
+view of Denton and the policeman by a pile of freight which rose
+between.  Unobserved by them, he made his way out on the next pier.
+This pier like its neighbour was occupied by craft of all kinds,
+canal-boats, lighters, scows, etc.  Evan came to a stop opposite the
+_Ernestina_, and looked about him.
+
+At his feet lay a large power-boat.  She had a skiff tied to her rail.
+A burly harbourman, the skipper evidently, sat on the forward deck with
+his chair tipped back against the pilot-house and his hat pulled over
+his nose.
+
+"How are you?" said Evan affably.
+
+"How's yourself?" was the non-committal reply.
+
+"I see you've got a skiff tied alongside," said Evan.
+
+"Remarkable fine eyesight!" said the skipper ironically.
+
+"I'll give you a dollar if you'll put me aboard that steamboat yonder."
+
+"Why the Hell don't you walk aboard by the gangway?"
+
+"Well, you see it's a kind of joke I want to put up on them.  I want
+them to think they've gone off and left me, and then I'll show myself,
+see?"
+
+"I never see nothing as don't concern me."
+
+"I'll make it two dollars."
+
+"I ain't running my head into no noose."
+
+"Oh, I assure you it isn't a hanging matter."
+
+"Nothin' doin', fella."
+
+"Well, look here; you be looking the other way, and I'll take the
+skiff, see?  Then you won't know anything about it.  You can recover it
+with one of the other skiffs in the slip here."
+
+"How do I know you won't make off down the river in my skiff?"
+
+"All you've got to do is start your engine."
+
+"Nothin' doin'!"
+
+"You get the two dollars first of course."
+
+The skipper let his chair fall forward and slowly rose.  He looked past
+Evan.  "Hey, Jake!" he cried to one on the pier.  "Wait a minute!  I
+got somepin' t' say to yeh."  He stepped to the stringpiece.
+
+Evan thought he had failed--until he saw a hand poked suggestively
+behind the skipper.  Into it he hastily thrust two dollars.  The
+skipper nonchalantly went his ways.  Evan stepped aboard the power
+boat, skinned over the rail, and untied the skiff.
+
+A few strokes of the oars brought him alongside the _Ernestina_.  A
+steamboat of this type has a wide overhang bounded by a stout timber
+called the "guard."  When Evan stood up in his skiff his shoulders were
+at the level of the guard.  But as the ledge it made was only three
+inches wide and the gunwale rising above it provided no hand hold, it
+was a problem how to draw himself up.
+
+He finally drew the skiff down to the paddle-box where the interstices
+of the gingerbread work enabled him to get a grip.  As he pulled
+himself up he thrust the skiff away with his foot.  He climbed back
+along the ledge to her stern gangway and vaulting over the rail found
+himself on the narrow deck encircling the stern, which is in marine
+parlance the "quarter."
+
+All the business of the vessel was on the pier side, and this part was
+deserted.  The sliding door leading to the entrance hall was closed and
+Evan took care to keep out of the range of vision of anyone who might
+look out through the panes.  He determined to stay where he was until
+she got under way.  A warning whistle had already been sounded.  He
+made himself comfortable on a camp stool.
+
+He chuckled to think of the sensation his appearance would cause.
+True, they might seize him and put him down in the hold again; they
+were strong enough.  But at least this time they would not take him by
+surprise, and he doubted anyway if they would attack him before the
+children.  Evan was strong with the children.  It might precipitate a
+riot on board.
+
+The _Ernestina_ began to back out of the slip without anybody having
+stumbled on Evan's hiding-place.  By this time the skipper of the power
+boat had recovered his skiff, and was watching Evan stolidly.  Evan
+waved him a farewell.
+
+Evan had no notion of risking all he had gained by venturing out too
+soon.  He sat tight, entertaining himself as best he could with the
+unbeautiful panorama of Long Island City, Greenpoint (which is anything
+but green nowadays) and Williamsburgh.  They had passed under the
+far-flung spans of the three bridges, rounded Governor's Island and
+headed down the Bay before he ventured to open the sliding door into
+the entrance hall.
+
+At the moment there was no one in the hall who knew him, nor upon the
+stairway.  He mounted unhindered.  At the top he almost collided with
+Domville, the meekest of Corinna's brethren.
+
+"How are you?" said Evan affably.
+
+Little Domville stood as if rooted to the deck, his face a study in
+blank dismay.  Then he turned without a sound, and scurried like a
+rabbit down the saloon and out on the after deck, presumably to spread
+the dreadful news.  Evan chuckled.
+
+Others in the saloon had recognised Evan.  "Mister!  Mister!  Tell us a
+story!  You know.  About the robbers in the cave.  They was just going
+to shoot Three-Fingered Pete for treachery!"
+
+Evan reflected that he could hardly do better than take a leaf out of
+Corinna's book, and protect himself with a rampart of children.  So he
+sat himself down and began, while they pressed close around:
+
+"Well, Three-Fingered Pete was just about ready to give up when a shot
+was heard at the mouth of the cave, and a clear young voice cried,
+'Hold! in the name of the U. S. cavalry!'"
+
+The door to the after deck opened and Domville returned with Corinna
+and Dordess, the cynical one.  Evan watched them without appearing to,
+and laughed inwardly at their amazed expressions.  His heart beat fast
+at the sight of the red-haired girl.  He told himself he hated her
+now--but perhaps hate can accelerate the pace of a heart too.
+
+For a moment the three remained by the door in consultation, then
+Corinna and Domville went out on deck again, while Dordess came down
+the saloon, not towards Evan but on the other side.  Evan was not going
+to let him pass in silence.
+
+"How are you?" he called cheerfully.
+
+Dordess sent him an ironical and courteous greeting.  He had more
+_savoir faire_ than the younger males of Corinna's family.  He passed
+out of sight behind the engine trunk.
+
+"Gone to get the others," thought Evan.
+
+But Dordess presently returned alone, and nothing happened.  He went
+back to the after deck.  As the minutes passed, Evan grew anxious, not
+knowing what they had in store for him, but he kept the story going.
+
+Suddenly he saw the hump of Staten Island sweep around into view
+through the stern windows, and the Statue of Liberty passed by on the
+port side.  A few minutes before they had left it to starboard.  Wails
+began to be raised in the cabin.  "Oh!  We're going back again!  What's
+the matter?  I don't want to go back!"  No need for Evan to ask himself
+then what they were going to do.
+
+He saw his opportunity when Corinna appearing in the saloon, stopped to
+pacify a crying child near the door.  Dordess was on the other side of
+the saloon.  Going to Corinna's side Evan said softly:
+
+"I suppose you're going back to put me ashore."
+
+She did not answer.
+
+He said in the same tone: "Corinna, I will not submit to such a
+humiliation a second time."
+
+"You have brought it on yourself," she answered without looking at him.
+
+"Just the same I will not submit to it."
+
+"What are you going to do about it?" she asked scornfully.
+
+"I'll go down to the little deck outside the entrance hall on the port,
+that is the left-hand side.  I will wait for you there.  If you do not
+come to me before we pass under Brooklyn Bridge, I'll jump overboard."
+
+She looked at him startled and searchingly.  "You can't frighten me
+that way," she said proudly.
+
+"I'm not trying to frighten you.  I'm making a simple statement.  You
+know what it is to have a strong will.  Very well, others may have as
+strong a will as your own.  When I say a thing I'd die rather than go
+back on it."
+
+Corinna paled, but would not weaken.  "I am not your keeper," she said.
+"You must do as you will."
+
+"Give me five minutes talk alone with you, and I'll go ashore
+willingly.  That's all I came for."
+
+"I will not come.  You will only make a fool of yourself."
+
+"Very well, you have your choice," said Evan.  He turned and went down
+the stairway.
+
+Back on his camp-stool on the narrow deck, he felt as a man must feel
+after burning his bridges, a little shaky.  He knew the lengths to
+which a stubborn will may carry a person, and he was not at all sure of
+her coming.  Not that he meant to draw back; he spoke truth in saying
+he would have died first; he was a good swimmer, and he had no serious
+doubt of his ability to reach the shore, but he did not fancy being
+dragged out on a pier drenched and shoeless, and having to give an
+account of himself.  And in that case Corinna would win out anyway.
+The only way he could really get the better of her would be by
+committing suicide, and he was not prepared to go as far as that.
+
+To save time the _Ernestina_ passed through Buttermilk channel between
+Brooklyn and Governor's Island.  On the New York side the slips of
+South Ferry and Hamilton Ferry passed before Evan's eyes, and a little
+later Wall street ferry.  The bridge was not visible to him where he
+sat, but he knew it was looming close ahead; the next ferry-house,
+Fulton Ferry, was almost directly under it.  Finally he got an oblique
+view of the approach to the bridge with the trolley cars and trucks
+crawling upon it, and he stooped over to untie his shoes.
+
+Suddenly the _Ernestina_ gave a little lurch, and he looked up to see
+what was the matter.  She was swinging around again!  She turned her
+tail to Brooklyn Bridge and started out to sea again.  Certainly if
+anybody had been following her course that morning they would have been
+justified in supposing the Captain to be slightly demented.
+
+Evan laced up his shoes.  He grinned to himself in mixed satisfaction
+and chagrin.  Corinna had found a way to evade the choice he had given
+her!  True, she had prevented him from jumping overboard, but she had
+not come to him.  Clearly she preferred to endure his presence on the
+boat all day rather than give him five minutes alone with her.
+
+The only thing he could think of to bring her was the power of
+curiosity.  Perhaps if he stayed where he was she would be forced in
+the end to come see what had happened to him.  He determined to try it
+anyhow.
+
+"But as soon as she looks out of the door and sees me safe, she'll fly
+back," he thought.  He moved his stool around to the very stern of the
+_Ernestina_.  Here he was invisible unless one came all the way round
+to see.
+
+Here his patience was indeed put to a test.  He had nothing to read--he
+could not have applied his mind to it, if he had had, and he dared not
+smoke for fear of betraying himself.  All he could do was to sit and
+study the scenery.  The _Ernestina_ went back through Buttermilk
+channel, and rounded Red Hook.  She passed the Erie basin where upon
+the boundary fence Evan had the edification of reading a sign half a
+mile long extolling the virtues of a certain English condiment.  And
+they say the English are not enterprising!  She crossed the mouth of
+Gowanus bay and passed the villas of Bay Ridge, and still nothing
+happened.
+
+But as she approached the Narrows, Evan thought he heard one of the
+sliding doors squeak, and his heart leaped.  Jumping up he flattened
+himself against the deck house.  There was an agonising pause.  If only
+he dared peep around the side.  Then Corinna came plump into view.
+
+At sight of him a sharp exclamation escaped her.  She hung motionless
+for a moment, her face fixed in a comical mask of surprise and
+indignation, like a child's, then she turned to run.
+
+"Wait!" cried Evan peremptorily.
+
+She saw that he could seize her before she gained the door.  She had
+learned the folly of running from him.  So she stood still.  Drawing
+herself up she said:
+
+"I have nothing to say to you.  I only wished to make sure that you had
+not done anything foolish."
+
+Evan glanced at the shores.  Staten Island was the nearer--less than
+half a mile.  "It is not too late," he said.
+
+"Overboard I go," said Evan, "unless you stop here and talk to me as if
+I were a Christian."
+
+She smiled scornfully.
+
+"I shall not be fooled a second time," she said.
+
+"You were not fooled the first time," he said quietly.  He bent down
+and started to unlace his shoes.
+
+"What are you doing?" she demanded.
+
+"Can't swim with my shoes on," Evan said without looking up.
+
+He heard her catch her breath, but her voice was still inflexible.  "Do
+you think me so simple!"
+
+"I don't think at all," said Evan with his hand on the rail.  "I give
+you your choice.  Will you stop and talk to me like a reasonable being
+for five minutes."
+
+Their hard eyes battled furiously, and neither pair would down.  "No!"
+she said, though her lips were white.
+
+He glanced down at the water boiling from under the _Ernestina's_
+counter, and gathered himself for the spring.
+
+The glance was too much for Corinna.  "Evan!  Evan!" she cried sharply,
+and put her hands out.
+
+In a trice he had her in his arms.
+
+"Ah, don't kiss me!" she begged, even while her lips surrendered to his.
+
+"Ah, you nearly let me go!" murmured Evan.
+
+"I would have gone too!"
+
+"Then we'd both have drowned.  I couldn't carry you all that way."
+
+"I wouldn't have cared."
+
+"I'd rather live with you, you beautiful thing!  Why do you want to
+kill us both?"
+
+She tore herself from his arms.  "I can't help myself.  This is only
+torment."
+
+"But why? why?  I'm of age.  I have a right to know, to judge for
+myself.  What comes between us?"
+
+"I cannot tell you."
+
+"And do you expect me to let you go on your mere say-so?  No, by God!
+Not while I live!"
+
+"You must let me go!"
+
+"Is it a sin for you to love me?"
+
+"It is impossible."
+
+"That's not answering my question.  Have you a husband?"
+
+"Certainly not!" she said indignantly.
+
+He laughed at her tone.  "Is there any other man who has a better claim
+on you than I have?"
+
+She shook her head.
+
+"Well, then!" he cried in great relief.  "What's the matter?  There's
+no other reason that I would recognise."
+
+"Have mercy on me," she murmured.  "Let me go.  Help me to be strong!"
+
+"In other words help you not to love me," he said tenderly.  "Not on
+your life!  I will never let you go without a good reason."
+
+"I will tell you everything as soon as I can."
+
+"What does that mean, 'soon as you can'?"
+
+"In a few days, a week maybe."
+
+"Why not now?"
+
+"Something must happen first."
+
+"Corinna, don't you understand how this mystery tortures one who
+loves!" he cried.
+
+"I know.  I cannot help myself."
+
+"But you promise to tell me?"
+
+"Yes, if you will let me entirely alone until I do tell you."
+
+"I'll do my best," he groaned.  "One can't promise miracles."
+
+"And you must not let yourself love me, until you know."
+
+"Oh, that's clearly impossible.  I would have to love you just the same
+if you had two or three husbands and were the wickedest woman in the
+world beside."
+
+"I'm not a wicked woman!" she passionately cried.
+
+"Why, I didn't suppose you were," he said surprised.  "But it wouldn't
+make any difference."
+
+"Let me go now," she begged.  "This only makes it harder."
+
+"Tell me you love me, and I'll let you go.  You owe me that after
+having had me assaulted on the last trip."
+
+"I didn't know what they were going to do."
+
+"Well, tell me you love me, anyhow."
+
+"I do not love you."
+
+"You do!  It's in your eyes, your lips, I know you do!"
+
+"If I told you it would be impossible to manage you!"
+
+Evan laughed a peal.  "Darling stubborn child!  Then kiss me of your
+own free will and I'll let you go."
+
+"No!  No!  No!"
+
+"Then I must kiss you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE ACCIDENT
+
+Evan's talk with Corinna did not help him at all with the brotherhood.
+Whether they knew or not that he had had his five minutes with her, the
+fact that Corinna had ordered him put ashore and had then countermanded
+the order, was enough to rouse their jealous suspicions.  One and all
+they sent Evan to Coventry.  Let him work as willingly and cheerfully
+as he might, they ignored him: when they met they looked straight
+through him or over his head.  Evan told himself he didn't care--and
+devoted his time to the children; but he was a man, and the heart in
+his breast was hot against them.  With the children his popularity grew
+apace.
+
+To-day the _Ernestina_ was bound for Sandy Hook to give the small
+passengers a sight of the real ocean.  They saw the ocean, and were not
+much impressed.  Apparently they had expected the waves to come rolling
+in mountains high, whereas the ocean was as flat as Central Park lake.
+To be sure there was a slow swell that mysteriously heaved the
+_Ernestina_ and troubled squeamish tummies, but it was not at all
+spectacular.
+
+Later they lay in calm water inside the Hook while everybody ate.  As
+the day wore on the weather began to thicken.  The wind veered to the
+East and blew chill, and banks of white fog gathered on the horizon.
+Evan wondered why no one gave the word to return.  It was hardly his
+place to interfere, but in the end he felt obliged to.
+
+Tenterden happened to be the one that he spoke to.  "We're going to
+have some dirty weather," Evan said lightly, "and we're a long way from
+the Bowery."
+
+Tenterden looked him up and down.  "Say, are you going to tell us how
+to run this show?" he asked.  "That's good."
+
+Evan shrugged and left him.  "I owe you one for that, old man," he
+thought.  "All right, my time will come."
+
+It came sooner than he expected.
+
+Someone did give the word, and the little _Ernestina_ started back up
+the lower Bay at her customary head-long rate of eight miles an hour.
+And none too soon; the white wall of fog was creeping fast on her trail.
+
+Evan was doing duty on the forward deck where the largest crowd of
+children was gathered.  These were the healthiest and most obstreperous
+of their passengers.  With his back in the point of the bow he could
+survey all his charges at once.  No other helper was in that part of
+the boat at the moment.  All was serene; the children for the most part
+swinging their legs in camp chairs and amiably disputing.
+
+Suddenly from the very bowels of the vessel there came a horrifying
+report.  The _Ernestina_ staggered sickeningly, listed to port, and
+commenced to limp around in a circle like a wounded bird.  Terrible
+smashing and rending sounds succeeded the first crash.  It seemed as if
+the frail little vessel must fly asunder under such blows.
+
+After a second's frozen silence on deck a dreadful chorus broke forth.
+Only those who have witnessed a panic at sea will know.  On land one
+may always run from a horror; at sea there is nothing between horror
+and horror.  When the majority of passengers are helpless children the
+scene surpasses horror.  With sharp animal cries of fright, they ran
+around in blind circles, or charged in a body from side to side of the
+deck.
+
+An icy hand was laid on Evan's breast.  He expected to see little
+bodies with flying skirts drop into the water.  How could he be
+everywhere at once?  He sprang on a seat.
+
+"Sit down, children!" he cried.  "She's broken her engine, that's all.
+The danger's over now."
+
+They were deaf to his voice.  The most frantic of them all was not a
+child but a woman, who half lay on a bench with limbs stiffened out,
+screaming continuously like a maniac.  Evan's voice was powerless
+against those cries.  He was obliged to silence her.  She fell over on
+the bench limply.  Evan sprang up into sight of all again.
+
+"Sit still!" he cried.  "The danger's over.  Sing with me!"
+
+He raised his voice in Suwanee River, the song every child knew.  A few
+joined in, some of the mothers helped.  The frantic cries were stilled
+a little.  The crashing sounds had ceased, but presently the roar of
+escaping steam renewed the confusion.  Panic broke out afresh.  Evan
+sang louder.
+
+They looked in his steady face and ceased their aimless running about.
+Many joined in.  The chorus swelled louder and louder.  It was
+extraordinary what reassurance there was in the sound.  The children
+sat down again, and presently like children, many of them were laughing
+at their late terrors.
+
+The situation was saved on the forward deck, but Evan sang on with a
+sick anxiety in his breast.  He looked up at the pilot-house.  It was
+empty.  Under the chorus he could hear ominous sounds from below, and
+from the saloon.  And Corinna, what of her?
+
+In a moment Corinna herself came out on deck, deathly pale but mistress
+of herself.  Her eyes sought Evan's eyes.  His heart swelled that she
+had thought of him in her extremity.  Amazement filled her eyes at the
+sight of the laughing, singing children, amazement and a passion of
+relief.  She closed her eyes, and swayed, clinging to the door-handle.
+
+"Sing!" cried Evan quickly.  "That's _your_ job!"
+
+She quickly pulled herself together, and throwing back her head let her
+full voice go out.  It gathered up the ragged chorus, and gave the song
+a fresh start.  Fog began to creep around the vessel.
+
+"Inside with you!" cried Evan.  "Show those crazy kids in there how to
+sing!"
+
+He and Corinna herded them in by the two doors.  The singing procession
+streaming into the cabin had an effect little short of magical on the
+bedlam within.  Corinna changed the tune to Annie Laurie.  The cabin
+roof rang with it.
+
+Little Domville was rushing to and fro in well-meant but futile efforts
+to reassure the children.  Evan seized him and planted him at one of
+the doors.
+
+"Let no one go out!" he commanded.  "And sing!"
+
+Another youth rushed up.  "Corinna, are you all right?"
+
+"Sure, she's all right!  Everybody's all right!" cried Evan.  He put
+him at the other door.  "Stand there and sing!"
+
+The young man yielded instinctive obedience to the commanding voice.
+
+Evan and Corinna passed down the saloon, Corinna singing and Evan
+beating time with extravagant gestures like an Italian bandmaster.
+Even the children who were still weeping had to laugh.  They met
+Dordess on the way.  Denton and Anway were bringing in the children
+from the after deck.  As far as the passengers were concerned the
+crisis was passed--but ominous sounds still rose from below.
+
+Evan whispered to Dordess: "Put a man at each door and at the stairway
+and keep the kids together.  I'll go below and see what's the matter."
+
+Dordess nodded.  There was that in Evan's eye which caused all the men
+to look to him.  Their late animosity was forgotten.  He was avenged.
+
+Evan hastened down the stairway.  Below there was nobody in the after
+part of the vessel.  Up forward he found a scene of dire confusion.
+Alongside the engine room the engineer lay prone on the deck with his
+second bending over him.  Up in the nose of the vessel the remainder of
+the ship's company it appeared was engaged in a free-for-all fist fight
+with oaths and stamping.
+
+At first Evan could not make head or tail of the fracas.  Then he saw
+that it was the mate, a manly, up-standing young fellow and Tenterden
+against the four deckhands and the two firemen.  But the two were more
+than holding their own; the six cringed and sought to escape their
+blows.  Evan rushed between them.
+
+"Leave off!  Leave off!" he cried.  "You'll start the kids off again."
+
+"These ---- ---- cowards won't work!" cried the mate.
+
+"Let them be.  We've enough without them."
+
+The mate and Tenterden reluctantly drew off.
+
+"First of all is there any immediate danger?" asked Evan.
+
+"No, she's not taking water," said the mate.
+
+"Go up to the pilot-house.  There's nobody there."
+
+"I left the Captain there," the mate said, surprised.
+
+"He's gone.  Sound a distress signal on the whistle.  Tenterden, you go
+with him to help keep a look-out."
+
+The two hastened up the forward hatch.  Even the truculent Tenterden
+made no bones about taking orders from Evan now.
+
+Evan returned to the second engineer, leaving the sulky crew to their
+own devices.
+
+"What's the damage?" he asked.
+
+The second waved a tragic hand towards the engine, and Evan saw for
+himself what had happened.  The main shaft on the port side had broken
+clean through.  The sudden shifting of the strain had thrown the
+walking-beam out of plumb, and the connecting rods had snapped off and
+threshed wildly about.  The ruin was complete, but fortunately, all
+above the water-line.
+
+"Is the chief badly hurt?" asked Evan.
+
+"I don't think so.  Got a side swipe from the connecting rod.  I can't
+find any fracture."
+
+"Leave him to me.  Get the fires banked so you can shut off that
+infernal steam.  Just keep steam enough to blow the whistle."
+
+"Come on, boys," said the Second to his firemen.
+
+They did not budge.
+
+"Come on, boys!" said Evan.  "Don't let the kids shame you!  Listen to
+the little beggars singing up there."
+
+The two firemen slunk aft and disappeared down their ladder.
+
+Evan presently had the satisfaction of seeing the engineer open his
+eyes.  He was apparently not seriously injured.  Two of the deckhands
+carried him to his berth which was on the same deck.
+
+Evan returned to the saloon.  "All straightened out below," he said
+cheerfully.  "The old flivver has made a complete job of her engine.
+We'll have to get a horse."
+
+The children laughed.  Evan said aside to Dordess: "When they're tired
+of singing, get up a show."
+
+He went on up to the pilot-house.  The mate and Tenterden were
+anxiously straining their eyes through the fog.  At minute intervals
+the mate sounded the distress signal of five short blasts on the
+_Ernestina's_ whistle.
+
+"Where's the Captain?" asked Evan.
+
+"In his room," was the curt reply.
+
+"What's the matter with him?"
+
+The mate made a significant gesture of turning his hand up at his mouth.
+
+Evan whistled noiselessly.  "Has he been that way all day?"
+
+"No, he took a dram when the crash came to steady his nerves."
+
+"Well, let him be," said Evan.  "What chance have we of being picked up
+here?"
+
+"Not very good," said the mate.  "We're on the flats inside the Hook.
+Few small vessels come down here, and a big vessel couldn't come to us
+even if she heard us.  I'm afraid it's a case of wait till the fog
+lifts."
+
+"We can't keep this gang out all night," said Evan.  "That's flat."
+
+"What do you propose?"
+
+"Somebody must go ashore in a boat to telephone for a tug."
+
+"No easy matter to take a boat ashore in this fog."
+
+"It can be done.  Just before the fog came down on us I marked that
+Atlantic Highlands was due south of us, and not above a mile distant.
+The wind has just come in from the east, and she'll hold there a while.
+By keeping the wind abeam on the port side you'd hit the shore
+somewhere near the pier."
+
+"Well, I'll try it."
+
+"No; you're our only qualified seaman.  You must stand by the vessel.
+I'll go."
+
+"How will you get back?"
+
+"I'll borrow or beg a compass ashore.  You keep the whistle going, and
+if the steam gives out, ring your bell."
+
+"I doubt if you'll get the deckhands to bring you back.  They'll go
+quick enough."
+
+"I'll get boatmen from the shore if they desert."
+
+The deckhands were brought up through the forward hatch, and one of the
+_Ernestina's_ boats was lowered away.  As Evan stepped in he said:
+
+"Don't tell them below that I've gone ashore unless you have to."
+
+It was a ghostly trip.  At a hundred yards' distance the _Ernestina_
+was swallowed up entire in the fog, and thereafter they proceeded
+blindly in a grey void.  Only a little circle of leaden water was
+visible around them, which travelled with them as they went.  At minute
+intervals the sound of her whistle reached them, but it was only
+confusing for it seemed to come now from this side, now from that.  Fog
+plays strange tricks with acoustics.  Evan steered, keeping the wake of
+his boat straight and the wind in his left ear.
+
+Finally to his relief the shapes of trees swam out ahead, and he had
+the comfortable sensation of touching reality again.  It is a thickly
+settled shore, and he was quickly directed to the pier and the village.
+Here Evan's story quickly won him help from the water-farers.  To be
+sure, two of his men incontinently walked off, but a dozen volunteers
+offered to replace them.  After patient telephoning he succeeded in
+getting the promise of a tug from Perth Amboy, and stopping only to buy
+out the greater part of a grocer's stock, he started back.
+
+Within an hour of leaving the _Ernestina_ he was back on board.  The
+mate and Tenterden were still on deck.  For a single moment the latter
+looked at Evan with friendly eyes.  No vessel had come within hail,
+they reported.
+
+Evan hastened down to the saloon.  Corinna and her aides had the
+children pretty well in hand--but a cry of welcome went up at the sight
+of Evan.  Somehow the smallest toddler on board had gathered that Evan
+was the man of the hour.
+
+"A tug will be along in half an hour to pick us up," Evan announced.
+
+Cheers from the crowd.
+
+"Why, how do you know that?" Corinna demanded of him privately.
+
+"Oh, I just stepped ashore to telephone," said Evan airily.
+
+Corinna sat down suddenly.  "You went ashore, and left us!"
+
+Within the promised time they heard a deep-toned whistle searching for
+them in the fog.
+
+"Wh-e-e-re?"
+
+To which the _Ernestina_ agitatedly responded: "Here!  Here!  Here!
+Here!  Here!"
+
+This duet was carried on for upwards of ten minutes.  The tug appeared
+to be travelling around them in a circle.  It was like a game of Blind
+Man's Buff with both sides blinded.  All of a sudden she came charging
+out of the fog, as if a magician had evoked her.  The children swarmed
+out on the deck with cheers.  Their elders let themselves relax with
+thankful hearts.  A furtive tear or two stole down Corinna's cheeks.
+
+Ropes were passed to and fro, and with the tug alongside, the slow
+homeward journey began.
+
+As soon as all danger was over Evan received another lesson in the
+curious workings of human nature.  Once more the brotherhood drew away
+from Evan as if the latter had the plague.  Evan had them in an
+uncomfortable hole now, for all were conscious of being under an
+obligation to him.  That only made matters worse, for when a person is
+resolved to hate you, to put him under an obligation only obliges him
+to be more hateful.  As for Corinna, she retired into herself and was
+inscrutable.
+
+It was a weary journey.  The supper, materials for which Evan had
+brought from shore, created a welcome diversion; but supper over, they
+were still miles from home, and the helpers were hard put to it to keep
+the small passengers even moderately contented.  Fortunately during the
+last hour the greater part fell asleep where they were, on the sofas,
+on the floor, on a couple of camp-stools placed together.
+
+Evan and Corinna happened to meet beside one child draped over the arm
+of a chair in an excruciating attitude.  They straightened her out
+together.  Corinna did not look at Evan nor speak, but from her to him
+he thought he felt a warm current pass--or perhaps it was only because
+he wished to believe it.  None of the other helpers were near.  The
+child was sleeping soundly.
+
+"Corinna, I love you," whispered Evan.
+
+"_Please!_" she murmured distressfully.  "You make it so hard for me!"
+
+He would not remind her of what he had done for her, but he felt that
+it would be only decent of her to show some recognition of it.  "Is
+nothing changed?" he asked.
+
+"Nothing can be changed."
+
+"After all we've been through?"
+
+"I'm deeply grateful to you, but I suppose that's another story, isn't
+it?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Well--would you be satisfied with my gratitude?"
+
+"No!" he said promptly.
+
+"It's all I can give you."
+
+"Corinna, you drive me mad!"
+
+"Ah, don't begin that again.  Think of my position.  Be generous!"
+
+"You're always appealing to my better feelings," he grumbled.  "I tell
+you, they won't stand the strain."
+
+So absorbed were they in this little exchange that they did not hear
+footsteps approaching down the carpeted saloon.  Looking up, they
+beheld Dordess approaching with the whole brotherhood at his heels:
+Anway, Tenterden, Domville, Burgess, and the blonde youth whose name
+Evan never knew.
+
+Corinna flushed up at the sight of them, but it was impossible to say
+for sure what her feelings were--mixed, probably.  She looked guilty at
+being surprised in talk with Evan, and she was certainly angry; angry
+at the men, or angry at herself for betraying the blush.  Evan, on the
+alert for trouble, smiled grimly.
+
+Dordess was no less cynical and bland than usual, but he could not
+conceal the angry glitter in his eye.  As for the others, they betrayed
+their feelings more or less according to their natures; Anway was hard
+and composed; Tenterden vicious and truculent; little Domville
+apologetic and reproachful, and the other two, youths of no particular
+character, merely self-conscious and inclined to bluster.
+
+"May we have a few words with you?" said Dordess to Corinna.
+
+"Certainly," she said stiffly.  "What's the matter?"
+
+"I speak for all of us," said Dordess, "to save time.  We wish to
+convey to Mr. Weir our appreciation of the fine way he acted at the
+time of the accident."
+
+Evan was not deceived by these honeyed words.  He saw that there was
+more to follow.  He spoke up.  "Not at all.  Every one of us did his
+darnedest, I'm sure."
+
+Dordess went on: "We willingly grant that he's a fine fellow.
+Unfortunately we don't like him any better than we did before.  And his
+fine conduct does not make it any more possible for us to work with him
+in future."
+
+An involuntary exclamation of indignant reproach broke from Corinna:
+"Oh!"  Evan was not displeased at the turn things were taking.
+"They're pushing her too far," he thought.  "They'll drive her into my
+arms."
+
+Dordess resumed: "You got us on board this boat.  We look to you as our
+head.  So we felt we ought to tell you at once how we felt, and leave
+it to you to act as you thought best."
+
+Evan was conscious that there was a good deal more in this than
+appeared on the surface.  He watched them keenly.  Dordess' eyes held
+Corinna's unflinchingly, and Corinna's were the first to fall.  Evan,
+seeing this, felt a sinking in his breast.  "What hold has he over
+her?" he asked himself.
+
+"What do you wish me to do?" asked Corinna in a muffled voice.
+
+Evan was amazed.  He had thought these men were Corinna's slaves, and
+here was Dordess visibly wielding the whip hand over her.
+
+"Tell him," said Dordess, "that we very much regret it will be
+impossible for us to have him with us on future trips of our
+Association."
+
+"You are ungenerous!" cried Corinna.  "After he has saved us all!"
+
+The six faces changed.  Evan imagined that he could feel their hate
+like a wave.
+
+Dordess' voice was still smooth.  "I can't tell you how sorry we are.
+He has put us in a difficult position.  But there is no help for it."
+
+"Suppose you address me directly instead of through Miss Playfair,"
+said Evan, careful to keep his voice as smooth as the other man's.
+"Don't let the trifling service that I am supposed to have done you
+trouble you, but tell me what's the nature of your objection to me."
+
+"I think you know that," said Dordess.  "You have been pleased to refer
+to us jokingly as the 'brotherhood.'  All right, we accept that word.
+We are a brotherhood working under a certain understood rule.  Well,
+you've had your chance, and you refuse to be governed by our rule.  You
+insist on playing your own hand.  That's all right.  But if every one
+of us was working for himself it would make these trips impossible.
+Surely you can see that."
+
+"And if I refuse to tell him what you ask me to?" Corinna burst out
+angrily.
+
+"Then the rest of us will go," said Dordess instantly.  "Our minds are
+made up as to that."
+
+"A strike of the brotherhood!" cried Evan mockingly.
+
+Corinna kept her head down, and traced a pattern with the toe of her
+slipper.
+
+Evan became anxious at her silence.  "Let them go!" he cried.  "I'll
+undertake to fill their places before the next trip."
+
+To his astonishment all six men laughed scornfully.  Surely there was
+something going on here that he did not know.  He scowled.
+
+Finally Corinna raised her head.  She ignored Evan's offer.  She
+appeared to be looking at him, but her eyes did not quite meet his.  "I
+am sorry to appear ungenerous and ungrateful," she said like a child
+repeating a lesson, "but it is true, as Mr. Dordess says,
+notwithstanding your brave conduct to-day, it will be impossible for us
+to have you with us in future."
+
+"Corinna!" cried Evan in dismay.
+
+The six men triumphed.  In the faces of the weaker ones it showed
+offensively; the stronger hid it, but Evan was none the less conscious
+of it.  His self-love suffered a ghastly wound.
+
+Dordess relentlessly resumed: "We wish to be courteous, but there must
+be no misunderstanding.  Please tell him that if in spite of this
+friendly warning he persists in forcing himself on board, you will
+authorise us to put him ashore."
+
+A flash from under Corinna's lowered lids suggested that Dordess would
+have to pay for this later on; nevertheless she repeated tonelessly:
+"If in spite of this friendly warning you persist in forcing yourself
+on board I will have to authorize them to put you ashore."
+
+Evan stared at her in angry incredulity.  He simply could not take in
+the fact that she was putting so public an affront on him.
+
+Dordess could no longer make believe to hide his real feelings.  He
+went on, sneering: "Tell him further that if he continues to force his
+unwelcome attentions on you, you will feel justified in appealing to us
+to protect you."
+
+Corinna repeated: "If you continue to force your attentions on me, I
+shall be obliged to appeal to these gentlemen to protect me."
+
+Evan suddenly went cold.  His lip curled.  He told himself she had
+killed his love dead, and he didn't give a damn anyhow.  He bowed to
+her.
+
+"Oh, I assure you that won't be necessary," he said ironically.
+
+Corinna walked away down the saloon.  The brotherhood straggled after,
+victors perhaps, but secretly uneasy in the moment of victory.  Evan
+was left standing alone, looking after them scornfully.  The
+_Ernestina_ blew for the pier.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+FOUR VISITS FROM GEORGE DEAVES
+
+As long as he was under the observation of his enemies it was possible
+for Evan to maintain his scornful and indifferent air, but at home and
+alone, his defenses collapsed.  Useless for him to tell himself that
+the girl was not worth troubling about, that it was impossible he
+should love her after having received such an injury at her hands.
+Perhaps it was true he no longer loved her, but the wrenching out of
+his love had left a ghastly gaping wound in his breast.  The only thing
+that kept him going at all was a passionate desire for revenge.  Oh, to
+get square!
+
+At home he had an additional cause for pain in the empty room adjoining
+his, though Charley's defection was somewhat overshadowed by the
+greater misfortune.  But to be betrayed on succeeding days by his best
+friend and by his girl was enough to shatter any man's faith in
+humanity.
+
+Next morning after breakfast he sat at his table with his head between
+his hands, when he was aroused by the sound of an apologetic cough in
+the hall outside his door.  The door was open.  A voice spoke his name
+deprecatingly.
+
+"Here!" said Evan.  "Come in."
+
+George Deaves appeared in the doorway, and Evan was sufficiently
+astonished.  Deaves was neatly dressed in black as for a funeral,
+carrying a highly-polished silk hat over his thumb.  He was pale and
+moist with agitation, and looked not at all sure of his reception.
+
+"I--I didn't know which door was yours," he stammered.  "The woman told
+me to come right up."
+
+Evan could hardly be said to be overjoyed to see his visitor, though
+his curiosity was somewhat aroused.  "Come in," he said.  "Sit down.
+This is an unexpected visit."
+
+"Yes.  Thank you."  Deaves looked around him vaguely.  "So this is
+where you live?"
+
+"Not a very palatial abode, eh?" said Evan, following the other's
+thought.
+
+"Not at all!  Not at all!" said Deaves hastily.  "I mean, very nice.
+Very suitable.  One understands of course that a young artist has his
+way to make."
+
+It was clear from his agonised and distraught eye that he had not come
+merely to exchange civilities.  "What can I do for you?" asked Evan
+bluntly.
+
+Deaves trailed off into explanations that explained nothing.  "I
+intended to come anyway--to tell you--to express how it was--my
+position is very difficult--you can understand I am sure--to tell
+you--to tell you how sorry I was to be obliged to let you go."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said Evan indifferently.
+
+"And then something happened which obliged me to come at once.  I was
+here yesterday, but you were out."
+
+"Yes, I was out all day," said Evan bitterly.  "What has happened?"
+
+Deaves wiped his face.  "I have had another letter from those
+blackguards, a--a most dreadful letter!"
+
+"Already?" said Evan.
+
+"And so I came to you at once."
+
+"You will pardon me," said Evan coolly, "but I do not yet see why you
+should come to me about it--after the manner of our parting."
+
+"I had no one else to go to," said Deaves helplessly.
+
+In spite of himself Evan was a little touched.  "Let me see the
+letter," he said, holding out his hand.
+
+Deaves passed it over and Evan read:
+
+
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Mr. Deaves:
+
+Our enterprise has had its exciting side.  We'd be willing to keep it
+up indefinitely for the pure fun of the thing were it not that it is so
+expensive.  I mean, a large part of our takings is swallowed up in the
+inevitable charges.  This leads us to offer you an alternative plan.
+
+Under the present scheme we will assess you this season about forty
+thousand dollars, and an equal amount, or more, next year.  Now we
+propose to save you money and ourselves trouble by asking you to endow
+the Ikunahkatsi once and for all.  Four hundred thousand dollars is the
+sum required.  At five per cent this is only twenty thousand a year, so
+you see you would save a clear half.  On our part we would bind
+ourselves not to ask you to advance us any further sums of money on any
+pretext whatsoever.  You will concede that heretofore we have
+scrupulously kept all our engagements with you.  To put it humorously,
+it will cost you four hundred thousand dollars to get rid of us for
+good.  Isn't it worth it?  Especially now that the old gentleman has
+lost his efficient guardian.
+
+We will give you until Sunday morning to think it over.  If you agree
+to our proposal hang a flag from the pole that juts from the second
+story of your house, and we will send you instructions how to proceed.
+We are sure you will agree, but if you do not, we have further
+arguments to offer you.
+
+Yours very sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"Same old humourist!" said Evan grimly.
+
+"And only the day before I sent them five thousand!" groaned Deaves.
+
+"Just the same this is a confession of weakness," said Evan.  "I see
+that clearly.  The game is getting too difficult for them."
+
+"What would you advise me to do?"
+
+"Ignore that letter."
+
+"But--but what do you suppose they mean by 'further arguments'?"
+
+"I don't know.  Make them show their hand."
+
+"Do you suppose they contemplate--er--personal violence?"
+
+"They may intend to threaten it."
+
+Deaves shuddered.  "Suppose they took me into custody as they did you?"
+
+"Well, they didn't do me any harm, really."
+
+"I am not so sure--the second time----"
+
+"They wouldn't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," said Evan
+grimly.
+
+Deaves saw nothing humorous in the illustration.
+
+"Have you shown the letter to Mrs. Deaves?" asked Evan.
+
+Deaves shook his head.  "I suppose they will be writing to her next,"
+he moaned.
+
+"Your father?"
+
+"What's the use?"  Deaves struck his forehead.  "My position is
+becoming unbearable!" he cried.
+
+"I'm sorry for you," Evan said, thinking: "If you only had a little
+more backbone!"
+
+Deaves arose lugubriously.  "After all there is nothing for me to do
+but to ignore this letter," he said.  "I suppose you do not feel
+inclined to help me any further in the matter."
+
+"On the contrary, I'll be glad to," said Evan quickly.  "But on my own
+terms.  I have my own score to settle with this gang."
+
+Deaves looked heartened.  "Then if I hear from them again what is your
+telephone number?"
+
+"There is no telephone in this house."
+
+"But I may send to you?"
+
+"By all means."
+
+"--Er--would you mind coming down-stairs with me?" said Deaves.  "The
+halls are so dark.  And this letter has made me wretchedly nervous."
+
+Evan went with him, concealing his smile.
+
+In the lower hall Deaves said: "Of course I shall not venture out on
+foot after this.  I shall always use the car."  A new and dreadful
+thought struck him.  "But then in a car one offers such a conspicuous
+mark to a bullet!"
+
+"You needn't fear bullets," said Evan.  "A dead man can't pay
+blackmail."
+
+Deaves seemed to take little comfort from this.  "What do you think
+about my chauffeur?" he asked anxiously.  "Take a look at him.  Does he
+look honest?"
+
+Evan glanced through the narrow pane beside the door.  "There's nothing
+remarkable about him," he said.  "He looks like--like a chauffeur.  How
+can one tell from a man's looks what he's thinking about?"
+
+"Suppose they were to bribe him, and he drove me off to their lair?"
+stuttered Deaves.  "I--I think I'd better stay home altogether
+hereafter."
+
+
+But he was back again at nine o'clock that night in a still greater
+state of agitation.  "Father has not come home!" he cried.  "Where is
+he?"
+
+"How should I know?" said Evan.
+
+"But you accompanied him on all his walks!  You know his haunts!"
+
+"His haunts!" exclaimed Evan.  "His haunts comprised the whole five
+boroughs of Greater New York with occasional excursions into Jersey!"
+
+"But you must go in search of him!  I cannot let the night pass and do
+nothing!"
+
+"My dear sir, I wouldn't have the faintest notion where to begin.  The
+only thing to do is to send out a general alarm through the police."
+
+Deaves wrung his hands.  "I can't do that!  I can't risk another
+horrible newspaper sensation on top of everything else!"
+
+"Then there's nothing to do but wait to see what happens," said Evan
+patiently.  "If he's had an accident in the street, you will be
+notified."
+
+"You think I'd be glad if something happened to him," said Deaves.
+"Everybody thinks so.  But after all he's my father.  It's the suspense
+that drives me out of my mind!"
+
+"It cannot be for long.  If the blackmailers have kidnapped him----"
+
+"That is what I fear!"
+
+"They will open negotiations in the morning.  And you need not fear
+that anything will happen to him during the course of negotiations."
+
+"But what good will it do to negotiate?" cried poor Deaves.  "I cannot
+possibly meet their demands."
+
+"Tell them so," said Evan.  "Put it up to them."
+
+"Then they'll make him suffer."
+
+"In that case he can pay them."
+
+"Ah, you don't know my father!  Four hundred thousand dollars!  He'd
+die rather!"
+
+"Well, that's up to him, isn't it?" said Evan coolly.
+
+"Ah, you have no heart!" cried George Deaves.
+
+"My dear sir," said Evan patiently, "it is your 'heart' as you call it
+that these fellows are working on.  They would not dare to harm Mr.
+Deaves, really.  If they did, it would arouse public opinion to that
+extent we could catch and hang every man jack of them!"
+
+"Your cold words cannot ease the heart of a son!" cried Deaves.
+
+Evan ushered him gently towards the staircase.  "Take it easy!" he said
+soothingly.  "Wait until to-morrow.  Perhaps in opening negotiations
+they will give us a good chance to trip them up."
+
+
+Deaves returned next morning before Evan had finished his breakfast.
+He extended a letter in a trembling hand.
+
+"In the first mail," he said.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"One of our members happened to meet Mr. Simeon Deaves on the street
+yesterday, and invited him to spend a few days as our guest at the
+clubhouse.  He is with us now, and appears to be enjoying himself
+pretty well, but unfortunately the climate of the vicinity is very bad
+for him.  At his age one cannot be too careful.  We think he should be
+returned home at once.  A single day's delay might be fatal.  If you
+agree, hang out the flag at eleven, Monday.  We realize that you feel
+you must be extra careful in regard to the old gentleman's health,
+because you would profit so greatly by his death.  You are so
+conscientious!  Personally we would be very glad to see you come in for
+a great fortune; it would enable you to put so much more into the
+enterprise in which we are jointly associated."
+
+
+Said Evan: "Stripped of its humorous verbiage this means: 'Come across
+or we'll croak the old man.  And you needn't think you would profit by
+his death because we'd come down on you harder than ever then!'"
+
+"Isn't it awful!  Isn't it awful!" gasped Deaves.  "Was ever a man put
+in so frightful a position?  What am I to do?"
+
+"Three courses are open to you," said Evan patiently; "the first, and
+in my opinion the wisest, course is--to do nothing.  Put it up to them."
+
+"But my father!  He will suffer for it!  A rotting old house overrun
+with rats, you said.  And such an ordeal as you went through!  It might
+very well kill him.  How can I risk it?"
+
+"He will always have the option of freeing himself," said Evan.
+
+"He would die rather than submit!"
+
+Evan shrugged.  "Well, we went over all that last night.  Your second
+course would be to take that letter to the police and put the whole
+matter in their hands.  A force of ten thousand men with the
+information I can give them ought to be able to locate the clubhouse
+before night."
+
+"And find papa's body!"
+
+"Well, your third course is to hang out the flag and open negotiations."
+
+"I have nothing to negotiate with!  I cannot raise a cent more!"
+
+"Never mind; bluff them.  Spin them along as far as you can, on the
+chance of outwitting them in the end."
+
+"What chance would I have of outwitting them?" cried Deaves mournfully.
+
+Evan looked at the poor distraught figure and thought: "Not much, I
+guess."  Aloud he said: "Well, that's the best I can do for you."
+
+"All three courses are equally impossible!" cried Deaves desperately.
+
+"Yet you must follow one of them."
+
+"You are no help at all!" cried Deaves.  He turned like a demented
+person, and ran down-stairs.
+
+Evan thought he had seen the last of him.
+
+
+But on the afternoon of the following day he returned once more.  He
+was still perturbed, but his desperate agitation had passed; there was
+even a certain smugness about him.  Clearly something had happened to
+ease his mind.
+
+"Well, what did you do?" asked Evan.
+
+Deaves looked confused.  "Well--I couldn't make up my mind what to do,"
+he confessed.  "I--I didn't do anything."
+
+"Just what I advised," said Evan.  "Then what happened?"
+
+Deaves evaded a direct answer.  "I came to ask you if you would
+accompany me on a little expedition to-night?"
+
+"What for?" demanded Evan.
+
+"Is it necessary for me to tell you?  I would pay you well."
+
+"It's not a question of pay," said Evan.  "I must know what I'm doing."
+
+"You wouldn't approve of my course of action."
+
+"All the more reason for telling me."
+
+Deaves still hesitated.
+
+"Let me see the latest letter," said Evan at a venture.
+
+Deaves stared.  "How did you know there was a letter?"
+
+"Well there always is another when the first doesn't work, isn't there?"
+
+Deaves looking a little foolish produced a letter and handed it over.
+Evan read:
+
+
+"The enclosed speaks for itself.  You will please proceed as
+follows:--bearing in mind that the slightest departure from our
+instructions in the past has invariably been followed by disaster:
+
+You will leave home in your car at eight P.M. Tuesday.  You may bring a
+companion with you in addition to your chauffeur, as we realize you
+have not the constitution to carry this through alone and we do not
+wish to ask the impossible.  Therefore you may bring the huskiest
+body-guard obtainable--but neither you nor he must bear weapons of any
+description.
+
+You will proceed over the Queensboro Bridge and wait on the North side
+of the Plaza at the corner of Stonewall avenue until eight-thirty
+precisely.  You will not get out of your car during this wait.  You
+will be under observation the whole way, and we will instantly be
+apprised of any departure from our instructions.  In that case you will
+have your trip for nothing and the consequences will be on your head.
+
+At eight-thirty you will proceed out Stonewall avenue to the corner of
+Beechurst, an insignificant street in the village of Regina.  It is
+about ten minutes' drive from the Plaza.  You will know Beechurst
+street by the large and ugly stone church with twin towers on your left
+hand.  You get out on the right-hand side and send your chauffeur back.
+Tell him to return to the bridge Plaza and wait for you.
+
+When he is out of sight you proceed up Beechurst street to the right.
+It climbs a hill and seems to come to an end in less than a block among
+a waste of vacant lots.  You will find, however, that it is continued
+by a rough road which you are to follow.  It crosses waste lands and
+passes through a patch of woods.  You will be held up on the way, but
+do not be alarmed.  This is merely for the purpose of searching you for
+weapons.
+
+In the patch of woods further along, you will find two men waiting for
+you.  To them you will deliver the securities.  They will examine them
+and if they are all right you will be allowed to proceed.  Do not
+return the way you came, but continue to follow the rough road.  A
+short way further along it will bring you to a highway with a trolley
+line by which you may return to the Bridge Plaza.
+
+If you do your part Mr. Simeon Deaves will be home before morning.
+
+THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"What was the enclosure they speak of?" asked Evan.
+
+"A note from my father."
+
+"Ah!  May I see it?"
+
+"I haven't it.  It was addressed to Culberson, President of the
+Mid-City Bank."
+
+"An order?"
+
+"Yes, for Culberson to buy $400,000. of non-registered Liberty bonds
+and deliver them to me!"
+
+"So he gave in!" cried Evan in strong amazement.  "Even Simeon Deaves
+values his skin more than his money!" he added to himself.  "You have
+already secured the bonds?" he asked Deaves.
+
+The latter nodded.  "They're at home."
+
+"By God!  I hate to let those rascals get away with it!" cried Evan.
+"Four hundred thousand!  Think of the good you could do with such a
+sum!"
+
+"But they have promised to let us alone for good," said Deaves eagerly.
+
+"They can afford to!" said Evan dryly.  "It fairly drives me wild to
+think of them triumphing!"
+
+"But you'll come with me?" said Deaves anxiously.
+
+"Sure, I'll go with you.  I may get a chance at them yet!"
+
+"No!  No!" cried Deaves in a panic.  "That would ruin everything!  You
+must promise me you will make no attempt against them!"
+
+"I must be free to act as I see fit!" said Evan stubbornly.
+
+"Then I cannot take you!"
+
+"That's up to you," said Evan with an indifferent shrug.  He turned
+away.
+
+Deaves lingered in a state of pitiable indecision.  "I have no one else
+I can ask," he said appealingly.  "I beg of you to be reasonable, Weir.
+You must see that we are helpless against them.  Promise me you will do
+nothing against them, and you may ask me what you like."
+
+"I want nothing from you," said Evan coldly.  "I won't promise."
+
+"Then I must take a servant," said Deaves helplessly--"and perhaps lay
+myself open to fresh demands from another quarter!"  He turned to go.
+
+Evan of course was keen on going.  When he saw that Deaves was actually
+prepared to stick to what he said, Evan gave in.
+
+"I'll compromise with you," he said.  "I promise to carry out
+instructions exactly as given in the letter until after the securities
+are handed over.  After that I must be free to act as I see fit."
+
+"What do you mean to do?" asked Deaves anxiously.
+
+"I don't know.  How can I tell?  I'm hoping that something may happen
+to give me a clue that I may follow up later."
+
+"Oh well, that's all right," said Deaves.  "You'll be at my house
+before eight then?"
+
+"I'll be there."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT
+
+George Deaves and Evan sat in the Deaves limousine with the package of
+bonds between them.  Deaves was perspiring and fidgetty, Evan the
+picture of imperturbability--not but what Evan was excited too, but the
+display of agitation the other was making put Evan on his mettle to
+show nothing.  The car was lying against the curb on the North side of
+the Queensboro Bridge Plaza, and they were watching the hands of a
+clock in a bank building creep to half-past eight.
+
+"Why do you suppose they insisted on our waiting here?" said Deaves
+querulously.
+
+"Can't say," answered Evan.  "I have fancied that some of their orders
+were just thrown in to mystify us, to undermine our morale.  Possibly
+they stipulated we must leave this point at eight-thirty so they would
+know exactly when to expect us."
+
+"That man who just passed us, how he stared!  Do you suppose he could
+have been one of them?"
+
+"There must be a lot of them then.  Everybody stares.  Like ourselves,
+they wonder what we're waiting here for."
+
+On the stroke of the half hour they gave the chauffeur word to proceed
+out Stonewall avenue.  The village of Regina is not a beautiful hamlet.
+Its founders had large ideas; they laid off the principal street a
+hundred feet wide, but the city has its own ideas about the proper
+width of streets, and when in the course of time the municipality took
+over Regina it paved but two-thirds of Stonewall avenue, leaving a
+muddy morass at each side.  The buildings that lined this thoroughfare
+were something between those of a city slum and those of a Western boom
+town.  They had no difficulty in picking out Beechurst street; the big
+stone church in its muddy yard was a horror.
+
+They alighted in the middle of the street, for the chauffeur opined
+that if he fell off the hard pavement he'd never be able to climb back
+on it.  They dismissed him, and watched him turn and roll out of sight.
+
+Deaves shuddered.  "I wish I was safe inside!" he murmured.
+
+Evan took careful note of their surroundings.  On the corner where they
+stood was a stationery store, and across Beechurst street was a saloon.
+"Someone watching us from in there I'll be bound," thought Evan.  If he
+had been alone he would have gone in.  Across Stonewall avenue from the
+saloon was the church aforementioned, and the fourth corner was vacant.
+
+They turned up Beechurst street, which was swallowed up in unrelieved
+blackness a few yards ahead.
+
+"I feel as if there were watching eyes on every side of us," said
+Deaves tremulously.
+
+"They're welcome to look at me if it does them any good," said Evan
+lightly.
+
+"You carry the package," said Deaves.
+
+"Aren't you afraid I might skip with it?" said Evan teasingly.
+
+Deaves had no humour.  He hastily took the package back.  Evan chuckled.
+
+The sidewalk ended abruptly, and they took to the centre of the street.
+Here they found a rough and stony road grown high with weeds on either
+hand.  Mounds of ashes and tin cans obstructed the way; an automobile
+would have found it well-nigh impassable.  It wound across that ugly
+no-man's land between the pavements and the cultivated land.  What with
+his terrors and the tenderness of his feet, Deaves made heavy going
+over the stones.
+
+To complete his demoralisation, a shrill whistle presently rang out of
+the dark behind them.  Deaves gasped and clutched Evan.
+
+"That's only their signal that all's well," said Evan.
+
+"This is no place for me!" moaned Deaves.
+
+The road became a little smoother, and alongside they saw the neat rows
+of a market garden.  Evan sniffed that curious odor compounded of
+growing vegetables and fertilizer.  Then the road dipped into a hollow
+and thick bushes rose on either side.  The air was sweet of the open
+countryside here.  It was very dark under the bushes.  Deaves clung to
+Evan's arm.
+
+Suddenly they found themselves surrounded by several figures with
+masked faces.  A crisp voice commanded:
+
+"Hands up, gentlemen!"
+
+Deaves obeyed so quickly that the package rolled on the ground.
+Somebody sniggered.  The first voice sternly bade him to be quiet.
+Deaves stooped to pick up the precious package.  He was ordered to let
+it lie.  Evan and Deaves, their hands aloft, were rapidly and
+thoroughly frisked for weapons.  Deaves gasped with terror when they
+touched him.  The spot was so dark, Evan could make but few
+observations.  He did see though that the men--he counted four of
+them--were roughly dressed, and from this he deduced that they were
+from the higher walks of life.  Clever and successful crooks nowadays
+are invariably well-dressed.  The rough clothes were in line with the
+gruff voices the men assumed.  Gruffness could not hide the educated
+forms of speech that they used.
+
+The search was over in a minute.  "Pick up the package, gentlemen, and
+proceed," ordered the voice.  The figures melted away in the darkness.
+Evan and Deaves went on.  The road rose out of the hollow, and they had
+more light to pick their tracks.  Again a whistle sounded behind them.
+
+"The word is being passed along to those in front of us," said Evan.
+
+After the market gardens came a patch of woods.  Deaves halted at the
+edge and peered into the shadows.
+
+"I cannot trust myself in there," he muttered.  "I simply cannot!"
+
+"Just as you say," said Evan.  "I don't suppose they'll let us back
+now."
+
+With a groan Deaves started ahead.  Evan sniffed the trees gratefully.
+
+In the thick of the woods two figures faced them.  White cotton masks
+over their faces gave them an unearthly look.  Deaves tremulously held
+out the package, and it was taken from his hands.  No word was spoken.
+One man snapped on an electric flash, and in the disk of light that it
+threw the other hastily unwrapped the package and examined the bonds.
+
+Now from the white papers a certain amount of light was reflected back
+on the man who was holding the flash, and Evan studied him attentively.
+He was holding a pistol in his other hand.  Something familiar in the
+creases of the suit he wore first arrested Evan's attention.  That is
+to say, these creases suggested the lines of a figure that Evan had
+often drawn and painted.  When in addition he perceived a certain
+well-remembered involuntary twitching in the figure, amazement and
+incredulity gave place to certainty.
+
+"Charl!" he cried.
+
+The two masked figures started back.  He who held the light took his
+breath sharply, and Evan knew he was not mistaken.  The man with the
+bonds quickly recovered himself.
+
+"Be quiet!" he sharply commanded.
+
+But Evan in his anger had forgotten prudence.  "Charl!" he cried.
+"What does this mean?  Have you turned crook!"
+
+The other man whispered in a passion: "Shoot him if he doesn't shut his
+mouth!"
+
+"Yes, shoot your partner," cried Evan.
+
+Charley shrunk back.
+
+"Give me the gun and I'll do it," said the other man.
+
+"Weir, for God's sake, for God's sake, for God's sake!"  Deaves was
+gabbling in an ecstasy of terror.
+
+With an effort Evan commanded himself.  Nothing was to be gained by
+making a row there in the woods.  Indeed he already saw how foolish he
+had been to betray his discovery.
+
+The examination of the bonds was concluded.  The man who had them spoke
+to his partner: "These are all right.  Hold them here while I start the
+engine."
+
+Evan, more accustomed now to the darkness of the woods, made out that
+at the point where they stood the road forked.  In the left fork he
+dimly perceived the form of a car at a few paces distance.  The top was
+down.  Presently the engine started, and Evan recognised that it was
+the same car that had carried him off.  The engine had its own rattle.
+
+Charley said in a disguised voice: "Keep straight ahead to the right."
+
+He started to back away from them, keeping the light playing on the
+agonised, fascinated face of Deaves, who stood rooted to the ground.
+The hand that held the light trembled a little.  Suddenly it was
+switched off and Charley ran the last few steps that separated him from
+the car.
+
+Evan involuntarily sprang forward, leaving a speechless and gasping
+Deaves in the road.  But Evan was not thinking of Deaves then.  He saw
+Charley take the driver's seat in the car.  The noise of the engine
+drowned what sounds Evan's feet made.  He laid hands on the back of the
+car as it started to move, and swung himself off the ground.  His knees
+found the gasoline tank.  He cautiously turned around and let himself
+down upon it in a sitting position, his hands still clinging to the
+folds of the lowered top above his head.  As they got under way the man
+beside Charley blew a blast on a whistle similar to those they had
+heard before.
+
+They went but slowly for the way was rough.  Evan prayed that the tank
+beneath him might be stoutly swung to the frame.  As well as he could
+he distributed his weight between the tank and the top.  After passing
+over some spring-testing bumps in safety he felt somewhat reassured.
+If she stood that there would not be much danger on a smoother road
+when they hit up speed.
+
+Emerging from the woods they turned into a farm road not so bad, and by
+means of the farm road they gained a dirt highway, ever increasing
+speed as the way became smoother.  All this neighbourhood was quite
+unknown to Evan of course, and his point of view was somewhat
+restricted, being directed solely towards the rear.  He watched the
+stars and made out that the car was choosing roads that were gradually
+bringing it around in a great circle.  He supposed that it was bound
+back for town--for the "club-house," if he was lucky.
+
+Evan had no clear idea of what he meant to do.  His one purpose was to
+get Charley by himself.  He knew the ascendancy that he possessed over
+that mercurial youth.
+
+They finally struck a smooth macadam road upon which they travelled
+East at thirty-five miles an hour, the best, no doubt, the old car
+could do.  It was a well-travelled road.  They passed all cars bound in
+the same direction, and to the drivers of these cars Evan on his perch
+was brilliantly revealed in the rays of their headlights.  With the
+idea of suggesting that it was all a joke, Evan waved facetiously to
+them.  They accepted it as intended, or at any rate none of them sought
+to give him away.  They passed through several villages, but the people
+on the sidewalks rarely noticed Evan, or, if they did, they merely
+gaped at him.
+
+They crossed the long viaduct over the railway yards in Long Island
+City, and Evan began to grow anxious.  If they were going to traverse
+the whole length of town how could he hope to avoid having the
+attention of the two men on the front seat called to him by the
+sharp-eyed small boys?  They crossed the Plaza and swung out on
+Queensboro Bridge, keeping close to the speed limit, or edging over it
+a little.  The drivers they passed still obligingly accepted Evan's
+suggestion that he was paying an election bet, or was up to some other
+foolishness.
+
+They passed a limousine which looked familiar.  Evan looked twice and
+recognized the Deaves turnout.  George Deaves sat behind the glass
+windows, looking pale and shaken.  So he had got out of the woods all
+right!  The chauffeur stared at Evan, then grinned widely, and stepped
+on his accelerator.  The big car came up close.
+
+Evan saw Deaves lean forward to rebuke his chauffeur for the speed.
+The chauffeur called his attention to Evan.  Deaves' eyes nearly
+started out of his head.  Evan waved his hand.  Deaves, with emphatic
+adjurations to his chauffeur to slow up, fell back on his seat and
+closed his eyes.  "He wants to forget about me," thought Evan.  The
+limousine gradually dropped back out of sight.
+
+Evan's anxiety about the streets of town was presently relieved.  After
+crossing the Bridge Plaza, where, to be sure, a number of people
+laughed and pointed at him but without apparently attracting the
+attention of the two men in front, they turned into the darkest and
+quietest streets.  Evan soon saw that they were not bound for the
+club-house.  Their journey through town was not long; through
+Fifty-eighth to Lexington; down Lexington in the car tracks to
+Thirty-ninth, and East again.  In Thirty-ninth street the car slowed
+down and Evan held himself in readiness to drop off.
+
+At the moment of stopping Evan ducked under the side of the car
+opposite to the curb.  He heard the car-door slam and feet run across
+the pavement.  Cautiously peering around the back he saw Charley, fully
+revealed in the light of a street lamp, run up the steps of a house and
+let himself in with a latch-key.  Just before disappearing he glanced
+up and down the street; no other car was in sight.  Evan said to
+himself: "He is stopping here.  That is something to know."
+
+Evan peeped over the top.  To his surprise he found the car empty.  The
+second man had dropped off at some point en route without his seeing
+him.  Evidently he still had the securities for Charley's hands had
+been empty.  Evan was chagrined to think of this prize slipping through
+his fingers; however he still had a line on Charley.
+
+Unfortunately for Evan at this moment a gruff voice behind him said:
+"Hey, young man, what do you think you're doin'?"
+
+It was a policeman who, having observed Evan's maneuvres from across
+the street, had felt a perhaps not unnatural curiosity and had come
+over to satisfy it.
+
+Evan, silently cursing his luck, instantly said with a confiding air:
+"It's just a joke, officer.  Fellow I know hired this car to take his
+girl out, see?  I think they're going to run off and be married, and I
+want to give them the laugh, see?  All in fun."
+
+"Well, it may be so," was the heavily facetious reply, "and again it
+may not.  You better leave that guy be, see?"
+
+"Just as you say," said Evan with a shrug.
+
+He was not at all anxious to have Charley come out and find him in talk
+with the blue-coat, so he sauntered off down the street, the policeman
+following with a darkly suspicious eye.  Glancing over his shoulder,
+Evan, to his unspeakable chagrin, saw Charley come scampering down the
+steps, jump in the car and start off in the other direction.  In his
+heart Evan cursed the whole race of blue-coats.
+
+Evan walked around the block and approached the house from the other
+side.  The policeman was now out of sight.  It was still only half-past
+nine, not too late conceivably to pay a call.  Evan rang the bell.
+
+The door was opened by a handsome, bold-eyed girl who had a challenging
+glance for any personable young male.  Evan gave her look for look; she
+was a potential source of valuable information.
+
+"Charley Straiker live here?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, but he's out now."
+
+"Do you know when he'll be in?"
+
+"In half an hour.  He's gone to the garage to put the car away."
+
+"Sure he's coming back?"
+
+"He just told me.  In case anybody called up."
+
+The trail was not lost then; Evan took heart.  "Well, I'll wait for
+him," he said.  "Where's his room?"
+
+The girl gave him a provoking glance.  "I don't know if I ought to let
+you up.  I don't know you."
+
+"Well, I'll stop and talk to you and you soon will," retorted Evan.
+
+She tossed her head.  "I can't stand here all night talking."
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+"Ethel Barrymore.  What's yours?"
+
+"Leo Dietrichstein."
+
+"Some li'l jollier, aren't you?"
+
+"I'm just learning from you, Ethel."
+
+"Are you an artist like Mr. Straiker?"
+
+"No, I'm a Wall street broker."
+
+"Yes you are!"
+
+"Any rooms to rent, Ethel?  I'd like to hang out where you are."
+
+"All the hall rooms are taken."
+
+"They would be, around you.  How about a man's size room?"
+
+"Who do you want it for?"
+
+This sprightly exchange was cut short by a shrill voice from the
+basement calling: "Sa-a-d-e-e-e!"
+
+"Darn!" muttered the girl.  "I've got to go or she'll scream her lungs
+out!"
+
+"Which is Charley's room?" said Evan.  "I'll go up."
+
+"Second floor rear hall," she said as she disappeared.
+
+Her cryptic description was sufficient to anyone who knows New York
+rooming houses.  The room was typical.  Charley had not been in it long
+enough to give it any of his own character.  You squeezed past the bed
+to a tiny rectangular space at the foot where there was just room
+enough for a bureau, a wash-stand and one chair.  If the occupant had a
+visitor one of them must sit on the bed.
+
+Evan sat down in the chair and filled his pipe, thinking grimly of the
+surprise that Charley was due to receive when he opened the door.
+Suppose Charley flatly refused all information, how could he make him
+speak?  It occurred to him that it would be well to be supplied with
+evidence, and he began to look over Charley's things.  After the way
+Charley had acted he had no scruples in doing so; he would not have
+been at all put out of countenance had Charley come in.
+
+He scarcely expected to find anything of importance--still Charley was
+extraordinarily careless.  Seeing a book lying on the bureau (a novel
+by Jack London) Evan was reminded of an old habit of his friend's of
+putting any paper he wished to save between the leaves of a book.  He
+shook the book and several papers dropped out: to wit: a letter from
+his mother; ditto from a girl in his home town, and lastly a sheet of
+thin paper with typewriting upon it.  Evan put the first two back and
+studied the third.  As he grasped the purport of it, he pursed up his
+lips to whistle and his eyes grew round.  This was a prize indeed!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+LATER THAT NIGHT
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TUESDAY NIGHT
+
+Members P.D. and H.B. will be on the ground not later than five o'clock
+Tuesday afternoon to make sure that no surprise is planted on us
+beforehand.  P.D. will hang out in the little roadhouse marked A. on
+the map, where he can see anything that turns the corner, and H.B. will
+take up his station in the saloon B. at the other end of the road C.
+These two can communicate with each other by telephone if anything
+suspicious is observed.
+
+Members J.T., L.A., J.M. and C.C. will proceed in two couples
+separately by trolley to the saloon at B. where they should stop for a
+drink for the purpose of showing themselves to H.B. who is watching
+there, and to give H.B. a chance to warn them if he has observed
+anything suspicious.  All members must bear in mind that no chances
+must be taken.  There is too much at stake.  If anybody sees anything
+out of the way let him warn the others, and the operation be called off
+for the night.  Unless warned by H.B., J.T. and the three others will
+proceed from the saloon to their station at the clump of bushes marked
+D. on the road C.  They should not get there until eight-thirty as
+their continued presence in the neighbourhood might arouse suspicion.
+
+Meanwhile T.D. and C.S. are to proceed in the car to the fork E. of the
+road by the route they have already been over.  There is no need of
+watching the track through the woods to E. as it is not marked on any
+map, and could not be found except by one entering from A. or B. which
+will both be watched.  The car must be in place, turned around and
+ready to run back at eight-thirty.
+
+A most important duty devolves on H.B. who must satisfy himself that
+the man and his companion are not accompanied nor followed by the
+police.  When the two pass the corner B. let member H.B. if all is well
+blow one long blast on his whistle as a signal to J.T. But if they are
+followed let H.B. blow five short blasts and take to the fields.
+
+When J.T. gets the O.K. signal let him post his men in readiness to
+quietly surround the two and search them for weapons.  If he gets a
+warning signal let him pass on a warning to J.T. and all must scatter
+in the market gardens and make their way home separately.  After the
+two have been searched and sent on, J.T. will give the clear signal to
+T.D.
+
+When the two arrive at the fork of the road E. member C.S. will keep
+them covered while T.D. takes the package and examines the contents.
+It is supposed that the man will bring Evan Weir as his companion, and
+C.S. must therefore take especial care not to betray himself by his
+voice.
+
+When T.D. has satisfied himself the package is O.K. let him direct the
+two men to continue walking by the right-hand fork of the road, and
+when they have passed on, let T.D. and C.S. make their getaway in the
+car, signalling all clear as they start.  When T.D.'s clear signal is
+heard let all members make their way separately to their homes.  On the
+way back J.T. can give the word to H.B.  None of the members must meet
+together later that night.
+
+Meanwhile T.D. and C.S. make their way back to town by the same route
+they went out by, C.S. driving.  T.D. after distributing the contents
+of the package through his various pockets, will drop off the car at
+any suitable spot according to his judgment, taking care that he is not
+under observation at the moment.  He will return home, taking due
+precautions against being followed.
+
+C.S. will return to his home in the car.  If the car is required, a
+telephone message will be awaiting him there.  If there is no message
+let him put the car up.  If he is followed, it is no great matter,
+nothing can be brought home to him.  After putting the car up let him
+return to his home for an hour.  At the end of that time if no one has
+been there he can be pretty sure that he has not been traced.  At
+eleven o'clock then, let him proceed to the club-house and report to me
+on the night's happenings.  He can then take the old man home.  A
+pass-word for the night will be communicated to him verbally.
+
+Let every member commit the contents of this paper to memory and
+destroy his copy.
+
+THE CHIEF.
+
+
+Evan thought hard.  This communication put an entirely new complexion
+on affairs.  Far from wishing to confront Charley, Evan now desired at
+any cost to avoid him.  If he could only succeed in following Charley
+to the "club-house" and in trapping the elusive chief himself, what a
+triumph!  His heart beat fast at the very thought.
+
+He hastened down-stairs, dreading to hear Charley's key in the door.
+Nevertheless he had to linger long enough to square the girl, for if
+Charley encountered her and she told him of his visitor it would spoil
+all.  Evan looked up and down the street.  No sign of Charley yet.  He
+rang the bell to bring the girl.
+
+She appeared, saying scornfully: "Oh, it's you, is it?"--but not
+ill-pleased by the summons.
+
+"I hate waiting around," said Evan.
+
+"He'll be here any minute now."
+
+"I'm not so keen about seeing him anyhow.  I'd rather visit with you."
+
+"Quit your kidding, Leo."
+
+"Come on out and have a soda while I'm waiting."
+
+She hesitated, looked up and down--and succumbed.  "All right.  I'll
+have to hurry back.  I don't need a hat."
+
+Evan was careful to lead her towards Lexington, since it was from the
+other direction Charley would presumably appear.
+
+They had their soda, never ceasing to "con" each other in the style
+that has been suggested.  Sadie enjoyed it to the full; Evan on the
+other hand was rather hard put to it to keep up his end, for his
+thoughts were far away.  His fits of abstraction rather added to his
+attractiveness in the girl's eyes; she couldn't quite make him out.
+
+His problem was how to keep her from seeing Charley before Charley left
+the house for the last time, and yet be on time himself to follow
+Charley when he started out.
+
+Issuing from the drug-store, Evan suggested a short walk, to which
+Sadie was nothing loath.  He steered her through another street back to
+Third avenue, and managed to fetch up as if by accident before a
+moving-picture palace.
+
+"Let's go in," he said carelessly.  "The last show will just be
+beginning."
+
+Once more Sadie hesitated, made objections--and allowed him to brush
+them away.  Sadie was fascinated.  Evan took her by the arm and marched
+her in in masterful style.  For his own ends he chose seats in that
+part of the house where smoking was permitted.
+
+To Evan's relief the picture proved to be one of which Sadie could
+wholly approve, and she no longer required to be entertained.  She
+became absorbed in its unrolling.  The hard eyes softened a little;
+clearly she was lifted out of this mundane sphere of rooming-houses and
+attractive, fresh young men you had to be careful with, into a realm of
+peculiar magnificence.
+
+Meanwhile Evan watched the illuminated clock with which the proprietor
+thoughtfully provided his patrons, and made his calculations.  He had
+to figure closely.  He knew that all these picture houses let out at
+eleven, and they were only five minutes' walk from the rooming-house.
+If the show was over a little early to-night, or if Charley was a
+little late in starting, all his careful planning would go for nothing.
+
+At ten minutes to eleven the drama was still going strong, with
+everything as yet unexplained.  Evan whispered to his companion.
+
+"I'm out of smokes.  Excuse me while I get a pack at the stand."
+
+She nodded without taking her eyes from the screen.  She did not mark
+that he took his hat with him.  He stopped not at the cigar-stand, but
+made his way out of the theatre.  There was little chance of her
+following while any of the fascinating drama remained unrevealed.
+
+He stopped in a haberdasher's and bought three of the largest size
+handkerchiefs for a grim purpose.  Back in Thirty-ninth street he
+concealed himself in the area-way of a vacant house across the street
+from the rooming-house.  Now, if only Sadie did not come back before
+Charley went out, and if an inquisitive policeman did not put a crimp
+in his plans!
+
+A church clock struck eleven, and Charley appeared almost upon the last
+stroke.  He slammed the door after him, and his feet twittered down the
+steps in style peculiarly his own.  He stopped on the pavement to light
+a cigarette--and incidentally to look warily up and down the street.
+Reassured, he started quickly towards Lexington.  He was an easy man to
+trail, gait and appearance were both so marked.  Evan could hardly lose
+that cheap Panama hat cocked at a slightly rakish angle.
+
+Evan let him get around the corner before he ventured out of his
+hiding-place.  As Evan himself reached the corner of Lexington he
+looked back and saw Sadie turning into the block from Third.  "A close
+shave!" he thought.
+
+Charley was still visible hastening North with his loose-jointed
+stride, his "kangaroo lope" Evan had called it.  He turned West in
+Forty-second street.  This was an advantage to Evan, for Forty-second
+street is crowded at this hour.  Charley took the more crowded
+sidewalk, and Evan kept the Panama in view from across the street.
+
+They crossed the whole central part of town, breasting the current of
+pedestrians bound from the theatres to the terminal station.  At Sixth
+avenue Charley went up one stairway to the elevated, and Evan up the
+other.  The platform was crowded, obviating the greatest danger of an
+encounter.  When a train came along Evan lost Charley for a while, for
+he could not risk boarding the same car of the train.  But he had
+little doubt now where Charley was bound for: i.e., Central Bridge, the
+end of the line.
+
+Up-town, when the crowd began to thin out a little; Evan satisfied
+himself that Charley was still safe in the next car but one ahead.
+"Lucky for me," he thought, "they set the only hour at night when the
+cars are crowded."
+
+At the end of the line there were still many left to get off and Evan
+safely lost himself amongst them.  Most of these people (including the
+Panama hat) climbed to the viaduct above to take the red trolley cars
+of various lines.
+
+Charley boarded a Lafayette avenue car, but displayed an inclination to
+remain out on the back platform.  This was a poser for Evan, but he
+managed with several others to crowd on the front end, which is against
+the rules.  He found a little seat in the corner of the motorman's
+vestibule, where he sat down in the dark.  Looking back through the car
+he could make out a square of Charley's striped coat through one of the
+rear windows.  He kept his eye on that.
+
+Charley rode clear to the end of the line at Featherbed lane.  Evan, by
+lingering to ask the motorman a question as to his supposed direction,
+let him get away from the car.  Eight people got off at this point.
+Five waited at the transverse tracks for the Yonkers car, while three,
+of whom Evan and Charley were two, crossed the tracks and kept on
+heading North by the automobile highway.  They were at the extreme edge
+of the town in this direction.  The last electric lights were behind
+them; only a house or two remained alongside the road, then tall woods
+and darkness.
+
+There was no sidewalk; they proceeded up the middle of the road, first
+Charley, then the suburbanite, then Evan.  Charley frequently looked
+over his shoulder, the pale patch of his face revealed in the receding
+lights.  But Evan kept on boldly, confident that he could not be
+recognised with the lights at his back.  The suburbanite turned in at
+one of the houses; Charley was presently swallowed by the shadow of the
+woods.  Evan made believe to turn in at the last house, but dropped in
+the ditch, and crept along until he, too, gained the woods.
+
+Running in the soft stuff at the side, pausing to listen, and running
+ahead again, Evan continued to follow Charley by the sound of his
+nervous steps on the hard road.  The road turned slightly, and the
+lights behind them passed out of sight.  The tall trees pressed close
+on either hand, and it was as dark below as in a cavern.
+
+The steps ceased.  Evan paused, listening.  Had Charley stopped, or had
+he, too, taken to the soft stuff?  They re-commenced, grew louder, he
+was coming back!  Evan hastily withdrew close under the bushes at the
+side.  Charley passed him at five yards distance.  In the stillness
+Evan could even hear his agitated breathing.  In a queer way Evan felt
+for him.  It was no joke to fancy one's self followed on such a road at
+such an hour.  He showed pluck in thus boldly venturing back.
+
+Evan was obliged to take into account the possibility that this whole
+excursion up the dark road might be a feint.  He dared not let Charley
+out of sight and hearing.  He followed him back to the turn in the
+road, still creeping in the soft stuff.  From this point Charley's
+figure was outlined against the twinkling lights of the trolley
+terminus, and Evan waited to see what he would do.
+
+Charley went back to the edge of the woods: stopped, listened, walked
+back and forth a few times, then returned towards Evan, but now, like
+the other man, taking care to muffle his steps in the grass alongside.
+Evan could only see him at moments now.  He was on Evan's side of the
+road.  Evan drew back under a thick bush.
+
+Charley came creeping along, bent almost double with the primordial
+instinct of concealment.  He paused to listen so close to Evan that the
+latter, squatting under his bush, could have reached out and touched
+Charley's foot.  Evan breathed from the top of his lungs, wondering
+that the beating of his heart did not betray him.  He heard Charley's
+breath come in uneven little jerks.
+
+For seconds Charley stood there.  Was it possible he knew an enemy was
+near?  Evan could make out his head turning this way and that.  The
+tension was hard on nerves.  Though he lay as still as a snake it
+seemed incredible to Evan that Charley did not feel his nearness.
+
+Finally he went on, and a soft, blessed breath of relief escaped Evan.
+
+He gave him ten yards and started to follow.  Charley was on the alert
+now; very well, he must be twice as alert and beat him at his own game.
+Evan followed him by the swish of his feet in the grass, by the soft
+brushing of leaves against his clothes, by the crackle of an occasional
+twig under foot, at the same time taking care to betray no similar
+sounds himself.  The advantage was greatly with the one who followed,
+for he knew the other man was there, while the one in front only feared.
+
+Evan's patient stalking was interrupted by the passage of an
+automobile.  He was obliged to seek cover from the rays of its
+headlights.  It bowled up the road with a gay party, laughing and
+talking, all unsuspecting of the drama being enacted beside the road.
+Before it was well by Evan was out again.  For a second he had a
+glimpse of Charley running like a deer up the road.  Then he plunged
+into the bushes.  Whatever the automobile party thought of this
+apparition, they did not stop to investigate.
+
+Evan hastened to the vicinity of the spot where he had seen Charley
+disappear.  Lying low, he concentrated all the power of his will on the
+act of hearing.  He was rewarded by the faintest whisper of a sound
+from within the woods to the left of the road.  It was repeated.
+Someone was creeping away in that direction.  Charley had left the
+road.  A sharp anxiety attacked Evan, for his difficulties were now
+redoubled.
+
+But when he sought to feel a way into the woods, he discovered a place
+near by where it was comparatively open.  There was no underbrush.  In
+fact a road was suggested, a former road perhaps, for it was rough and
+tangled underfoot.  Evan's heart bounded.  Could this be the track that
+led direct to the abandoned house?  He lost all sound of Charley, but
+continued to press forward full of hope.
+
+At intervals he paused to listen, but no sound such as he wished to
+hear reached his ears; only the whisper of the night breeze among the
+leaves, and the faint far-off hum of the living world.  A hundred feet
+or so from the highway the wood-track made a turn, and the trees hemmed
+him all about.  The darkness of the road outside was as twilight to the
+blackness that surrounded him here.
+
+Suddenly a sixth sense warned Evan of danger from behind.  He whirled
+around only to receive the impact of a leaping figure which bore him to
+the earth.  Dazed by the fall, for a moment he was at a hopeless
+disadvantage.  The whole weight of the other man was on his chest.
+Evan struck up at him ineffectually.
+
+Charley's voice whispered hoarsely: "I'm armed.  Give up, or I'll shoot
+you like a dog!  Will you give up?"
+
+"Never!" muttered Evan.
+
+The effect was surprising.  "Evan!  You!  Oh, my God!" whispered
+Charley.  The tense body slackened for a moment.  Evan, gathering his
+strength, heaved up and threw him off.
+
+But Charley was quick too.  When Evan reached for him he was not there.
+Evan, grinding his teeth with rage, scrambled for him on hands and
+knees.  The other kept just beyond his reach.  Both were confused by
+the utter darkness.  Each time one succeeded in getting to his feet, he
+promptly crashed over a branch again.  Evan clutched at Charley's
+clothes, and Charley wrenched himself free.  Charley, seeking to escape
+Evan, collided with him and recoiled gasping.  Meanwhile he never
+ceased imploring him in a desperate whisper.  But it was something more
+than the note of personal fear that actuated his pleading.
+
+"Evan, hold up!  You don't know what you're doing!  Evan, listen!  Let
+me talk to you quietly!  I swear I'm on the square!  Evan, for God's
+sake hold up, or I swear I'll have to shoot you!"
+
+But Evan was past listening.  "Throw your gun away, and stand up to me
+like a man!" he said thickly.
+
+In the mad, blind scramble, Charley finally got his bearing and started
+to run back towards the highway.  Evan plunged after him.  Charley
+tripped and fell headlong, and Evan came down on top of him.
+
+Charley was helpless then, for in strength he was no match for Evan.
+Yet he still struggled desperately.  Not to escape though.  His hand
+was in his pocket.  Not for his gun, because that was already out.  He
+managed to get the hand to his lips, and then Evan understood.  The
+warning whistle!  As Charley drew breath to blow, Evan snatched it out
+of his hand and flung it into the bush.
+
+While Charley still implored him, Evan shook out a handkerchief in his
+teeth, and gagged him.  With the other handkerchiefs that he had
+brought against such a contingency, he tied his hands behind his back,
+and tied his ankles.  He then possessed himself of Charley's pocket
+searchlight, and with its aid found the revolver which had flown from
+Charley's hand upon his fall.
+
+With his antagonist bound and helpless at his feet, Evan cooled down.
+He rapidly considered what he must do next.  He had no means of knowing
+how well the old house might be barricaded, and it would be the height
+of foolhardiness to attempt to storm it single-handed.  On the other
+hand, if he took the time to go for the police, the chief of the gang,
+warned of danger by Charley's non-arrival, might make his getaway.
+Perhaps he could commandeer an automobile.  Late as it was, an
+occasional car still passed on the highway.  Evan hastened back.
+
+As he turned the bend in the road he saw the lights of a car standing
+in the main road with engine softly running.  Evan prudently slowed
+down.  The occupants could not possibly see him yet.  They were
+talking.  Evan listened.
+
+One said: "Well, it's all over now, anyway."
+
+Another replied.  "Come on in, and let's see what was the matter?"
+
+"Into that black hole?  Not on your life!"
+
+"We have flashlights."
+
+"Yes, and a nice mark they'd make for bullets!"
+
+This was sufficiently reassuring.  Evan showed himself.  He saw an
+expensive runabout with two young fellows in it.  They burst out
+simultaneously:
+
+"What's the matter?"
+
+"Oh, I had a fight with a crook in there," said Evan.  "They have a
+hang-out in an old abandoned house."
+
+"Do you want any help?"
+
+"No thanks.  I've got him tied up.  But I wish you'd go for the police
+if you don't mind."
+
+"Sure thing!  The nearest station's in Tremont, five miles over bad
+roads.  We'll bring 'em back in half an hour!"
+
+In his excitement the young fellow threw his clutch in, and the big car
+leaped down the road before Evan could give him any further particulars.
+
+On his way back Evan felt certain compunctions at the sight of Charley
+lying bound in the road.  After all, Charley had been his friend for
+many a year.  He wouldn't mind saving him from the consequences of his
+own folly if he could.  That the police might not discover him when
+they came, Evan dragged him out of the road, and under a thick leafy
+bush to one side.  Charley made imploring sounds through the gag.  Evan
+continued along the rough track.  He had the pocket flash to help him
+over the rough places now.  In a quarter of a mile or more from the
+highway he came upon the dark mass of the old house rising against the
+night sky.  It stood on a little rise in the midst of its clearing,
+which could scarcely be called a clearing now, for except in a small
+space immediately around the building the young trees were rising
+thickly.
+
+It was a square block of a design somewhat freakish for a country
+residence, since the principal storey was above the entrance floor.
+There was a row of tall windows here, and above these windows an attic
+in the style of the eighteenth century.  The tall windows evidently
+lighted the great room where Evan had suffered his ordeal at the hands
+of the Ikunahkatsi.  It was in one of the back rooms on the same floor
+that the chief had his sanctum, he told himself.  All the windows of
+the house were dark, but this did not prove that people were not within
+and awake, for Evan remembered the heavy shutters inside the windows.
+
+He waited for a minute or two, and then began to get restless.  In fact
+he itched for the glory of taking the chief single-handed.  The letter
+of instructions had suggested that the chief would be alone in the
+building to-night, except for the old negress and the prisoner.  And
+Evan was armed now.  If he could find some way to make an entrance
+without giving an alarm, he believed it could be done.
+
+He stole up to the front door on all fours.  It was locked of course.
+He went around to the back; there were two doors here, both locked.  He
+went from window to window.  All of them had panes missing, but within
+each window the heavy shutters were closed and barred.  He thought of
+cellar windows, sometimes they were forgotten.  In certain places thick
+clumps of sumach had sprung up close to the house.  Pushing behind one
+such clump, he stumbled on an old stone stair leading down.  Once it
+had been closed by inclined doors, but these had rotted and fallen in.
+The steps led him into the cellar.
+
+With the aid of his light he picked his way over the piles of rubbish
+and around the brick piers.  Immense brick arches supported the
+chimneys of the house.  They built more generously in those days.  The
+rats scuttled out of his way.  In the centre of the space there was a
+steep stair leading up.  It looked sound.  Pocketing his light, he
+crept up step by step and with infinite care tried the door at the top.
+It yielded!  He was in!
+
+All was dark and silent throughout the house.  He judged that he must
+be in the central hall.  He dared not use his light now, but felt his
+way towards the front.  The sensation was not unlike that when he had
+been led through the house blindfolded.  He touched the edge of the
+stairway, and guided himself to the foot.  As he turned to mount, a
+sound brought the heart into his throat.
+
+He identified it, and smiled grimly.  It was a human snore and it came
+through the door on his left.  This was the room where he had been
+confined, and it was more than likely old Simeon Deaves was sleeping
+there now.
+
+He went up, stepping on the sides of the stair-treads to avoid making
+them creak.  The stairway turned on itself in the middle, and at the
+top he was facing the front of the house again.  Here he had to flash
+his light for a second.  Immediately before him a pair of doors gave on
+the big room.  They stood open.  There were two more doors, one on each
+hand, both closed.  Evan put out his light.  As he did so a tiny ray of
+light became visible through the keyhole of the door on his left.
+
+Evan dropped the light in his pocket, and took out his gun.  Drawing a
+deep breath to steady himself, he smartly turned the handle and,
+flinging the door open, stepped back into the darkness.  He saw in the
+centre of the great, bare, ruinous room an old packing case with a
+common lamp upon it, and a smaller box to sit on.  He saw in the corner
+an army cot with a little figure lying upon it covered by a carriage
+robe, a figure which turned over and sat up at the sound of the door.
+He saw--Corinna!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+TOWARDS MORNING
+
+The shock of astonishment unmanned Evan.  His pistol arm dropped weakly
+at his side, his mouth hung open, he stared like an idiot.  To have
+crept into the house heart in mouth and pistol in hand, to have nerved
+himself to meet and overcome a desperate criminal--and then to find
+this!  The violence of the reaction threw all his machinery out of
+gear; he stalled.  He felt inclined to laugh weakly.
+
+Corinna could not see him clearly, though presumably she was aware of a
+figure standing in the hall.  She was very much affronted by the
+violence of the intrusion, and not in the least afraid.  She sat up
+with her glorious hair a little tousled, and her eyes flashing like a
+diminutive empress's.
+
+"Mr. Straiker, is it you?  What does this mean?" she demanded.
+
+Evan could not readily find his tongue.  Amazement broke over him in
+succeeding waves like a surf.  Corinna!  Corinna here!  Corinna a
+member of the blackmailing gang!  Corinna, the chief!  Oh, impossible!
+He was in a nightmare!
+
+"Mr. Straiker!" repeated Corinna more sharply.  "Come in at once!"  She
+was on her feet now.
+
+Evan's faculties began to work again.  In anticipation he tasted the
+sweets of perfect revenge.  This little creature had put an intolerable
+humiliation upon him.  Very well, here she was absolutely in his power!
+Dropping the gun in his pocket, he stepped into the room smiling.
+
+At sight of him Corinna did not cry out, but the shock she received was
+dreadfully evident in her eyes.  She went back a step, one hand went to
+her breast, her lips formed the syllable "You!"--but no sound came from
+them.  Every vestige of color faded from her face.
+
+Evan's gaze burned her up; she was so beautiful, and she had injured
+him so!  "So you're a member of the gang!" he said mockingly.
+
+Corinna quickly recovered her forces.  She shrugged disdainfully.
+
+"And even the chief, it seems!"
+
+"So it seems."
+
+Amazement overcame him afresh.  "You--you little thing!" he cried.  "I
+cannot believe it!"
+
+Corinna affected to look bored.
+
+"So this was the real work of the brotherhood!" Evan went on.
+"Blackmail.  This was why you couldn't fire them when they threatened
+you.  A new way to raise money for philanthropic purposes, I swear!  To
+hold up a usurer with one hand, and feed poor children with the other!"
+
+"A usurer, yes," said Corinna contemptuously.  "Your master!"
+
+"That doesn't get under my skin," retorted Evan coolly.  "No man is my
+master a day longer than I choose."  He dissolved in amazement again.
+"But you!  To think up such a scheme!  To carry it out!"
+
+"Oh, spare me your bleating!" said Corinna impatiently.  "What are you
+going to do about it?"
+
+"Turn you over to the police," he said promptly.
+
+"Three of my friends are sleeping across the hall," she said.
+
+So perfect was her aplomb that Evan was taken aback.  He half turned,
+uncertainly.  But as he did so, out of the tail of his eye he saw
+Corinna's hand go to her bosom.  He whirled back with the gun in his
+hand again.  A woman is at a serious disadvantage in drawing.
+
+"Put your gun on the box," commanded Evan.
+
+"I have no gun!" she cried.  "I will not be spoken to so."
+
+Evan took a step nearer her.  His eyes glittered.  "Put your gun on the
+box.  Don't oblige me to use force.  I should enjoy it far too well!"
+
+With a sob of rage, she drew a little pistol from her dress and threw
+it on the box.  Evan possessed himself of it.
+
+"Now we'll see about the three friends across the hall," he said
+mockingly.
+
+He backed out of the room.  Corinna followed to the door.  In her eye
+he read her purpose to make a dash for liberty down the stairs, and he
+took care to give her no opening.  He flung open the door opposite and
+flashed his light inside the room.  It was empty of course.  He
+returned across the hall, and Corinna backed into the lighted room
+before him.
+
+"They have stepped out, it seems," he said mockingly.
+
+Corinna disdained to reply.  Like a child, she was not in the least
+abashed when her bluff was called, but immediately set her wits to work
+to think of another.
+
+"How do you purpose taking me to the police?" she asked scornfully.
+
+"I'm not going to take you.  They're coming here."
+
+Corinna changed color.  She studied his face narrowly.  Evidently she
+decided that he was bluffing now, for she tossed her head.
+
+"Go and sit down on the cot," he said coolly, "so we can talk quietly."
+
+"I will not!" cried Corinna.  "How dare you speak to me so!"
+
+He was delighted with the spirit she showed.  "It's too bad no one did
+it long ago," he said provokingly.
+
+He approached her, and his eyes glittered again.  Corinna, seething
+with rage, retreated, and plumped herself down on the cot.
+
+"That's better," he said indulgently.  He took the small box and,
+placing it against the wall, sat down and leaned back.  Producing his
+pipe he filled it in leisurely style, affecting to be unconscious of
+her.  Corinna's eyes blazed on him.
+
+"Well, what have you to say for yourself?" he drawled at last.  "You
+pretty little blackmailer!"
+
+"You needn't insult me!" cried Corinna.  Her eyes filled with angry
+tears.
+
+But Evan's heart was hard.  "Insult you!" he cried.  "I like that!
+What have you been doing to me lately?"
+
+"If you were capable of thinking, you would see that I could not have
+acted otherwise!" she said.
+
+"You have me there," said Evan coolly.  "For I don't see the necessity
+of being a blackmailer."
+
+Corinna jumped up and stamped her foot.  Her face reddened, and two
+large tears rolled down her cheeks.  "Don't you dare to use that word
+to me again, you fool!"
+
+Evan laughed delightedly.  "Why shy at the word and commit the deed?"
+
+"You know nothing of the circumstances!" she stormed.  "You have
+neither sense nor feeling!  You take all your ideas ready made from
+others.  You are as empty as a drum!"
+
+"Bravo!" he cried.  "Keep it up if it makes you feel any better!"
+
+"If it is a crime to extort money from a foul old robber and give it to
+the poor, all right, I'm a criminal!  I glory in it!  I would do it all
+over again!"
+
+"I don't deny one has a sneaking sympathy with a life of crime," Evan
+said, affecting a judicial air.  "But after all, law is law.  You have
+to make your choice.  I chose to stay inside the law, and naturally I
+have to uphold it like everybody on my side."
+
+"You're a nice upholder of the law!" she cried.  "You're just trying to
+get back at me!"
+
+Evan grinned.  "You're so frank, Corinna.  But after all, being on the
+side of the law gives me an advantage now, doesn't it?"
+
+"Yes, if you want to take the pay of a scoundrel like Deaves."
+
+"Oh, I was fired some days ago.  I'm working on my own now."
+
+"You're just angry and jealous!"
+
+"I dare say.  I admit I don't mind your blackmailing operations half as
+much as the other thing."
+
+"What other thing?"
+
+"Those fellows on the _Ernestina_; to take advantage of their wanting
+you, and use them for your own ends."
+
+"Everything was understood between us.  Everything was open and
+aboveboard."
+
+"Of course.  But they were already enslaved, you see.  And you forced
+them to serve your pride and arrogance.  You queened it over them.
+That makes me more indignant than blackmailing a usurer, for the other
+thing's a crime against a man's best feelings, and I'm a man myself."
+
+"You're only jealous!"
+
+"Why should I be.  _I_ wouldn't stand for the brotherhood.  I know you
+gave me--or I took--more than you ever gave them."
+
+"You're a brute!"
+
+"Why sure!"
+
+There was a silence.  Corinna kept her eyes down.  It was impossible to
+say of what she was thinking.  But her passion of anger visibly
+subsided.  She murmured at last:
+
+"If, as you say, you sympathise with me for getting money out of Simeon
+Deaves----"
+
+"I didn't quite say that," interrupted Evan.  "But it's near enough, go
+on!"
+
+"Why do you want to hand me over to the police?"
+
+It was fun to torment Corinna, and it satisfied his deep need for
+vengeance.  But the sight of her quiet, with the curved lashes lying on
+her cheeks, and the soft lips drooping, went to his breast like a
+knife.  Vengeance was suddenly appeased.  Such a gallant little crook!
+He realised that not for a moment had he really intended to hand her
+over.  He jumped up.
+
+"I'm not going to send you to jail," he said.  "You're going to make
+restitution."
+
+Corinna stared.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Give me an order on Dordess for the bonds--if it is Dordess who has
+them, and give me your word that you will lead an honest life
+hereafter."  He was smiling.
+
+Corinna blazed up afresh.  "Never!" she cried.  "I'd die rather!"
+
+"You _must_ do it!"
+
+"Why must I?"
+
+"Because you're going to marry me, and naturally I want an honest woman
+to wife."
+
+Corinna laughed a peal.  "I'd die rather!  And you know it now!"
+
+Indeed in his heart he was not at all sure but that her Satanic pride
+might break her before she would give in, but he bluffed it out.
+
+"Come on!" he said.  "There's no time to lose.  I have sent for the
+police though you make out not to believe it.  I see you've been
+writing on the table.  Sit down and write me an order for the bonds."
+
+"Break up our organisation on your say-so?  Never!"
+
+"If you don't the police will.  Come now, whatever happens you can't go
+on using those infatuated boys to further your own ends.  That's low,
+Corinna; that's like offering a starving man husks."
+
+"You have your gun in your pocket," she cried passionately.  "Use it,
+for you'll never break my will!"
+
+"It's not a bullet that waits you, but jail," said Evan grimly.  "No
+grand-stand finish, but endless dragging days in a four-by-ten cell!
+Come on, give up the loot.  You'll have to anyhow, and go to jail in
+the bargain!"
+
+"It's not loot!" she cried.  "It's mine!  By every rule of justice and
+right, it's mine.  Simeon Deaves robbed my father.  Beggared him and
+brought him to his grave!"
+
+"Ha!" cried Evan, "I might have guessed there was something personal
+here!  But someone has to lose in the warfare of business."
+
+"This was not the chance of warfare.  This was malice, cold and
+calculated.  I'll tell you.  It spoiled my childhood.  Deaves and my
+father were workers in the same church.  You didn't know, did you, that
+Deaves was a religious man.  Oh, yes, always a pillar of some church
+until his avarice grew so upon him that he could no longer bring
+himself to subscribe.  My father learned that he was using his position
+in our church to lend money to other members at usurious interest, and
+to collect it under threats of exposure.  My father showed him up, and
+Deaves was put out of the church.  He set about a cold and patient
+scheme of revenge, but we didn't learn this until the crash came a
+couple of years afterwards.  He bought up,--what do you call it?--all
+my father's paper, the notes every merchant has to give to carry on his
+business.  At last he presented all my father's outstanding
+indebtedness at once with a demand for instant payment, and when my
+father couldn't meet it, Deaves sold him out, and we were ruined.  It
+killed my father and embittered my mother's few remaining years.
+
+"That was what I grew up with.  I don't know when it started, but the
+determination to punish him grew and grew in my mind until it crowded
+out every other thought.  I planned for years before I did anything.  I
+followed him.  I learned all about him.  His avarice went to such
+lengths at last that I began to see my chance to show him up.  I met
+Dordess and the others, and the idea of the Avengers slowly took shape.
+There was something fine to us in the idea of making him pay to bring
+pleasure and health to the poor.  None of us would spend a cent of his
+filthy money on ourselves.  What have I done to Deaves to repay the
+crushing blows he dealt to me and mine?--a few pin-pricks, that's all.
+Well, it is my life.  I cannot change it now."
+
+Evan was more softened than he cared to show.  "I understand," he said.
+"It excuses your heart, but not your head.  It was so foolish to try to
+buck the law!"
+
+"I can't help it," she said.  "I would rather die than return what I
+have made that old robber disgorge.  I have worked too long for this!"
+
+Evan inwardly groaned.  To reason with her seemed so hopeless.  "You
+can't live outside the pale of the law," he said.  "No man can, let
+alone a woman.  Only wretchedness can come of it!"
+
+"I'll take my chance," she said with curling lip.  "Thank God, I have
+friends who are not so timid."
+
+Evan changed his tone.  "Well, never mind the right and the wrong of
+it," he said earnestly.  "Do it because I love you.  I love you with
+all my heart.  We quarrel, but my heart speaks to yours.  You must hear
+it.  I have endured from you what I believe no man ever forgave a
+woman.  But I forgive you.  If you go to jail my life will be a desert.
+But go to jail you shall, unless you make restitution!"
+
+Corinna laughed mirthlessly.  "Funny kind of love!" she said.
+
+"It is the best kind of love.  I have sense enough left to realise that
+if I give in to you on a clear question of right it would ruin us both.
+We would despise each other."
+
+"I have promised to trouble the Deaves no further," she said.  "They're
+satisfied."
+
+"The bonds must go back."
+
+"I had already decided to break up the Avengers, too.  Isn't that
+enough?"
+
+He shook his head.
+
+She turned away.  "You ask the impossible," she said.  "I'd rather die!"
+
+"But to go to jail," he said relentlessly, "to have your beautiful hair
+cut off" (he was not at all sure of this, but he supposed she was not
+either), "to wear the hideous prison dress, to have the sickly prison
+pallor in your clear cheeks, and your eyes dimmed.  Your best years,
+Corinna!"
+
+This went home.  She paled; her breath came unevenly.  "You say you
+love me," she murmured, "and you'd hand me over to that."
+
+"I must!"
+
+Corinna said very low: "I love you.  Isn't that enough?  Costs me
+something to say it.  Costs me my pride.  It would have been more
+merciful to beat me with a club.  I cannot entreat you.  I never
+learned how.  But--but I am entreating you.  Love me, Evan.  Let us
+begin from now.  Let the past be past."
+
+Evan was tempted then.  His senses reeled.  But something held fast.
+"I can't!" he said.
+
+She shrank sharply.  "It is useless, then," she muttered.  "I will not
+be a repentant sinner!"
+
+"For the sake of our love, Corinna!"
+
+"You do not love me.  You want to master me."
+
+He groaned in his helplessness.
+
+Suddenly an ominous peremptory knock on the front door rang through the
+empty house.
+
+"The police!" gasped Evan.
+
+"Then it's over!" said Corinna, desperately calm.
+
+"No!" he cried.  "Quick!  Write!  I'll get you out!"
+
+She dragged him towards the door.  "Ah, come! come!" she beseeched him.
+
+The very heart was dragged out of his breast, but he resisted her.
+"Choose!" he whispered.  "A living death or happiness!"
+
+For an instant their desperate eyes contended.  Corinna read in his
+that he would never give in.  She ran to the box and scribbled three
+lines.  The knock was repeated below.
+
+She handed him the sheet with averted head.  Evan blew out the lamp.
+Hand in hand they ran softly down-stairs.  The knock was repeated for
+the third time and a gruff voice commanded:
+
+"Open the door or we'll break it down!"
+
+Aunt Liza was in the lower hall whimpering: "Lawsy!  What you gwine do,
+Miss?"  And behind her they heard Simeon Deaves muttering confusedly:
+"What's the matter?  What's the matter?"
+
+Evan breathed in Corinna's ear.  "The cellar door under the stairs.
+You lead the woman."
+
+He felt for Simeon Deaves, and got his hand.  "Follow me," he
+whispered.  "I'll save you."
+
+Deaves came unresistingly, his old wits in a daze.  As Evan got the
+cellar door open the blows were falling on the front door.  He flashed
+his light to show his little party the way down.  He came last and
+closed the door.  As he did so the front door went in with a crash.
+Joining the others, Evan whispered:
+
+"Take it easy.  They'll search the rooms first."
+
+The old man whispered tremulously: "What's the matter?  I don't
+understand."
+
+"Be very quiet," returned Evan.  "We're taking you home now.  Be quiet
+and there will be no publicity."
+
+It was a magical suggestion.  They heard no more from Deaves.
+
+Meanwhile heavy feet were tramping overhead.  Doors were flung open.
+One man ran up-stairs.  There were at least three men.  Evan did not
+think it possible they had come in sufficient force to completely
+surround the house.  It was safe enough to flash his light in the
+depths of the cellar.  He led the way to the foot of the stone steps.
+The stars showed through the broken door overhead.
+
+Making them wait behind him, he cautiously parted the thick screen of
+bushes and looked out.  Nothing was stirring on this side of the house.
+The grass and weeds were waist high down to the edge of the woods.  It
+was less than fifty yards to shelter.  Evan whispered to his little
+party:
+
+"Hands and knees through the grass.  Take it slow.  Each one keep a
+hand on the ankle of the one in front.  Corinna, you go first."
+
+It was done as he ordered.  Surely a more oddly-assorted party of
+fugitives never acted in concert to escape the law: girl, negress,
+multi-millionaire, and artist.  Like a snake with four articulations,
+they wound through the grass.  In the most sophisticated man lingers a
+wild strain; the stiff-jointed millionaire took to this means of
+locomotion as naturally as the negress.
+
+As they left the house behind them they came more within the range of
+vision of those who were presumably watching the front and back.  At
+any rate, while they were still fifty feet from the trees, a hoarse
+voice was raised from the front: "There they go!"  And an answering
+shout came from the rear.
+
+The four fugitives of one accord rose to their feet and dashed for the
+trees.  Gaining the shadows, Corinna whispered:
+
+"We must separate.  You take Deaves."
+
+Evan pressed her own revolver back in her hand, whispering: "Fire it
+off if you are in danger."
+
+Seizing Deaves' hand, Evan pulled him away to the right.  Corinna and
+Aunt Liza melted in the other direction.  The old man came through the
+underbrush like a reaping machine, and of course the police took after
+them.  For a moment Evan considered abandoning him.  He would come to
+no harm, of course.  But on the other hand, Evan now ardently desired
+to have the whole affair hushed up.  He got Deaves across the rough
+road in safety, and on the other side, coming to an immense spruce tree
+with drooping branches, he dragged him under it, and they sank down on
+a fragrant bed of needles.
+
+The pursuing policemen, coming to the road, instinctively turned off
+upon it, and Evan knew they were safe for the moment.  Presently they
+came back, aimlessly threshing the woods and flashing their lights, but
+they had lost the trail now.  They were looking for a needle in a
+hay-stack.  Evan's only fear was that they might stumble on Charley,
+but he heard no sounds from that direction that indicated they had done
+so.  The sounds of searching moved off to the other side of the road,
+and Evan determined to go to Charley himself.
+
+Leaving the old man with a whispered admonition to silence, Evan set
+off.  He found Charley where he had left him under the leafy bush.
+Evan whispered in his ear:
+
+"I found her.  I am on your side now.  The police are all around us.
+Make no sound!"
+
+He unbound Charley.  The latter sat up and rubbed his ankles.  Whatever
+he thought of the new turn of affairs, he said nothing.
+
+Evan said: "I have Deaves back here.  Follow me."
+
+Foot by foot they crept back in a course parallel to the rough road.
+Hearing footsteps approach, they hugged the earth.  Two men passed in
+the road.  One was saying:
+
+"Send Wilson back in the car to the road house to telephone for enough
+men to surround this patch of woods.  You patrol the road outside."
+
+Evan and Charley crept away through the underbrush like foxes at the
+sight of the hunter.
+
+They reached the big spruce tree without further accident.  The old man
+greeted them with a moan of relief.  Evan and Charley drew away from
+him a little while they consulted.
+
+Evan said: "Corinna and Aunt Liza are somewhere in the woods across the
+road.  We had to separate.  How can we get in touch with them?"
+
+"They'll be all right," muttered Charley.  "Corinna knows this place.
+They're safer than we are."
+
+"I can't leave here until I am more sure," said Evan.  "Will you take
+the old man and put him on the way home?"
+
+"All right."
+
+"How will you go?  I'll have to follow you later."
+
+"The Lafayette trolley line will be watched, and the Yonkers line stops
+at one o'clock.  We'll have to walk to Yonkers.  Follow the road
+through the woods in the other direction, and it will put you on a
+regular road.  Keep going in a westerly direction."
+
+"I get you," said Evan.  "Where does Corinna live?"
+
+"What do you want to know for?" growled Charley.
+
+"If I hear nothing from her here, I want to go to make sure she got
+home all right."
+
+"Well, I won't tell you."
+
+"Everything is changed now.  I am on your side and hers."
+
+"I hear you say it," Charley said sullenly.
+
+Evan's sense of justice forced him to admit that Charley was justified.
+"Well, will you do this?" he said.  "When you've got the old man off
+your hands, go to her place yourself, and then come to me and tell me
+if she's all right."
+
+"I'll do it if she wants me to," Charley said.
+
+"Here's your flashlight," said Evan.  "I'll keep the gun a little
+while, in case Corinna calls for my help."
+
+Charley pocketed the light in silence and led the old man forth from
+under the tree.  Simeon Deaves that night was like a pet dog on a
+leader, passed impatiently from hand to hand.
+
+Evan, fancying that the thick branches hindered him from hearing, crept
+out and lay down on the grass.  The woods were not so thick in this
+place.  This had evidently been part of the grounds surrounding the old
+house in its palmy days, and the spruce was a relic of those times.  He
+heard an automobile approach in the highway, and stop at the end of the
+woods track.  This would be the man returning from having telephoned.
+All sounds of the search through the woods had ceased.  Evidently they
+had decided that the better way was to watch all outlets.
+
+No sound from any quarter betrayed the whereabouts of Corinna and the
+old negress.  They were swallowed up as completely as if they had taken
+to their burrows like rabbits.  Evan's heart was with her, wherever she
+was.  He had not the same anxious solicitude for her that one would
+have for an ordinary woman hunted in the dark woods, for he was well
+assured that Corinna was not a prey to imaginary terrors.  She would be
+no less at home in the woods at night than he was.  Still no sound came
+from her.  He was not at all sure that she would summon him if hard
+pressed, but they could not take her without his hearing it.
+
+In the end the greying sky in the East bade him consider his own
+retreat if he wished to avoid capture.  He had committed no crime, of
+course, but he was very sensible of the awkwardness of trying to
+explain his own share in the night's doings, should he be taken.  He
+had good hopes that Corinna had escaped by now.  He started to make his
+way westward.
+
+He made a wide detour around the house and struck into the rough track
+on the other side, travelling softly, and keeping his ears open.  He
+had heard no searchers on this side.  After a half mile or so he saw
+light through the trees ahead.  He saw a road bounding the woods on
+this side, and open fields beyond.
+
+He struck into the woods again, and took a cautious reconnaisance of
+the road from the underbrush before venturing upon it--the world was
+filled with ghostly light now.  It was well that he did so, for he saw
+a burly individual loafing in the highway, with his eye on the end of
+the wood track.  He wore civilian clothes, but "policeman" was written
+all over him.
+
+Evan had to get across that road somehow, but it was so straight the
+watcher could see half a mile in either direction.  And on the other
+side there was no cover, only cultivated fields.  There was one spot
+some hundreds of yards north where the road dipped into a hollow and
+was lost to view for a short space.  Evan, keeping well within the
+woods, made for that.
+
+There was a stream with a bridge over it.  By hugging the edge of the
+stream and ducking under the bridge he made the other side of the road.
+A field of growing corn received him.
+
+That was his last serious hazard.  In the sweet coolness of the dawn he
+made his way over field after field, keeping the sunrise at his back.
+He crossed the roads circumspectly and gave the villages a wide berth.
+Finally he climbed a wooded hill, and from the other side looked down
+into the city of Yonkers.  Here he ventured to show himself openly,
+took a car for town, and an hour and a half later was climbing the
+stairs to his own room.  His heart was heavy with anxiety.
+
+When he entered he saw Charley sitting at his table with his head on
+his arms, asleep.  Evan's heart leaped.  He shook the sleeper.
+
+"Is she all right?" he cried.
+
+Charley lifted a sullen and resentful face.  "She got home all right,"
+he muttered, and immediately started for the door, still swaying with
+sleep.
+
+"Wait a minute," said Evan.  "Here's your gun."
+
+Charley held out his hand for it without looking at the other.
+
+Evan no longer blamed Charley for what had seemed like treachery.
+Indeed, his heart was warm now towards his old friend.  "Don't you want
+to stop and talk things over?" he said.
+
+"I have nothing to say to you," Charley said sorely, and went on out.
+
+Evan, with a sigh, turned bedwards.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+SIMEON DEAVES TURNS PHILANTHROPIST
+
+During his long vigil beside the spruce tree a scheme for dealing out
+poetic justice all around had occurred to Evan.  Of course one can
+never tell in advance how people are going to take things, but he had
+chuckled and resolved to try it anyhow.  So full was he of his scheme,
+even in sleep, that he awoke in an hour, and bathed, dressed and
+breakfasted at his usual time.
+
+On the slip of paper that Corinna had given Evan was written:
+
+    Thomas Dordess,
+     -- Broadway,
+  Give Weir the bonds.
+
+        C. PLAYFAIR.
+
+
+Evan presented himself at this address at a few minutes past nine, when
+offices were just opening.  Dordess, it appeared, was not a journalist,
+as Evan had once guessed, but an architect; that is to say, an elderly
+architectural draughtsman, one of the race of slaves who help build
+other men's reputations.
+
+Early as it was, Dordess had already been apprised of Evan's coming.
+Evan had only to look at him to know that.  The ironic smile of the man
+of the world was on his lips, in his eyes the resentful hatred of a
+youth for his successful rival.  The package of bonds was already done
+up and waiting, it appeared.  With scarcely a glance at Corinna's note,
+which Evan offered him, Dordess handed it over.
+
+"Better open it and look them over," he said bitterly.
+
+"Time enough for that," said Evan.  "I want to talk to you."
+
+Dordess' eyebrows went up.
+
+"Oh, I know you hate me like the devil," said Evan.  "But I'm hoping
+you'll know me better some day.  Anyhow, I want to talk to you
+privately for a few minutes.  Is it safe here?  I want to put up a
+scheme to you."
+
+Dordess indicated the package.  "What more is there to say?" he asked
+with his bitter smile.
+
+"Better hear it," said Evan.  "It may make it easier all around.  Won't
+hurt you to listen, anyway."
+
+"All right," said Dordess.  "Can't talk here.  Too many going in and
+out.  I'll come out with you."
+
+They ensconced themselves in an alcove of the café across the street.
+
+"What's your scheme?" said Dordess.  "Shoot!"
+
+"Well, I gather from your generally humorous style," said Evan, "that
+it was you who wrote the letters for the Ikunahkatsi.  By the way, what
+does Ikunahkatsi mean?"
+
+"An Indian word for avengers.  Yes, I wrote the letters.  What of it?"
+
+"I want you to write one more.  Also another article for the _Clarion_."
+
+"I would have to consult Miss Playfair."
+
+"No.  She mustn't know anything about it until later."
+
+"Nothing doing, then."
+
+"But listen----!"
+
+Their heads drew close over the table, and for five minutes Evan talked
+uninterruptedly.  As Dordess listened his expression changed oddly; a
+conflict of feelings was visible in his face; incredulity, chagrin, an
+unwilling admiration, and laughter.
+
+"Damn you!" he cried at last.  "It's true I hate you!  I wish to God
+you were an out and out bad one so I could hate you right.  But now
+you're trying to bluff me that you're a decent head!  I don't believe
+you!"
+
+Evan laughed.  "Call my bluff," he said.  "I'd do the writing myself,
+only it would lose all its effect in another handwriting.  And I never
+could imitate your style."
+
+"Very well, I'll do it," said Dordess.  "Come back to my office in an
+hour and a half and they'll be ready."
+
+He was as good as his word.  He and Evan laughed grimly together over
+the result of his labours.
+
+"Send it up by messenger," said Evan.  "It will save time.  I'll be on
+hand when it arrives."
+
+It was past eleven when Evan rang the bell of the Deaves house.  He was
+not without anxiety as to the reception he would receive.  It was
+possible that the old man, when he had quieted down, might begin to
+remember things, and to put two and two together.  However, he had to
+take that chance.
+
+He learned that Simeon Deaves was not yet up, that Mrs. George Deaves
+was out, and her husband in the library.  The latter received him with
+no friendly face.
+
+"You shouldn't have come here," he said.
+
+Evan excused himself on the score of his anxiety about the old man.
+
+"Papa got home all right," said George Deaves.  "What happened to you
+last night?"
+
+Evan led him to suppose that his chase had ended in nothing.  He asked
+a cautious question.
+
+"Oh," said the other.  "Papa told a confused story about the house
+where he was confined being raided by the police, and a chase through
+the woods.  I thought maybe you were mixed up in it."
+
+The old man had not recognized him, then.  Evan was relieved.  He
+affected to be greatly astonished.
+
+"The police!" he said.  "Who could have put them on to it?  There was
+nothing in the paper this morning."
+
+"No, thank Heaven!" said Deaves fervently.  "Maybe his mind was
+wandering.  I couldn't make sense of his story.  I hope and pray the
+thing is done with now."
+
+But poor George Deaves was due to receive a shock when the second man
+presently entered.
+
+"Letter by messenger, sir.  No answer."
+
+At the sight of the superscription Deaves turned livid and fell back in
+his chair.  He stared at the envelope like a man bewitched.  He
+moistened his lips and essayed to speak, but no sound came out.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Evan when the servant had left.
+
+"Another letter--already!" whispered Deaves huskily.  "And only
+yesterday--four hundred thousand!  What a fool I was to believe in
+their promises!"
+
+"But open it!" said Evan.
+
+"I can't--I can't face any more!"
+
+"Let me."
+
+Deaves feebly shoved it towards him.
+
+Evan tore open the envelope.  His cue was to express surprise, and he
+did not neglect it.
+
+"Listen!" he cried.  "This is extraordinary!  This is not what you
+expect!"  He read:
+
+
+"Dear Mr. Deaves:
+
+The securities came safely to hand.  Many thanks for your promptness
+and courtesy in the matter.  To be sure, your employee did not obey
+instructions, but as it happened, no harm came of it.  We trust your
+father got home all right.  We so much enjoyed having him with us.
+
+Well, Mr. Deaves, this terminates our very pleasant business relations;
+that is to say it will terminate them, unless you are disposed to fall
+in with the new proposition we are about to put up to you----"
+
+
+George Deaves groaned at this point.
+
+"Wait!" said Evan.  "It is not what you think!" He resumed:
+
+
+"As a testimonial of our gratitude for your favours, we purpose with
+your approval, to apply your father's great contribution to a worthy
+charitable cause in his name.  Let Mr. Deaves write a letter to Mr.
+Cornelius Verplanck, president of the Amsterdam Trust Company,
+according to the form marked enclosure No. 1.  This to be mailed him at
+once.  If this is done in time, the enclosure marked No. 2 will appear
+in all the New York evening papers.
+
+Very sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI.
+
+P. S. It is scarcely necessary to state that Mr. Verplanck does not
+know the writer or any of his associates.  We have chosen him simply
+because of his national reputation for philanthropy."
+
+
+"I don't understand," murmured Deaves in a daze.  "What are the
+enclosures?"
+
+Evan read: "Enclosure No. 1: form of letter to be sent to Mr.
+Verplanck."
+
+
+"Dear Mr. Verplanck:
+
+In the course of the day you will receive from me the sum of four
+hundred thousand dollars in U. S. Government bonds.  My wish is that
+you establish with this sum a fund to be known as the Simeon Deaves
+Trust, the income of which is to be applied to providing outings on the
+water for the convalescent poor children of the city.  Draw the deed of
+trust in such a way that the donor cannot at any time later withdraw
+his gift.  Let there be three trustees yourself (if you will be so good
+as to serve) myself, and a third to be selected by the other two."
+
+
+Deaves stared.  "And the newspaper story?" he murmured.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"It appears that Simeon Deaves has been the victim of an undeserved
+unpopularity.  Instead of being the soulless money-changer, as the
+popular view had it, an individual without a thought or desire in life
+except to heap up riches, he has placed himself in the ranks of our
+most splendid philanthropists by the creation of the Deaves Trust, the
+facts of which became known to-day.  A sum approximating half a million
+dollars has been set aside for the purpose of providing fresh air
+excursions for the convalescent children of the poor.  In the
+administration of the fund Mr. Deaves has associated with himself Mr.
+Cornelius Verplanck whose name is synonymous with good works.  There is
+to be a third trustee not yet named.
+
+"The convalescent children of the poor!  It would be difficult to think
+of a more praiseworthy object.  To bring roses back to little pale
+cheeks, and the sparkle to dull eyes!  Those who have thought harshly
+of Simeon Deaves owe him a silent apology.  Perhaps while people
+reviled him, he has been carrying out many a good work in secret.
+Perhaps that was his way of enjoying a joke at the expense of his
+detractors.
+
+"When approached to-day Mr. Deaves with characteristic modesty, refused
+to say a word on the subject, referring all inquiries to his associate
+Mr. Verplanck.  Mr. Verplanck said: (_Add interview Verplanck._)"
+
+
+Deaves rose out of his chair.  His gaze was a little wild.  "Do you
+suppose--they would really print that--about my father?" he gasped.
+
+"They say they will," said Evan with a disinterested air.
+
+"I--I can't believe it!  It's a joke of some kind!"
+
+"It's worth trying.  They don't ask for anything."
+
+"What am I to do?" cried Deaves distractedly.
+
+"Put it up to your father."
+
+"He would never consent!"
+
+"Why not?  The money's gone anyway.  He might as well have the
+reputation of a philanthropist.  Won't cost any more."
+
+"He _would_ consent!  That's the worst of it.  He'd write that letter
+to Verplanck.  Then as soon as Verplanck got the bonds he'd go to him
+and demand them back.  There'd be a horrible scandal then!"
+
+This was a possibility that had not occurred to Evan.  His spirits went
+down.  At the moment no way of getting around the difficulty occurred
+to him.
+
+But George Deaves visibly nerved himself to make a resolution.  "I'll
+write the letter myself!" he said.  "I'll create the trust in Papa's
+name.  I won't tell him anything about it until it's too late for him
+to withdraw.  He couldn't get the money back anyhow, if I sent it to
+Verplanck as from myself."
+
+Evan was quick to see the advantages of this arrangement, but he took
+care not to show too much eagerness.  "Very good," he said, "if you are
+willing to take the responsibility."
+
+A round pink spot showed in either of Deaves' waxy cheeks.  "Willing!"
+he said, with more spirit than Evan had ever seen him display.  "I'd do
+anything, _anything_, to get such a story in the papers!  It will make
+the family!  And how pleased Mrs. Deaves will be!"
+
+Evan had his own ideas as to that, but he did not voice them.
+
+Deaves wrote the letter.
+
+"Would you mind posting it on your way out?" he said.
+
+"I'll take it directly to Mr. Verplanck's office, since time is an
+object," said Evan casually.
+
+"If you will be so good," said Deaves.  A sudden terrified thought
+arrested him in the act of turning over the letter.  "But suppose the
+bonds are not forthcoming?" he said.  "Could Verplanck come down on me
+for them?"
+
+"Certainly not," said Evan.  "His concern in the matter doesn't begin
+until he gets the securities."
+
+"Well, I'll take a chance," said Deaves, handing over the letter.
+
+
+It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Verplanck received both the
+letter and the bonds in short order.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+The Simeon Deaves story began to appear in the editions that came out
+at four o'clock that afternoon.  Every paper in New York featured it.
+The clever re-write men did their best on it, and the accounts varied,
+though the main facts remained the same.  Many of the papers ran a
+two-column cut.  Evan bought them all and retired to his room to await
+developments.
+
+The first came in the shape of a note from George Deaves, reading:
+
+
+"The bonds were delivered to Mr. Verplanck shortly after my note.  He
+telephoned me, and I have just returned from seeing him.  I suggested
+you as the third member of the trust, to which he was agreeable.  You
+will be in charge of the administration, and a proper salary will be
+paid you out of the fund.  If you are agreeable please see Mr.
+Verplanck to-morrow at eleven.  Papa has been out since lunch.  I shall
+not mention to him that you had any foreknowledge of the affair, so he
+won't suspect any collusion between us.
+
+G. D."
+
+
+Evan answered:
+
+
+"I accept with pleasure."
+
+
+Shortly after this, Simeon Deaves turned up at Evan's room.  It was
+evident as soon as he spoke that he had not yet read the afternoon
+papers.  He had been drawn to Evan's room on his wanderings by his
+insatiable curiosity.  Nothing in the room escaped his sharp, furtive
+glances.  The newspapers were lying about.  Evan made no attempt to put
+them away.  The old man had to learn soon anyhow.
+
+His glance was caught by his photograph in one of the sheets.  He
+pounced on it.  Evan watched him slyly.  The old man's face was a study
+in astonishment.
+
+"What's this!" he cried.  "Do you know about it?  Half a million for
+charity!  Who got up this lie!"  He was as indignant as if he had been
+accused of stealing the money.
+
+"One of the papers mentioned the exact sum as four hundred thousand,"
+said Evan innocently.
+
+"It's a hoax."
+
+"And they said U.S. government bonds, so I supposed the blackmailers
+must have turned over what they got from you."
+
+"Why should they go to all that trouble just to give it to charity?"
+
+Evan was careful to maintain his detached air.  "Well, I thought maybe
+they were not common crooks, but socialists or anarchists or something
+like that, who believed in dividing things up, you know."
+
+"The scoundrels!" cried the old man.  "I'll put a stop to their game.
+I'll see Verplanck and get the bonds back."
+
+"You can't see him to-day," said Evan carelessly.  "It's after five.
+He lives in the country."
+
+"I'll see him in the morning, then."
+
+"You'll have a chance to talk it over with your son in the meantime."
+
+"What's George got to do with it?  The money's mine!"
+
+"Of course," said Evan carelessly.
+
+He let the old man rage on without interruption.  When he saw his
+opportunity he said offhand: "Too bad to spoil this elegant publicity,
+though."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"It's in all the papers.  Every man in the country will read it before
+to-morrow morning.  It will make over your reputation in a night."
+
+"What do I care about my reputation?"
+
+"If you call the scheme off, think how they'll get after you!  Not only
+an obscure sheet like the _Clarion_, but the entire press of the
+country.  Like a pack of hounds.  They'll never let the story drop."
+
+This thought gave the old man pause.  He scowled at Evan.
+
+Evan was making a pretence of cleaning a palette.  "You'd hardly care
+to venture out in the street after that.  You'd be hooted; stoned,
+perhaps.  It's bad enough already.  The reason you hired me was to
+prevent unpleasant experiences.  But if every paper in town got after
+you--well, you couldn't go out except in a closed car."
+
+The old man made a queer noise in his throat, and pulled at his seamy
+cheek.
+
+Evan went on without appearing to notice him: "It's a swindle, of
+course, to try to make you out a philanthropist in spite of yourself.
+They must have a funny sense of humour.  But I couldn't help but be
+struck by the opportunities for the right kind of publicity.  You could
+turn it so easily to your own advantage."
+
+"How do you mean?" he asked.
+
+"Take this philanthropic trust, or whatever they call it; excursions
+for poor children!  Good Lord!  Every sob sister on the press would be
+good for a column once a week.  It's up to you to see that the
+publicity is properly organised.  Every time they give an excursion
+have the stuff sent out.  It's cheap at the price, if you ask me.  You
+couldn't buy it at any price.  You'll be received with cheers on the
+street then.  No need to hire a body-guard.  And you still do more or
+less business.  Think how it would help you in your business!"
+
+The old man was greatly impressed.  "Well, I'll think it over," he
+said.  "It's too much money.  I'll offer to compromise with Verplanck
+on half."
+
+Evan saw that even this was an immense concession.  "Talk it over with
+Mr. George," he said.
+
+"Oh, George is a fool!"
+
+Evan, fearful of overdoing it, let the matter drop.  Everything
+depended on George now.  The old man presently departed.
+
+It may be mentioned here, out of its proper place chronologically, that
+later that night Evan got another note from George Deaves:
+
+
+"I have had it out with Papa.  It took me two hours.  But I won.  There
+will be no interference with the Deaves Trust.  In the future I mean to
+be firmer with Papa.  I have given in to him too much.
+
+G. D."
+
+
+At six o'clock Evan heard a quick light step on the stairs and the
+heart began to thump in his breast.  He had been longing for this--and
+dreading it.  Corinna presented herself at his open door.  She had
+newspapers in her hand, and there was no doubt but that she had read
+them.  But if Evan had expected her to be pleased, he was sadly
+disappointed.  Her eyes were flashing.
+
+"What does this mean?" she demanded, waving the papers.
+
+"Dordess wrote the story," said Evan, sparring for time.
+
+"I know he did.  I have seen him.  He referred me to you."
+
+"Well, the story tells all," said Evan.  "I didn't return the bonds,
+but created a philanthropist out of Simeon Deaves."
+
+"And rehabilitated him in the eyes of the public!" she cried bitterly.
+"The unrepentant old scoundrel!"
+
+"He'll find popularity so sweet he'll have to live up to it."
+
+"He doesn't deserve it!"
+
+Evan was moved to protest.  "Look here, Corinna, you've nourished your
+grudge against him for so long that you've positively fallen in love
+with it.  You're just sore now because it has been removed!"
+
+"I might have expected you to say that!"
+
+"Be fair, Corinna.  I threshed my brains to find a way out that would
+do everybody good.  And this is all the thanks I get!"
+
+"Much obliged, but I don't care to have anybody play Providence to me.
+I expect to be consulted in matters that concern me.  Good for
+everybody, you say.  How is the Deaves Trust good for me?"
+
+"Why, the sum for supporting the excursions remains intact; the very
+sum you asked for."
+
+"But you've ousted me!"
+
+"Not at all.  What the papers do not state is that I have been
+appointed the third trustee with power to administer the fund."
+
+"What good will that do me?"
+
+Evan said very off-hand: "Well, I thought you were going to administer
+me."
+
+He did not look at her as he said it.  She gave him no sign.  She was
+silent for so long that a great anxiety arose within him.  Yet he felt
+that to speak again would only be to weaken his plea.  He looked at
+her.  The shining head was studiously averted, the long lashes down.
+
+Finally she said, low and firmly: "It is impossible."
+
+"Why?" he demanded.
+
+"You want a clinging vine," she said scornfully.  "A tame woman who
+will look up to you as the source of all wisdom!"
+
+"If I did would I be asking you?" he said dryly.
+
+"You hope to tame me."
+
+"Never!  The shoe is on the other foot.  You want a husband whose neck
+you can tread on."
+
+"What difference does it make whose fault it is?" she said wearily.
+"The fact remains we would quarrel endlessly and hatefully.  It would
+be degrading!"
+
+"People who love each other always quarrel," said Evan cheerfully.
+"There's no harm in it."
+
+She stared at him.
+
+"Let us quarrel--and continue to respect each other!"
+
+She shook her head.  "You speak about it too coldly."
+
+"Cold--I?" he said.  "You silence me when you say that!  You know I am
+not cold!"
+
+"It is better for us to part," she said, moving towards the door.
+
+He hastened to get between her and the door.  "Corinna, the reason I am
+obliged to fight you is because you wield such a dreadful power!  In
+reality I am terrified of you!  If you married me I would have no
+defences at all!  I would be at your mercy because I love you so!"
+
+"You're always laughing at me," she murmured.
+
+"I swear I am not!  People who love do not make bargains, Corinna.  All
+that I am or ever will be is yours.  Take me and make what you can of
+it!"
+
+Corinna, who had not looked at him all this while, now turned a comical
+face of remonstrance.  "But you mustn't!" she said.  "You mustn't give
+in to me like that!  You must oppose my temper and my wilfulness,
+whatever I say!"
+
+It was Evan's turn to stare.  Then he understood that this was
+surrender--Corinna's way.  He laughed in pure delight and opened his
+arms.  "Come here, you wretch!"
+
+She sidled towards him, blushing deeply, intolerably confused.
+
+
+
+
+POSTSCRIPT
+
+Two weeks later.  The Executive Committee of the Deaves Trust was
+holding an informal meeting.  Said Evan:
+
+"The _Ernestina_ is in commission again, but of course we don't want
+her as long as the present skipper is in charge.  I have found a new
+boat, the _Thomas Higgins_, safe and comfortable.  The only thing
+against her is her name, and I propose to change that to _Corinna_."
+
+"Silly!" said the other member of the committee.
+
+"The owners have made me a fair price, and the other trustees have
+authorized me to purchase her outright."
+
+"Won't that take all our money?"
+
+"No, indeed.  I have arranged to run her three days a week to the town
+of Redport, which wants a steam-boat service with the city.  The
+merchants of the town have guaranteed an amount of business sufficient
+to pay operating expenses and interest on the investment.  In addition,
+on Thursdays and Sundays she will be available for charter.  On Sundays
+we can always get a big price for her.  So you see, we'll not only have
+our own steamboat, but our income, too."
+
+"How clever you are!" said Corinna.
+
+"After I arranged about that I went to see Dordess----"
+
+"Was he friendly?"--this anxiously.
+
+"Yes, indeed.  We understand each other.  I always was attracted to
+him, and he is resigned to the inevitable now.  He says he's content to
+be an uncle to our children."
+
+"_Evan!_"
+
+"He was to sound the other fellows, you know, and find out how they
+were disposed towards the new trips.  Well, Anway and Tenterden decline
+with thanks.  That was to be expected.  But the others, Domville,
+Burgess, Minturn, and that odd little chap in the grey suit with the
+big eyes----"
+
+"Paul Roman."
+
+"Yes, they're all crazy to come.  They have accepted me as a necessary
+evil.  The little fellow, Roman, came into Dordess's office while I was
+there.  Shook hands with me like a little man.  He has pluck, that kid.
+I will never forget the dogged way he trailed me.  By the way, why did
+you never take him on the _Ernestina_?"
+
+"We did sometimes, and sometimes he remained on shore to trail Simeon
+Deaves.  He made up as a girl, and you never spotted him.  When you
+came aboard the _Ernestina_ we had to hide him."
+
+"The deuce you did!"
+
+"What about Charley Straiker, Evan?"
+
+"He's coming, too.  Dear old Charl!  We have had a heart-to-heart talk.
+Everything is fixed up between us.  You have never told me how you got
+hold of him that day.  I didn't like to ask him.  Too sore a subject."
+
+"There's nothing much to tell.  I was in the library reading-room that
+morning, not to get the money but just to watch out for danger.  Paul
+Roman got the books out.  I saw Charley come in and sit down beside
+him, and I knew what was up.  I immediately went and sat down on the
+other side of Charley.  He was glad to see me.  I was quite frank with
+him.  I introduced Paul Roman to him.  I told him my story.  It won his
+heart, that's all."
+
+"It wasn't the story, but your eyes, confound them!"
+
+"Oh, you never will believe that anybody can be influenced by
+disinterested motives!"
+
+"How did you find out that other time that the bills were marked?"
+
+"Tenterden has a brother in a bank.  He told us about the warning sent
+out by the Mid-City Bank."
+
+"Corinna, how did you ever come to chum up with a woman like Maud
+Deaves?"
+
+"I didn't chum up with her.  I never laid eyes on the woman.  It came
+about gradually.  I found out early in the game that when we sent
+letters to her it had the effect of exerting a tremendous pressure on
+her husband to pay.  Later, through the servants, whom Paul Roman had
+bribed for me, I found out that she was in money difficulties.  After
+that every time we got the money I sent her part, and she worked for us
+like one of ourselves.  We never failed to get the money one way or
+another, as you know."
+
+"I know," said Evan ruefully.
+
+"But don't let us talk of those times any more.  It's a sore subject
+with me, too."
+
+"One more question, and I'll drop it forever.  Confess that you came
+and took a room at 45A Washington Square for the especial purpose of
+seducing me."
+
+"Evan!  What a word to use!"
+
+"I used it merely in a figurative sense, my child.  Confess!"
+
+"Well, of course when Paul Roman reported all that had happened that
+day, and where you lived, and later when I learned through the Deaves'
+servants that you had been engaged to go around with the old man, my
+first thought was to win you to our side.  Paul reported that you were
+a gentleman, and seemed like a good sort of fellow."
+
+"Oh, he did, did he?"
+
+"In such a position, of course, if you were against us you could ruin
+everything; while if you were on our side you would be invaluable.  So
+I went to that house and took a room, hoping to become acquainted with
+you."
+
+"You didn't stay long."
+
+She looked at him through her lashes.  "No, I fell in love with you,
+confound you!  It spoiled everything!"
+
+"Corinna!" he cried delightedly.  "I am beginning to think I shall yet
+succeed in grafting a sense of humour on you!"
+
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Deaves Affair, by Hulbert Footner
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+The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Deaves Affair, by Hulbert Footner
+</TITLE>
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Deaves Affair, by Hulbert Footner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Deaves Affair
+
+Author: Hulbert Footner
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2010 [EBook #31361]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAVES AFFAIR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Al Haines
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<BR><BR>
+
+<H1 ALIGN="center">
+THE DEAVES AFFAIR
+</H1>
+
+<BR>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+By HULBERT FOOTNER
+</H3>
+
+<BR><BR>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+AUTHOR OF
+</H4>
+
+<H5 ALIGN="center">
+<I>"The Owl Taxi," "The Substitute Millionaire,"<BR>
+"The Fur Bringers," "The Woman from Outside,"<BR>
+"Thieves' Wit," etc.</I><BR>
+</H5>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+A. L. BURT COMPANY
+<BR>
+Publishers  New York
+</H3>
+
+<BR>
+
+<H5 ALIGN="center">
+Published by arrangement with George H. Doran Company
+<BR>
+Printed in U. S. A.
+</H5>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<H5 ALIGN="center">
+COPYRIGHT, 1922,
+<BR>
+BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
+<BR><BR>
+PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
+</H5>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+TO
+<BR>
+THE NOANKERS
+<BR>
+KATHERINE FOREST
+<BR>
+RUTH GREEN HARRIS
+<BR>
+AND THE CHERUB WHO SITS UP ALOFT
+<BR>
+W. SHERMAN POTTS
+</H3>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<H2 ALIGN="center">
+CONTENTS
+</H2>
+
+<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%">
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap01">A Penny Change</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap02">A Rich Man's House</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap03">Snooping</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap04">The New Lodger</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap05">The Happy Little Family</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap06">The Little Fellow in Grey</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap07">Platonic Friendship</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap08">Evan is Re-engaged</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap09">The Compact is Smashed</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap10">Maud's Interest</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap11">The Steamboat <I>Ernestina</I></A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap12">Evan Loses a Round</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap13">A Little Detective Work</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap14">Number 11 Van Dorn Street</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap15">The Club House</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap16">Back to Earth</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap17">The <I>Ernestina</I> Again</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap18">The Accident</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap19">Four Visits from George Deaves</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap20">The Beginning of the Night</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap21">Later that Night</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap22">Towards Morning</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap23">Simeon Deaves Turns Philanthropist</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap24">Conclusion</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+<TR>
+<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
+<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">
+<A HREF="#chap25">Postscript</A></TD>
+</TR>
+
+</TABLE>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap01"></A>
+
+<H2 ALIGN="center">
+THE DEAVES AFFAIR
+</H2>
+
+<BR>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER I
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+A PENNY CHANGE
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Evan Weir's pipe was foul; he threw it down with an exclamation of
+disgust.  Its foulness was symbolic; everything was out of kilter.  He
+looked at the picture he had been painting for a week&mdash;rotten!  It was
+a still life; a broken jar and three books on a rag of Persian
+embroidery.  Picking up his pen-knife he deliberately cut the canvas
+out of the stretcher, and setting a match to a corner of it, tossed it
+in the empty stove.  He paced up and down the room wondering what the
+devil was the matter with him; he couldn't work; he couldn't read; his
+friends bored him; life was as flat as beer dregs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His attic studio was lighted by a dormer window at a height convenient
+to receive his elbows on the sill.  He came to a pause in that position
+morosely staring out on Washington Square basking in the summer morning
+sunshine.  In some occult way the gilding on the green leaves stabbed
+at his breast and accused him of futility.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What the deuce am I doing up here in this dusty garret painting bad
+pictures while the whole world is alive!" he thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He picked up his hat and went slowly down the three flights to the
+street.  At the corner of the square he turned down Macdougall street
+into the Italian quarter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This intimate thoroughfare was as crowded as a bee-hive.  Happy, dirty,
+big-eyed children played in the gutters while their obese mothers
+squatted untidily on the stoops.  No lack of the zest of life here.  It
+shamed the pedestrian without cheering him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They haven't much to live for," he thought, "and they're not
+complaining.  Why can't I take things as they come, as they do, without
+searching my soul?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a point of pride with Evan not to look like a denizen of
+Washington Square.  So his hair was cut, and his clothes like anybody's
+else.  He even went so far as to keep his hat brushed, his trousers
+creased and his shoes polished.  For the rest he was a vigorous,
+deep-chested youth of middle height with rugged features and glowing
+dark eyes.  He had a self-contained, even a dogged look.  Like all men
+susceptible of deep feeling, he did not choose to wear his heart upon
+his sleeve.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Half an hour later found him in that quaint corner of the island
+bounded by Liberty street, Greenwich street and the river.  It is
+generally called the Syrian quarter, though shared by the Syrians with
+immigrants of all nations, whose boarding-houses abound there,
+convenient to the landing station.  A feature of the neighbourhood is
+the cheap clothing stores where the immigrants buy their first United
+States suits.  These suits hang swinging from the awnings like wasted
+gallows birds.  A hawk-eyed salesman lurks beneath; in other words the
+"puller-in."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Evan approached such a place in darkest Greenwich street a customer
+issued forth of aspect so comical and strange that Evan was drawn out
+of himself to regard him.  It was a tall, lean old man who moved with a
+factitious sprightliness.  He was clearly no immigrant but a native of
+these United States.  He was wearing a hand-me-down which hung in weird
+folds on his bones.  The trousers lacked a good four inches of the
+ground, and the sleeves revealed an inch of skinny wrist.  The wearer
+looked like a gawky school-boy with an old, old face.  Yet he bore
+himself with the conscious pride of one who wears a new suit.  On his
+head he wore a brownish straw hat which was a little too small for him,
+and had seen three summers.  As he walked along with his sprightly
+shuffle, which did not get him over the ground very fast, his head
+ceaselessly turned from side to side, and he continually looked over
+his shoulder without seeming to see anything.  His mouth was fixed in
+the lines of a sly smile, which had nothing to do with the expression
+of his eyes.  This was furtive and anxious.  His little grey eyes
+searched in all the corners of the pavement like a rag-picker's eyes.
+To Evan there was something familiar about the face, but he couldn't
+quite place it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man turned a corner into one of the little streets leading to
+the river.  Evan, bound nowhere in particular, and full of curiosity,
+followed.  There was something notable about the old figure in its
+ridiculous habiliments; this was no common character.  Under his arm he
+carried a bundle wrapped in crumpled paper, which presumably contained
+his discarded suit.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stopped at a fruit-stand, and as Evan overtook him, was engaged in
+scanning a tray of apples as if the fate of nations depended upon his
+picking the best one at the price.  The fruit-vendor regarded him with
+a disgusted sneer.  Evan loitered, and as the little comedy developed,
+stopped outright to see it out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man after an anxious period of indecision finally made his
+choice.  After having satisfied himself that there was no concealed
+blemish in his apple he proffered a nickel in payment and extended a
+trembling hand for the change.  The Syrian dropped a penny in it, and
+turned away with a suspiciously casual manner.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where's my other penny?" demanded the old man in a high-pitched,
+creaking voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter with you?" demanded the vendor with a wholly
+disproportionate display of passion.  "That's all you get."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man pointed an indignant forefinger to the ticket on the tray.
+"Two for five!" he shrilled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's right.  Or four cents a piece," was the rejoinder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No you don't!  Half of five is two and a half.  You make half a cent
+on the deal anyhow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, if y'ain't satisfied, gimme the penny and take another!"  With
+an unerring eye the vendor pounced on the smallest and knobbiest apple
+in the tray and offered that.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man would have none of it.  "Give me my other penny!" said he.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's all you get!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me my other penny or I'll call the police!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yah!  For a penny would you!  You're a big man of business you are!
+Call a cop, go on, and see what he'll say for a penny!"  The vendor
+passionately searched under a shelf, and producing a ticket marked "4¢"
+defiantly stuck that alongside the "2 for 5."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No you don't!" cried the old man.  "You can't raise the price on me
+after I've bought!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"One for four, two for five!  I guess I charge what I like!  I don't
+have to charge half the price for one!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're a robber!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The vendor appealed to Heaven to witness that he was maligned.  He
+brandished a fist before the old man's nose.  "You lie!  You lie!" he
+cried.  "Get out of here.  I don't want you by my stand!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me my penny!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was not the only grinning on-looker.  A crowd collected out of
+nowhere as crowds do.  The anxious vendor had now not only to keep up
+his end of the argument, but to watch his exposed stock as well.  But
+he showed no signs of giving in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Get out of here!  I don't want you round me!" he cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me my penny!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They repeated it with incredible passion, over and over.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The crowd at first egged on both parties impartially:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Go to it, men!  A penny's a penny at that!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't let him jew you, old man.  All them dagoes is robbers!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Soak him one, Tony, the tight-wad!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sue him for the penny, Grandpa.  I'll go witness for you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aw, give him his penny, Mike.  He needs a new lid."  And so on.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Gimme my penny!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally the old man threw the apple back on the tray.  "I won't deal
+with you at all!" he cried.  "You're a robber!  Gimme my money back!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You bruised it!" cried the Syrian tragically.  "I don't take back no
+spoiled goods.  Leave it lay at your own risk!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Gimme back my money!" cried the old man undaunted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A grimy little hand slid out from the crowd and closed over the
+disputed apple.  In the flick of a whip it was gone, and no man could
+say where.  The crowd rocked with laughter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The vendor shrugged.  "Ain't my loss.  It's his apple."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Gimme my money back!" demanded the old man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, what do you want, the apple and the money and the change too?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man snapped the penny down on the glass top of the candy case.
+"Gimme my nickel," he said like a bird with one note.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The vendor passionately snatched up the penny and cast it at his feet.
+"Go to Hell with your penny!" he cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Someone put a foot on it and that likewise was seen no more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Gimme my nickel!" said the old man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly a voice in the crowd was heard to say: "Gee! it's Simeon
+Deaves!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Simeon Deaves, of course!" thought Evan.  That old face was
+continually in the newspapers.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Instantly the temper of the crowd changed.  There was nobody who could
+read English that was not acquainted with this man's reputation.  A
+chorus of imprecations was heard:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Miser!  Skinflint!  Tight-wad!  Robber!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The sallies of the sidewalk wits were almost drowned in the mere cries
+of rage:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Tight-wad, did you say?  His wad is ossified to him!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He wants to put that penny out at interest!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Say, the Jews go to school to him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He'd skin the cream offen a baby's bottle, he would."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man looked down and back at them snarling.  Like a cowed
+animal's, his gaze was fixed upon their feet.  Fearful of blows to
+follow, he turned around, and edging away from the stand got his back
+against the wall of the building.  His face was ashy, yet oddly the
+mouth was still fixed in the unvarying lines of the sly smile.  The
+fruit vendor made haste to shut up his stand.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A flushed and burly Irishwoman stepped in advance of the crowd.  She
+looked Deaves up and down insultingly.  "What kind of a man do you call
+yourself?" she cried.  "With all your millions locked up in the bank,
+and dressed in a suit that my old man wouldn't sweep up manure in!
+What are you doing down here anyhow?  Go back up town where you
+belong!"  She shook a fist like a ham in his face.  "Do you see that?
+That's an honest hand that never filched a penny.  For a word I'd plant
+it in your ugly face, you Shylock!  You penny-parer!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A youth's voice cried out: "Come on, fellows, let him have it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The crowd suddenly swayed forward.  No one could tell exactly what
+happened.  A raised clenched fist smashed the old man's hat over his
+eyes.  Deaves went down out of sight.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was too much for Evan.  After all the man was old and it was fifty
+to one against him.  His blood boiled, and the megrims were forgotten.
+He rushed in on the old man's side, swinging his arms and shouting:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Get back, you cowards!  Give the old man a chance!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The passionately indignant voice was more effective than the blows
+against so many.  The crowd drew back shamefacedly, revealing the old
+man prone on the sidewalk, but not visibly injured.  He was able to
+scramble to his hands and knees as soon as they gave him room.  Evan
+helped him to his feet.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come on, I'll get you out of this," he said peremptorily.  With his
+flashing eyes he searched the faces of the crowd for eyes that dared to
+withstand his, but none cared to.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He started to march the dazed old man smartly towards West street.  It
+was an uncomfortable moment when they were obliged to turn their backs
+on the crowd.  Evan expected another rush.  But it did not come.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They had not taken ten steps when the old man pulled back.  "M-my
+bundle," he stammered.  "I've lost my bundle."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could not tell what the crowd might do.  There was of course no
+policeman to be expected in that forgotten little street.  "Let your
+bundle go!" he warned him.  "Come on."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But the old man planted himself like a child with immovable obstinacy.
+"My old clothes!" he said.  "They're worth money!  I'm not going to
+give them up!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan with an exasperated laugh went back.  The crowd which had started
+to follow backed off.  The bundle lay where the old man had fallen.  It
+had come unwrapped and the deplorable garments were fully revealed.
+Evan, gritting his teeth, stooped over and rolled them up.  He knew
+what a chance he was providing to the wits of the crowd.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Old clo'!  Old clo'!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Rags, bones, bottles!  Any rags, bones, bottles!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Say, fella, what do you think you'll get out of it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aw, Simeon Deaves 'll give him his old clothes."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The envious note was clearly audible.  Individuals in the crowd were
+beginning to ask themselves now, why they hadn't had the wit to take
+the old man's part, and earn his gratitude.  Evan held himself in from
+reply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the use," he thought.  "Scum!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Rejoining the old man he led him to the West street corner.  Deaves had
+had a bad shock, and he was still trembling all over, and stumbling
+slightly in his walk.  He betrayed no consciousness of gratitude
+towards his rescuer.  His mind was still running on the lost nickel.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Robber!  Outrage!  Thieving scoundrel!" he was muttering.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They waited for a Belt line car.  Another man waited alongside of them,
+a quiet little youth in a grey suit whom Evan had seen as an onlooker
+in the crowd.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When the car came the old man was still so shaky that it seemed to Evan
+only the part of common humanity to accompany him.  But on the step
+Deaves turned sharply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You needn't come," he said.  "I can take care of myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's all right," said Evan politely.  "It's no inconvenience."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I won't pay your fare," said Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed.  "I'll pay the fares," he said.  To himself he thought:
+"It's not often one has a chance of standing treat to a millionaire."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves did allow Evan to pay the fares, and indeed seemed quite pleased
+as if he had got the better of him in a deal.  But something about Evan
+disconcerted him.  He continued to glance at him sideways out of his
+restless, furtive little grey eyes.  Finally he said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm not going to give you anything for coming with me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't expect it," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What are you coming for then?" Deaves demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed in an annoyed way.  "Well, now that you put it to me, I
+don't exactly know.  I suppose I owe it to myself not to let an old man
+fall down in the street."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves thought over this quite a long while.  Along with his shrewdness
+there was something childish in the old man.  "You're a good boy!" he
+announced at last.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan appreciated that this was an immense concession.  "Much obliged,"
+he said dryly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just the same, you needn't think you're going to get anything out of
+me," the old man quickly added.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Having established this point to his satisfaction Deaves seemed
+disposed to become friendly.  "What are you doing out on the street in
+the middle of the morning?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I might ask the same of you," returned Evan good-naturedly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm retired.  I've a right to take my ease.  But all young fellows
+ought to be at work.  Haven't you got any work to do?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm an artist."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Pooh!  Waste of time!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed.  It was useless to get angry at the old boy.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why aren't you working at it now?" Deaves demanded to know.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It wouldn't come to-day," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Stuff and nonsense!  You'll never get on that way!  Look at me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan did so, thinking: "I wouldn't be like you for all your millions!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves went on: "Keep everlastingly at it!  That's my motto.  That's
+what's brought me to where I am to-day.  I've retired now&mdash;though I
+still have my irons in the fire&mdash;but when I was your age I worked early
+and late.  I didn't waste <I>my</I> time fooling round like young men do.
+No, sir!  My only thought was how to turn everything to advantage.  I
+denied myself everything; lived on two bits a day, I did, and put my
+savings to work.  The cents and the dollars are good and willing little
+servants if you make them work for you.  I watched 'em grow and grow.
+That was my young man's fun."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looking at him thought: "You are an object-lesson all right, old
+man, but not just the way you think."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The current of Deaves' thoughts changed.  "You're a strong boy," he
+said, with a glance at Evan's stout frame.  He felt of his biceps
+through the thin coat.  "Hm!" he said scornfully.  "I suppose you're
+proud of your strength.  I suppose you spend the best part of your days
+exercising.  Waste of time!  Waste of time!  A strong man never comes
+to anything.  They're simple, mostly.  It's the head that counts!  How
+many of those ruffians did you knock down?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not any," said Evan carelessly.  "They ducked."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, you're a good boy.  You stick to me, and I'll show you something
+better than messing in colours.  I'll show you how to make money!"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap02"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER II
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+A RICH MAN'S HOUSE
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+They rode up to Fifty-Ninth street, and transferring to a cross-town
+car, got off at the Plaza.  Evan's subconsciousness registered the fact
+that the little fellow in grey was still travelling their way, but he
+took no particular notice of him.  Deaves led the way to one of the
+magnificent mansions that embellish the neighbourhood.  He handed his
+bundle to Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You carry it," he said.  "Maud always makes a fuss when I bring
+bundles home."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who is Maud?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My son's wife; a great society woman."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You want me to come in with you then?" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, you're a good boy.  I want to give you something."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was surprised.  "A dime, or even a quarter!" he thought, smiling
+to himself.  Nevertheless he went willingly enough, filled with a great
+curiosity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The house was a showy affair of grey sandstone built in the style of a
+French château.  But Evan's trained eye perceived many lapses of taste;
+it was not even well-built; the window-casings were of wood when they
+should have been of stone; the side of the house, plainly visible from
+the street, was of common yellow brick.  It looked like a jerry-built
+palace for a parvenu.  Evan wondered how the old money-lender had come
+to be stuck with it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My son's house," said Deaves with a queer mixture of pride and scorn.
+"I live with them.  Sinful waste!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He avoided the front door with its grand grill of polished steel.  The
+street widening had shorn off the original areaway of the house, and
+the service entrance was now a mere slit in the sidewalk with a steep
+stair swallowed up in blackness below.  Down this stair old Simeon
+Deaves made his way.  Evan followed, grinning to himself.  It was
+certainly an odd way for a man to enter his own home.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We won't meet Maud this way," Deaves said over his shoulder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The remark called up a picture of Maud before Evan's mind's eye.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the basement of the great house they met many servants passing to
+and fro, before whom the old man cringed a little.  These superior
+menials turned an indifferent shoulder to him, but stared hard at Evan.
+Evan flushed.  Insolence in servants galled his pride.  "If I paid
+their wages I'd teach them better manners!" he thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Somewhere in the bowels of the house, which was full of passages like
+all ill-planned dwellings, the old man unlocked a door and led Even
+into a vaultlike chamber without a window.  Carefully closing the door
+behind them he turned on a light.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is where I keep all my things," he said innocently.  "Maud never
+comes down here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looked around.  A strange collection of objects met his view; old
+clothes, old newspapers, old hardware, in extraordinary disorder.  It
+was like the junk room in an old farmhouse.  The walls were covered
+with shelves heaped with objects; old clocks, broken china ornaments,
+empty cans, pieces of rope, bundles of rags.  On the floor besides,
+were boxes and trunks, some with covers, some without; the latter
+overflowing with rubbish.  Evan wondered whimsically if the closed
+boxes were filled with shining gold eagles.  It would be quite in
+keeping, he thought.  But on second thoughts, no.  Your modern miser is
+too sensible of the advantages of safe deposit vaults.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves found a place for his bundle of old clothes, and seeing Evan
+looking around, he said with his noiseless laugh, which was no more
+than a facial contortion:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You never can tell when a thing will be wanted."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Turning his back on Evan he rummaged for a long time among his shelves.
+Evan was somewhat at a loss, for his host appeared to have forgotten
+him.  He was considering quietly leaving the place when the old man
+finally turned around.  He had a small object in his hand which he made
+as if to offer Evan, but drew it back suddenly and examined it
+lovingly.  It was a pen-knife out of his collection.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Almost new," said Deaves.  "The little blade is missing, but the big
+blade is perfectly good if you sharpen it.  Here," he said, suddenly
+thrusting it at Evan as if in fear of repenting of his generosity.
+"For you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan resisted the impulse to laugh.  After all the value of a gift is
+its value to the giver.  He pocketed it with thanks.  It would make an
+interesting souvenir.  To produce it would cap the climax of the funny
+story he meant to make out of this adventure.  He turned to go.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't be in a hurry," said Deaves.  "Sit down and let's talk."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He evidently had something on his mind.  Evan, curious to learn what it
+could be, sat down on a trunk.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're a good boy, and a strong boy," said the old man.  "I'd like to
+do something for you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't mention it," said Evan grinning.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why don't you come every day and go out with me.  I like to walk
+about.  I can't stay cooped up here.  I like the streets.  But people
+recognise me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And make rude remarks," said Evan to himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But with you I could go anywhere."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, a body-guard," thought Evan.  The idea was not without its
+attractions.  It would be an amusing job.  He said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you want to hire me I'm willing.  I need the money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hire you!" said the old man in a panic.  "I never said anything about
+hiring you.  I just mean a friendly arrangement.  You have plenty of
+time on your hands.  I'll give you good advice.  Show you how to become
+a successful man."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks," said Evan dryly.  "But the labels I paint bring in ready
+money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Many a young man would be glad of the chance to go around with Simeon
+Deaves," he went on cunningly.  "It would be a liberal education for
+you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan got up.  It was the best argument he knew.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You could have your meals here," Deaves said quickly.  "They eat well.
+There's enough wasted in this house to feed an orphanage."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sorry," said Evan.  "It doesn't appeal to me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, you could have a room on the top floor.  You look pretty good;
+Maud wouldn't mind you.  Your living wouldn't cost you a cent."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought of the supercilious servants.  Not for a bank president's
+salary would he have lived in that house.  He said: "I'm open for an
+offer as I told you, but only during specified hours.  I'd eat and
+sleep at home."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're a fool!" said the old man testily.  "Free board and lodging!  I
+haven't any money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All right," said Evan moving towards the door.  "No harm done."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait a minute.  Maybe my son would lend me the money to pay you a
+small salary.  He says I oughtn't to go out alone."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A small salary doesn't interest me," said Evan boldly.  "Fifty dollars
+a week is my figure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Simeon Deaves gasped.  "You're crazy.  It's a fortune.  At your age I
+wasn't making a third of that!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very likely.  But times have changed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man now opened the door for Evan.  As he did so there was a
+scuttle in the passage and a figure whisked out of sight.  "Snoopers!"
+thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Will you show me the way up-stairs?" he said.  "I don't care to use
+the servants' entrance."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure, that's right," said Deaves soothingly.  "I hope we won't meet
+Maud.  Always picking on me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they headed for the stairs he said cajolingly: "Fifteen dollars a
+week; that's plenty to live on.  Youngsters ought to live simply.  It's
+good for their health."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But how about putting something by?" said Evan slyly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I think my son might go as high as seventeen-fifty if I asked
+him.  Because you're a good boy and a strong boy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks.  Nothing doing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Evan resolutely mounted the stairs, the old man hobbling after said:
+"Well, I'll add two and a half to that myself.  But that's my last
+word!  Not another cent!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing doing," said Evan again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the head of the stairs Deaves said nervously: "Better let me take a
+look to see if Maud's around."  He peeped out.  "All right, the coast
+is clear."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were now in a square entrance hall of goodly size, very showily
+finished like a hotel with veneered panels, which already showed signs
+of wear.  Imitation antique chairs stood about, and in front of the
+fireplace, which was certainly never intended to contain a fire, was
+spread a somewhat moth-eaten polar bear skin.  Still it was grand after
+a fashion, and the old man in his hand-me-downs looked oddly out of
+place.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Better think it over!" he said.  "Twenty dollars a week!  It's a
+splendid salary!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing doing," said Evan, grinning.  In a way he liked the old
+scoundrel.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves affected to lose his temper.  "Oh, you're too big for your
+shoes!" he cried.  "Your demands are preposterous!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan continued calmly to make his way towards the front door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Just before they reached it the old man made one last appeal.  "Twenty
+dollars!" he said plaintively.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A door at the back of the hall opened and an old-young man came out;
+that is to say he was young in years, but he seemed to bear the weight
+of an empire on his shoulders, and looked very, very sorry for himself.
+He was dressed as if he had to be a pall-bearer that day, but that was
+his ordinary attire.  He looked sharply from the old man to Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who is this, Papa?" he demanded with the air of a school-master
+catching a boy red-handed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man cringed.  "This&mdash;this is a young man."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So I see."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I&mdash;I didn't exactly ask him his name."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Evan Weir," spoke up the young man for himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He came home with me," said Deaves.  "There was a little trouble."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The younger Deaves was horrified.  "Another disgraceful street scene!"
+he cried.  Addressing Evan he said: "Please tell me exactly what
+happened."  He glanced nervously over his shoulder.  "But not here.
+Come up to my library."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He led the way up-stairs, across another and a loftier hall with an
+imitation groined ceiling, and into a large room at the back of the
+house, which by virtue of a case of morocco bound books, clearly not
+often disturbed, was the library.  The young man flung himself into a
+chair behind an immense flat-topped desk and waved his hand to Evan
+with an air that seemed to say: "Now tell me the worst!"  Between the
+two, Evan's sympathies were with the father.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was not invited to sit.  He told his story briefly, making out the
+best case that he could for the old man.  The latter was not insensible
+to the favour.  His little eyes twinkled.  The young man became
+gloomier and gloomier as the story progressed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We shall hear more of this!" he said tragically.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man pished and pshawed.  "I offered him a steady job," he said,
+"to go round with me.  But his notions are too grand."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, that would be a very suitable arrangement," his son said
+pompously.  "How much do you want?" he asked of Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fifty dollars a week."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's ridiculous!" young Deaves said loftily.  "I'll give you
+twenty-five."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The scene of down-stairs was continued, with this difference that the
+son was not so naïve as the father.  Evan kept up his end with firmness
+and good-humour.  After all there was some fun in contending with such
+passionate bargainers, and he saw that for some reason the son was more
+anxious to get hold of him than the father.  They finally compromised
+on forty dollars a week, provided Evan's references were satisfactory.
+Simeon Deaves was scandalised.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's too much! too much!" he repeated.  "It will turn his head
+completely!"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap03"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER III
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+SNOOPING
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Young Deaves (his father addressed him as George) passed out through a
+small door on the left presumably to telephone to Evan's references.
+His father followed him, still protesting tearfully that the salary he
+purposed paying Evan would ruin them both.  Evan was left standing in
+the middle of the room.  Before he had time to take a further survey of
+his surroundings the door from the hall was softly opened, and a smug,
+pale young man in a sober suit sidled into the room, a servant.  Evan
+learned later that "Second man" was his official title.  "Spy" was writ
+large on him.  The house seemed to be swarming with them.  This fellow
+had undoubtedly been listening at the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good God! who would be rich!" thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The servant with a sly, meaning look in Evan's direction went to a
+console at the left of the room, and affected to busy himself in
+arranging the objects upon it.  In reality his long ears were stretched
+for sounds coming through the little door.  Having satisfied himself
+that the Deaves' were good for several minutes in there, he came
+towards Evan with an ingratiating leer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nice day," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's impulse was to call the fellow down, but he reflected that if he
+was to become an inmate of the house, it would be just as well for his
+own protection to learn what this snooping and eavesdropping signified.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fine," he said non-committally.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you going to be one of us?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know yet."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's a rummy joint."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So I gather," said Evan dryly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you seen the Missus yet?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The lackey cast up his eyes and whistled softly.  "Oh boy!  You've got
+something to see!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was Evan's first experience of the below-stairs point of view.  It
+was a revelation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Were you planted here?" the servant asked with a mysterious air.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other quickly turned it off.  "Oh nothing."  He glanced towards the
+little door.  "When you work for a bunch like this you don't feel like
+you owed them anything.  It's every man for himself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I suppose so," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But there's a square bunch down-stairs.  Come down to the butler's
+room when you can and get acquainted."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Take it from me you won't find it such a bad house if you stand in
+with the crowd down-stairs.  There's money to be made on the side if
+you're smart enough."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The second man winked at him knowingly.  "Let's you and I get better
+acquainted before we get confidential."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure," said Evan.  "I see you're a wise guy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wise!" said the other.  "Solomon wasn't one two three with me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do they call you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Alfred.  I'll make you acquainted with the bunch down-stairs.  The
+women&mdash;&mdash;"  He suddenly broke off, and stiffened into the blank-faced,
+deferential servant.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Young Deaves and old Deaves returned through the little door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you please, sir," said Alfred quickly, "Mr. Hilton sent me to ask
+what wines you would have for dinner."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm busy!" snapped George Deaves.  "Tell Hilton when I want wine I'll
+let him know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, sir, very good, sir."  The rubber-shod one wafted out of the
+room, shutting the door behind him as softly as a flower closes.
+George Deaves looked sharply to see that it was closed, then looked as
+sharply at Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Was he talking to you?" he demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan quickly decided that the only safe hand to play in this strange
+house was a lone hand; he would take no one into his confidence.
+"Nothing in particular," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why don't you fire him, George?" asked his father.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The younger man shrugged wearily.  "What's the use?  The next one would
+be no better."  He turned his attention to Evan.  "Your references were
+satisfactory," he said.  "You may consider yourself engaged.
+Thirty-five dollars was the sum we agreed on, I believe."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, sir, forty dollars," said Evan firmly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, my mistake.  It's a great deal of money.  I hope you'll be worth
+it.  You will be at my father's call whenever he wants you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will come at nine o'clock every morning and stay until five.
+Sundays are my own of course."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves turned to his father.  "On your part, if I pay out all
+this money, you must promise me that you will not go out except with
+this young man."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man gave an ungracious assent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will report at nine to-morrow," Evan said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But I want to go out now," the old man said like a child.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You've had quite enough outing for to-day, Papa," George Deaves said
+severely.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Simeon Deaves said to Evan spitefully like a balked child: "Well, your
+wages won't begin until to-morrow, then.  To-day doesn't count."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Evan had his hand on the door he became aware that George Deaves was
+making signals to him to remain.  He lingered, wondering what was in
+the wind now.  George said to his father:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lunch is ready.  You'd better go down."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Forgetting all about Evan, the old man hastened out of the room with an
+expectant air.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he had gone George Deaves hemmed and hawed, gazed at the ceiling,
+made scratches on his desk pad and beat all around the bush.  The gist
+of it as finally extracted by Evan was something as follows:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am not paying you all this money as a simple attendant for papa.  I
+could get two at the price.  The fact is papa has an unfortunate
+faculty for getting involved in street disputes.  On account of his
+prominence a certain publicity is attached to it.  Very distressing to
+the family.  I shall expect you to keep him out of such troubles.  You
+will have to be firm.  He is very obstinate.  But I authorise you to
+take any measures, any measures to save him from his own folly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was tempted to ask: "Even to cracking him on the bean?"  But
+instead he said demurely: "I quite understand."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Evan made his way home down the Avenue ruminating upon what had
+happened.  "In the words of Alfred it's a rummy joint," he said to
+himself.  "Father and son are a pair of birds.  What do I care?  I'm
+not going to let them get under my skin.  I'll give them their money's
+worth for a month or so, then bid them ta-ta and hike to the blessed
+country on my savings.  Meanwhile the affair has its humorous side.
+Mystery, too.  Like a play."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+If Evan had not recollected when he got to Thirtieth street that he
+needed certain small articles of apparel to make himself presentable in
+his new job, he would probably not have discovered that he was being
+followed.  But as he retraced his steps to the shops his attention was
+caught by a man's back, a narrow back clad in grey.  The owner of the
+back was looking in a shop window.  It was the little youth that Evan
+had seen before that morning.  The inference was that he had stopped
+merely to give Evan time to pass him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By God! another snooper!" thought Evan.  "This one dogged our
+foot-steps all the way up-town from the fruit-stand.  Well, I'll give
+him a little run for his money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Entering one of the big stores Evan made his purchases.  He then
+hastened up one aisle and down another.  It could have been no easy
+task to follow him through the crowded store, but his little grey
+shadow never lost the scent.  In their gyrations Evan had an
+opportunity to get a good look at his tracker.  He was not like Alfred;
+he had a decent look, or rather he looked neither decent nor mean, but
+simply watchful.  An impenetrable mask was drawn over his face, out of
+which his eyes looked quietly, giving nothing away.  In years he was no
+more than a lad.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not a very dangerous customer, anyway," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Issuing from the store Evan jumped on a moving bus bound up-town.  He
+took a seat on top; the youth got in below.  At Forty-Second street
+Evan changed to a cross-town car; his pursuer rode on the platform.  At
+Third avenue he changed again&mdash;but without shaking the other.  Half an
+hour later making his way through Waverly place towards Washington
+Square, he was well aware that the grey figure was still behind him,
+though pride forbade him turning his head to see.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Reaching the Square, Evan dropped on a bench and waited to see what
+would happen.  The slender figure passed him, eyes calmly bent ahead,
+and sat down on a bench fifty feet farther on.  Evan rose again, and
+retracing his steps, walked down the east side of the Square, and
+entering from the Fourth street corner, sat down again.  Once more the
+youth passed him and sat down beyond.  There were but few people
+around; it was hardly possible that he thought his movements had not
+been perceived by the man he was following.  "As a sleuth you're an
+amateur," thought Evan.  "You don't care whether I'm on to you or not.
+But I must say you have your nerve with you.  I'm considerably bigger
+than you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He got up and approached the other.  The stripling looked straight
+ahead, affecting to be unconscious of his coming.  Evan came to a stand
+before him and said abruptly:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the idea, kid?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The youth looked up startled, then quickly drew the mask over his face.
+"I don't understand you," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come off," said Evan mockingly.  "Do you think I'm a blind man not to
+notice the particular interest you are taking in my doings?  What's the
+idea?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The boy's eyes held to Evan's steadily; they were the eyes of a fanatic
+rather than a crook.  "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You've been trailing me for the last two hours."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're mistaken.  I never saw you before."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "That's childish!  Do you mean to say
+you didn't pick me up in Troy street two hours ago, after that row with
+the fruit vendor?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know where Troy street is," was the answer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan changed his tactics.  Dropping into the seat beside the boy he
+said: "Look here, I'm a regular fellow.  Loosen up, kid.  Give me the
+dope.  What's it all about?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other was silent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"God knows why anybody should take after me," Evan went on.  "I haven't
+committed any crime that I know of.  And I don't own a thing in the
+world anybody could covet.  Who hired you to trail me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nobody," said the boy.  "You're mistaken."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan began to get hot under the collar.  He got up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By God&mdash;&mdash;!" he began, clenching his fist.  Then he stopped, because
+his anger rang false to him.  In fact he couldn't work up a genuine
+anger against the strange-eyed boy who neither cringed before him nor
+defied him but simply looked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It would be a shame to hit you," he went on, "you're too little.  But
+I warn you to keep away from me hereafter.  The next time I stumble
+over you I won't be so gentle, see?  You keep out of my way, that's
+all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He strode off across the Square in the direction of his own place.  He
+felt exasperated and helpless.  He was clearly the injured party, yet
+he had come off second best in an encounter with a mere child.  To make
+matters worse he was perfectly sure that the youth was still trotting
+after him like a little dog that refuses to be sent home.  He would not
+look around to see.  As he passed in the door of 45A he did look
+around, and there sure enough was his little sleuth across the street.
+Evan slammed the door and went up-stairs swearing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The next time he had occasion to leave the house, the youth had gone.
+He saw him no more&mdash;that day.  "Perhaps his game was to learn where I
+lived," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap04"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER IV
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE NEW LODGER
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Evan's pal Charley Straiker occupied the adjoining room on the top
+floor of 45A and the two pooled their household arrangements.  It was
+Evan's week to cook the dinners, consequently when dinner was eaten his
+was the privilege of occupying the easy chair with the stuffing coming
+out and cock his feet on the cold stove while Evan washed up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+During the afternoon Evan had painted and delivered a label that had
+been ordered of him, and had cleaned up generally as if in preparation
+for a journey.  But he had not yet said a word to Charley of the events
+of the morning.  As a matter of fact Evan had a prudent tongue, which
+Charley most decidedly had not, and it had occurred to Evan that he had
+better find out where he was at, before entrusting the tale to his
+garrulous partner.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan drew at his pipe and gloomed at the wall.  Now that the mild
+excitement induced by the morning's events was over, a heaviness had
+returned to his spirit.  Meanwhile Charley ran on like a brook.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley was a lean and sprawling youth with lank blonde hair, a long
+nose, and an incorrigible smile that spread to the furthest confines of
+his face.  To quote himself, he was a bum artist and a squarehead.  He
+took people at their own valuation and was consequently a universal
+favourite.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Carmen rented her back parlour this afternoon," he was saying&mdash;Carmen
+being their own moniker for their landlady Miss Carmelita Sisson.  "To
+a female.  What do you know about it?  Carmen hates 'em round the
+house.  Too nosey, she says.  But the room's been vacant since spring,
+and roomers in summertime are as scarce as snowballs.  So she succumbed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Haven't seen her yet&mdash;I mean the new roomer, but my hope and my prayer
+is that she's a looker.  I think she is because Carmen sniffed.  Does
+our Carmen love the beautiful of her sex?  She does&mdash;not!  She's a
+singing-teacher, Madame Squallerina, Carmen called her, with the rare
+wit for which she is famed.  Already moved in with her piano and all.
+I heard her moving round, but the door was closed.  I'm afraid she's
+not going to be sociable.  Hell! the parlor floor always looks down on
+the attic!  That's a joke in case you don't know it; parlor floor
+looking down on the attic!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wish I could think of a good excuse to knock on her door.  It 'ud be a
+stunt, wouldn't it, to raise an alarm of fire in this old tinder-box.
+Say, if there's ever a fire I bags the new roomer to save&mdash;that is
+until I get a look at her.  If it's over a hundred and fifty, I'll give
+the job to you, Strong-arm."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This failed to draw a smile from Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Say, you're as lively as the dressing-room of a defeated team.  Wot
+th' hell's the matter?  Come on out and see a movie.  I'll blow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm off pictures," said Evan.  "Go on yourself.  Maybe you'll meet
+Squallerina on the stairs.  Take her."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You've said it," said Charley.  "I'm off."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The gas made the room hot, and Evan turned it out.  The instant he did
+so, he became aware of the moonlight outside, and he went and rested
+his elbows on the sill in his customary attitude.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The moon herself was behind the house, but the Square beneath his
+window was mantled in a tender bloom of light.  As every painter knows,
+moonlight is most beautiful when the moon herself is out of the
+picture.  By moonlight the dejected old trees of the Square were shapes
+of perfect beauty, the grass was overlaid with a delicate scarf of
+light; the very figures on the benches were as strangely still as if
+the moon had laid a spell on them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But all this beauty only had the effect of putting an edge on Evan's
+dissatisfaction.  The gnawing inside him was a hundred times worse by
+moonlight.  "What's the matter with me?" he thought querulously.  "I
+wished for something to happen.  Well, something did happen, but
+there's no fun in it.  There's no fun in anything any more.  Moonlight
+makes me hate myself.  Oh, damn moonlight anyhow!  It turns a man
+inside out!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He flung away from the window and planted himself in his chair with his
+back to it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Presently he became aware of a sound new in that house.  His door stood
+open for ventilation and it came floating up the old stairs.  He was
+aware of a vague pleasure before he localised the sound.  It was music;
+a piano&mdash;but not the usual rooming-house instrument; a piano in tune,
+softly played.  It drew him to the door and to the banisters outside, a
+poignant, haunting melody rippling in a minor treble, a melody that
+queerly sharpened the knife that stabbed him, yet drew him on
+irresistibly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stole down the dark stairs, guiding himself with a hand on the rail,
+his eyes as abstracted as a sleep walker's.  The sounds were issuing
+from the back parlour of course.  The door was partly open&mdash;so she was
+not as unsociable as Charley had feared, or perhaps it was only that it
+was hot.  The room was dark inside.  Evan leaned against the banisters
+with bent head, scarcely daring to breathe for fear of breaking the
+lovely spell.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The music came to an end and his spirit dropped back to earth.  He
+lingered, silently praying for it to resume and give him wings again.
+Instead, the door was suddenly opened wider and he saw the tenant of
+the room on the threshold.  All he could see of her was that she was a
+little woman with a lot of hair.  The moonlight shimmering through the
+edges of her hair made a halo around her head.  Moonlight made two
+square patches on the floor of the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was too late for him to escape.  "I&mdash;I beg your pardon," he
+stammered.  "I couldn't help listening."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh!" she said.  "Who are you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Evan Weir.  I live up-stairs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh!" she said again, but with a different inflection.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+By her voice Evan knew she was young and adorable.  It was a
+low-pitched voice for so little a woman, low and thrilling; a
+mezzo-soprano.  His spirit went to meet that voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For a moment or two they stood silently facing each other in the dark.
+Evan was not conscious of any embarrassment; he was too deeply moved.
+His conscious self was in abeyance.  Moonlight, music and woman had
+bewitched him.  He was in the grip of forces that played on him like an
+instrument.  But someone had to speak in the end.  It was Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What was that you were playing?" he asked simply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The moonlight sonata," she answered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of course!  That's why it sounded so exactly right.  Won't you play
+again&mdash;please?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She could not but have been aware how genuinely moved he was, but
+however it may have pleased her, womanlike, she sought to pull down the
+conversation to a safer plane.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I can't!" she said.  "I have unpacking to do.  I was coming out to
+get a match to light the gas.  I can't find any."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll light the gas for you," he said eagerly.  She stood aside to let
+him enter.  The simple act thrilled him anew; she was not afraid of
+him; her spirit greeted his.  When she turned around he could see her
+face etherealised in the moonlight, a lovely pale oval with two dark
+pools.  There was a subtle perfume in the room that made him a little
+dizzy.  In the act of striking a match he paused.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, it's a shame!" he said involuntarily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What is?" she asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To light the gas on such a night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She laughed.  It was a delicious little sound.  It seemed to bid him be
+at home there.  "One must!" she said.  "What would the landlady say?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But the tone of the denial encouraged him to insist.  "A little more
+music," he begged.  "I never heard anything so lovely."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She went to the piano bench obediently.  "Sit down if you can find a
+place," she said over her shoulder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Instead he came and leaned his elbows on the edge of the piano case.
+Once more her fingers rippled over the keys, and another delicate minor
+air ravished his soul.  She did not seem to strike the keys, but to
+draw out the sounds with the magical waving of her pale hands.  She
+kept her head down, and he could not see into her face.  Nor could he
+be sure of the colour of her hair, but only that it was shining.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the middle of the piece the flying fingers began to falter.  No
+doubt the intense gaze he was bending on the top of her head confused
+her.  At any rate she broke off abruptly and jumped up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A cry broke from Evan: "Oh, please go on!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot!  I cannot!" she said.  "Light the gas."  As he still
+hesitated she stamped her foot with delightful imperiousness.  "You
+<I>must</I> light the gas!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With a sigh he struck the match.  The gas flared up with a plop.  Their
+curious eyes flew to each other's faces.  Evan saw&mdash;well, he was not
+disappointed.  His instinct had rightly told him in the dark that she
+was adorable.  Not regularly beautiful; the most charming women are
+not.  There were fascinating contradictions.  The bright hair was
+gloriously red: the eyes too large for her face and brown,
+extraordinary eyes revealing a strong soul.  They were capable both of
+melting and of flashing, but especially of flashing; the soul was
+imperious.  As for the rest of her, the dear straight little nose was
+non-committal, the mouth fresh and childlike, with a slight, appealing
+droop in the corners.  In short, Nature the great experimentalist had
+in this case endowed a most sweet and kissable little body with the
+soul of a warrior.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could not have argued this all out, but his inner self perceived
+it.  His feelings as he gazed at her were mixed.  The dear little
+thing! the enchanting playmate; his arms fairly ached to gather her in.
+At the same time the deeper sight was whispering to him that this was
+no playmate for a man's idleness, but a soul as strong as his own&mdash;or
+stronger, to whom he must yield all or nothing, and he was afraid.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As for her, she simply looked at him inscrutably.  He could not tell if
+she were pleased with what she saw.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally self-consciousness returned to both with a rush.  They blushed
+and turned from each other.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must go now," the girl said gently.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He understood from her tone that she did not greatly desire him to go,
+but that it was up to him to find a reason for staying.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let me help you get your things in order," he said eagerly.  "You
+can't shove trunks and furniture around."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She hesitated, thinking perhaps of the censorious landlady.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan made haste to follow up his advantage.  "This trunk.  Where will
+you have it put?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She gave in to him with the ghost of a shrug.  "It has nothing in it
+that I shall want," she said.  "Shove it as far back in the closet as
+it will go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the closet her dresses were already hanging.  The delicate perfume
+he had already remarked made his head swim again.  As he bent down to
+shove the trunk back, her skirts brushed his cheek like a caress.  They
+were burning when he came out.  Perhaps she guessed; at any rate she
+quickly turned her head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You don't want the sofa in the middle of the room," Evan said to
+create a diversion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Put it with its back against the fireplace, please.  I shall not be
+having a fire for months to come.  That will leave the space by the
+window for my writing-table."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+While they discussed such safe matters as the disposal of the furniture
+they never ceased secretly to take stock of each other.  What people
+say to each other at any time only represents a fraction of the
+intercourse that is taking place.  Under cover of the most trifling
+conversation there may be exciting reconnaisances going on, scout-work
+and even pitched battles of the spirit.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could not make her out at all.  She seemed to single him out, to
+encourage him as far as a self-respecting woman might, yet an instinct
+warned him not to bank on it.  There was an unflattering impersonal
+quality in her encouragement; behind it one glimpsed formidable
+reserves.  She was wrapped in reticence like a mantle.  Evan had a
+feeling that if she had been really drawn to him she would not have
+been so nice to him.  On the other hand "coquette" did not fit her at
+all; not with those eyes.  Evan thought he knew a coquette when he saw
+one; their blandishments were not such as hers.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So for a while all went swimmingly, and the moments flew.  Evan managed
+to make the business of arranging the furniture last out the greater
+part of the evening.  To save her face she bade him go at intervals,
+but he always contrived to find an excuse to delay his departure.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was no reticence in Evan.  He loved her at sight and his instinct
+was to open his heart.  Of course he was not quite guileless; the
+portrait of himself that he drew for her was not exactly an
+unflattering one, but it was a pretty honest one under the
+circumstances.  He was careful not to bore her, and to grace his tale
+with humour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Oddly enough the more of himself that he offered her, the less pleased
+she seemed to be.  As the evening wore on she developed a tartness that
+was inexplicable to Evan.  He cast back in his mind in vain to discover
+the cause of his offense.  Yet she would not let him stop talking about
+himself either, but drew him on with many questions, interested in his
+tale it would seem, merely for the sake of making sarcastic comments.
+As for talking about herself, nothing would induce her to do so.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a more unamiable side of her character that she revealed, but
+the enamoured Evan, even while she flouted him, forgave her.
+"Something is the matter," he said to himself.  "This is not her true
+self."  He told her of the black dog that had been on his back all day.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But now I'm cured," he said, looking at her full.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She chose to ignore the implication.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan began leading up to a desire that he had not yet dared to express.
+"My partner said you were a singer," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you been discussing me?" she said with an affronted air.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, yes.  Nothing so exciting as your coming ever happened in this
+old house."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I teach singing," she said carelessly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Won't you sing me a song?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She decisively shook her head.  "Not to-night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But why?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dozens of reasons.  One is enough; I don't feel like it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To-morrow night, then?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aren't you taking a good deal for granted?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you said not to-night.  That suggests another night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, one doesn't weigh every word."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll be listening out to-morrow night on the chance."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For some reason this annoyed her excessively.  A bright little spot
+appeared on each cheek-bone.  "Then you'll force me to keep silent
+however I feel."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why&mdash;what's the matter?" said Evan blankly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You imply that if I happen to sing you will regard it as an invitation
+to come down here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, I never thought of such a thing," he said in dismay.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His honesty was so unquestionable that she got angry all over again,
+because she had made the mistake of imputing such a thought to him.
+Indeed a disinterested observer could not but have seen that some
+perverse little imp was playing the devil with this charming girl.
+Angry at him or angry at herself&mdash;or both, she had ceased to be
+mistress of the situation and her forces were thrown into confusion.
+Whatever she said, it instantly occurred to her that it was the wrong
+thing to say.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're spoiled like all the rest," she said.  "A woman cannot be
+decently civil to you, but you immediately begin to presume upon it."
+This was said with a smile that was supposed to be tolerant, but she
+was angry clear through, and of course it showed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was all a mystery to Evan.  With a hand on the table he had just
+moved, he was staring down at it as if he had discovered something of
+absorbing interest in the grain of the wood.  He knew she was
+unreasonable, but he did not blame her; he was merely trying to think
+how to accommodate himself to her unreasonableness; he was pretty sure
+that whatever he might say would only make matters worse, so he kept
+silent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But no red-haired woman can endure silences either.  "If you've nothing
+further to say you'd better go," she said at last.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I was wondering what I had done to offend you," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She laughed, but it had not a mirthful sound.  "How funny you are!
+Strangers don't quarrel.  They've nothing to quarrel about!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you are angry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nonsense!" she said languidly.  "I'm very much obliged to you for your
+help.  But there's nothing else you can do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Meaning I'd better beat it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was magnificently silent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm going.  But it's hard to go, not knowing what's the matter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She had the air of one dealing with a trying child.  "How often must I
+tell you that there's nothing in the world the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are not the same as you were when I came."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For some reason this flicked her on the raw.  She flushed.  She stamped
+her foot.  "You're&mdash;you're impossible!" she cried.  "<I>Will</I> you go!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Evan backed out she all but shut the door in his face.  How
+astonished would he have been could he have seen through the door how
+she flung herself face down on the sofa and wept.  That was the softer
+girlish part of her.  But not for long.  She sat up and digging her
+chin into her palm thought long and hard.  That was the warrior.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will not give in to him&mdash;and spoil everything," she whispered.  "I
+will not!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Meanwhile, out in the dark hall Evan was leaning against the banisters
+trying to puzzle out what had happened.  At first only a blank dismay
+faced him.  Women were inexplicable.  But presently a slow smile began
+to spread across his face.  He said to himself:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, whatever it is, she's not exactly indifferent to me.  I've made
+an impression.  That's something for the first meeting.  And she's in
+the house.  And to-morrow's another night!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He went up-stairs with a better heart.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He went straight to his window-sill and cooled his hot cheeks in the
+night air.  The old trees still stood sentry duty in the moonlight, the
+people sat still as dolls left out all night, the noises of the town
+were reduced to a pleasant murmur.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"God! what a good old world it is!" thought Evan, unconscious of his
+perfect inconsistency.  "How good it is to be young and alive; to see;
+to feel; to laugh; to love; to know things!  I guess I'm a little drunk
+on it now, but I want more, more!  I shall never have my fill!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As he lay in bed it suddenly occurred to him that he was head over
+heels in love with a woman whose name he did not know.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap05"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER V
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE HAPPY LITTLE FAMILY
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+At the Deaves mansion next morning it was Alfred who opened the massive
+steel grill to admit Evan.  The second man favoured him with a sly wink.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Cheese it, kid," he murmured out of the corner of his mouth.  "They're
+layin' for you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This meant nothing to Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the centre of the house where the hall opened up he found George
+Deaves walking up and down with his head bowed and his hands clasped
+behind his back, the very picture of a harassed man of affairs.  There
+was a histrionic quality in all young Deaves' attitudes.  The old man
+in slippers was hunched in a pseudo-mediaeval chair, while a fat
+servant, Hilton, the butler Evan guessed, was standing at the foot of
+the stairs.  Another man in chauffeur's livery was beside him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It all had the look of a set scene, and from the way their faces
+changed at the sight of him, the inference was inescapable that it had
+been set for Evan.  He wondered greatly what it was all about, but felt
+no particular uneasiness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves bent a venomous glance on him.  "Follow me," he said
+hollowly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The whole procession wended its way up the winding, shallow stairs;
+first George Deaves, grasping the hand rail and planting his feet
+virtuously, then old Deaves, his heels coming out of his slippers at
+every step, then Evan, then the three servants.  Evan heard them
+sniggering behind him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the door of the library George Deaves said: "You come in, Papa.
+Hilton, Wilson and Alfred, you wait outside in case I call you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Does he expect me to assault him?" thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the library young Deaves flung himself back in his chair, and
+placing the tips of his fingers together said pompously: "Now, my man,
+I advise you to tell the truth."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan began to get hot.  "That is my custom," he said quietly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Notwithstanding his pompous air the younger Deaves was visibly nervous;
+he had not his father's force of character.  "It is useless for you to
+feign innocence," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know what you're talking about," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves said: "I may as well let you know I have a policeman waiting
+down-stairs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There is no man however sure of himself that would not be to some
+degree disconcerted by this announcement.  Evan changed colour.
+Deaves, quick to notice it, smiled disagreeably, and Evan's cheeks grew
+hot indeed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have him up-stairs," said Evan.  "I don't know what this flummery is
+all about.  Hand me over to the police and maybe I'll find out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me a specimen of your handwriting," said Deaves, shoving writing
+materials towards him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "I have no reason to be ashamed of it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Write five thousand dollars, first in figures, then spelled out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan did so, and shoved the paper back.  Deaves compared it with a
+letter which lay in front of him, the old man peering over his shoulder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing like," the latter said disappointed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That doesn't prove anything!" snapped the son.  "I didn't suppose that
+he worked this single-handed.  He has confederates."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's momentary discomfiture had subsided.  The situation was becoming
+too absurd.  Was he accused of forgery or blackmail?  He began to grin.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You said you were an artist," said George Deaves with a sapient air.
+"Can you prove it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "If you'll come to my studio.  There are
+dozens of my canvases there."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But how would I know you painted them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I'll do you one while you wait."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Facetiousness won't do you any good," said Deaves severely.  "This is
+a serious matter.  Please explain how you came to be in that little
+obscure street where you met Papa yesterday?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There is no explanation," said Evan.  "I was just walking about."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The young man sneered.  He tossed over the letter that lay before him.
+"Read that," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan applied himself to it with no little curiosity.  Meanwhile he was
+aware that the two were watching him like lynxes.  The letter was
+written in a neatly-formed, highly characteristic hand on a sheet of
+cheap note-paper without any distinguishing marks.  Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Dear Sir:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+We take pleasure in enclosing copy of a humorous little story that has
+been prepared for the press.  None will appreciate it better than you
+and 'Poppa' we are sure.  If you think it is too good to be offered to
+the public it will cost you five thousand dollars for the exclusive
+rights, including motion pictures and dramatic.  But unless we hear
+from you before the day is out we will take it that you don't want to
+buy, and it will be offered to the <I>Clarion</I> for to-morrow's edition.
+The <I>Clarion</I> is always delighted to get hold of these human interest
+tales.  Copies will be mailed to everybody in the social register, and
+especially to Mrs. George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+But if you want to reserve the fun to yourself bring five
+one-thousand-dollar bills to the reading-room of the New York Public
+Library this morning.  Call for Lockhart's History of the Crimean War
+in two folio volumes and insert the bills in volume one at the
+following pages: 19, 69, 119, 169, 219.  Then return the books to the
+desk.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+With kindest regards,
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Yours very sincerely,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">THE IKUNAHKATSI."</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+A noiseless whistle escaped from Evan's lips; his eyes were bright.
+For the moment he forgot that he was the accused.  His sole feeling was
+one of the keenest curiosity.  A fascinating mystery was suggested.
+The impudent letter was like a challenge.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"May I see the enclosure?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," said Deaves stiffly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan shrugged.  "What's the nature of it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's a would-be humorous account of the events in that little street
+down-town."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is it a true story?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Young Deaves turned to his elder.  "Is it true, Papa?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In a way it's true," was the snarling reply.  "From a certain point of
+view.  But it's blackguardly just the same."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan stroked his lip to hide a smile.  "What makes you think I wrote
+it?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nobody else could have known all the circumstances."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But we were watched and followed every step of the way."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So you say."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, you're surrounded by spies.  I expect every servant in the house
+is in the pay of this gang.  I hadn't been in the house half an hour
+before they approached me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What did I tell you?" the old man snarled to his son.  "Why don't you
+fire them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How many times have I fired them?  What good did it do?  As fast as we
+get a new lot they're corrupted from the outside."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then it's been going on for some time," said Evan.  "I never had any
+connection with Mr. Deaves until yesterday."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How do we know that?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's why you were so eager to get a job here," added the old man.
+"To have a better chance of spying on me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Never thought of such a thing.  The offer came from you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You paid your own fare on the trolley-car, didn't you?  Mine, too!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "Well, if that's an incriminating
+circumstance I'm guilty!" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't be a fool, Papa," muttered George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan went on: "If I was a member of the gang would I show my hand so
+clearly?  Would I betray the sources of my information?  I tell you
+Alfred told me yesterday there was good money to be made on the side in
+this house."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why didn't you tell me that yesterday?" demanded Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wanted to find out what was up first.  I know now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves began to look impressed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan made haste to follow up his advantage.  "Have up the policeman.  I
+can tell him no more than I've told you.  But the whole affair must be
+well aired, I suppose."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves winced.  He and his father exchanged a glance.  "There's
+no hurry," he said.  "We may have been mistaken.  At any rate we don't
+want any unnecessary publicity."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You don't mean to say you're going to <I>pay</I>!" cried Evan involuntarily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wouldn't you advise it?" asked the old man craftily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No!  Fight!  Call their bluff!  The nervy blackguards!  Oh, to give up
+to them would be too tame!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I guess he isn't one of them, George," Simeon Deaves said dryly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George apparently agreed with him, though he made no direct
+acknowledgment.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan struck while the iron was hot.  "Look here, here's a proposition
+for you.  This thing interests me a whole lot.  That letter was written
+by a damn clever crook, humorous too.  I'd like to match my wits
+against his.  Let me have a try at running them down.  Won't cost you a
+cent more than my salary, and you won't have to let in any outsiders on
+the affair.  Of course I've had no experience, but if I fail you'll be
+no worse off than you are now.  If you go to the police it will be the
+newspaper sensation of the year."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Father and son looked at each other again.  Evan had given them two
+potent reasons for listening to his proposal.  But before they had time
+to express themselves there was an interruption.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A lady swept into the room like a northwest gale, one whose attire put
+the rose and the lily to shame; comely in her own person too after a
+somewhat hard and glassy style.  Evan guessed this was Mrs. George
+Deaves, otherwise Maud.  At the sight of her stormy brows father and
+son looked like two schoolboys caught in the act.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's going on?" she peremptorily demanded.  "What are all the men
+servants waiting in the hall for?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing, my dear," said George Deaves in a casual tone belied by his
+anxious eye.  "They are merely waiting for their orders."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My maid told me there was a policeman sitting in the housekeeper's
+room."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Must be a friend of Mrs. Liffey's," her husband said with feeble
+humour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Friend nothing!" was the contemptuous reply.  She marched up to her
+father-in-law, who silently snarled and gave ground like a cat.
+"You've been up to your old tricks!" she cried.  "Another disgraceful
+street scene!  I see it in both your faces.  Another blackmailing
+letter, I suppose!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Young Deaves unobtrusively sought to turn over the letter on his desk,
+but she caught the movement out of the tail of her eye, and, whirling
+round, snatched it up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let me see that!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her husband looked as helpless as a sheep.  He had lost his pomposity.
+"Happy little family!" thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Having read it, she threw back her head and laughed in bitter chagrin.
+"I thought so!" she cried.  "The third time this summer!  When is this
+going to end?  Where's the story?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear, what's the use?" said her husband tremblingly.  "It would
+only anger you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Be quiet!" she cried.  "I will see it.  Where is it?"  Her eye picked
+it out from among the papers on his desk, and she pounced on it.  More
+harsh and bitter laughter accompanied the reading of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Bought a new suit at an immigrant outfitters!  I see he has it on.
+Got into a row with a fruit-vendor over a penny change.  Rescued by a
+young man and taken home.  Made his rescuer pay the fares on the
+trolley.  Oh, this is rich, rich!" she cried, trembling with anger.
+"This is the best story yet.  This will be meat and drink to the
+populace!  And this is what they're going to send to the <I>Social
+Register</I>, to everybody I know.  It's enough to make me wish I'd died
+before I took the name of Deaves!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear, we are not alone!" cried George Deaves in a panic.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She threw an indifferent glance at Evan.  She thought he was a servant,
+and she was of that arrogant type which acts as if servants were
+something less than human.  "Do you think anything can be hidden in
+this house?" she said.  "The men-servants are listening at the door."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves had forgotten about them.  He hastened to the door and
+sent them downstairs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Deaves addressed her father-in-law.  "Well, if you can't control
+your avaricious tendencies you'll have to pay," she said.  "Send to the
+bank and get the money so George can take it to them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Pay!  Pay!  Pay!  That's all anybody asks of me!" cried the old man in
+a passion.  "Five thousand dollars!  None of you know what that means.
+Money to you is like the winds of Heaven that come and go.  But <I>I</I>
+know what five thousand dollars is.  For I have saved it up dollar by
+dollar at the cost of my sweat and self-denial.  And will I give it up
+to these scoundrels, these sewer rats who threaten me?  No!  I'd as
+lief give them my blood!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Deaves' face turned crimson.  "You'll pay!" she cried, "or I leave
+this house!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And where will you go?" sneered the old man.  "Back to share your
+father's genteel poverty?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who made him poor?" she cried.  "Who robbed him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves, with the tail of his eye on Evan, was sweating with
+terror.  "Maud, I beg of you&mdash;!" he whispered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It did seem to occur to her then that she had gone too far.  She glared
+at Evan as if defying him to judge her, and marching up to him said
+bluntly: "Who are you?"  This woman was magnificent in her insolence if
+in nothing else.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan coolly met her eye.  "I'm the young man who paid the fares," he
+said, smiling.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She scowled at him.  Clearly she had no humour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan explained further: "I have been engaged to accompany Mr. Deaves on
+his walks hereafter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, locking the stable door after the horse is stolen," she sneered.
+"He needs a keeper."  She indicated the typewritten sheets.  "Then you
+were present at this affair?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I was."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is this story true?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have not seen it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She handed him the pages.  Evan skimmed over it hastily.  Since the
+incidents have already been related, the opening paragraph will be
+sufficient to convey the style of the whole:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Simeon Deaves, is known as a great dandy
+among his friends.  He has always refused to divulge the identity of
+the creator of the svelte garments that grace his manly form, but
+yesterday the secret came out.  Not in the fashionable purlieus of
+Fifth Avenue or Madison does Mr. Deaves' tailor hang out his sign.  No;
+it is in Greenwich Street near the Battery where the unwary immigrant
+makes his first acquaintance with American business methods, that Mr.
+Deaves buys his clothes.  He was seen to buy an elegant mustard
+coloured suit there yesterday for $4.49.  Of course not everybody could
+afford this sum, but the goods were worth it.  Take it from us,
+high-water pants will be all the rage the coming Fall."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+And so on.  And so on.  Evan bit his lip to keep from smiling, and
+handed the sheets back.  It was easy to understand how the story
+affected these people like salt in a wound.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is it true?" Mrs. Deaves again demanded of Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The facts are true so far as I know," he replied.  "Of course, the
+humour was supplied by the author."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This young man has offered to help us," began George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The remark was unfortunate; Mrs. Deaves exploded again.  "I won't have
+any bungling amateur detective work here!" she cried.  "There's too
+much at stake.  If the story is true there's only one thing to be done,
+pay!"  She addressed the old man.  "You understand; you have disgraced
+us, and you shall pay."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Simeon Deaves' dander was up and he refused to be intimidated.
+"What for?" he snarled.  "I stand by my own acts.  I ain't ashamed of
+them.  If people don't like it they can lump it.  What do I care what
+they say about me?  They're only envious.  They'd give their eyes to
+have what I've got.  Let them publish their story.  Who's hurt by it?
+Nobody but your feelings.  Am I going to pay through the nose to soothe
+your feelings?  Not five thousand dollars' worth!  I'll be damned if
+I'll pay!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He went out through the smaller door, slamming it behind him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Deaves turned hard inimical eyes on her husband.  "Then it's up to
+you to find the money," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But, my dear," he whined, "you know my circumstances.  How can I?
+Where?  It is out of the question!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't care where you get it; you get it," she returned callously.
+"If that story is published I leave this house.  You know what that
+means."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She marched out by the main door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could not but feel for the poor, crushed, flabby creature at the
+desk.  In Evan's own phrase George got it coming <I>and</I> going.  He was
+like a pricked bladder; all his pomposity had escaped like gas.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What am I to do?" he murmured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Get the money together," said Evan, "and pay it over according to
+their orders.  Then let me see if I can't get it back again&mdash;and get
+them, too."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap06"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER VI
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE LITTLE FELLOW IN GREY
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+It turned out that George Deaves could lay his hands on the money,
+though perhaps it was not easy for him to do so.  George's principal
+fortune consisted in being the son of his father; he could get almost
+unlimited credit on the strength of that connection.  When Simeon
+Deaves saw that he was determined to pay the money to the blackmailers,
+he urged him to accept Evan's offer to run them down, and in the end,
+notwithstanding his terror of Maud Deaves, George gave in.  Father and
+son, who had begun the day by accusing Evan of the crime, ended by
+depending on Evan to run down the criminals.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At ten o'clock George Deaves and Evan set out for the bank.  It was not
+far and they proceeded on foot down the Avenue.  Evan kept his eyes
+open about him, and before they had gone more than a block or two he
+spotted the well-remembered little figure in the grey suit still
+dogging their footsteps.  Drawing George Deaves up to a shop window as
+if to show him something inside, he called his attention to the
+stripling with the pale and watchful face.  Deaves shivered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you suppose he means us personal harm?" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan smiled to himself, seeing the size of their enemy.  "Well, I
+hardly think so," he said.  "At least not as long as we seem disposed
+to pay up."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves was received at the bank with extreme deference.  He was not
+obliged to apply at the teller's window like a common customer, but was
+shown directly into the manager's office which looked on the pavement
+of the Avenue.  A fine-meshed screen protected the occupants of the
+room from the vulgar gaze of the populace, but those inside could see
+out, and as soon as they entered the room Evan discovered the youth in
+the grey suit hanging about the door of the bank, unaware of the
+nearness of his victims.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves introduced Evan to the manager as "My father's secretary."  "I'm
+coming up in the world," thought Evan.  Five crisp one-thousand-dollar
+bills were produced, and Evan perceived strong curiosity in the bank
+manager's eye.  It had been agreed between Evan and Deaves that this
+man was to be taken partly into their confidence, but Deaves now seemed
+disposed to balk at it, and Evan ventured to take matters into his own
+hands.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You were going to tell this gentleman what the money was for."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, yes, of course," said Deaves nervously.  "You will of course
+appreciate the necessity of absolute secrecy, sir."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is part of my business," said the manager.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Deaves still boggled at the horrid word, and it was Evan who said:
+"Somebody is trying to blackmail Mr. Deaves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good gracious!" cried the horrified manager.  "Mr. Simeon Deaves or
+Mr. George Deaves?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Either," said Evan dryly.  "They don't care as long as they get the
+money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you notified the police?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not yet.  We're going to take a try first at catching them ourselves.
+There is one of them outside, the thin youth in the grey suit."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The manager half arose from his chair.  "What!  So close!  Perhaps he's
+armed!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He can't see us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The manager sank back only partly reassured.  "Can I be of any
+assistance?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes," said Evan.  "I want to mark these bills in your presence."
+Deaves handed them over, and the manager supplied a blue pencil.  "See!
+A tiny dot following the serial number in each case.  In case they get
+the money, and get away in spite of me, will you please see that all
+the banks in town are supplied with the numbers of these bills, and are
+instructed to have anyone arrested who presents them to be changed?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I certainly will," said the manager, making a note of the numbers.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They left a much startled banker peering through his window-screen.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The public library was but a few blocks from the bank.  George Deaves
+wished to take a taxicab, but Evan advised against it.  Their little
+grey shadow followed them to the door of the great building but did not
+enter.  Having satisfied themselves of this, they got in touch with one
+of the assistant librarians, and put their case up to him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The magic name of Deaves acted like a talisman.  The plan was carefully
+laid.  George Deaves proceeded to the reading-room and, calling for
+Lockhart's "History of the Crimean War," retired to a corner and placed
+the bills between the leaves as specified.  The books were then
+returned to the desk, and Deaves with the connivance of the librarian
+was spirited out of the building by the delivery entrance.  This was to
+prevent the watcher outside from remarking that, whereas two entered,
+only one came out.  When neither returned he would naturally suppose
+that both had slipped past him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Meanwhile Evan waited in the librarian's private office, arrangements
+having been made to notify him by phone when the books were called for
+again.  They would hold up the books at the delivery desk long enough
+to allow Evan to reach the reading-room.  It was a long wait.  The
+librarian offered him books, but he could not apply his mind.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're sure there's no chance of a slip-up among so many clerks?" he
+said anxiously.  "One may forget."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We're not trusting to their memories.  The librarian in charge of
+delivery is a friend of mine.  Lockhart's History is in his desk, and
+in its place on the shelf is pinned a ticket, 'apply to the librarian.'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At last the message came over the phone: "Lockhart's 'History of the
+Crimean War' called for from seat 433."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's heart accelerated its pace a little.  "Whereabouts in the room
+is that seat?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The last table in the south end on the right-hand side."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ha!  He wants to get in the corner!  Can I get there without marching
+down the whole length of the room?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, you can approach from the other side through the American History
+room."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Hastening through various corridors of the vast building, they found
+themselves among the American History collections gathered in the
+smaller room adjoining the great hall on the south.  This room was
+completely lined with books, and lighted by a skylight.  It
+communicated with the main reading-room by an arched opening.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Taking care not to show themselves in this opening, the librarian
+described to Evan the exact location of seat 433 outside, and pointed
+out a spot where Evan could command a view of seat 433 through the
+archway.  Evan proceeded to the spot, and, taking down a book at
+random, affected to be lost in studying its pages.  Then, half turning
+and letting his eyes rise carelessly, he glanced into the great room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It took him an instant or two to focus his eyes.  The line of tables
+seemed endless, the hundreds of figures reading, scribbling or snoozing
+seemed indistinguishable from one another.  Then Evan remembered the
+librarian had said: "433 is the fourth seat from the passageway between
+the tables; the person sitting there will have his back to you."
+Evan's eyes found the spot: he saw a familiar pair of thin, high
+shoulders under a grey coat.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His first feeling was one of surprise.  Somehow he had not expected one
+so young and insignificant to be given so important a part in the game.
+For a moment he wondered if the strange-eyed, wary little youth could
+be their sole antagonist.  That would indeed be a humorous situation.
+But he did not believe it possible.  Certainly the letter had been
+written by one older and more experienced.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan remained where he was, making believe to be absorbed in his book,
+and letting his eyes rise from time to time as if in contemplation.  He
+was about sixty feet from the youth in an oblique line.  Once the
+little fellow looked around, but Evan saw the beginning of the movement
+and was deep in study in plenty of time.  The sober background of
+filled bookshelves afforded Evan good protective colouring.  Across the
+smaller room the librarian was likewise affecting to be reading, while
+he nervously watched Evan and awaited the outcome.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally Evan perceived the library attendant coming down the long room
+bearing the two big volumes in their faded purple calf binding.  He
+speculated whimsically on what a sensation would be caused should he
+drop one and a thousand-dollar bill flutter out.  But library
+attendants know better than to drop books.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He laid the books on the table beside the youth, and went back.  The
+grey-clad one, with another casual, sharp glance around him, took up
+volume one, the thicker of the two, and, slouching down in his chair,
+stood the tall, open book on his lap in such a way that no one either
+in front or behind him could see exactly what he was doing.  "Not badly
+managed," thought Evan.  Evan could only guess that he was turning to
+the specified pages and slipping out the bills.  There was one action
+that Evan recognised from the movement of the shoulders.  He had
+slipped his hand in his inner breast pocket.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He's got them now," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Sure enough the youth presently let the book fall on the table and
+wiped his face with his handkerchief.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I bet his little heart is beating," thought Evan.  Evan's was.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The youth wasted no further time in making believe to read his books.
+Letting them lie on the table he got up and started to walk out at a
+leisurely pace.  Evan followed him, knowing of course that the first
+time the youth turned his head he must discover him, but it did not
+matter much now.  Their footsteps fell noiselessly on the thick rubber
+matting of the reading-room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Half-way down the great room the youth did turn, and saw Evan behind
+him.  A spasm passed over the thin little face and his teeth showed
+momentarily.  One could fancy how sharply he caught his breath.  He
+increased his pace a little, but by no means ran out of the room.  He
+had his nerves under pretty good control.  Evan made no effort to
+overtake him in the reading-room.  He hated to make an uproar there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The youth went soberly down the two flights of the great stairway with
+Evan as soberly at his heels.  He did not look around again.  To have
+refrained from doing so indicated no little strength of will.  Crossing
+the entrance hall, they passed out the main entrance and down the
+sweeping steps to Fifth Avenue.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He'll make a break to escape in the crowd," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the little esplanade between the two flights of steps Evan sprang
+across the space that separated them and laid a heavy hand on the
+youth's shoulder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He shrank away with a terrified gasp.  "What do you want?" he demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You come with me," said Evan, sternly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I won't!  You've no right to lay hands on me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You come along," said Evan, "or I'll call the policeman yonder."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He marched him down the remaining steps.  The boy offered no
+resistance.  For that matter he would have stood but a small chance
+against the muscular Evan.  The passers-by began to stop and stare and
+shove and ask what was the matter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan greatly desired to avoid a street disturbance.  Steering his
+captive across the pavement to the curb, he hailed the first passing
+taxicab and bundled the unresisting youth inside.  In low tones he
+ordered the chauffeur to drive to the nearest police station.  It was
+all over in half a minute.  They left the curiosity seekers goggling
+from the pavement.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+During the drive the two exchanged no word.  The youth shrank back in
+his corner, staring straight ahead of him out of his pale and
+impenetrable mask.  Occasionally he moistened his lips.  Clearly he was
+terrified, but a determined spirit held him to the line he had chosen.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan made no attempt to search him for the money, for he wished to have
+a witness present when the marked bills were taken from him.  But he
+watched him throughout with lynx eyes, prepared to forestall any
+attempt to make away with the bills.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Arriving at the station house the chauffeur, full of curiosity, was for
+helping Evan take his prisoner in.  But Evan paid him off and told him
+he needn't wait.  The man lingered, joining the little crowd that
+always hangs around the station house steps when a prisoner is brought
+in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+By this time the youth seemed to have recovered from the worst of his
+fears.  He went up the steps quite willingly in front of Evan.  Within,
+a bored and lordly police lieutenant sat enthroned at his high desk.
+Evan, who had been holding himself in all this time, burst out:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This man is a blackmailer.  I want you to search him.  You'll find the
+money he extorted in the inside breast pocket of his coat.  The bills
+are marked."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Lieutenant declined to become excited.  Such dramatic entrances
+were part of his daily routine.  "Hold on a minute," he said, opening
+his book.  "Proceed in order."  He addressed the prisoner: "What is
+your name?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I decline to give it," said the youth&mdash;his voice was breathless but
+determined still.  "I have done nothing wrong.  This man suddenly
+seized me on the street.  I think he's crazy.  Search me.  If you find
+anything, then let him make a charge."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Lieutenant spoke to a patrolman across the room: "Ratigan, search
+him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The youth spread his arms wide to facilitate the search.  Evan, taken
+aback by his assurance, waited the result anxiously.  The patrolman
+thrust his hand in his breast pocket.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing here," he said indifferently.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's heart sank.  "Are you sure?" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Look for yourself if you want."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Search him thoroughly," commanded the Lieutenant.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Evan already guessed that he had been tricked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+No money was found except a dollar bill and some change.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is this it?" asked the patrolman solemnly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The youth smiled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan waved it away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, what are the circumstances?" asked the Lieutenant.  "Will you
+make a charge?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I've been fooled!" Evan said bitterly.  Suddenly a light broke on him;
+he struck his forehead.  "I see it now!  This man's job was simply to
+lead me away while another came and got the money!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, will you make a charge?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan quickly reflected.  There was not much use airing the case in
+court if the principal evidence was gone.  "Let him go," he said.
+"He's not the one I want."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Without more ado Evan hastened out.  The youth presumably was allowed
+to follow.  The taxicab was at the curb.  Evan flung himself in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Back to the library!" he ordered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He sought out his friend the librarian.  A hasty investigation showed
+that Lockhart's History had been collected in due course from the table
+and returned to the shelves.  It had not been called for since.  The
+money was gone, of course.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"His confederate was waiting there in the reading-room, perhaps at the
+same table," Evan said gloomily.  "As soon as I was out of the way he
+got the money.  What a fool I was!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But how could you have foreseen that?" said the librarian.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan then had the pleasant task of returning to the Deaves house and
+telling them what had happened.  Father and son were waiting for him in
+the library.  They instantly saw by his face that things had not gone
+well, and each snarled according to his nature.  When he heard that the
+money was gone the old man broke into piteous lamentations.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Five thousand dollars!  Five thousand dollars!  All that money!  Flung
+to the rats of the city to gnaw!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter with you?" snapped his son.  "It was my money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I earned it, didn't I?  You have nothing but what I gave you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We may get them yet through the banks," suggested Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yah!  We'll never get them now!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But however they might quarrel with each other, father and son united
+in blaming Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Look at him!" cried the old man, beside himself.  "He knows where the
+money's gone!  Of course he didn't catch them.  I believe he engineered
+the whole thing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Be quiet, Papa," said George Deaves in a panic.  He turned to Evan
+with an anxiety almost obsequious.  "Don't mind him," he said.  "He's
+excited.  You'd better go now.  But I'll see you later."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was not deceived.  It was clear that George no less than his
+father believed that he was a party to the crime, but was afraid to say
+so outright.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I live at 45A South Washington Square," he said curtly.  "You'll find
+me there any time you want me."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap07"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER VII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Charley Straiker came in to dinner that night in a highly effervescent
+state.  This was not at all unusual.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Listen, Ev!" he cried.  "I've seen her!  Oh, a peach! a little queen!
+Her name is Corinna Playfair.  Isn't that mellifluous?  Corinna
+Playfair!  Corinna Playfair!  Like honey on the tongue!  Listen, when I
+came in a while ago I heard a woman's voice talking to Carmen in her
+room on the ground floor.  So I went back, making out I wanted to see
+Carmen.  And there she was!  Bowled me over completely.  Red hair, you
+old misogynist!  Piles and piles of it like autumn foliage.  It's the
+colour of a horse chestnut fresh out of the bur&mdash;and her skin's like
+the inside of the bur&mdash;you know&mdash;creamy!  Oh, ye gods!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, she was telling old Carmen this and that; her blinds wouldn't
+work, and the gas-jet in the dressing-room was out of order, and your
+Uncle Dudley sees his chance and speaks up.  'I'll fix the gas-jet and
+the blinds,' says I.  There was nothing free and easy about her,
+though.  Made her eyebrows go up like two little crescent moons.
+Looked at me as much as to say: 'What is this that the cat has brought
+in?'  'Oh, thank you very much,' says she in a voice as friendly as a
+marble headstone.  'I couldn't think of troubling you.  Miss Sisson
+will attend to it.'
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But of course old Carmen wasn't going to miss the chance of getting
+her odd jobs done for nothing.  She took my part.  'Mr. Straiker, Miss
+Playfair,' says she, grinning like the cat who's turned over the
+goldfish bowl.  'He will fix you up, I'm sure.  I wouldn't be able to
+get a man in before next week.'
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, to make a long story short, I fixed the blinds so's they'd roll
+up, and cleaned out the gas burners.  She didn't unbend any.
+Discouraged all my efforts to make conversation.  Thanked me all over
+the place, and gave me to understand that I needn't build on it, you
+know.  But I swear I'll make her thaw out.  I've thought of a scheme.
+I tried all her burners&mdash;to gain time, you understand&mdash;and the one she
+mostly uses whistles like a peanut stand.  So I'm going out to get her
+a swell gas mantle to-night, and say Carmen sent it, see?  Trust l'il
+Charley to find a way!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, of course, had his own ideas as to entertaining Miss Playfair
+this evening.  "How about the life class at the League?" he suggested
+casually&mdash;too casually.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was a sore subject with Charley.  Evan had him there.  "Oh, blow
+the class!" he said, scowling.  "A fellow doesn't get a chance like
+this once in a lifetime."  He boiled over again.  "I say, I didn't
+mention her eyes, did I?  Lord!  They're like immense brown stars!&mdash;Oh,
+that's rotten!  I mean velvety, glowing&mdash;oh, words fail me!  You'll
+have to take her eyes on trust!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan refused to be diverted.  "You cut the class last time," he said.
+"What do you expect to get out of it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lord!  One would think you wanted to get me out of the way so you
+could make up to her yourself!" said Charley, frowning.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan glanced at him sharply.  This, however, was a random hit.  Charley
+was quite unsuspicious.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Only I know you're a hermit-crab, a woman-hater!" he went on.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's only last week you were chasing after a blonde," Evan persisted
+remorselessly.  "When she threw you down you swore you'd go to work."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, well, I'll go to the old class," muttered Charley.  "I'll get the
+gas mantle to-morrow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan breathed freely again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When Charley was safely out of the way Evan made haste to array himself
+in the best that their joint wardrobes afforded.  They shared
+everything.  His conscience troubled him a little over his treatment of
+Charley, but he salved it with the thought: "Well, anyway, I saw her
+first.  I quarrelled with her before he even laid eyes on her."  Evan
+gave anxious thought to the matching of ties and socks, and spent many
+minutes in vigorously brushing out a slight tendency to curl in his
+hair.  He despised curly hair in a man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But when he was all ready a sudden fit of indecision attacked him, and
+he flung himself into the old chair, glooming.  She had all but driven
+him out of her room the night before.  Well, if he presented himself at
+her door now, it would be simply inviting her to insult him.  Even
+though she didn't mean it, even though she might want him to come (Evan
+had that possibility in mind, though his ideas as to the psychology of
+girls were chaotic), how could he give her the chance to put it all
+over him?  Surely she would despise him.  On the other hand, he could
+hardly expect her to make the first overtures.  Evan sighed in
+perplexity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was not that he liked her any the worse for being so difficult; on
+the contrary.  But he had to think out the best thing to do under the
+circumstances, and the trouble was he wanted to go down so badly he
+couldn't think at all.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He made up his mind he wouldn't go down&mdash;not that night anyway.  He
+lighted his pipe in defiance of the whole sex.  But somehow he couldn't
+keep it going.  He only smoked matches.  Nor keep his legs from
+twitching; nor his brain from suggesting vain pretexts to knock at her
+door.  He might go out and buy her a gas mantle&mdash;but that <I>would</I> be a
+low trick on Charley.  He flung down the pipe, he walked up and down,
+he looked out of the window; a score of times he swore to himself that
+he would not go down, yet his perambulations left him ever nearer the
+door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally with a great effort of the will he closed it.  But almost
+instantly he flew to open it again, bent his head to listen, then threw
+it back with a note of deep laughter.  He commenced to run downstairs.
+She was singing, the witch!  She <I>had</I> made the first overture.  Let
+her make believe as much as she liked, she must have calculated that
+the song would bring him.  Outside her door&mdash;it was closed to-night&mdash;he
+pulled himself up short.  "Easy!  Easy!" he said to himself.  "If
+you're in such a rush to come when you're called she'll have the laugh
+on you anyhow.  Let her sing for a while, the darling!  You won't miss
+anything here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a jolly little song, full of enchanting runs and changes; old
+English, he guessed:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="poem">
+"Oh, the pretty, pretty creature;<BR>
+When I next do meet her,<BR>
+No more like a clown will I face her frown<BR>
+But gallantly will I treat her."<BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"A hint for me," thought Evan, smiling delightedly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When she came to the end of the song, Evan, fearful that she might open
+the door and find him there, hastened on downstairs.  Miss Sisson was
+in her room at the back with the door open, and Evan stepped in for a
+chat, flattering the lady not a little thereby, for Mr. Weir was the
+most stand-offish of her gentleman roomers&mdash;and the comeliest.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But it is to be feared she didn't get much profit out of this
+conversation, for Mr. Weir was strangely absent-minded.  His thoughts
+were in the room overhead where the heart-disquieting mezzo-soprano was
+now singing a wistfuller song and no less sweet:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="poem">
+"Phyllis has such charming graces<BR>
+I must love her or I die."<BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Miss Sisson remarked in her most elegant and acid tones: "It's such an
+annoyance to have a singer in the house.  I already regret that I
+yielded to her importunities."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You fool!" thought Evan.  "She makes a paradise of your old rookery!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the end of the second song he was sure he heard the singer's light
+footsteps travel to the door overhead, linger there, then return more
+slowly.  The heart in his breast waxed big with gladness.  "You blessed
+little darling!" he thought.  "If it's true you want me, God knows you
+can have me for a gift!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Yet he let her sing another song before he stirred.  He bade Miss
+Sisson good-night and went deliberately upstairs.  She had stopped
+singing now.  He knocked on the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She took her time about opening it.  "Oh, it's you!" she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good evening," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good evening," she returned with a rising inflection that suggested:
+"Well, what do you want?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was a bit dashed.  His instinct told him, though, that he must put
+his fate to the test.  In other words, he must find out for sure
+whether she detested him, or was simply being maidenly.  She had not
+thrown the door open to its fullest extent, but Evan, gauging the
+space, figured that he could just slip in without actually pushing her
+out of the way.  He did so.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She faced about in high indignation.  "Well!  You might at least wait
+until you are invited!" she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan had no wish to anger her too far.  "Oh, I'm sorry," he said
+innocently.  "I thought you meant me to come in."  He turned towards
+the door again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, well, as long as you're here I'm not going to turn you out," she
+said casually.  "But your manners aren't much."  She closed the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's all right!" thought Evan happily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I heard you singing," he said, by way of opening the conversation.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I have to sing every night for practice," she said quickly.  She
+wished him to understand clearly that she had not been singing to bring
+him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She sat on the piano bench, but with her back to the piano and her
+hands in her lap.  Her expression was not encouraging.  Evan sat on the
+sofa.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Please go on," he said.  "Don't mind me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No," she said, with her funny little downright way.  "I shan't sing
+any more."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But why?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have provoked me.  I can't sing when I am provoked."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What have I done?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The mere sight of you provokes me," she said with more frankness,
+probably, than she intended.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm sorry," said Evan.  "You're so different, so unusual, I don't know
+how to handle you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The first part of this pleased her, the last outraged her afresh.
+"Handle me!" she cried.  "I like that!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan saw his mistake.  "That's not the word," he said quickly.  "I mean
+I study how to please you, and only seem to get in wrong."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't 'study'," she said with a superior air.  "Just be yourself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But I am myself, and it only provokes you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The brown eyes flashed.  "Oh, you're too conceited for words!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was a new thought to Evan.  He considered it.  "No," he said at
+last, "I don't think I am.  At least not offensively conceited.  But it
+seems to me you are so accustomed to having men bow down before you
+that the mildest independence in a man strikes you as something
+outrageous."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was near enough the truth to be an added cause for offense.  She
+received it in an ultra-dignified silence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'd like to bow down before you too," Evan went on smiling.  "But
+something tells me if I did it would be the end of me.  You would
+despise me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her mood changed abruptly.  "I feel better now," she said.  "One really
+cannot take you seriously.  I'll sing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her hands drifted over the keys, and she dropped into "Mighty lak' a
+Rose."  The air was admirably suited to the deeper notes of her voice.
+The listener's heart was drawn right out of his breast; he forgot at
+once his fear of being mastered, and his great desire to master her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When she came to the end he murmured, deeply moved: "I can't say
+anything."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She could have asked no finer tribute.  "You needn't," she murmured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The pleasure she took in his applause was evidenced in the warmth she
+imparted to the next song.  She made it intolerably plaintive: "Just a
+Wearyin' for You."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan held his breath in delight.  "If the words were true!" he thought.
+But though she sang with abandon, she never looked at him.  He was
+artist enough to know better than to take an artistic performance
+literally.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nothing more was said for a long time.  She passed from one song to
+another, singing from memory; dreamily improvising on the piano
+between.  She chose only simple songs in English which pleased Evan
+well&mdash;could she read his heart?&mdash;the "Shoogy-Shoo"; "Little Boy Blue";
+the "Sands o' Dee."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was incapable of criticising her voice.  Some might have objected
+that it lacked that bell-like clearness so much to be desired; that it
+had a dusky quality, but Evan was not quarrelling because it was the
+voice of a woman instead of an angel.  One thing she had beyond
+peradventure, temperament; her heart was in her singing, and so it
+played on his heartstrings as she willed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+While he listened enraptured, he saw the moon peek over the buildings
+in the next street.  He softly got up and turned off the impertinent
+gas.  Beyond a startled glance over her shoulder she made no objection.
+He was utterly fascinated by the movements of the bright head, now
+raised, now lowered, now turned towards the window in the changing
+moods of the songs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Moonlight completed the working of the spell that was laid upon him.
+For the moment he ceased to be a rational being.  He was exalted by
+emotion far out of himself.  He experienced the sweetness of losing his
+own identity.  It was as if a great wind had snatched him up into the
+universal ether, a region of warmth of colour and perfume.  But he was
+conscious of a pull on him like that of the magnet for the iron, a pull
+that was neither to be questioned nor resisted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the last she turned around on the bench again, and her hands dropped
+in her lap.  "That is all.  I'm tired," she said like a child.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With a single movement the rapt youth was at her feet, weaving his arms
+about her waist.  Unpremeditated words poured from him; words out of
+deeps in him of which up to that moment he was unconscious.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, you woman!  You are the first in the world for me!  I know you
+now!  I feel your power!  It's too much for me.  And I'm glad of it!  I
+have waited for you.  I looked for you in so many girls' faces only to
+find emptiness.  I began to doubt.  Love was just a poetic fancy, I
+thought.  But I have found it.  Let me love you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was not surprised, nor angry.  She gently tried to detach his arms.
+"Oh, hush! hush!" she murmured.  "It is not me!  It is just the music!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is you!  It is you!" he protested.  "I knew it when I first saw
+you.  You or none!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But how silly!" she said in a warm, low voice.  "You have seen me
+twice."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What difference does that make?" he said impatiently.  "One cannot be
+mistaken about a thing like this.  I love you with all my heart.  It
+only takes a second to happen, but it can never be undone while I live.
+You have entered into me and taken possession.  If you left me I should
+be no more than a shell of a man!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, but be sensible!" she begged him.  He thought he felt her
+fingertips brush his hair.  "Try to be sensible.  Think of me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wish to think only of you.  What do you want me to do?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Get up and sit beside me.  Let us talk."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He sat beside her on the bench.  He did not offer to touch her again.
+The moonlight was in her face; the lifted, shadowy oval seemed angelic
+to him, he was full of awe.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're so beautiful!" he groaned, "so beautiful it hurts me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hush!" she said, "you mustn't talk like that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is it wrong?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes&mdash;no!  I don't know.  I can't bear it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You can do what you like with me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You don't mean that really."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do.  I have longed to be able to give myself up wholly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then be my brother, my dear brother."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan frowned.  "You mean&mdash;&mdash;?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Be my brother," she repeated.  "I need your help."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But&mdash;but how can I?" said Evan.  "I am only a man."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The other thing only frightens me," she said quickly.  "I like
+you&mdash;but I cannot return that.  This is not just the feeling of a
+moment.  It will never change.  I know myself.  But be my friend.  Take
+what I can give you.  Do not force me to be on my guard.  I wish to let
+myself go with you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is what I wish," he said quickly.  Poor Evan felt hollow inside:
+hollow and a little dazed.  The cloud-piercing tower of his happiness
+had collapsed.  A sure instinct told him that what she proposed was
+impossible, and what was more, absurd.  But he clutched at straws.  The
+idea of giving her up altogether was unthinkable.  Moreover he was
+incapable of resisting her at that moment.  It was easy enough to
+silence that inner voice.  He said nothing, but merely raised her hand
+to his lips.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Swear it," she murmured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You dictate the oath."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Swear that you will be my friend, and nothing but my friend."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I swear it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly leaning forward she kissed his cheek as a sister might have
+done&mdash;but the spot glowed long afterwards.  Then she jumped up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must go now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not quite yet," he pleaded, "Corinna."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh!" she rebuked him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you're my sister now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very well, you may call me Corinna, but you must go.  What will the
+landlady say?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you said you needed my help.  How can I rest not knowing&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But that's too long a story to begin now.  There's no immediate danger
+threatening me.  There will be other nights."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How can I wait twenty-four hours?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How would you like to get up early and go walking in the country
+before the day's work?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'd like it above all things."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then call for me at eight.  We'll have breakfast at the French pastry
+shop.  My first lesson's at eleven."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Great!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Now go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Say good-night, Evan."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will when I am more accustomed to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But try it just for an experiment."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well&mdash;good-night, Evan."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His name was so sweet on her tongue it required all his self-control to
+remember his oath.  He turned away with a groan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good-night, Corinna."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap08"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER VIII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+EVAN IS RE-ENGAGED
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+He dreamed of her all night&mdash;but not as a sister it is to be feared.
+In his dream she was running through the springtime woods with the
+glorious hair flying, and he was running after her, an endless race
+without his ever drawing nearer, while the sun shone and the little
+young leaves twinkled as if in laughter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was awake at six and sprang out of bed to see what kind of day it
+was.  The sun was already high over the tops of the buildings to the
+east, the sky was fleckless, and the empty Park was beaming.  His
+anxiety was relieved.  He dressed as slowly as possible in order to
+kill time, taking care to make no sound that might awaken Charley in
+the next room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was not prepared to make explanations just then.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Notwithstanding all his care he was ready a whole hour too soon, an
+hour that promised to be endless, for he was completely at a loss what
+to do with himself; couldn't apply his mind to anything; couldn't sit
+still.  Finally he stole down-stairs, sending his love silently through
+her door as he passed, and started circumnavigating the Park.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was subconsciously aware of the splendour of the morning, but saw
+little of what actually met his eyes.  He was too busy with the
+happenings of the night before.  A nasty little doubt tormented him.
+He knew he was slightly insane; it was not that; he gloried in his
+state and pitied the dull clods who had not fire in their breasts to
+drive them mad.  But here was the rub; would not these same clods have
+laughed at him had they known of the oath he had taken&mdash;would not he
+have laughed himself yesterday?
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was carried on inside him like an argument; on the one hand the
+enamoured young man who insisted that the relationship between brother
+and sister was a holy and beautiful one, on the other hand the
+matter-of-fact one who said it was all damn nonsense; that a man and
+woman, free, unattached and not bound by the ties of consanguinity were
+not intended to be brother and sister.  Such arguments have no end.
+The thought of Charley troubled him most; he had always taken a
+slightly superior attitude towards Charley's sentimentality.  What a
+chance for Charley to get back at him if he learned of this!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At five minutes to eight, having looked at his watch fifty times or so,
+he ventured back into the house, and tapped at Corinna's door.  "She's
+bound to be late anyhow," he thought, "no harm to hurry her up a
+little."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But no, she was hatted, gloved and waiting just inside the door.  This
+little fact won his gratitude surprisingly; a man does not expect it of
+a woman.  In the sunlight they took in each other anew.  What Corinna
+thought did not appear, but Evan was freshly delighted.  She was an
+out-of-doors girl it appeared; the morning became her like a shining
+garment.  He forgot the argument; it was sufficient to be with her, to
+laugh with her, to be ravished by the dusky, velvety tones of her voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Of the hours that followed it is unnecessary to speak in detail.  It
+was one long rhapsody, and rhapsodies are apt to be a little tiresome
+to those other than the rhapsodists.  Everybody has known such hours
+for themselves&mdash;or if they have not they are unfortunate.  They
+breakfasted frugally&mdash;there is a delicious intimacy in breakfast no
+other meal knows, and then decided on Staten Island.  Half an hour
+later they were voyaging down the bay, and in an hour were in the woods.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna was inexorable on the question of eleven o'clock, and to Evan
+it seemed as if they had no sooner got there than they had to turn back
+again.  Evan got sore, and the pleasure of the return journey was a
+little dimmed, though there is a kind of sweetness in these little
+tiffs too.  Anybody seeing their eyes on each other, Corinna's as well
+as Evan's, would have known they were no brother and sister, but they
+still kept up the fiction.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they neared home she said: "Do you mind if I go in alone?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you ashamed to be seen with me?" demanded Evan scowling.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Silly!  Didn't I propose this trip?  The reason is very simple.  Your
+ridiculous landlady looks on every man in the house as her property.  I
+don't want to excite her ill-will, that's all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could not deny the truth of this characterisation of Carmen.  "Go
+on ahead," he said.  "I'll hang around in the Park for a while.  See
+you to-night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She stopped, and gave him an inscrutable look.  "Oh, I'm sorry, I
+shan't be home to-night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With this the ugly head of Corinna's mystery popped up again.  It had
+been tormenting Evan all morning, but with a lover's pride he would not
+question her, and she volunteered no information.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh!" said Evan flatly, and waited for her to say more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But she seemed not to be aware that anything more was required and his
+brow darkened.  "If it was me," he thought, "how eager I would be to
+explain what was taking me away from her, but she is mum!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come to-morrow night," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He bowed stiffly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She hesitated a moment as if about to explain, then thought better of
+it, and hurried away, leaving Evan inwardly fuming.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He plumped down on a bench across the square from 45A, and thrusting
+his hands deep in his pockets, stretched out his legs and scowled at
+the pavement.  A "platonic friendship" had no charms for him then.
+"I'm a fool!" he said to himself.  "Her brother!"&mdash;a bitter note of
+laughter escaped him, "when I'm out of my mind with wanting her!  What
+a fool I was to stand for it!  She's just playing the regular girl's
+game&mdash;no blame to her of course, it's their instinct to keep a man at
+arm's length as long as they can.  It pleases them to have us on the
+grill.  And I fell for it!  I'm on my way to make a precious fool of
+myself.  If I can't find out where she's going to-night, I'll be clean
+off my nut before morning.  But I wouldn't ask her!  And if she's going
+out with another man&mdash;!  Lord! which is worse, to know or not to know?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he let himself in the door of 45A, Miss Sisson, according to her
+custom, poked her head out into the hall to see who it was.  She came
+out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Mr. Weir," she said importantly, "where have you been?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Out," said Evan stiffly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was too much excited to perceive the snub.  "There's been a man
+here for you half a dozen times I guess."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What did he want?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know.  Says it's most important."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who was he?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wouldn't give his name.  Acted most mysterious."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What sort of looking man?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A young fellow about your age, but scarcely a friend of yours I should
+say.  A mean-like face."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This meant nothing to Evan.  He looked blank.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The last time he was here he said he'd wait," Miss Sisson went on,
+"but I said there was no place inside, because I didn't like his looks,
+so he said he'd wait in the Square and&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The sound of the door-bell interrupted her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here he is now!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan opened the door and discovered Alfred, the Deaves' second man, on
+the step.  Alfred smiled insinuatingly, but with a difference from
+their first meeting, more warily.  Miss Sisson pressed forward to hear
+what he had to say.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can I see you a moment?" he said to Evan meaningly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looked at Miss Sisson, who forthwith retired with a chagrined
+flirt of her skirts.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They sent me for you," said Alfred.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's eyebrows went up.  "What do they want?" he asked coolly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Search me!" said Alfred shrugging.  "They're in a way about something."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Anything new?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Uh-huh.  Hilton says they got another letter from the blackmailers."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan being human, could not but feel certain stirrings of curiosity.
+"Very well, I'll come with you," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They left a furiously unsatisfied Miss Sisson behind them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan and Alfred rode up-town together on the bus.  Alfred was no less
+silky and insinuating than in the beginning, but whereas at first he
+had been genuinely candid, he now only made believe to be.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He's been warned off me," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The conversation on Alfred's side consisted of a subtle attempt to
+elicit from Evan what had happened the day before, and on Evan's side a
+determination to balk his curiosity without appearing to be aware of
+what he was after.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Deaveses, father and son, were in the library.  Before he was well
+inside the room the latter flung out at him:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where have you been all morning?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan instantly felt his collar tighten.  His jaw stuck out.  "I don't
+know as that is anybody's business but my own," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They both opened up on him then.  Evan could not make out what it was
+all about.  But his conscience was easy.  He could afford to smile at
+the racket.  Finally George Deaves got the floor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Will you or will you not describe your movements this morning?" he
+demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will not," said Evan coolly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What did I tell you?  What did I tell you?" burst out the old man.
+"Send for the police!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's temper had already been put to a strain that morning.  It gave
+way now.  "Yes, send for the police!" he cried.  "I'm sick of these
+silly accusations.  I owe you nothing, neither of you.  My life is as
+open as a book.  I make a few dollars a week by honest work, and that's
+every cent I possess in the world.  Satisfy yourselves of that, and
+then let me alone!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Papa, be quiet!" said George Deaves severely.  "I will handle this."
+To Evan he said soothingly: "There's no need for you to excite
+yourself.  I've no intention of sending for the police&mdash;yet."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, if you don't, I will!" said Evan.  "I'll tell them the whole
+story and insist on an investigation!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves wilted at the threat of publicity.  Evan, in the midst of
+his anger thought: "Lord, if I <I>were</I> guilty this is exactly the way I
+would talk!  How easy it would be to bluff them!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves said: "I hope you won't do anything so foolish as that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, it's a bit too much to be dragged all the way up-town just to
+listen to a re-hash of yesterday's row," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The situation is entirely changed," said George Deaves mysteriously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I don't know anything about that!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves shoved a letter across his desk towards Evan.  Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Dear Madam:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+I beg to return herewith the $5,000 in marked bills that your husband
+left for us yesterday.  We are too old birds to be caught with such
+chaff.  The story, a copy of which I sent Mr. Deaves yesterday, goes to
+the <I>Clarion</I> at eleven A.M. to-day for publication in this evening's
+edition.  If you wish to stop it you must persuade Mr. Deaves to find a
+similar sum in clean straight money before that hour.  These bills must
+be put in an envelope and addressed to Mr. Carlton Hassell at the
+Barbizon Club, Fifth avenue near Ninth street.  Your messenger must
+simply hand it in at the door and leave.  If there is any departure
+from these instructions the money will not be touched, and the story
+goes through.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+With best wishes,
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Yours most sincerely,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">THE IKUNAHKATSI."</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"Good Heavens!" cried Evan amazed.  "Do you mean to say the money was
+returned?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves nodded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And addressed to your wife?  What a colossal nerve!  What have you
+done?  You haven't sent fresh bills?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Another nod answered him, a somewhat sheepish nod.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Maud made him," snarled the old man.  "Insisted on taking the money
+down herself and sent it in by the chauffeur."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you've communicated with Mr. Hassell?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you know him?" demanded George Deaves sharply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why of course, as everybody knows him.  The most famous landscape
+painter in America&mdash;or at least the most popular.  His pictures bring
+thousands!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What good to communicate with him?" said Deaves sullenly.  "I might
+better have him arrested."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But don't you see," urged Evan, "Hassell couldn't have had anything to
+do with this, not with the money he makes and his reputation?  Not
+unless he were crazy, and he's the sanest of men!  It's as clear as
+day.  They're just using his name.  Easy enough for somebody else to
+get the letter at the club."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is this a trick?" muttered George Deaves scowling.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "Why sure! if you want it that way.
+It's nothing to me one way or the other."  He turned to go.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait a minute," said Deaves.  "Why wouldn't it be better to call up
+the club?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan shook his head.  "A man's club is his castle.  Club servants are
+always instructed not to give out information, particularly not over
+the telephone.  Telephone Hassell.  You should have telephoned him
+before sending the money.  Or better still go to him.  It's his
+interest to get to the bottom of this."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Will you go with me?" asked Deaves stabbing his blotter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan smiled.  "A minute ago you implied that I was behind the scheme."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I might have been mistaken.  Anyway, if you had nothing to do with it,
+you ought to be glad to help me clear the matter up."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll go with you," said Evan, "not because I'll feel any necessity for
+clearing myself, but because it's the most interesting game I've ever
+been up against!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Interesting!" shrilled the old man indignantly, "<I>Interesting</I>!  If
+you were being bled white, you wouldn't find it so interesting!  I'll
+go too."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You'll stay right here, Papa," commanded George Deaves.  "And don't
+you go out until I come back!  You've brought trouble enough on me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, you needn't bite off my head!" grumbled the old man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Deaves limousine was available, and a few minutes later George
+Deaves and Evan were being shown into the reception room of a
+magnificent studio apartment on Art's most fashionable street.  George
+Deaves was visibly impressed by the magnificence.  It was rather an
+unusual hour to pay a call perhaps, but the Deaves name was an open
+sesame.  A millionaire and a potential picture-buyer! the great man
+himself came hurrying to greet them.  He was a handsome man of middle
+age with a lion-like head, and the affable, assured manner of a citizen
+of the world.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He showed them into the studio, a superb room, but severe and
+workmanlike according to the modern usage.  Before they were
+well-seated, an attendant, knowing his duty well, began to pull out
+canvases.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I&mdash;I didn't come to talk to you about pictures," stammered George
+Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At a sign from his master the man left the room.  Mr. Hassell waited
+politely to be enlightened.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Poor George Deaves floundered about.  "It's such a delicate matter&mdash;I'm
+sure I don't know what you will think&mdash;I scarcely know how to tell
+you&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Hassell began to look alarmed.  He said: "Mr. Deaves, I beg you will be
+plain with me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves turned hopelessly to Evan.  "You tell him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Better show him the letter," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The letter?" said Deaves in a panic, "what letter?  I don't understand
+you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We came to tell him," said Evan.  "We've either got to tell him or go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves wiped his face.  "Mr. Hassell, I hope I can rely on your
+discretion.  You will receive what I am about to tell you in absolute
+confidence?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear sir," returned the painter a little testily, "you come to me
+in this state of agitation about I don't know what.  Whatever it is, I
+hope I will comport myself like a man of honour!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves handed over the letter in a hand that trembled.
+Hassell's face was a study as he read it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is blackmail!" he cried.  "And in my name!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's why we came to you," said Deaves&mdash;a little unnecessarily it
+might be thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You surely don't suspect&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly not," said Evan quickly&mdash;there was no knowing what break
+Deaves might have made.  "But you can help us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of course!  This letter names eleven o'clock as the hour."  Hassell
+glanced at his watch.  "It's nearly twelve now.  Why didn't you come to
+me earlier&mdash;or phone?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I didn't know&mdash;it didn't occur to me," began Deaves, and stopped
+with an appealing glance at Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan said bluntly: "Mr. Deaves was not acquainted with your name and
+your work until I told him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The great painter looked a little astonished at such ignorance.  "Has
+the money been sent to the club?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves nodded shamefacedly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mr. Hassell immediately got busy.  "I'll taxi down there at once.  I
+rarely use the Barbizon club nowadays.  Haven't been there in a month."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Shall we go with you?" asked Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No.  They may have spies posted who would see you even if you remained
+in the cab.  If you'll be good enough to wait here, I'll be back inside
+half an hour."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Even in his bustle he did not neglect business.  As soon as he had gone
+the servant appeared again, and began to show his pictures.  Deaves
+goggled at them indifferently, but Evan was keenly interested.  He
+studied them with the mixture of scorn and envy that is characteristic
+of the attitude of poor young artists towards rich old ones.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Within a few minutes of his half hour Hassell was back again.  "Not
+much to report," he said deprecatingly.  "The envelope addressed to me
+was delivered just before eleven o'clock, and put in the H box of the
+letter rack.  It was gone when I looked, of course, but who took it
+remains to be discovered.  About thirty members had gone in and out.
+Practically everybody stops at the letter rack.  I have a list of those
+who passed in and out as well as the doorkeeper could make it out from
+memory."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How about the door-keeper?" asked Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Above suspicion, I should say.  Has been with the club for twenty
+years.  A simple soul hardly capable of acting a part.  He would hardly
+have told me that he put my letter in the rack himself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Other servants then?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There were several boys on duty in the hall, but they are not supposed
+to go to the letter-rack without orders.  If one of them had looked
+over the letters it could scarcely have escaped notice.  No, unpleasant
+as it is to think so, I am afraid it was one of the members&mdash;someone
+who was counting on the fact that I never appear at the club except for
+an important meeting or a dinner.  I looked over the members in the
+clubhouse, honest-looking men&mdash;but who can tell?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No doubt the one who got the money left immediately," suggested Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Hassell said to Deaves: "With your permission I should like to take the
+matter up with the Board of Governors."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, no, if you please," said Deaves nervously.  "No publicity."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then allow me to put this list in the hands of a first-class detective
+agency.  Those fellows are secret enough."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let me attend to it if you please."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Hassell handed over the list with manifest reluctance; "If anyone uses
+my name again I trust you will let me know promptly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You may depend on it," said Deaves, making for the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By the way, how did you like my pictures?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very pretty, very pretty," said Deaves uneasily.  "I don't know
+anything about such things.  My wife buys everything for the home."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah!" said Hassell with ironical eyebrows.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will tell her about them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thank you," said Hassell, bowing them out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves didn't say much on the way home, but Evan was aware that
+his attitude had changed.  There were no more accusations.  Clearly
+Deaves had been impressed by the fact that the interview with Hassell
+had turned out exactly as Evan had foretold.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Simeon Deaves was still shuffling around the library in his slippers.
+"Well?" he demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His son briefly told him what had occurred.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man was in a very bad temper.  "Yah! let him pull wool over
+your eyes!" he cried.  "All a pack of thieves together!  Artists never
+have any money!  And this one knows more than he lets on.  He's too
+smart by half!  You mark my words!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Please go outside," the much-tried George said to Evan.  "Wait in the
+hall."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan obeyed with a shrug.  Outside the softly-stepping Alfred was
+loitering suspiciously.  He approached Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Something doing to-day, eh?" he said with his obsequious-impudent
+leer.  "Where did you two go?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's gorge rose at the man.  He saw nothing to be gained now by
+hiding his feelings.  "You damn sneak!" he said quietly.  "Keep away
+from me, or I'll hurt you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Alfred, with a scared and venomous look, slunk down-stairs.  Evan felt
+better.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Presently George Deaves called him back into the library.  At what had
+taken place between father and son he could only guess.  The old man's
+attitude had changed; he was disposed to be friendly.  Divided between
+their fears and their suspicions father and son were continually making
+these face-abouts.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves said in his pompous way: "My father has re-considered his
+decision not to employ you further.  He will be glad to have you stay
+according to the original arrangement."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's right," added the old man.  "I just spoke a little hasty.  I
+always said you were a good boy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's face hardened.  "I'm not sure that I want the job," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Forty dollars a week's a fine salary," said Simeon Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll stay for fifty," said Evan coolly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They both gasped.  "Are you trying to hold us up?" cried George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If that's what you want to call it," said Evan.  "You force me to.  If
+I appear anxious for the job, you will soon be accusing me again of
+being in the gang.  As a matter of fact I don't care whether I stay or
+not."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll pay it," said George Deaves with a sour face, "provided
+you'll agree to investigate the list Hassell gave us in your spare
+time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll do it," said Evan.  "I'm interested.  You'd better discharge
+Alfred who is certainly a spy, and get a detective in his place to keep
+a watch on the other servants."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Those fellows cost ten dollars a day!" cried Simeon Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The blackmailers are getting five thousand out of you every
+fortnight," retorted Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not see the necessity for a detective," said George Deaves
+loftily.  "As long as I'm paying you all this money.  You can look out
+for that side of the case as well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just as you like," said Evan smiling.  It was hopeless to try to argue
+with these people.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Alfred entered, and giving Evan a wide berth laid a long envelope on
+George Deaves' desk.  "Brought by messenger," he said.  "No answer."
+He left the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves paled as his eyes fell on the superscription.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The same handwriting!" he murmured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He nervously tore open the envelope.  It contained some typewritten
+sheets, and a slip with writing upon it.  George Deaves read the letter
+with a perplexed expression, and handed it over to Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you make of that?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan read: "Received of George Deaves the sum of five thousand dollars
+in full payment of the story entitled: 'Simeon Deaves Goes Shopping,'
+including all rights.  All existing copies of the manuscript enclosed.
+Many thanks.  The Ikunahkatsi."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Same old impudence!" said Evan smiling grimly.  "This crook is
+something of a character it seems.  Affects a kind of honesty in his
+dealings."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, he's kept a copy of the story," said George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Possibly.  But why should he go to the trouble of making believe that
+he has not?&mdash;and send a receipt?  Criminal psychology is queer.  This
+is something out of the common that we are up against!"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap09"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER IX
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE COMPACT IS SMASHED
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Evan spent the afternoon walking about with Simeon Deaves.  The old man
+was an indefatigable pedestrian.  He had no object in his wanderings,
+but loved to poke into the oddest and most out-of-the-way corners of
+the town.  They were not followed to-day so far as Evan could tell.  At
+first Simeon Deaves was uneasy and suspicious of his body-guard, but
+finding that Evan took everything calmly for granted, he unbent and
+became loquacious.  All his talk was on the same subject: how to get
+along in the world, i.e. how to make money.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan having taken him home at last, sank into the seat of a bus with
+relief.  "Anyhow it will be good for my health," he thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Before going home he called at the studio of a friend, a member of the
+Barbizon Club, and without taking him entirely into his confidence,
+enlisted his aid in investigating the actions and habits of the men on
+Hassell's list.  It may be said here, that nothing came of this.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan and Charley met for the evening meal.  The irrepressible Charley
+was still singing about the red-haired girl.  In spite of his boasts it
+appeared that his advances had consistently been turned down.  Evan
+took a little comfort from this.  Sullenness was unknown to the gay
+Charley and he was not a whit less optimistic because of his set-backs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You don't want a girl to be too come-on-ish," he said.  "A
+highty-tighty manner adds zest to the game.  They don't expect to be
+taken seriously when they turn you down, bless your heart, no.  Why, if
+I let that girl drop now, she'd despise me for my faintheartedness.
+Sure, and be as disappointed as anything!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was not in much of a humour to laugh at him.  Indeed he foresaw
+that an impossible situation would presently develop between Charley
+and him unless he said something.  With an elaborately casual manner he
+began at last:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I say, Charl, you and I have always played fair with each other."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well I should rather fahncy, as Lord Percy said.  What's on your
+chest, boy?  Unload!  Unload!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's only fair to tell you that I have become acquainted with the
+young lady in question."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley stared.  "The Deuce you say!  You, the scorner of the sex!
+Since when?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Two nights ago."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And you never said a word about it.  You let me shoot off my mouth all
+this time and never&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What was there to say?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You packed me off to the life class last night so you could&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That was for your own good!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come off!  Come off!  Have I such a trusting eye?  On the level why
+didn't you tell me before?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+What was Evan to say.  He began an explanation that was no explanation.
+Charley's sharp eyes bored him through and through.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By the Lord!" cried the latter at last, "Old Stony-heart has melted!
+St. Anthony has fallen for the caloric tresses.  Touched where he
+lives, by Gad!  Brought low and humbled in the dust!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan grinned painfully.  "Don't be a fool!" he muttered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How does it feel?" asked Charley with mock solicitude, "a dull ache in
+the epigastrium or a fluttering sensation in the pericardium; some lay
+stress on the characteristic feeling of heaviness behind the occiput."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You wheeze like a vaudeville performer on small time," growled Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley roared.  He did not often get his partner on the grill like
+this.  It was generally the other way about.  But in the midst of his
+outrageous joshing it suddenly struck the warm-hearted Charley that
+under his game grin Evan was suffering very pretty torments.  Charley
+jumped up and for the briefest of seconds laid his hand on his
+partner's shoulder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Look here," he said abruptly, "you know what I think of you really, or
+if you don't you'll have to take it for granted, for I'll never tell
+you.  I haven't the words, but only a line of cheap cackle as you say.
+Understand, from this time on it's a clear field for you, see?  Me for
+the Movies, to-night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was touched, but of course he couldn't show Charley his feelings,
+for that matter Charley did not require it.  "You needn't go out on my
+account," he grumbled.  "I don't expect to see her to-night.  She has a
+date."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Such was the bitterness with which he said it, that Charley could not
+help but laugh again.  "Cheer up!" he cried.  "It has been known to
+happen.  Fellows like you take it too hard.  Hard wood is slow to
+catch, eh, but Lor' what a heat she throws out!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't jolly me," muttered Evan.  "I can't take it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley's face softened again for an instant.  "C'mon with me," he
+said.  "Mildred Macy in the Spawn of Infamy's at the Nonpareil.  Milly
+is some vamp I hear."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Couldn't sit through a picture," said Evan.  "You go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nevertheless when the dishes were washed up the prospect of spending
+the evening alone in the little room was too ghastly.  As Charley got
+up Evan said sheepishly:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Believe I will go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Bully!" said Charley.  "Get your hat."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they passed her door Evan's ears were long.  No sounds came from
+within, no crack of light showed beneath.  He had been hoping against
+hope that she might be there.  Where was she?  The picture of a little
+restaurant rushed before his mind's eye, Corinna and a man on opposite
+sides of the table, their smiling faces drawing close over the cloth.
+He suffered as much as if he had actually beheld them.  That's the
+worst of having a vivid imagination.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Spawn of Infamy" proved to be what Charley termed "High-life for
+low-lifers" and they were home shortly after nine.  As they mounted the
+first flight Evan perceived a crack of light under Corinna's door and
+his heart rose.  She was home early, she had not had a good time then.
+But as they rounded the landing he heard her voice inside.  She had a
+visitor&mdash;alone in there with her!  A horrible spasm of pain contracted
+his breast.  He had much ado to restrain himself from beating with his
+fists on the door.  He followed Charley up-stairs grinding his teeth.
+He had never suspected that such raging devils lay dormant in his blood.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When they got up-stairs it was quite impossible for Evan to remain
+there.  For a moment or two he walked up and down like something caged;
+he could not pretend to hide the feelings that were tearing him.
+Charley glancing at him wonderingly out of the tail of his eye, bustled
+about talking foolishly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally Evan said thickly: "It's stuffy up here.  I'm going down to
+walk around the Park awhile."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley's eyes followed him compassionately.  Charley's time to
+experience this sort of thing had not arrived.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he started Evan honestly intended to go down in the Park and calm
+himself with the exercise of walking.  But unfortunately he had to pass
+her door.  In spite of himself he stopped there, and despising himself,
+listened.  He heard her say: "I won't sing to-night.  I'm not in the
+humour."  Then he heard a man's voice low and urgent, and he saw red.
+He knocked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She came promptly and opened the door, opened it wide.  She did not
+quail when she saw his lowering face.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good evening," she said with the upward inflection meaning: "What do
+you want?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her tone flatly denied their intimacy of the night before.  This aspect
+of a woman's nature was new to Evan; he was astonished and hotly
+indignant.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"May I come in?" he asked stiffly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," she said promptly and indifferently, and threw the door
+open wide.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan stepped in, and his eyes flew to find his rival.  The latter was
+sitting between the piano and the window.  He was younger than Evan,
+not much more than a lad in fact, but a resolute, comely lad; one of
+whom Evan could be jealous.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Weir, Mr. Anway," said Corinna impassively.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They nodded, eyeing each other like strange dogs.  A factitious calm
+descended on Evan.  He could even smile, but there were ugly lines
+around his mouth.  His voice was harsh.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aren't we going to have some music?" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+By this he meant to convey to the other man that he was accustomed to
+be entertained in that room.  The point was not lost.  The younger man
+whitened about the lips.  The girl gave no sign at all.  Even in his
+anger Evan commended her pluck.  She kept her chin up; her eyes were
+scornful.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll play," she said going towards the piano.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I like your singing better," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am not in the humour," she said in a tone that finally disposed of
+the question.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She played&mdash;what she played Evan never knew.  It is doubtful if any of
+them heard a note.  Evan sat affecting to listen with a smile like a
+grimace.  The other man kept his eyes down.  Whatever Corinna may have
+been feeling, it did not interfere with the technical excellence of her
+performance; her fingers danced like fairies over the keys, but
+to-night there was no magic in the sounds they evoked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna's part was the easiest because she had something to do and
+somewhere to look.  She went from one piece to another without a word
+being spoken.  Evan went on smiling until his face was cracking; the
+other never looked up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally the sounds began to get on Evan's nerves.  "Don't tire
+yourself!" he said with bitter politeness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She stopped, and turning around on the bench waited for him to say
+something more.  Her attitude said plainer than words: "You provoked
+this situation; very well, it's up to you to save it."  This cool
+defiance in a mere girl, a little one at that, angered Evan past all
+bearing.  He smiled the more, and addressed the other man:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fond of music, Mr. Anway?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very," said the other without looking at him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What is your favourite piece in Miss Playfair's repertoire&mdash;I mean
+among the songs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have no favourite."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But don't you think she sings 'Just a Wearyin' for You' and 'Love
+Unexpressed' with wonderful expression?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Anway did not answer.  Corinna yawned delicately.  "You'll have to
+excuse me," she said.  "I have to go to Ridgewood early to-morrow to
+give lessons."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Anway, better-mannered than Evan&mdash;or better-trained, immediately rose.
+Evan sat tight, smiling mockingly at Corinna.  "No, you don't!" the
+smile said.  His conduct was inexcusable of course, but he was beyond
+caring for that.  She had denied him and defied him to his face; let
+her take the consequences.  Anway seeing that Evan wasn't going, sat
+down again flushing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't wait for me," said Evan.  "I only have to go up-stairs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Anway bit his lip.  He was not deficient in pluck, but he lacked Evan's
+self-possession.  The two or three years' difference in age put him at
+a cruel disadvantage.  Finally he looked at the girl.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"May I stay a little longer, Corinna?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Christian name stabbed Evan.  He sneered.  "Nice, well-mannered
+little boy!" his expression said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must both go," said Corinna calmly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan smiled at her again, but she refused to meet his glance.  However
+he stood up now, for he wished to start the other man on his way.
+Anway picked up his hat and gloves.  Then all three stood there
+avoiding each other's glances.  Neither man would be the first to say
+good-night, nor would Corinna address one before the other.  It was a
+sufficiently absurd situation, but it had all the potentialities of a
+violent one.  Finally Corinna cut the knot by saying:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good-night, both of you."  She opened the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The two young men glared at each other.  Anway was the weaker spirit
+and he had to go first.  But he lingered just outside the door to make
+sure that Evan was coming too.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan whispered to Corinna: "I'm coming back."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Indeed you're not!" she retorted, glancing significantly at the key in
+the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I won't go," said Evan coolly turning back into the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna bit her lip.  Clearly, Evan offered her a new set of problems
+in the management of men.  Anway sought to enter again, but she stopped
+him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Please go, Leonard," she murmured.  "This is too absurd!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The whispered colloquy was perfectly audible to Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Anway said: "But I don't like to leave you alone with&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She laughed slightly.  "Nonsense!  I can take care of myself!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But, Corinna, if I go he'll think I&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will put him straight as to that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna," this low and thick, "what is this man to you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No more than you&mdash;or any of my friends."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But, Corinna&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Go!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He went step by step with heavy feet on the stairs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna came into the room leaving the door open.  Her eyes were bright
+with anger.  "Well, you won your pitiful little victory over the boy,"
+she said scornfully.  "I hope you're pleased with yourself!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The blood began to pound in Evan's temples.  "Don't speak to me like
+that!" he said thickly.  "I am no tame thing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You may go," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He smiled.  "Not so easily!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I will."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where will you go?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To Miss Sisson's room."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed.  He had not much fear of that.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter with you?" she demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For a brief instant he seemed to catch a glimpse inside himself and was
+aghast at what was stewing there.  "God knows!" he said helplessly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna took heart at this evidence of weakness.  "Then go away until
+you come to your senses," she said imperiously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan flushed darkly.  "I will not go!" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They stared at each other.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally words began to come to Evan, at first haltingly: "Last
+night&mdash;you sang to me.  Love songs&mdash;that drew the very heart out of
+me&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She made an indignant movement.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I know what you're going to say, they were just songs that you
+might sing to anybody.  But you sung them to me&mdash;in a warm and tender
+voice, knowing that my ears were hungry for the sounds.  You sang down
+all my defenses.  You sang to me until I was soft and helpless.  You
+sang me to your feet.  I offered you myself&mdash;all there is of me body
+and soul.  And you took me!&mdash;Oh, I know you made conditions, what did I
+care?  I scarcely heard them.  What do words matter at such moments?  I
+offered you my love, and you took it.  I felt from that moment that I
+was yours, and you mine.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To-night when I came I found another man here&mdash;another man you were
+accustomed to sing to&mdash;how many of them are there?&mdash;the same songs, Oh
+God!  Another man who looked at you with sick eyes of longing!  And you
+denied me when I came!  You looked at me with the eyes of a stranger
+because he was here!  And now you ask me what is the matter with me.
+Am I a toy spaniel to be petted and turned out of the room by turn?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She found her voice at last.  "You have no right to speak to me like
+that!  You promised me&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, damn such promises!  That's all nonsense!  You're a woman and I'm
+a man!  Have all the little brothers you want, but count me out.  I
+will be your lover or nothing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How dare you!" she gasped.  "You brute!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I'm a brute!" he said.  "I'm glad of it!  Brutal things need to
+be said to clear the air.  There's been too much sickly nonsense.  You
+despise men, don't you?  You like to see them crawling?  You need a
+lesson!  You shall be mine, and mine only and you shall respect me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna was well-nigh speechless now.  "I hate you!  I hate you!" she
+gasped.  "Leave my room!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not till we come to an understanding."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She darted for the door.  It was a mistake in tactics.  A joyous flame
+leaped up in his eyes and he seized her.  She fought him like a little
+tigress, but he only laughed deep inside of him, and drawing her close
+kissed her pulsing throat.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She ceased to struggle.  The hands that had been beating his face stole
+around his neck.  Her lips sought his of their own accord.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I love you!" she murmured.  "I can't help myself!  I love you!  What
+will happen to me now!"
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+At breakfast next morning Evan was in the highest spirits.  His
+piercing inaccurate whistling of "Mighty Lak' a Rose" got Charley out
+of bed a good half hour before his time.  Charley looked at him rather
+sourly, not too well pleased to have his role of little sunshine
+usurped by another.  A scratch decorated one of Evan's cheeks which
+Charley did not overlook.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What have you been in?" he asked sarcastically.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Cut myself shaving," replied Evan with a casual air.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must have shaved early.  It's dry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's only reply was another cadenza.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here's a change of tune!" commented Charley.  "Last night it was the
+Dead March from Saul."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come on, slug!  Breakfast's on the table."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was impossible for Charley to be ill-tempered for long.  Presently
+he began to grin.  "Pleasant walking in the Square last night?" he
+asked dryly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan couldn't quite confide in him, but he was not unwilling that
+Charley should guess how matters stood.  "Out-o'-sight!" he cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Want to borrow some money?" said Charley carelessly.  "I'm flush."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan stared.  "How did you guess that?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They generally do," said Charley airily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll be paid by the old man at the end of the week."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's all right.  Here's five, son.  I can recommend the one on the
+Avenue just below Fourteenth."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The one what?" asked Evan innocently.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Florist."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan blushed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On his way down-stairs Evan tapped on her door with beating heart.
+There was no answer.  With a sigh he went on.  Carmen, who missed
+little, had heard him stop and coming out, volunteered the information
+that Miss Playfair had gone out real early.  Evan thanked her, and
+hurried on, dreading to face the sharp-eyed spinster.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+All morning he walked the streets with Simeon Deaves in a dream.  In
+the middle of the day he made an excuse to avoid luncheon at the
+Deaves' and rushed home, stopping en route to buy a small-sized
+cartwheel of violets.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He let himself in softly and managed to get on the stairs without
+attracting Carmen's attention.  The violets were hidden under his coat.
+Corinna's door stood open now, and his heart began to beat.  "Will she
+recognise my step?" he thought.  "I would know hers on my flight."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stood in her doorway and the heart slowly froze in his breast.  The
+room was empty, dreadfully empty.  She was gone.  The empty mantel, the
+empty floor, the empty place where the piano had stood seemed to mock
+at him.  He turned a little sick, and put his hand out behind him on
+the door frame for support.  "There is some mistake," he told himself,
+but he knew in his heart there was no mistake.  This was the natural
+outcome of the tormenting mystery in which Corinna enveloped herself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He looked stupidly down at the violets in his hand.  In a spasm of pain
+he threw them on the floor and ground them under his heel.  Their
+fragrance filled the room.  Then the violence passed and he felt dead
+inside.  He looked inside the little dressing-room&mdash;not that he
+expected to find her there, but it was a place to look.  It was empty
+of course.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he issued out again the sight of the bruised flowers caused him a
+fresh wrench.  Lying there they were like a public advertisement of his
+betrayed heart.  He picked them up and thrust them as far as he could
+reach up the chimney flue.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the midst of Evan's pain a voice seemed to whisper to him: "You
+might have expected it.  It was too much happiness!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Later he thought: "There will be a letter for me up-stairs," and ran up
+the two flights, knowing there would be no letter.  Yet he searched
+even in the unlikeliest places.  There was no letter.  To his relief
+Charley was out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He thought of Carmen.  Dreadful as it was to face her prying eyes, it
+was still more dreadful not to know what had happened.  He went
+down-stairs again.  On the final flight the unhappy wretch started to
+whistle, hoping by that to attract her to her door that he might not
+have to ask for information.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The ruse was successful.  She came out into the hall.  Evan found
+himself curiously studying the odd bumps that the curling pins made
+under her frowsy boudoir cap.  She required no lead to make her talk.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Miss Playfair has gone!" she cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So I see," said Evan.  He listened carefully to the sound of his own
+voice.  It did not shake.  He kept his back to the light from the front
+door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you know about that!  I never did like her.  One of them
+flibbertigibbets!  You never can trust a red-haired woman!  And such a
+display of her hair, as if it was beautiful indeed!  That showed her
+character.  But I should worry!  Paid me a month's rent in advance when
+she came.  Wanted part of it back this morning.  But I said, 'Oh, no,
+my dear!  That's the landlady's propensity&mdash;I mean perquisite.'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan wondered if the sick disgust he felt of the woman showed in his
+face.  As a matter of fact his face was simply wooden.  Carmen rattled
+on unsuspiciously:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's enough for me.  I don't care if I never rent the rooms.  No
+more women in my house.  They lower the tone.  A man of course can do
+anything and it doesn't matter, but a woman in the house is a cause for
+suspicion even if she doesn't do anything."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was not interested in Miss Sisson's ideas.  He wanted information.
+"What reason did she give for leaving?" he asked carelessly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Said she had an important musical offer from out of town.  But do you
+believe that?  I don't."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She didn't lose much time in moving her things," suggested Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No indeed.  Looks very suspicious if you ask me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was obliged to put his question in more direct form.  "Who moved
+her things?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just an ordinary truck without any name on it.  I looked particularly.
+The piano people came for the piano.  Rented.  It was a Stannering."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Fearing that the next question could not but betray him, Evan was
+nevertheless obliged to ask it: "Did she leave any forwarding address?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Miss Sisson's gimlet eyes bored him through before she replied.  "Yes,
+I asked her.  She said she didn't expect anything to come here, but if
+it did I could forward it care of her friend Miss Evans, 133 West Ninth
+street.  Did she owe you any money?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was too much.  "No, indeed," said Evan, and hurried away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He walked blindly across the Square, conscious only that Carmen was
+probably watching him through the narrow pane beside the door.  How
+well he knew her expression of mean inquisitiveness.  He was marching
+into blackness.  He was incapable of thinking consecutively.  What was
+left of his faculties was concentrated to the sole end of concealing
+his hurt.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But he still had two clues.  He automatically turned down Ninth street
+looking for 133 only to find what everybody knows that West Ninth
+street ends at Sixth avenue and there are consequently no numbers
+beyond 100.  He went to the Stannering piano warerooms to ask if they
+had the new address of Miss Corinna Playfair on their books.  He was
+told that Miss Playfair had returned her piano that morning saying that
+she was leaving town and would require it no longer.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap10"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER X
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+MAUD'S INTEREST
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Meanwhile Evan's association with Simeon Deaves was not without its
+humorous side.  By the exercise of patience and diplomacy he gradually
+learned how to manage the old man like a child, though like a child
+there were times when he was perfectly unmanageable.  Evan in a way
+became quite attached to him simply because he was a responsibility.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Avarice was a kind of disease that afflicted him.  Apart from that he
+was a harmless, even a likable old fellow.  He suffered from acute
+attacks, so to speak: these were his unmanageable times.  He became sly
+and furtive, and sought for pretexts to sneak out of the house without
+Evan, or to give him the slip in the street.  Evan had to watch sharp
+to keep him out of trouble.  He had little doubt but that they were
+generally followed, but by more experienced trackers than the youth in
+grey for he could never be sure of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Simeon Deaves had a thousand foibles, some of which Evan found sadly
+trying.  For instance it was his delight to walk up and down the aisles
+of department stores asking to be shown goods, and haggling over the
+price without the slightest intention of purchasing anything.  The
+audible remarks of the salesgirls made Evan's cheeks burn.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he remonstrated with the old man, the latter would not rest
+thereafter until he had given Evan the slip.  Under cover of the crowds
+he would slip out of a side door, or dart into an elevator just as the
+door was closing.  After a search Evan would find him perhaps entering
+a second-hand shop to trade the decent clothes that Maud made him wear
+for something out of stock with a little cash to boot.  At other times
+Evan would track him by the crowd that gathered to hear his argument
+with a shoe-string peddler or a push-cart man.  A favourite trick of
+his to evade Evan was to suddenly dart behind a moving trolley car.
+More than once this almost ended his career on the spot.  At other
+times he was quite tractable and seemed almost fond of Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Bargaining was his ruling passion.  Consequently they haunted such
+places as the sidewalk market in Grand street, and the fish market
+under the Queensboro Bridge.  Notwithstanding his avarice the old man
+not seldom bought things for which he had no possible use, simply
+because he thought they were cheap.  He would bring home a doubtful
+fish in a bit of newspaper or a bag of pickled apples which promptly
+found their way into the Deaves' garbage cans.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His pet aversion was beggars.  Woe to the beggar who tackled Simeon
+Deaves unwittingly.  He would receive a lecture on Thrift on the spot.
+This likewise furnished amusement to the street crowds.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's grand object, of course, was to keep the old man from doing
+anything which would give the blackmailers a further hold on him.  One
+of his narrowest escapes took place under the very roof of the Deaves
+house.  The old man was considered safe in his own little junk room in
+the basement, and was allowed to potter there unwatched.  One rainy
+morning while he was supposedly so engaged Evan was enjoying a respite
+with a book in the little office adjoining the library, when through
+the open door into the hall he saw one of the maids whisper to another,
+then both tittered and scampered down stairs.  Evan always on the alert
+for mischief, quietly followed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He found most of the servants of that disorderly establishment gathered
+in a basement passage with heads bent, listening to sounds that issued
+through the door of Simeon Deaves' room.  Among them was Hilton the
+butler, an oily, obese rascal whom Evan thoroughly distrusted.  All
+vanished the other way down the passage at Evan's approach.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan knocked peremptorily, and the door being opened, he saw that the
+multi-millionaire was closeted with a typical specimen of old clo' man,
+bearded, dirty and cringing.  It was their dispute over sundry articles
+in Simeon Deaves' weird collection that had drawn the giggling
+servants.  It appeared that the old man was the seller.  Evan bounced
+the old clo' man in spite of his protests.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I come by appoindmend, mister.  I come by appoindmend!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All right" said Evan.  "Call it a disappoindmend, and get!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man was indignant too.  "A very honest man," he protested.  "He
+was willing to pay me twenty-five cents for my alarm clock.  I could
+have got him up to thirty.  It isn't worth more than fifteen!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You can be sure then that he was taking a chance of picking up
+something for nothing," said Evan.  "When will you learn sense!  All
+the servants listening and giggling in the passage.  Nice story the
+alarm clock would make in the papers!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But it was impossible to make the old man realize his own absurdity.
+"Well, you needn't bite my head off," he said pettishly.  "Come on,
+let's go out.  A little rain won't hurt us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+From which it will be seen that their relative positions had undergone
+a considerable change since the beginning.  Evan had become the mentor
+and guide.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the past the demands for money had come pretty regularly about once
+a fortnight, Evan learned.  As the end of the two weeks drew near a
+certain apprehension was evident in the house.  George Deaves was
+wretchedly anxious, Evan somewhat less so, while the old man went his
+ways undisturbed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And then the letter came.  One morning on his arrival Evan was directed
+to the library where he found George Deaves in a state of prostration.
+He waved a letter at Evan in a kind of weak indignation.  Evan took it
+and read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Dear Mr. Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Another story has been written to add to the blithe biography of your
+parent.  It is the most humorous chapter so far.  We do not enclose it,
+as we desire to stimulate your curiosity.  You can read it in the
+<I>Clarion</I> to-morrow evening&mdash;unless you wish to reserve that pleasure
+exclusively to yourself.  In that case you may send a picture to the
+rummage sale of the Red Cross at &mdash; Fifth avenue.  Mrs. Follett Drayton
+is in charge.  Send any framed picture and between the picture and the
+backing insert five of Uncle Sam's promissory notes of the usual
+denomination.  Put your name on the picture for purposes of
+identification.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Yours as ever,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">THE IKUNAHKATSI."</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"This is the return I get for the money I have paid you!" said George
+Deaves reproachfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's a bluff!" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can you assure me of that?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't swear to it of course.  Mr. Deaves gives me the slip once in a
+while.  And there was one day I was not with him.  But he says he
+didn't go out that day.  I'm sure it's a bluff.  If they had a new
+story on him they'd send it fast enough."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Maybe they're going to print the last one."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Maybe.  But in that case why not say so?  They have shown a queer
+sense of honour heretofore in suggesting that when you paid for a story
+that was done with.  Have you got the envelope this came in?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves handed it over.  It was of medium size and made of cheap
+"Irish linen" paper.  The post-mark was Hamilton Grange.  A small
+peculiarity that Evan marked was that though it had been sent from a
+New York post-office the words "New York City" were written in full.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you think about this Mrs. Drayton?" asked Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A woman above suspicion.  They're using her as they used Hassell.
+Easy enough to plant somebody in the Red Cross shop to watch the
+packages received.  Someone to buy the picture you send."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You advise me to ignore this then?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, if it was me I'd call their bluff.  Have a better moral effect.
+Get an old picture from somewhere and stick a piece of paper in the
+back.  The fellow who wrote this letter fancies himself as a humorist.
+Answer him in kind.  Write on the paper: 'Show me first your wares.'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What does that mean?" asked George Deaves innocently.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A quotation from Simple Simon," answered Evan grinning.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other man hung in a painful state of indecision, biting his nails.
+At last he said breathlessly with a tremendous effort of resolution:
+"Very well, I'll do it."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+But the gang proved to have another shot in its locker.  Next morning
+Evan was sent for again to the library where he found a family conclave
+in session.  The gorgeous Maud in purple velvet and pearls ("How does
+she get the money out of them?" thought Evan) was detonating like a
+thunderstorm in the hills.  George Deaves sat crushed at his desk, and
+the old man sputtered and snarled when he could get a word in.  Maud
+(it was impossible for Evan to think of her by a more respectful name)
+promptly turned to discharge her lightnings at Evan's head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What are you good for?" she demanded.  "Aren't you paid a good salary
+to keep my husband's father from disgracing us all?  Why don't you do
+it then?  Why don't you do it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan bit his lip to keep from smiling in her face.  To an outsider
+these family rows smacked of burlesque.  One could always depend on the
+actors to play their regular parts.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you would please explain," said Evan mildly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Read that!" She thrust a letter at him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Dear Madam:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Your husband has declined to purchase the latest anecdote of Mr. Simeon
+Deaves, and has bidden us to let the general public enjoy the laugh.
+This we will very gladly do, but knowing you to be a lady of sensitive
+nature, it seemed too bad not to give you a chance to act in the matter
+first.  The story will be published in the <I>Clarion</I> this evening
+unless we hear from you or from Mr. Deaves.  In case you wish to stop
+it please see our letter of yesterday for instructions how to reach us
+and what to send.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+In the meantime pray accept, dear Madam, the assurances of our
+distinguished consideration, and believe us,
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Yours most respectfully,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">THE IKUNAHKATSI."</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"Why wasn't it sent?" she cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Deaves decided that they were bluffing this time," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You advised me!" said Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly" said Evan.  "That's all I can do.  The decision rests with
+you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why wasn't I consulted?" cried Maud.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And so the storm raged up and down.  Evan devoutly wished himself some
+place else.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Knowing your father's propensity for disgracing us I don't believe
+it's a bluff!" cried Maud.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Disgracing you!" retorted the old man.  "Whose money paid for those
+gew-gaws?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Must I stand here to be insulted in the presence of my husband!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Papa, be quiet!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Disgracing you?  Where would you all be, but for this disgraceful old
+man I'd like to know!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But neither of the men was any match for Maud.  Within a quarter of an
+hour she had driven the old man from the room and reduced her husband
+to a palpitating jelly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the end the latter said hopelessly: "Very well, I'll send the money."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Maud swept triumphantly out of the room.  Evan looked after her with a
+new eye.  During the last few minutes an extraordinary suspicion had
+come into his mind, an incredible suspicion, but it would not down.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The wretched George Deaves played with the objects on his desk.  "All
+very well to say I'll send it," he muttered.  "But where am I going to
+get it?  Useless to ask Papa."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was silent.  There was nothing for him to say.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves looked at him aggrievedly.  "You think I'm wrong to send
+it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I should think it would be hard enough to send it when they had
+something on you, let alone when they were only bluffing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is hard," whimpered the other.  "I think it's a bluff myself.  But
+suppose it isn't and the story is printed.  What would I say to Maud?
+How could I face her?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's for you to decide," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves rapped on his desk, bit his fingers, looked out of the
+window, got up and sat down again.  Finally he said tremulously: "Very
+well, I'll take a chance."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+With what anxiety they awaited the appearance of the <I>Clarion</I> may be
+guessed.  Simeon Deaves and Evan started out immediately after lunch to
+get a copy.  The old man wanted to go direct to the publishing office
+to get it damp from the press, but Evan persuaded him it would never do
+to betray so much anxiety in the matter.  The <I>Clarion</I> office might be
+watched.  Indeed it was not unlikely the gang had an agent there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They found that none of the newsstands in the vicinity of the plaza
+carried the <I>Clarion</I>: "a socialistic rag" it was called in that
+neighbourhood.  They had to walk all the way to Third avenue to find a
+dealer who would confess to handling it.  It would be up at four he
+said, so that they had an hour to kill, which old Simeon spent very
+happily in the fish-market.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For the last fifteen minutes they hung around outside the newsstand
+while the proprietor watched them suspiciously from inside his window.
+When the newswagon drove up Simeon Deaves snatched a <I>Clarion</I> from the
+top of the pile.  The newsdealer held out his hand for the two cents,
+but it was ignored.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan got a copy for himself.  Skimming over the headlines he failed to
+find the name of Deaves and breathed more freely.  A more careful
+search column by column revealed not so much as a stick of type devoted
+to Simeon Deaves.  Evan and his employer looked at each other and
+grinned.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The newsdealer demanded his two cents.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Shan't need the paper now," said Simeon, calmly putting it down.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan averted an explosion by hastily paying for both copies.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the way home the old man was in such an extraordinary good humour
+that he actually bought Evan a five-cent cigar.  Evan keeps it to this
+day as a curiosity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At home they found an ashy and shaken George Deaves waiting for them in
+the library.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's all right!" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A look of beatific relief overspread the other's face.  He immediately
+began to swell.  "That is most gratifying! most gratifying!" he said
+pompously.  "I am really under obligations to you, Weir.  We both are,
+aren't we, Papa?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure, Evan's a good boy.  I always said so.  I bought him a cigar."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Tcha!  A cigar!  I should really like to do something for you, Weir."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You can raise my salary if you want," said Evan slyly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A comical transformation took place in both faces.  "What!  Raise your
+salary!  Again!  Impossible!" both cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed.  "Well, you proposed doing something for me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Someone else in that house had bought a copy of the <I>Clarion</I>.  Mrs.
+George Deaves entered in what was for her a high good humour with a
+copy of the sheet under her arm.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I see you sent the money," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves looked self-conscious.  He greatly desired to lie, but
+lacked the effrontery to do so before the other men.  His father saved
+him the trouble of doing so.  Eager to get back at Maud he said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, he didn't!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Deaves' face fell.  The black eyes began to snap.  Another storm
+portended.  "You promised me&mdash;&mdash;" she began.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you see we were right," interrupted her husband.  "It was a bluff.
+There's nothing in the paper."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You don't know it's a bluff!" she cried.  "Perhaps they were too late
+for the paper.  It will be in to-morrow.  You have got to send the
+money at once as you promised!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But George Deaves' momentary relief had put a little backbone into him.
+"I still think it a bluff!" he said doggedly.  "I'm willing to take a
+chance."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The storm broke.  "Oh, you're willing, are you?  How about me?  How
+about me?  Here you sit all day.  What do you know about how people
+talk?  I have to go about.  I have to see people smile when they think
+I'm not looking and whisper behind their hands.  Do you think I don't
+know what they're saying?  Oh, I know!  'That's Mrs. George Deaves, my
+dear.  Wife of the son of the notorious miser.  You've heard how he
+squabbles in the street with newsboys and fruit vendors over pennies!'
+Well, I've had enough of it!  Enough, I say!  I won't stand it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the full course of her tirade she happened to look at Evan.  Evan's
+suspicion had become almost a certainty.  His eyes were bent steadily
+upon her.  He was not smiling, but there was an ironical lift to the
+corners of his mouth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She pulled herself up.  "Well, if there's anything published to-morrow
+you know what to expect," she said, and swept out of the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan glanced at father and son.  Nothing showed in their faces but
+simple relief at her going.  Evan marvelled at their blindness.  He had
+yet to learn that habitually suspicious people never see what goes on
+under their noses.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan had plenty of food for thought.  An extraordinary situation was
+suggested; one in which it behooved him to move with exceeding caution.
+For the moment his best plan appeared to be to continue to keep the old
+man out of trouble, while he watched and waited and found proof of what
+he was already morally sure.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap11"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XI
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE STEAMBOAT <I>ERNESTINA</I>
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+On a shining morning when the Northeast wind had swept the sky as clean
+as a Dutch kitchen, Evan was on his way to work, trying to make out to
+himself with but poor success that all was right with him and with the
+world.  As a matter of fact the loveliness of the morning only put a
+keener edge on his dissatisfaction.  He could not but remember other
+lovely mornings when the heart had been light in his breast.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Every pretty woman that he met put him in a rage.  "All alike!  All
+alike!" he said to himself.  "God help the man that takes them at face
+value!  Well, they'll never get their hooks in me again!  I know them
+now!"  It did not occur to him that there was rather an inconsistency
+in raging at something so perfectly unimportant; nor did he enquire too
+closely into the motives that led him to search ceaselessly among the
+feminine passers-by and to turn his head to look down every side
+street.  His search for a certain red-haired individual of the despised
+sex had become involuntary.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At Thirteenth street he suddenly perceived Anway coming towards him
+down the avenue, and his heart bounded.  Never was a man gladder to
+stumble on his rival.  Luckily Evan saw him first.  Hastily turning his
+back, he stared in a shop window until he judged the other had passed
+behind him.  Then he took up the trail, forgetting his job, and indeed
+everything else save that Anway must possess the clue to Corinna's
+whereabouts.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was led to the corner of Broadway and Twenty-third street, where
+Anway stopped, evidently to wait for an eastbound car.  This was a
+little awkward, for the cars bound in that direction were but sparsely
+filled at this hour.  Evan bought a newspaper.  Anyway boarded a
+cross-town car and sat down inside.  Evan swung himself on as the car
+got in motion, and remained out on the back platform, using his paper
+as a screen.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As the car progressed to the far East side it gradually emptied until
+only Anway and Evan remained on board.  Evan became rather nervous.
+"Well, if he spots me I'll follow him anyhow," he said.  "What on earth
+is he doing on this ragged edge of the town?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the end of the line Anway got off the front end of the car without
+having discovered Evan, and headed down the water-front street to the
+South.  A number of groups of people, having the gala look of those
+bound on an excursion, were going the same way; and Evan concealed
+himself among them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the river side the new city piers stretched out into the water.  Not
+having been leased yet, all kinds of craft were tied there;
+canal-boats, lighters, schooners, launches.  All the people, including
+Anway, were heading towards a pier where a queer little old-fashioned
+steamboat was lying.  She had a tall, thin smoke-stack and immense
+paddle-boxes.  She looked like one of those insects with a tiny body
+and a wholly disproportionate outfit of legs, antennas, etc., spreading
+around.  Her name was painted in fancy letters on the paddle-boxes:
+<I>Ernestina</I>.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+From the rear Evan saw Anway pass on board.  He wondered what the
+elegant Anway had in common with all the poor and humble people who
+were bound on the excursion.  Many of them obviously did not even
+possess any Sunday clothes to put on for the trip.  There is, surely,
+no greater degree of poverty.  Children were very largely in the
+majority, pale, great-eyed, little spindle-shanks.  All had red tickets
+in their hands.  If, as it seemed, this was a charitable excursion,
+Anway must be one of those in charge.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As he drew closer Evan saw that the tickets were being collected by a
+man at the shore end of the gangway.  Here was a proper source of
+information.  This man had the pale and earnest look of the
+professional philanthropist, a worthy soul, some half a dozen years
+older than Evan, with a wife and four children undoubtedly.  Evan took
+up a place near him and watched the procession wending aboard with
+brightening faces.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You couldn't have a better day for the trip," he hazarded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The ticket-taker responded amiably: "Great, isn't it?  We'll bring 'em
+back with rosy cheeks."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is this the outfit Anway told me about?" asked Evan, feeling his way.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, the Ozone Association trips.  Are you a friend of Anway's?  He's
+just gone aboard."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He told me so much about it I thought I'd stroll down and take a look."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Go aboard if you'd like to.  We won't be leaving for ten minutes yet."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan desired a little further information before trusting himself
+aboard.  "You must need quite a crowd of helpers to look after the
+kids."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Miss Playfair takes care of that for me.  She's a host in herself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+All the blood seemed to leave Evan's heart for a moment, and then came
+surging back until it seemed as if that much-tried organ would burst.
+He heard his informant saying:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But if you know Anway, no doubt you're acquainted with Miss Playfair?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I've met her," said Evan, carefully schooling his voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A wonderful little woman!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Quite so," said Evan dryly.  "Look here," he went on, "I'd like to go
+with you to-day if I wouldn't be in the way.  I mean, work my passage,
+of course; help take care of the kids, or amuse them, or feed them, or
+whatever may be necessary.  My name's Evan Weir."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other man looked Evan over and was pleased with what he saw.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'd be delighted to have you," he said.  "We can always use more help.
+My name's Denton."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, then, give me a job," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"First of all, take my place for a moment," said Denton.  "The
+ice-cream hasn't come.  I must go and telephone."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure thing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You needn't be too strict about tickets," Denton added in an
+undertone.  "I mean in respect to women and children.  The main thing
+is to keep the bad and healthy little boys off."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I get you," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Denton hurried away.  Evan took his place and the procession passed
+before him deprecatingly presenting its squares of red pasteboard.  At
+first Evan scarcely took note of them, he was so busy with his private
+exultation.  He had found her!  And once they got away from the pier he
+would have her all day on the boat where she couldn't escape him.  His
+luck had changed.  For the present he kept his back turned to the
+<I>Ernestina</I> that he might not be unduly conspicuous to anyone happening
+to glance out of the cabin windows.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was recalled to the business in hand by a plea: "Say, Mister!  Let
+me and me brutter go, will yeh please?  We had our tickets all right,
+but a big lad pasted us and took 'em offen us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looked down into a little angel face and clear shining eyes.  The
+"brutter" waited warily in the background.  Evan knew boys, and had no
+doubt but that this was a pair of incorrigibles, but he couldn't refuse
+anybody just then.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's your name, boy?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ikey O'Toole."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, you are out of the melting-pot for sure!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, sir; I live in Hester street."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's all a stall about losing your tickets," Evan said, trying to
+look stern.  "But I'll let you go.  I'm going too, see?  And if there's
+any rough-housing you'll have me to deal with."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The surprised and jubilant urchins hurried aboard.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This incident was witnessed with visible indignation by two pale and
+solemn little girls who stood apart.  They knew the bad little boys
+told a story if the gentleman didn't.  Lost their tickets, indeed!
+During a lull Evan beckoned them.  They came sidling over, each
+twisting a corner of her pinafore.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you waiting for somebody?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A shake of the head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Haven't you got any tickets?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Another shake.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you want to go anyway?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+An energetic pair of nods.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What will your mother say?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ain't got no mutter.  Sister, she don't care.  She works all day."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All right.  Skip on board."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Denton and the ice-cream arrived simultaneously.  Shortly afterwards a
+warning whistle was blown.  A small pandemonium of singing and
+delighted squealing was heard from the upper deck.  Evan stuck close to
+Denton.  They remained on the lower deck while the gangplank was drawn
+in and the ropes cast off.  Meanwhile Evan was gathering what further
+information he could.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How often do you make these trips?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Twice a week&mdash;Tuesdays and Saturdays."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What is the Ozone Association?  I never heard of it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't tell you much, though I work for them.  I've always understood
+it was some rich man who wished to keep his name out of the thing.  I
+was hired by a law firm to manage the trips, and the money comes to me
+through them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How did you get hold of all your helpers?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, one way and another.  Miss Playfair gets her friends to help."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When the <I>Ernestina</I> finally moved out into the stream, Denton remained
+below, attending to the stowage of the ice-cream and to other matters,
+and Evan stayed with him.  To tell the truth, he dreaded a little to
+put his fortunes to the touch by venturing up above.  They were
+unpacking sandwiches when Denton suddenly said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here's Anway.  Anway, here's a friend of yours."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looked up with a wary smile.  As it chanced, the busy Denton was
+called from another direction at that moment, and he did not see the
+actual meeting between the two.  Evan had his back to the light and
+Anway did not instantly recognise him.  Anway's expression graduated
+from expectancy at the sound of the word friend to blankness as he
+failed to recognise Evan, and to something like consternation when he
+did.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What are you doing here?" he blurted out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The same as yourself," replied Evan.  "Only a volunteer."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Without another word Anway turned.  Evan went with him.  He had no
+intention of letting him warn Corinna.  They mounted the main stairway
+side by side, Anway gazing stiffly ahead, Evan watching him with a grin.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As soon as they rounded into the saloon Evan saw Corinna, and his head
+swam a little.  She was so very dear and desirable he forgot how badly
+she had used him.  She was kneeling on the carpet, feeding a hungry
+baby with cup and spoon.  The baby sat in the lap of a woman so spent
+and done, she could do no more than keep the infant from slipping off.
+It was an appealing sight.  In such an attitude Corinna was all woman,
+her face as tender as a saint's.  Evan laid a restraining hand on
+Anway's arm.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let the kid have his meal anyway," he whispered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But some current of electricity warned Corinna.  Looking up, she saw
+Evan at a dozen paces' distance.  Evan trembled for the cup.  It was
+not dropped.  Corinna had herself better in hand than Anway.  No muscle
+of her face changed; only the light of her eyes hardened.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She thinks you brought me aboard," murmured Evan wickedly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Anway flushed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna resumed her feeding of the baby.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was divided between admiration and chagrin.  Secretly he had
+counted on his appearance creating a more dramatic effect than this.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Anway hung around in a miserable state of indecision.  If Evan had only
+given him an excuse to punch him he would have been glad no doubt.
+Finally he said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You see what she's doing.  Come away and let her be."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan good-humouredly shook his head.  "The sight gives me too much
+pleasure," he said.  "But don't let me keep you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Anway lingered unhappily, walking away a little and coming back.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna did not look at Evan again.  Her self-control was too
+provoking.  "By Heaven, I'll make her show some feeling before the
+day's out!" he vowed to himself.  When the cup was empty she came
+straight toward him with her chin up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How do you do, Corinna?" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She looked at him with the faint air of surprise she knew so well how
+to assume.  Then, as if suddenly placing him: "Oh!  You must excuse me
+now.  I have a dozen hungry babies to feed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, with a smile, allowed her to pass downstairs.  It required no
+small amount of self-control.  "Patience, son!" he said to himself.
+"You have all day before you.  If you lose your temper, she'll have you
+exactly where she wants you.  However she bedevils you, you must be
+little Bright-eyes still!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna presently returned with more food and proceeded to the next
+baby in line.  In the meantime Anway, finding himself both unnecessary
+and helpless in this situation, had drifted away&mdash;to confer with his
+"brothers," perhaps.  The second baby's mother was perfectly capable of
+feeding her own offspring, and Evan saw that Corinna was merely using
+the infant as a shield against him.  But he could not seem to interfere
+between a helpless baby and its food.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When she passed him again bound down below he said: "Let me help you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks, this is hardly in your line," she said coldly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nevertheless he followed her down and saw that she went to the galley
+for a soft-boiled egg for the next child.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're wasting your time running up and down," he said with obstinate
+good nature.  "Let me be your waiter and fetch the different orders
+while you feed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks; I don't need your assistance," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But he saw that her temper was beginning to rise, and took heart.  If
+he could only put her in the wrong!  He blandly followed her back
+again, and as she started to feed he found out for himself what the
+next baby required.  This was a small one and its order was for six
+ounces of milk with two ounces of barley water and a teaspoonful of
+sugar added, the whole in a bottle well-warmed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He procured it from the galley in due course.  Corinna received it of
+him with a very ill grace.  "She'd make a face at me if she didn't have
+her dignity to keep up," thought Evan.  After that he had her.  They
+worked their way down one side of the saloon and back on the other, to
+all outward appearance at least like two pals.  Evan was careful to
+confine his remarks to milk, oatmeal gruel, beef broth and orange
+juice.  Corinna could not find matter in this to quarrel over.  She was
+as acidly sweet as one of the oranges.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Only the little ones and the sick were specially fed in the saloon.
+The others were taken down in relays to the dining-room on the main
+deck aft.  Corinna's and Evan's task came to an end at last.  As he
+carried the last cup back to the galley Evan said to himself: "Now's my
+chance!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But when he returned he saw that Corinna, for the sake of the
+convalescent children not allowed out on deck, had started to tell a
+story.  They were pressing around her in close ranks that presented a
+triple line of defence.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap12"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+EVAN LOSES A ROUND
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Evan, somewhat crestfallen, went out on deck and lit a cigarette.  "Oh,
+well, it can't last forever," he told himself.  He found a seat near an
+open window where he could overhear the story.  To his mind Corinna had
+not much of a talent for it.  He thought he could have told a better
+one himself.  It was the chronicle of an unpleasantly good little girl,
+and when Corinna was gravelled for matter to continue with, she filled
+in by lengthily describing the heroine's clothes.  "Just filibustering
+like the U. S. Senate," thought Evan disgustedly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna, suspecting perhaps that she had too critical a listener,
+changed her seat on the pretext of a draught and he could hear no more.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Meanwhile the good ship <I>Ernestina</I> was industriously wig-wagging her
+walking-beam down the upper Bay.  She was a quaint, crablike little
+craft.  Her tall and skinny smokestack was like a perpetual exclamation
+point.  Her gait resembled that of a sprightly old horse who makes a
+great to-do with his feet on the road but somehow gets nowhere.  At the
+end of each stroke of her piston she seemed to stop for an instant and
+then with a wheeze and a clank from below, and a violent tremor from
+stem to stern, started all over.  Her paddle-wheels kicked up alarming
+looking rollers behind, but with it all she travelled no faster than a
+steam canal-boat.  Not that it mattered; the children got just as much
+ozone as on the deck of the <I>Aquitania</I>.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's patience was not inexhaustible.  By the time they reached
+Norton's Point he was obliged to go in to see how the story was
+progressing.  It was no nearer its end, as far as he could judge.
+Corinna's Dorothy Dolores was donning a party dress of pink messaline
+with a panne velvet girdle.  The children's interest flagged and they
+drifted away, but there were always others to take their places.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Ikey O'Toole and his pal happened to pass through the saloon bound on
+some errand of their own, and Evan had a wicked idea.  "Come here,
+boys," said he, "and I'll tell you a story about robbers."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their eyes brightened.  Evan took a seat opposite Corinna's and began:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There was a band of train-robbers and cattle-rustlers who lived in a
+cave out in Arizona, and they had for a leader a guy named
+Three-fingered Pete.  Pete could draw a gun quicker with his three
+fingers than any other man with five."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+And so on.  There was magic in it.  Let it not be supposed that little
+girls are proof against a story of robbers however they may make
+believe.  They came drifting across the saloon.  In ten minutes there
+were twenty children surrounding Evan, while Corinna's audience had
+dwindled to four and they were restive.  Corinna kept on.  Her pale,
+calm profile revealed nothing to Evan, but he doubted if she were pale
+and calm within.  Corinna was not red-headed for nothing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When her hearers were reduced to two she abruptly rose.  Evan wondered
+if sweet Dorothy Dolores had been brought to a violent end.  He got up
+too.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To be continued in our next," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aw, Mister!  Aw, Mister!" they protested, clinging to his coat.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"After lunch," he promised, freeing himself, and hastening down the
+saloon after Corinna.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He thought he had her cornered in the bow, but she dropped into a seat
+beside a woman with a sick baby and enquired how it was getting on.
+The two women embarked on what promised to be an endless discussion of
+the infant's symptoms.  Evan felt decidedly foolish, but stubbornly
+stood his ground.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Denton unexpectedly came to his assistance.  "Miss Playfair," he said,
+"I've got a seat for you in the dining-room, and one for Mr. Weir.
+Won't you come down now?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Two seats!  Together, naturally.  Evan's heart went up with a bound.
+But Corinna was not going to be led into any such trap.  She asked the
+woman beside her if she had had her lunch.  The answer was a shake of
+the head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I'll hold the baby, and you go with these gentlemen," said
+Corinna blandly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let me hold the baby," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, thank you, sir; but he don't like men."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan went down with Denton and the woman, but he did not mean to be put
+off so easily.  Seeing the crowd in the dining-saloon, he said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They're rushed here.  Let me help serve for a while.  Save two seats
+when Miss Playfair comes down."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure," said Denton amiably.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Down the length of the lower saloon there was a double row of tables,
+each with an end to the side wall.  Every seat was taken.  In addition
+to Denton the waiters were Anway and a black-haired youth with a hot
+eye who greeted Evan with a frank scowl.  Denton introduced him as
+Tenterden.  "Another of Corinna's 'brothers'," thought Evan.  "The boat
+is manned with her family!"  He turned in to help with a will.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Nearly an hour passed before Corinna appeared for her lunch, and the
+dining-saloon was beginning to empty.  Seeing Evan there, she naturally
+supposed he had finished eating and had remained to help.  She took a
+seat next the window at one of the tables, and thus protected herself
+on one hand.  Indicating the chair on the other side of her she said to
+Denton:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sit here.  You can be spared now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks, but I promised this seat to Weir," said Denton innocently.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna bit her lip.  The said Weir made haste to slip into the seat,
+before anything further could be said.  Corinna quickly started a
+conversation with a youth across the table, another helper, and
+supposedly a "brother"&mdash;at least he looked at Corinna with sheep's eyes.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, determined not to allow himself to be eliminated, said firmly: "I
+have not met this gentleman."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna said coldly: "Mr. Domville, Mr. Weir."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Next to Domville sat another helper, an older man with a queer, clever,
+bitter face, Mr. Dordess.  Some belated mothers made up the tableful.
+Anway waited on them.  As he placed a plate of soup before Evan with
+set face, Evan suspected he would rather have poured it down the back
+of his neck.  Evan thanked him ironically.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna did her best to keep the conversation of the whole tableful in
+her hands, but of course it was bound to escape her sometimes.  And
+there were lulls.  At such moments Evan could speak to her without
+anybody overhearing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna, what's the use?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Affecting not to hear him, she asked a question across the table.  Evan
+patiently bided his time.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"'What's the use?' I said."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't understand you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the use of trying to evade something that's got to be faced in
+the end."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's got to be faced?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is that a threat?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No.  You know, yourself, after what happened you owe me an
+explanation."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The explanation is obvious."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I must be very dense."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you were the least bit sorry, I could talk to you; but to glory in
+it, to try to trade on it&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sorry for what?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, of course you have nothing to be sorry for."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're talking in riddles.  You know I love you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She laughed three notes.  He frowned at the sound.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's a funny way you have of showing it," she said.  "To try to humble
+me further!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you ask for it, Corinna&mdash;with your high and mighty way.  I told
+you that before."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Silence from Corinna.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know what cause you have to be sore at me," he resumed when he
+got another opportunity.  "It seems to me I'm the one&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, you'll get over it, I suspect."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna, why did you run away?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She rolled a bread ball.  "Because I was ashamed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He looked at her in honest surprise.  "Ashamed!  Of what?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You know very well what I mean."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I swear I do not!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will hate you if you force me to say it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll take my chance of that," he said grimly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very well.  Don't you understand that a person may be carried away for
+the moment, and do things and say things that they bitterly regret
+afterwards.  Of course if you have no standards of right and wrong you
+wouldn't understand."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks for the compliment."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What happened that night," she went on, "that sort of thing is
+horrible to me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At last he understood&mdash;and frowned, for it was his deepest feelings
+that she slandered.  But he was not fully convinced that she was
+sincere.  "Then you lied when you said you loved me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I was carried away.  That sort of thing isn't love."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This angered Evan&mdash;but he held his tongue.  He sought to find out from
+her face what she really thought.  She looked out of the window.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Now I hope you understand," she said loftily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have a lot to learn," said Evan, "about love and other things."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"At any rate I hope I have made you see how useless it is to follow
+me," she said sharply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is useless," said Evan&mdash;"to talk to you," he added to himself.
+"When I get you off this confounded steamboat we'll see what we'll see."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't stare at me like that," said Corinna.  "It's attracting
+attention."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought: "If there was only another girl on board that I could
+rush!  That might fetch her!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan saw indeed that Dordess was regarding him quizzically.  Of all the
+men (saving Denton) Dordess was the only one who did not scowl at Evan.
+Evan was not deceived thereby into thinking that he had inspired any
+friendliness in this one.  It was simply that Dordess was more
+sophisticated, and had his features under better control.  To create a
+diversion, Evan asked him:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What has your particular job been to-day?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Serving at the water-cooler," was the response, with a wry smile, "to
+keep down the mortality from colic."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Thereafter Evan took part in the general conversation, and when the
+time came to rise from the table, he let Corinna go her way unhindered.
+He pitched in with a good will to help wash dishes, and to pack up the
+Ozone Association's property in the galley.  But let him work and joke
+as he might, he won no smiles from the "brothers."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lord, if it was me, I'd put up a better bluff to hide my feelings," he
+thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Later he took over part of the deck to watch and keep the children from
+climbing the rails and precipitating themselves overboard.  Later
+still, as they neared home and the small passengers became weary and
+obstreperous, he resumed the tale of the bandits in the saloon to an
+immense audience.  Evan, perhaps because of his casual air towards the
+children, became the most popular man on the boat.  He did not try to
+win them, and so they were his.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna could not quite fathom his changed attitude towards her.
+During the whole afternoon he let her be.  More than once he caught her
+glancing at him, and laughed to himself.  He was taking the right line.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On one occasion the sardonic Dordess joined him on deck.  Dordess had
+excited more than a passing interest in Evan.  He was different and
+inexplicable.  He had eyebrows that turned up at the ends like a
+faun's, giving him a devilishly mocking look.  The essence of
+bitterness was in his smile.  He had the look of a man of distinction,
+yet his clothes were a thought shabby.  "Clever journalist gone to
+seed," was Evan's verdict.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess said very offhand: "How do you like your job of nursemaid?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"First-rate!" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How did you happen to stumble on our deep-sea perambulator?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was wary.  "I just happened to be passing, and saw the kids
+crowding aboard.  I stopped to look, and Denton asked me if I wanted a
+job."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess cocked one of his crooked eyebrows in a way that suggested he
+didn't believe a word of it.  Evan didn't much care whether he did or
+not.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess said dryly: "Denton said you were a friend of Anway's."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He misunderstood," said Evan carelessly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you going to be with us regularly?" asked Dordess with a meaning
+smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I only volunteered for to-day."  Evan's tone implied that the future
+could take care of itself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess said deprecatingly: "I hope the boys haven't made you feel like
+an outsider."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not at all," said Evan cheerfully.  "I wouldn't mind if they did," he
+added.  "The main thing is for the kids to have a good time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure," said Dordess dryly.  "You see, the boys get the idea that these
+excursions are a sort of family affair, and they're apt to resent the
+help of strangers."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I see," said Evan.  "Are you one of Miss Playfair's 'brothers' too?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No; I'm an uncle," said Dordess with his bitter smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He walked away.  There had been nothing in his words to which Evan
+could take offence, nevertheless as plainly as one man could to another
+he had conveyed the intimation that Evan was not wanted on board, and
+that if he ventured on board again it would be at his peril.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The brotherhood evidently fears that I'm going to break up the
+organization," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they approached the end of their journey Evan began to consider what
+measures he should take upon landing.  His part was a difficult one to
+play with good humour; that is, to force himself on a young lady who
+said she detested him, and who had half a dozen brothers and an uncle
+to take her part.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She'll do her best to give me the slip," he said to himself.  "When we
+tie up I'll stand by the gangway on the pretext of keeping the kids
+from falling overboard.  Some of them or all of them will take her
+home, no doubt.  I'll tag along, too.  They can't very well openly
+order me away, and I don't give a damn for their black looks and
+meaning hints.  The main thing is to find out where she lives.  I can
+choose my own time to call.  Perhaps she won't open the door to me.
+Well, my patience is good."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they approached the pier Evan went down to the main deck.  Corinna
+was not visible at the moment.  Only the forward gangway of the
+<I>Ernestina</I> was used.  Her shape was so tubby that she couldn't bring
+any two points alongside a straight pier simultaneously.  While they
+were making a landing all the children were kept roped off in the stern
+and up in the saloon.  The only persons in the bow space beside Evan
+were Denton, Anway, Domville, Tenterden, two other "brothers" and two
+deckhands to stand by the lines.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Up forward there was an additional stairway from the saloon.  This was
+enclosed and had a door at the bottom, locked at the moment to keep the
+children out of the way.  In the centre of the deck was a hatch for
+freight, used presumably when the <I>Ernestina</I> served as a carrier.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As the steamboat sidled up to her pier Evan heard Corinna's voice call
+down the stairway: "Oh, Mr. Denton; will you come up here for a moment?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Denton unlocked the door and disappeared upstairs.  The door was locked
+after him.  At the same moment Domville and one of the unidentified
+young men threw back the hatch cover.  The latter said: "Let's get the
+cargo ashore first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan wondering what cargo the excursion boat could be carrying, stepped
+forward in idle curiosity to look down the hatch.  Suddenly he became
+aware that the young men were circling behind him.  Before he could so
+much as turn around, he was seized from each side and a hand clapped
+over his mouth.  With a concerted rush they swept him into the hole in
+the deck, falling on their knees at the edge, and letting him drop in.
+He fell on a mattress and was not in the least hurt.  From above he
+heard a loud guffaw from the deckhands.  Then the hatch cover was
+clapped down, and he heard heavy objects being piled upon it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan raged silently in his prison.  Pride restrained him from making
+any outcry.  He had no fear that his murder was contemplated.  They'd
+have to let him out again.  In the meantime they'd get no change out of
+him.  And the future could take care of his revenge.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was in a small cargo space between two transverse bulkheads.  He
+could touch the beams over his head.  The place was perfectly empty
+except for the mattress.  The mattress suggested that this had been
+carefully planned.  It was not dark, being lighted by a fixed porthole
+on either side, not much bigger than an orange.  These lights were only
+a foot or two above the waterline, and when the <I>Ernestina</I> reversed
+her engine in making the pier, the water washed up over the glass.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could hear all the sounds attendant upon making a landing; the
+casting lines thrown ashore, the hawsers pulled over the deck, the
+jingle to the engine room signalling that all was fast.  Then the
+gangway was run out and the feet poured over it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan found that through the porthole on the pier side he was able to
+catch a brief glimpse of the passengers as they stepped ashore.  He saw
+the children scurry away, never dreaming that the admired story-teller
+was immured below.  The big girls followed more sedately, and after
+them the mothers with backs sagging under the weight of babies.  Last
+of all he had the unspeakable chagrin of seeing Corinna pass with
+Denton grasping her arm.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's why I was put down here," he thought.  "To allow her to make
+her getaway."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the fraction of a second that she was visible to him, her head was
+turned back towards the boat.  When a woman glances over her shoulder
+her true feelings come out; she cannot help herself.  There was anguish
+in Corinna's backward look.  Evan marked it, but he did not love her
+then.  Not that he meant to give over the pursuit; on the contrary he
+swore that she should pay.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Five minutes later the hatch cover was lifted, a short ladder was let
+down, and Evan was bidden to come up.  He mounted smiling.  What that
+smile cost him none but he knew.  But he also knew that with six or
+more against him to show truculence would only have been to make
+himself ridiculous.  He paused on the deck, and coolly looking around
+him, tapped a cigarette on the back of his hand.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess was now with the others.  He had the grace to look away, as
+Evan's glance swept around.  The younger men betrayed in their faces
+their hope that Evan would show fight, and thus give them a chance to
+justify themselves.  Evan saw it, and had no idea of gratifying them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Tenterden, he of the hot black eyes, who seemed to be leader in this
+part of the affair demanded aggressively: "Well, what are you going to
+do about it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Much obliged for the mattress," said Evan, coolly meeting his gaze.
+"Very thoughtful of you." He counted them ostentatiously.  "Six of
+you&mdash;and a couple of deckhands in reserve.  You flatter me, gentlemen!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He strolled over the gangway.  How they took it he did not know, for he
+would not look back.  At least none of them found a rejoinder.  He had
+the last word.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They think they have me scared off," he said to himself.  "Just let
+them wait till the <I>Ernestina</I> sails again, that's all!"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap13"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XIII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+A LITTLE DETECTIVE WORK
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+At first Evan had some doubts as to what ought to be his course of
+action in respect to Mrs. George Deaves.  While it was true that her
+husband had definitely given him to understand that he was hired for
+the purpose of running down the blackmailers, he did not suppose that
+George Deaves would thank him for proof that his own wife was
+implicated.  But that didn't alter his duty.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm being paid to deliver them from the gang," he said to himself.
+"As long as I take their money I've got to do what I can to earn it.
+It's none of my affair where the trail leads.  If they want to kick me
+out for my pains, why that's up to them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It promised to be no easy matter to watch Mrs. Deaves.  Evan rarely saw
+her.  During the few hours that he spent in the house she was
+presumably either in her own rooms, or out in the motor.  One
+suspicious circumstance he did not have to look for, because everybody
+in the house was aware of it.  Maud Deaves was continually in money
+difficulties.  Her creditors camped on her trail.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Two lines were open to Evan: to bribe her maid and to watch her
+letters.  The maid, Josefa, was a light-headed creature perfectly
+willing to plot or counterplot with anybody.  Unfortunately she was of
+very little use to Evan, because her mistress did not trust her in the
+least.  As for the letters, it was scarcely likely that if Maud Deaves
+were carrying on a dangerous correspondence she would have the letters
+come openly to the house.  Nevertheless Evan determined to get to the
+house early enough in the mornings to look over the first mail before
+it was distributed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the morning following his trip on the <I>Ernestina</I> he found a letter
+addressed to her that gave him food for reflection.  The address was
+typewritten.  The envelope was of medium size "Irish linen" of the kind
+that never saw either Ireland or flax; in other words, just such an
+envelope as those which had brought the blackmailing letters.  In
+itself this was nothing for many thousands of such envelopes are sold.
+But it was postmarked "Hamilton Grange" and it was addressed "New York
+City."  The three little facts taken together were significant.  Evan
+slipped it in his pocket.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But though it had the look of a mere business letter or a bill, he
+still had qualms about opening it.  Useless to tell himself that it was
+his duty to do so.  To tell the truth Evan was not cut out by nature to
+be a detective.  He finally decided to put his problem to George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Deaves," he said, "am I employed to accompany your father on his
+walks or to discover the blackmailers?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Primarily to run down the blackmailers," was the prompt reply.
+"Merely to go with my father is not worth all the money I'm paying you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very good.  Then I'm supposed to follow the trail wherever it may
+lead?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Even in this house?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of course.  I told you particularly to watch the servants.  Whom do
+you suspect?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have no evidence yet.  I merely wanted to know where I stood.  Would
+I be justified in opening letters that looked suspicious to me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, yes.  The guilty person wouldn't tell you of his own accord."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Thanks; that's what I wanted to know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you found out anything?" Deaves asked eagerly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not yet."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mind, you are to find out everything you can, but you are not to take
+any action without consulting me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I understand."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+While the servants were at breakfast Evan went to the water heater in
+the basement and, opening the valve, steamed the envelope open.  He
+took the contents to the little room off the library to read.  This is
+what met his eyes:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Madagascar Hotel
+August&mdash;<BR>
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Dear Madam:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+I am exceedingly sorry to be obliged to inform you that my customary
+fortnightly contribution to your charity must be omitted on this
+occasion, the reason being that the activity of a certain agitator has
+resulted in shutting off the income from my business, and I am without
+funds.  I am sure you will agree with me that these agitators ought to
+be discouraged in every possible way.  Let us make a stand against
+them.  You can reach me at this hotel at any time.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Yours faithfully,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">RODERICK FRELINGHUYSEN.</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+This had an innocent sound, and for a moment Evan supposed he had made
+a mistake in opening it.  But he read it again, and began to grin as
+the various implications of the note became clear to him.  "Damn
+clever!" he thought.  "If this was found lying about no one could
+suspect anything from it.  Not even George Deaves.  Why, it almost took
+me in and I was forewarned!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thoughtfully considered all that the letter meant.  "First of all
+it shows that Maud is not a regular member of the gang, but that they
+have been whacking up with her just to gain her good will.  That's why
+she supplies the pressure from this end.  It all fits in!  Of course I
+am the agitator that he refers to, and he's suggesting to her that she
+get me fired.  But why does he give her an address so that she can
+write to him?  By George!  I have it!  He's giving her a chance to send
+him a story that can be used against the old man!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He took a copy of the letter, sealed it up again and slipped it back
+among the rest of the mail matter in the hall.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+During the morning he was obliged to accompany Simeon Deaves on one of
+his peregrinations.  When they returned for lunch Evan sought out
+Josefa, the lady's-maid.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's your mistress been doing all morning?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Maud's got a new bug!" was the scornful answer.  "Been practising
+on the typewriter for hours."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan pricked up his ears.  "The typewriter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"She went out right after breakfast and brought home a second-hand
+machine.  Been beating the Dickens out of it ever since."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What is she writing?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Search me.  Won't let me come near her.  Looks like a story or
+something."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Get a glimpse of it if you can."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No chance.  She's got eyes all round her head."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can you work a typewriter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A little bit."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, when she goes out stick a piece of paper in the machine and
+strike every key once, see?  I want an impression of every character."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I get you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After lunch Evan had to waste more precious hours walking around with
+the old man.  When they returned Josefa reported that Mrs. Deaves had
+finished her typewriting about three, and had then done up the sheets
+in a large envelope, and after carefully destroying the spoiled sheets,
+had carried the envelope out, presumably to post it.  Josefa gave Evan
+the paper he had asked for, with a print of each character of the
+typewriter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was then five o'clock.  City letters require two hours or more for
+delivery, and supposing this package of Mrs. Deaves' to be an answer to
+"Mr. Frelinghuysen's" note, it would soon be due at the Hotel
+Madagascar.  Evan determined to go and ask for it himself.  He did not
+suppose that Mr. Frelinghuysen was stopping at the Madagascar.  That
+would be too simple.  He knew, as everybody knows, what an easy means
+the "call" letters at a great hotel offers for the exchange of illicit
+correspondence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Madagascar, as all the world knows, is one of our biggest and
+busiest hotels.  Evan went boldly to the desk and asked if there were
+any letters for Mr. Roderick Frelinghuysen.  The name sounded imposing.
+The busy clerk skimmed over the letters in the F box, and, tossing him
+a bulky envelope, thought no more about it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, in high satisfaction, wended his way to another hotel in the
+neighbourhood, and there at his leisure tore the envelope open and
+read&mdash;well, very much what he expected: a story designed to be used for
+blackmailing purposes against Simeon Deaves.  No letter accompanied it;
+none was necessary.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This story dealt with ancient history, and contained uglier matter than
+mere ridicule of the old man's avarice.  It had to do with the
+circumstances of the marriage of George Deaves to Maud Warrender and
+what followed thereupon.  In other words, Maud had been engaged in the
+amiable occupation of fouling her own nest.  According to this account
+Simeon Deaves had instigated his weak and complaisant son to woo Miss
+Warrender because her father was President of a railroad that Simeon
+Deaves coveted.  As a result of the marriage Deaves, who up to that
+time had only been a money-lender, had succeeded in entering the realms
+of high finance.  No sooner was his own position secure, so the story
+went, than Simeon Deaves set himself to work to undermine Warrender,
+and in the end ousted him from his railway and ruined him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This tale had none of the finesse and humour of that written by the
+blackmailers; it was simply abusive.  Yet Maud had not so far forgotten
+herself as to show her hand.  The facts were such as many persons
+beside herself might have been aware of.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan painstakingly compared the sheets of the story with the paper
+Josefa had given him.  Every typewriter, save it is just from the
+factory, has its peculiarities.  There was enough here to make out a
+case: "e" was badly worn and had a microscopic piece knocked off its
+tail; "a," "w," "s" and "p" were out of alignment; there was something
+the matter with "g," so that the following letter generally piled up on
+top of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In short, Evan held in his hands positive evidence of Maud Deaves'
+treachery.  But upon consideration he decided not to put it before her
+husband at least for the present.  In the first place, he didn't relish
+taking the responsibility of breaking up the Deaves family, and in the
+second place it was clear that the woman was only a tool in the hands
+of a rascal far cleverer than she.  To deprive him of his tool would
+not break up the rascal's game; he could get another.  Therefore Evan
+decided to keep his discovery to himself, and use it if possible to
+land the principal in the affair.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He considered whether he should have the desk at the Madagascar watched
+with a view to apprehending "Mr. Frelinghuysen" when he asked for his
+letter, but decided against that also.  So clever a fox would hardly be
+likely to walk into so open a trap.  He would send an innocent agent
+for the letter, while he watched in safety.  On the whole it seemed
+best to do nothing that might put him on his guard, but to wait until
+he attempted to use his story, for a chance to land him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He procured another envelope, had the hotel stenographer address it,
+and, sealing up the manuscript, carried it back to the Madagascar and
+handed it in at the desk "for Mr. Frelinghuysen," careful to choose a
+different clerk from the one who had given it to him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It must have been called for shortly afterwards and acted upon at once.
+Next morning, when Evan arrived at the Deaves house, the story was
+already back there.  The customary violent family conference was in
+progress in the library.  Evan guessed from their expressions that his
+name had entered into this quarrel.  Indeed, Mrs. Deaves was for
+ordering him out of the room again, but the old man was too quick for
+her.  He placed the latest letter in Evan's hands.  Mrs. Deaves turned
+away with a shrug.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, you know what I think of it," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Dear Sir:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+You thought we were bluffing, didn't you, when we said we had a chapter
+to add to your father's biography?  Well, here it is.  Your rejection
+of our proposal was received during the absence from town of our chief.
+That accounts for the delay.  Upon his return our chief instructed that
+you were to be given a chance to read the matter before it was
+published.  So we enclose it.  In the absence of any further
+communication from you before noon, it will appear in this evening's
+edition of the <I>Clarion</I>.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+To-day your procedure for communicating with us must be as follows:
+Bring the specified sum in cash to the house at 11 Van Dorn street.  It
+must be enclosed in an envelope or package.  You must approach on foot.
+Ring the bell; hand it to the woman who opens the door with the words:
+'For the gentleman up-stairs' and leave at once.  You may bring a
+single attendant with you if you choose&mdash;you would probably be afraid
+to come without one.  But neither you nor he must linger, nor question
+the woman, nor seek to penetrate beyond the front door.  If you do so,
+or bring any other persons with you or after you, let the consequences
+be or your own head.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Yours as ever,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">THE IKUNAHKATSI."</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"What are you going to do?" asked Evan of George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Maud snatched the answer from her husband's lips.  "He's going to pay!"
+she cried.  "He can take you with him if he wants, as there's no one
+else available.  I've no objection to that.  But if you go you're to do
+exactly what the letter tells you and no more!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Evan continued to look to George Deaves, the latter was obliged to
+nod a feeble assent.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He hasn't got the money," put in Simeon Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then let him get it from you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not if I know it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I don't care where he gets it from.  This story is
+ruinous&mdash;ruinous!  This story hits directly at me!  If this is
+published it would be impossible for me to go on living with George!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Bravo, Maud!" thought Evan.  "You're some actress!  What a bombshell I
+could explode in this room if I wanted to!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Maud's parting shot was: "At ten o'clock when the bank opens I will
+take you there myself in the car."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When she had gone the wretched George mumbled to his father: "No use my
+going to the bank.  I'm overdrawn there.  I can't ask for another loan
+unless you'll guarantee it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not another cent!  Not another cent!  Let 'em publish and be damned!"
+He shuffled out of the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could not but feel sorry for the unfortunate George, though his
+pity was mixed with contempt.  George's first impulse was to apologise
+for his wife.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must make allowances," he said.  "Mrs. Deaves is so dreadfully
+upset by this matter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So I see," said Evan dryly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know what I'm going to do!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You don't need any money," said Evan quietly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Eh?" said Deaves dully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You've got a real chance to catch them now!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Trap them in this house in Van Dorn street!  I was sure they'd get
+careless in the end."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves began to tremble.  "But how can we?  How do we know how many
+there are?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You'll have to call in the police and have the house surrounded."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, no!  No!" Deaves cried in a panic.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But that's what they're counting on: that you're afraid to call on the
+police!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The whole story would come out in the papers!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not necessarily.  Those matters can be arranged.  And if they should
+slip through our fingers, we can buy up the story at the <I>Clarion</I>
+office later.  We'd be no worse off."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What could I say to Mrs. Deaves?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't tell her anything.  She couldn't help but approve after we land
+them behind the bars."  Evan said this with an inward smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But she'll insist on my going to the bank."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let her take us there.  She won't come in."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't!  I can't!" he quavered.  "The risk is too great!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But if this payment is hard to meet, how about the next, and the next
+after that?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, they'll ruin me!" he groaned.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then strike for your freedom while there's time!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves would not positively consent, but he was so spineless
+that Evan was able to rush him along the path that he wished him to
+follow.  Evan telephoned to police headquarters and made an appointment
+with the inspector in charge of the detective bureau to meet them at
+the bank.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Therefore, when Mrs. Deaves dropped them at the bank, and drove away,
+satisfied that things were going as she wished, instead of obtaining
+the money they went into consultation with the Inspector in plain
+clothes in the manager's office.  Evan did the talking.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Deaves is being hounded by a gang of blackmailers," he began.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Inspector bowed as if blackmailing was a mere bagatelle to him.  He
+had the mannerisms of the army.  Evan was not so sure, though, of his
+capacity.  But one must take an inspector as one finds him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He received this letter this morning."  Evan handed it over.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was read and handed back with a military nod.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The opportunity seemed a good one to land the crooks."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Quite so."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We asked you to meet us here, because if we were seen going to
+headquarters the news would soon reach them.  They were counting, you
+see, on Mr. Deaves not being willing to consult the police.  But of
+course Mr. Deaves has nothing to hide.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of course not!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves began to look anxious at this, but Evan did not intend to
+be taken too literally, as his employer soon saw.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Inspector was not so stiff and correct but that he could feel an
+unregenerate curiosity.  "May I see the enclosure the letter speaks
+of?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It has been destroyed," said Evan coolly.  "It was merely scurrilous,
+and Mr. Deaves saw nothing to be gained in keeping it.  The criminal
+intent is shown in the letter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Inspector looked disappointed, but bowed as usual.  "Nevertheless I
+should be informed as to their previous activities," said he.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "But if you will excuse me, the time is so
+short!  I thought we should immediately take our measures.  All the
+facts will come out at the hearing, of course."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their plan was soon made.  It was arranged that in the first place a
+man in plain clothes should be sent through Van Dorn street to locate
+the position of number eleven.  Being an odd number, it would be on the
+north side of the street.  He would then spot the corresponding house
+in the next street to the north, Carlton street, and four men would be
+sent to that house to be in readiness to take the Van Dorn street house
+in the rear.  Six other men would be in readiness to follow George
+Deaves and Evan to the front door.  In order to avoid warning the
+inmates of the house these six would be sent through the block in a
+covered van to leap out as the door was opened.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What signal will there be for the concerted attack?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No signal," said the Inspector.  "The double approach will be timed at
+a fixed moment, military style.  You will ring the door bell at eleven
+o'clock precisely.  Let me see, we'll give them forty-five seconds to
+open the door.  Zero for us will be forty-five seconds past eleven.
+You can depend on us.  Are you armed?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan shook his head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"As you are to be the first to enter the house it would be as well.
+Take this."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This" was a neat and businesslike automatic.  George Deaves shuddered
+at the sight of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The Inspector compared watches with Evan and departed in his automobile
+to make his arrangements.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap14"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XIV
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+NUMBER 11 VAN DORN STREET
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Evan borrowed a newspaper at the bank and cut from it five pieces of
+the size and shape of bills.  These he enclosed in an envelope and gave
+it to George Deaves.  The latter was already longing to turn back from
+this expedition, but Evan gave him no opening to do so.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was about half-past ten when they left the bank.  In case they
+should be under observation Evan had to find some plausible reason for
+delay.  They taxied back to the Deaves house as if they had forgotten
+something, and then down-town again.  They dismissed their cab in
+MacDougall street, and proceeded on foot according to instructions.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Few people in New York could lead you to Van Dorn street, but Evan
+happened to have marked it during his wanderings with Simeon Deaves.
+It is only three blocks long, from MacDougall street to the river; one
+of the forgotten streets of the real Greenwich Village, not the
+spurious.  Down the first block extends a double row of little old red
+brick dwellings; number eleven was presumably one of these.  The
+remaining blocks are given up to great storehouses.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was not any too easy to time their arrival to a second without
+rousing the suspicions of anyone who might be watching them.  Evan
+dared not consult his watch too often.  He made careful calculations of
+the time they took to walk a block.  As it was he arrived in sight of
+the corner some seconds too soon.  He used up this time by asking the
+way of an Italian grocer who had no English.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was ten seconds to eleven when Evan guided the shaking George Deaves
+into Van Dorn street, and they mounted the steps of number eleven
+precisely on the hour.  A great bell was tolling as Evan pulled the
+old-fashioned knob.  In the depths of the house a bell jangled.  Evan's
+heart was beating hard in his throat; George Deaves was as livid as a
+corpse&mdash;nothing strange in that, though, if anybody was watching.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The little brick house with its beautiful old doorway and wrought iron
+railings was the very epitome of respectability&mdash;they had left the
+swarming Italian quarter around the corner.  With its shining brass
+knobs, neat window curtains and scrubbed steps one would have sworn
+that good, church-going people lived there&mdash;but you never can tell!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was no wagon or van in the block that might have contained the
+police, but it was only a hundred feet or so to the corner.  Evan had
+faith in the inspector.  As a matter of fact, the van was about half a
+minute late in arriving; not a very long time, but long enough to make
+a fatal difference in modern tactics.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They heard steps approaching the door from within&mdash;still no sign of the
+police.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fumble for the envelope," Evan swiftly whispered.  "It'll gain time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The door was opened by a woman as respectable in appearance as her
+house, in short a hard-working, middle-aged American woman with an
+expression slightly embittered perhaps as a result of the influx of
+"dagoes" in her neighbourhood.  She looked at them enquiringly.  George
+Deaves fumbled assiduously in his inside breast pocket.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What is it?" she asked sharply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have something for the gentleman up-stairs," he muttered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh!"  She waited five seconds more.  "What's the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't seem to find it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Still no sign of the police.  Evan was on tenterhooks.  To create a
+diversion he asked:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Has the gentleman lived here long?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Only took the rooms yesterday.  Hasn't moved in yet."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's heart went down.  "Oh, then he isn't in?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, he and his friend are up there waiting for the furniture."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She was evidently a victim rather than an accomplice.  Still no sign of
+the police!  George Deaves had not the assurance to keep up his
+pretended search.  Evan signalled to him with a look to hand over the
+envelope.  He did so with trembling hands.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the same moment Evan, whose ears were stretched for sounds from
+within the house, heard a voice say, not loud: "They're coming over the
+back fence!"  And another voice answered: "Beat it, then."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To Evan it was like the view halloo of the huntsman.  He could not
+resist it.  Never thinking of danger, he pushed past the astonished
+landlady and sprang for the stairs, pulling his pistol as he ran.  As
+he left the stoop he had an impression of a motor van turning the
+corner from MacDougall.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The woman screamed, and George Deaves yelled to Evan to come back.  The
+woman slammed the door in Deaves' face with the impulse of keeping out
+at least one intruder.  This was unfortunate for Evan, for it delayed
+the entrance of the police.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As Evan went up the first flight he heard flying feet on the stairs
+overhead, and he made no pause on the second floor.  He heard a door on
+the third floor slam.  It was in the front.  Houses of this type have a
+window on the stair landing and Evan had no difficulty in seeing what
+he was about.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the third floor there were four doors on the hall, all closed.  Evan
+went directly to the door he had heard close, the door of the principal
+front room, and throwing it open, stepped back, half expecting a
+fusillade from within.  But none came.  After a moment he stepped to
+the door and looked in.  The room was empty.  But there was a door
+communicating with the rear.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+That was as far as his observations carried him.  Suddenly a
+suffocating cloud was thrown over his head from behind and drawn close
+about him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A voice said: "Give him one; he's heeled!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A sickening blow descended on his skull.  His strength became as water.
+Still he did not lose consciousness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A different voice said: "Let him lie!  Come on!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The first and more determined voice replied:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Bring him, I tell you!  It's too good a chance to miss!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A rope was hastily wound around Evan's body, and he was partly dragged,
+partly boosted up a ladder and through a scuttle to the roof.  The last
+sound he heard from the house was the trampling of heavy feet in the
+entry below.  He was put down on the roof.  He was still incapable of
+helping himself, but he heard all that went on as in a dream.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He heard them cover the scuttle.  He heard the more resolute voice say:
+"Help me lift this slab from the parapet."  The other replied
+agitatedly: "Oh, what's the use!  Come on!  Come on!"  The first said:
+"Do what I tell you!  Only one man can stand on the ladder at a time:
+he'll have all he can do to push this up."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A heavy object was dropped on the scuttle.  Evan was then picked up
+between the two and carried over the roofs.  They laid him down on the
+low parapet that separated each house from its neighbour, and jumping
+over, picked him up again.  In this manner they crossed the roofs of
+six houses.  Evan heard vague sounds of excitement from the street
+below.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was put down again.  One of his captors climbed above him: he heard
+his voice come down.  With one pulling from above, and one boosting
+from below, with strenuous efforts Evan was hoisted to a higher roof.
+The second man climbed after.  As he did so he said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They're out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other replied: "Bolt the door as you come through."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A door slammed to behind them and was bolted.  Evan was jolted down
+many stairs.  Someone began to pound violently on the door above.
+Other doors on the way were opened.  Women exclaimed in astonished
+Italian.  "Out of the way!  Out of the way!" commanded the resolute
+voice, and none sought to interfere.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They ran down a long passage and down a few steps to the open street
+again.  Evan was carried across the pavement and flung into an
+automobile.  The door slammed.  Running feet were heard from another
+direction.  The resolute voice said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Beat it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The car jerked into motion.  A hoarse voice ordered them to stop.  A
+pistol was fired.  The bold voice said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Step on her hard!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The car roared down the street with wide open exhaust, turned a corner
+on two wheels, and another corner, and soon outdistanced all sounds of
+pursuit.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The power of movement was coming back to Evan, but he still lay still;
+he was at too great a disadvantage to put up a struggle.  That which
+enveloped him was a thick cotton comforter; it clove to his tongue, and
+the stuffy smell of it filled his nostrils.  Moreover, he had a lively
+recollection of the blackjack or whatever it was that had laid him out
+in the beginning.  It was useless to cry out; even if he should be
+heard above the noise of the engine, who could stop the flying car?
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As his wits cleared he set them to work to try to puzzle out the
+direction in which he was being carried.  He could tell from the lurch
+of the car whether they turned to the right or the left.  In the
+beginning they turned so many corners that all sense of direction was
+lost, but after a while they struck a car-line and held to it for a
+long time.  He knew they were running in car-tracks by the smoothness
+of their passage, broken by occasional bumpings as they slipped out of
+the rails.  It was a street with little traffic, for their progress was
+rapid and uninterrupted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Presently he heard an elevated train roar overhead, and he knew where
+he was.  "Greenwich street or Ninth avenue," he said to himself.  As
+they still held to their car-line he knew they were bound up-town;
+headed the other way, they would have reached the end of the island
+before this.  Bye and bye they coasted down a long hill and puffed up
+the other side.  He guessed this to be the valley between Ninety-third
+street and One Hundred and Fourth, and presently knew he was right,
+when he heard the wheels of the elevated trains grinding on a curve
+high overhead.  The Hundred and Tenth street curve, of course; there is
+no other such curve on the island.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The car turned to the right and then to the left again, still running
+in the rails.  "Eighth avenue now," he said to himself, "and still
+heading north."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Later he heard a car-gong of a different timbre and the unmistakable
+hiss of a trolley wheel on its wire.  There are no overhead wires on
+Manhattan Island except at the several points where the off-island
+railways terminate.  "Union railway," Evan said to himself.  "We've
+reached the Harlem river."  Sure enough, they passed over a
+draw-bridge; the double clank-clank of the draw could not be mistaken.
+"Central Bridge," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But in the smoothly paved streets of the Bronx he lost every clue to
+his whereabouts.  They ran in the car tracks for a while, then left
+them; they made several right and left turns and crossed other tracks.
+Evan guessed they were in a well-travelled motor highway for he heard
+other cars, but that told him nothing; there are a dozen such highways
+radiating from Central Bridge.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He lay against the feet and legs of his two captors.  He listened
+eagerly for any talk between them that might furnish him with a clue.
+But if they conversed it must have been in whispers.  On one occasion,
+though, he heard him of the milder voice say:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He's so quiet!  Do you suppose he's all right?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Search me!" was the indifferent response.  "His body is hot enough on
+my feet, I know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hadn't I better look at him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure!  And print your face on his memory forever!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I believe that comforter is half suffocating him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What of it?  You can't make a cake without breaking eggs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Gradually the noises of the street lessened, and Evan gathered that
+they were getting out into the sparsely settled districts.  They were
+bowling along rapidly and smoothly.  About twenty minutes after they
+had crossed Central Bridge (if Central Bridge it was) the more
+determined voice suddenly said to the chauffeur:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't turn in now.  There's a car behind.  Run slow and let it pass.
+Then come back."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was evidently done.  They turned in the road.  As they came back
+the voice said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All clear.  Go ahead in."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The car turned to the right and jolted over what seemed to be a shallow
+ditch.  The road that followed was of the roughest character.  If it
+was a road at all it was a wood-track; Evan heard the twigs crackle
+under the tires.  They lurched and bumped alarmingly.  Once they had to
+stop to allow the chauffeur to drag some obstruction out of the way.
+Evidently they had not had the car that way before, for the chauffeur
+said anxiously:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you sure we can get through?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The resolute voice answered: "We've got to."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The chauffeur said: "I couldn't turn around here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other voice replied: "There's a clear space in front of the house."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This way was not very long; a quarter of a mile, Evan guessed.  They
+came to a stop, and the two men climbed out over Evan.  He was
+unceremoniously dragged out feet foremost.  They carried him a short
+distance&mdash;Evan heard grass or verdure swishing around their legs.  They
+entered a house and laid him down on a floor, a rough worn floor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here Evan heard a new voice, a woman's voice with slurred accents and a
+fat woman's laugh.  The strong-voiced man said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here's a guest for you, Aunt Liza."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Lawsy!  Lawsy!  What divelment you been up to now!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A general laugh went round.  To the bound Evan it had a blackguardedly
+and infamous sound.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was abruptly turned over on his face.  While one man held the folds
+of the comforter tightly round his head, the other two knelt on his
+back and, pulling his arms behind him, tied his wrists together.  Evan
+put up the best struggle he could against such heavy odds.  The man who
+had taken the principal part against him laughed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You see, there's life in him yet," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After his wrists they tied his ankles, and got up from him.  The
+comforter was still over Evan's head, and he was powerless to throw it
+off.  The same voice said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"After we're out of the room you can uncover his head, and give him
+air.  And feed him when dinner's ready."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A door closed.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap15"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XV
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE CLUB HOUSE
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+The coverlet was thrown back from Evan's head, and breathing deep with
+relief, he saw bending over him a grinning, fat negress, not
+evil-looking, but merely simple in expression.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She exclaimed like a child: "Laws! it's a pretty man!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where am I?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Deed, I do' know, chile!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll pay you well if you'll help me out of here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Deed, I cain't help you, honey.  I'm here, but I don' know where it is
+no more than you do.  White folks brung me here, and white folks will
+take me away again I reckon."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looked around him.  He seemed to be in a room of an ancient
+abandoned farm-house.  There was no furniture.  The ceiling was low;
+the great fireplace was certainly more than a century old.  The smell
+of rotting wood was in the air; the plaster was coming down, revealing
+the wrought hand-split laths beneath; the floor was full of holes.
+There were two windows with many missing panes.  The sun was streaming
+in.  From Evan's position flat on his back on the floor he could only
+see the sky through the upper sashes.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In contrast with the wreckage that surrounded them the old negress was
+neat and clean.  She wore a black cotton dress and a gingham apron and
+on her head was a quaint, flat-topped cap made from a folded newspaper.
+She seemed neither ill-disposed nor well-disposed towards Evan but
+regarded him simply as an amusing curiosity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It ought not to be difficult to bend one so simple to his will, Evan
+thought, and set to work to conciliate her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aunt Liza, you seem like a decent woman.  What are you doing in a den
+like this?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She affected not to understand him.  "Excuse me, suh, I don' understand
+No'the'ners' talk very good."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I say this is a funny looking place."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I reckon they's gwine fix it up some.  Ain't had time yet.  The
+other rooms is better than this."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who lives here?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nobody lives here.  It's a club."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What club?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ain't got no name as I knows.  It's a private club."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, who comes here?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Jes, my boss and his friends."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's your boss's name?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mistah Henry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's his other name?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Henry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's his first name, then?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Henry too.  Mistah Henry Henry."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looked at her sharply, but her face was black and bland.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do they do here?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Same as gemmen allways does in a club I reckon; smokes and talks and
+plays cards and mixes juleps."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, do they generally bring their guests here tied hand and foot?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Aunt Liza dissolved into noiseless fat laughter.  "No suh!  No suh!
+That's somepin new, that is!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, what do you think of it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Laws!  I never thinks, suh.  I leaves that to the white folks.  I jus'
+looks on and 'preciates things!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was sure now that she was simply using her simplicity as a cover.
+In such a contest he could only come off second best, so he fell
+silent.  He was anxious to get her out of the room now that he might
+get a glimpse out of the window.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Somebody said something about dinner," he said.  "How about it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ready d'rectly, suh.  I'll go look at it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She went out.  The room had but the one door which she locked after
+her.  After a series of struggles Evan succeeded in getting to his
+knees.  If this sounds easy let the doubter have his hands tied behind
+him, and his ankles tied together, and try it.  This brought his head
+above the level of the window-sill, but the view out the window
+scarcely repaid him for his trouble.  It was much what one might have
+expected from the condition of the house, a door-yard grown high with
+grass and weeds, a clump of tiger-lilies, some aged lilac bushes, a few
+rotten palings marking the line where a fence had run.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Beyond the fence was the road, only a slight depression now in the
+expanse of weeds.  The automobile that had brought Evan was standing
+there.  It was a shabby little landaulet with the top up.  It looked
+like a taxi-cab but carried no meter.  Beyond the line of the road the
+view was shut off by second-growth woods, with a larger tree rising
+here and there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It looked like a spot long forgotten of man, yet Evan doubted if it
+were more than eight miles from Harlem river, and the chances were that
+it was actually within the New York city limits.  Indeed while he
+looked he heard the faint-far-off chorus of the noon whistles in town.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Hearing the old darkey's shuffling step in the hall, he hastily lay
+down again.  But her sharp eyes instantly marked the change in his
+position and detected the dust on his knees.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah reckon the sun's too strong for yo' eyes," she said dryly.  There
+were stout, old-fashioned wooden shutters folded back into the
+window-frames.  These she closed and hooked, and Evan was left in gloom.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was nothing the matter with the dinner she presently brought him;
+corn soup, fried chicken and hominy.  She fed him with the anxious
+solicitude of a nurse.  Indeed Aunt Liza throughout evinced the
+greatest willingness to make friends; she was so fat and comfortable
+she just couldn't help it.  It was only when Evan started to question
+her that she showed what a tricksy spirit inhabited the solid frame.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After dinner Evan heard the automobile leave.  He guessed that he and
+Aunt Liza were now alone in the tumbledown house.  During the long hot
+afternoon she left him pretty much to his own devices.  He could hear
+the bees humming outside, and the twitter of birds.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In stories Evan had read when the hero was captured and tied up he
+always succeeded in "working himself free" at the critical moment.
+Well Evan patiently set to work to free his hands, but after hours of
+effort, as it seemed, he had only chafed his wrists and his temper and
+drawn the knots tighter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The extreme stillness of the house suggested that Aunt Liza might be
+indulging in a siesta, and he determined to reach the window if he
+could.  Patiently rolling and hunching himself in the desired
+direction, he finally made it.  He then by a course of gymnastics
+finally succeeded in getting to his feet.  With his chin he knocked up
+the hook that fastened the shutter, and after many attempts succeeded
+in pulling the shutter open with his teeth.  Even then he was no nearer
+freedom, for the sash was down, though most of the panes were missing.
+And Aunt Liza came in and caught him in the act.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sho!  honey what yo' tryin' to do!" she said reproachfully.  "Turn
+around and sit down."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was nothing for Evan to do but obey, whereupon she coolly seized
+his heels, and pulled him across the floor.  She fastened up the
+shutter again.  After that she visited him more frequently, and as long
+as he was a "good boy" was disposed to be quite friendly and sociable.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Towards the end of the afternoon the "club-members" began to arrive.
+Evidently they came on foot for there was no sound of automobile.
+Evan, whose only useful sense was hearing, thought he could distinguish
+eight or nine individuals at different times.  None opened his door.
+The principal gathering place seemed to be the room over his head.  A
+low-voiced hum of conversation came down to him but he could
+distinguish no words.  Frequently there was laughter, which had a
+particularly devilish and unfeeling ring to Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Aunt Liza served another meal.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Later she entered his room carrying a bandana handkerchief.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's that for?" demanded Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To blind yo' eyes, honey."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What for?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The gemmen wants to see yo' upstairs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Any prospect seemed better than lying bound alone in the semi-dark, and
+Evan submitted.  Aunt Liza made very sure that he could not see under
+the bandage over his eyes.  Then untying the knots that bound his
+ankles, she helped him to his feet, and steered him out through the
+door.  Placing his foot on the bottom step she bade him mount the
+stairs.  At the top she led him towards the front of the building and
+through a doorway into the middle of a room.  Here she left him.  He
+heard her steps recede, and heard her close the door behind her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There he stood bound and blind facing&mdash;he knew not what.  A thick
+excitement choked him.  Nobody spoke, but his sharpened senses told him
+that he was surrounded by people.  He heard them breathe.  The
+continued silence was cruel on his nerves.  He imagined them moving
+cat-footed about him, smiling meaningly at each other as they prepared
+to attack.  If he only had a wall at his back!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Keep cool!  Keep cool!" he told himself.  "They're trying to break
+your nerve.  Stand fast!  Make them speak first!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally one spoke.  It was he of the resolute, cynical voice.  "Well,
+Weir, here we are!  What have you got to say for yourself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's not up to me to say anything," coolly retorted Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There were several chuckles in the room.  Their laughter was hateful to
+Evan.  He gathered from the sounds that the room was of considerable
+size.  Evidently this house was a more pretentious building than he had
+supposed.  The voices echoed as they do in a bare room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are in the presence of the Ikunahkatsi," the voice went on, "that
+is to say of some of them.  We're not at all ill-disposed towards you
+personally.  On the contrary we admire the pluck you've shown.  It's
+been some fun to get the best of you.  Confess, we fooled you neatly in
+the library that day."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought: "This is the humorous guy that writes the letters."
+Aloud he said: "Say your say and have done with it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The voice resumed: "As I say, it's been a good game.  We'd be willing
+to go on indefinitely matching our wits against yours, but the dice are
+loaded against us, you see.  We're outside the law.  With that
+advantage on your side you'd be bound to get us in the end."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's not all fun with us, you see.  We have a serious purpose in view.
+You are in the way of that purpose and so, regretfully, we've got to
+remove you.  You're much too good a lad to be in the pay of an old
+rascal like Deaves.  You ought to be on our side, with the free
+spirits.  But there you are.  I know you wouldn't switch now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To a gang of blackmailers?  No thank you," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It would be just as well for you to speak civilly," the voice warned
+him mildly.  "All the gentlemen present are not as patient as I am."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you want of me?" demanded Evan.  "Say it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are absolutely in our power here, yet we are willing to release
+you on a certain condition."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's your proposition?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me your word of honour that you will leave Simeon Deaves' employ,
+and have no further relations with him or his son."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan considered what trap might be concealed behind this seemingly fair
+offer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What will the old miser ever do for you?" the voice went on, "or his
+slack-twisted son for that matter?  Let them stew in their own juice.
+Give me your word, and you'll be taken home to-night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And if I won't?" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, we'll have to keep you prisoner until we have pulled off our big
+coup.  I can't say how long that will be."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan said coolly: "Well, I'll see you all damned first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was a stir in the room.  "Ah!" said the voice that fronted him,
+coolly.  "As a young man of spirit I suppose you feel that is the only
+possible answer.  It's too bad.  You may go down-stairs."  He called
+for Aunt Liza.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was returned to his prison on the ground floor.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Aunt Liza said: "Sit down, honey.  Be a good boy and let me tie yo'
+feet together.  If you acks ugly I'll have to call the gemmen."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan submitted.  His ankles were bound, the bandage over his eyes
+removed, and he was left to his own devices.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The leaden minutes slowly added themselves up to hours.  For a long
+time in his rage he could not think clearly.  He was all for defiance,
+defiance though his life paid the forfeit.  But in the end he was bound
+to cool off and a craftier voice began to advise him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I owe this gang neither truth nor loyalty," he thought.  "They struck
+me from behind.  They carried me off.  They trussed me up like a fowl
+for roasting.  They're about a dozen to one against me.  By fair means
+I haven't a ghost of a show against them.  Very well, I'll use foul.
+If they are simple enough to let me lie myself out of their hands, I'll
+do it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Late in the evening he was sent for again.  He was eager now to face
+his jailors.  As before his eyes were blindfolded, and his ankles
+freed.  Aunt Liza took him up-stairs and retired.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The mocking voice said: "Well, Weir, I didn't want to leave you in that
+rat-infested room all night without giving you a chance to change your
+mind.  Wouldn't you rather sleep between your own sheets?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would," said Evan coolly.  "I have changed my mind.  As you say,
+Simeon Deaves and his son are nothing to me.  I will let them alone
+hereafter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good man," said the other.  "You promise to have nothing further to do
+with them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I promise to have nothing further to do with them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A new voice spoke up, a voice that vibrated with anger and hate:
+"That's too thin!  He's trying to fool us!  Can't you hear the lie in
+his voice?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait a minute," said the other, "I'll put him under oath."  Addressing
+Evan he said mockingly: "I don't know what your attitude towards the
+bible is, but I'll take a chance.  Will you swear it on the bible?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It suddenly came to Evan that they were just playing with him, that
+they had no intention of letting him go.  Moreover that hateful voice
+had roused a fury in him that was incapable of making further pretences.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll swear nothing," he said sullenly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's too bad!" said the man who faced him, with hypocritical regret.
+Evan was sure now that they were grinning among themselves.  "I'll have
+to return you to your luxurious chamber."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The harsh voice broke in again: "We're taking too big a chance, leaving
+him here.  We can't stay here ourselves, and the woman is no match for
+him.  He'll break out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you propose then?" asked the other man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He'll never let up against us.  Look at that stubborn jaw.  It's us or
+him!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you want me to do?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Put him out of the way!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought: "They're bluffing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But he heard the gentlest voice among them murmur: "Oh, no! no!"  And
+that was more convincing than the other man's abuse.  A chill struck to
+his breast.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The angry man turned on him who had protested.  "You be quiet!  Your
+chickenheartedness has spoiled our game more than once!  What's the use
+of half measures?  We're all good for prison sentences if we're caught.
+Mark my words this man will put us all behind the bars if we don't put
+him where he can do no harm."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He whom Evan had taken to be the leader said: "This is not a question
+for us to decide.  Put it up to the chief."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So he was not the chief then.  One of them left the room.  Evan
+wondered about this leader who held himself so far above his men that
+he disdained to take part in their meetings.  Meanwhile he waited for
+the return of the messenger as an accused murderer waits for his jury.
+Silence filled the room.  Through the windows came the voices of the
+cheerful katydids and the shrill tree-toads.  A sudden sense of the
+sweetness of life stabbed Evan like a poniard.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The man was not gone long, nor did he keep Evan waiting for the
+verdict.  "Chief says I am right," he blurted out&mdash;it was the
+harsh-voiced one.  "Orders are let him pass out before we go home
+to-night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A pent breath escaped from all those in the room.  A rush of
+conflicting emotions made Evan dizzy; fear, the determination not to
+show fear, and that unmanning sense of the terrible sweetness of life.
+Oh, for a wall behind his back!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So be it!" said the man in front of him soberly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other went on: "The arrangements are left to you.  How are you
+going to do it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have the pistol that I took from him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What will we do with the body?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let it lie.  We're ready to flit from here anyway.  It will be
+unrecognisable before it's discovered."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan visualised his own body putrefying, and the heart shrivelled in
+his breast.  He clenched his teeth.  All he had left was pride.  "I
+will show nothing," he repeated to himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With too much suffering, the whole scene became slightly unreal to him.
+He heard their talk as from a little distance:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We will draw lots.  Who's got a sheet of paper?  Anything will do....
+This will do.  Tear it in eight pieces....  No, seven.  Leave C. D.
+out.  He couldn't pull the trigger if his own life depended on it....
+I mark a cross on one piece, see?  Now fold each piece in four....
+Call Aunt Liza up-stairs....  A hat?  All right.  Drop them in.  Shake
+it up....  Don't let on anything to Aunt Liza....  Be quiet; here she
+is....  Aunt Liza hold this hat above your head, so....  Now come up to
+her one at a time and draw a paper.  Do not open it until the last one
+is drawn."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A dreadful silence succeeded.  The hard breathing of many men was
+audible in the room.  Little cold drops sprang out in front of Evan's
+ears.  A horrible constriction fastened on his breast, so that he could
+scarcely draw breath.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Am I a coward?" he asked himself&mdash;and that caused him the sharpest
+pang of all.  "Other men have died without flinching.  Why do I suffer
+so?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The resolute voice said: "Leave the room, Aunt Liza."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan heard the old negress shuffle out.  She was the nearest thing to a
+friend that he had there.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Now," cried the man, with a sharp catch of excitement.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan heard the crackling of the little bits of paper, and heard their
+breath escape them variously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who has it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have!"  It was the harsh voice.  "It's no more than fair, since I
+proposed it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, it's too horrible!  It's too horrible!" sobbed the gentler voice.
+He ran out of the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let him go," said the harsh one.  "This is no sight for kids."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here's the gun," said the other.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought: "Well, I won't take it standing still!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Somewhere behind him the door was open.  Putting his head down he
+charged for it.  Instantly half a dozen pairs of hands seized him.  He
+was borne back until he crashed against a wall.  He felt of it
+gratefully.  A deep instinctive need was supplied by the feeling of
+something solid at his back.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Take your hands off him," said the principal voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was freed, but he knew they still stood close beside him.  The
+voice went on peremptorily.  "Stand still if you don't want to be
+pinned against the wall like an insect."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Unbind my eyes!" cried Evan.  "Let me see what's coming to me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The voice replied in its grim drawl: "Sorry, but we can't let you take
+mental pictures of us even to the other side."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're afraid to face me, you cowards!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Maybe.  If you want to send any messages I'll transmit them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan snatched at the chance.  "I'd like to send a letter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All right."  There was a pause while the speaker presumably found
+pencil and paper.  "Go ahead."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan dictated Charley Straiker's address.  "Dear Charl: I have cut
+loose.  I have taken to the trail.  You will not see me again.  I leave
+everything I have in my room to you.  It will not make you rich.  With
+one exception.  I want to send my least-bad picture to a friend.  It's
+the one I call 'Green and Gold,' the view of the Square from my window
+in the morning light.  There's a little frame that fits it.  Write on
+the back of it&mdash;write&mdash;Oh, don't write anything.  Wrap it up and
+address it to Miss Corinna Playfair.  Take it to the steamboat
+<I>Ernestina</I> which will be lying at the pier foot of East Twentieth
+street on Saturday morning up to Nine-Thirty.  Be good, old son.
+Here's how.  Evan."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you ready?" demanded the harsh voice unexpectedly close.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Shoot and be damned to you!" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He felt a little rim of cold steel pressed against his temple.  With
+that touch all Evan's agony rolled away.  After all, what was life but
+a jest?  Thank God! he was not a coward!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other man was still speaking&mdash;Good God would he never have
+done!&mdash;"I will give you the word."  Then he began to count: "One, two,
+three&mdash;&mdash;!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan cried gaily: "So long, all!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Fire!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was a deafening crash.  Everything went from him.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap16"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XVI
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+BACK TO EARTH
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like
+music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike
+unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of
+wind&mdash;such were Evan's vague impressions.  "What existence is this?" he
+asked himself.  Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question
+it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.  He lay exulting in his
+sensations.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be
+denied.  "I breathe," he thought.  "I feel my breast rise.  Therefore I
+have a body.  I hear a sound like the stirring of a breeze among
+leaves, and another sound, a strange, faint hum.  And I see, though I
+am surrounded by darkness.  It is night and out-of-doors."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The feeling of having awakened in a new existence wore off.  He
+accepted that which surrounded him as the same old world.  He found
+that he was lying on a soft bed of leaves in a wood.  He was wrapped in
+a bed covering, a cotton coverlet in fact.  He did not recognise it.
+He instinctively felt about for his hat and found it near.  He stood
+erect, and found that his legs were able to perform their office.  He
+started to walk blindly through the wood.  There were no stars.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A certain part of his brain had stopped working.  It was that part
+which reasoned from memory.  He remembered nothing.  He did things
+without knowing why he did them.  He came to a road; he knew it was a
+road, and knew what roads were for.  He followed it.  He was dimly
+conscious that he was not in a normal condition, but the fact did not
+distress him: on the contrary he experienced a fine lightness of
+spirit; it was enough for him that the blood was stirring in his veins,
+and the night air was cool and sweet.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Presently he heard a whirring sound familiar to his senses, and saw the
+oscillating reflection of a bright light around a bend in the road; an
+automobile.  He hastily dived into the underbrush at the side.  He had
+no reason to be afraid, but he felt a shivering repugnance to showing
+himself to his fellow-creatures in his present state.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When the car had passed he returned to the road.  A few paces further
+on the trees at his right hand opened up, and a wonderful panorama was
+spread before him; a great, dark, gleaming river far below, and on the
+other side myriads upon myriads of fairy-like white lights like
+fireflies arrested in mid-flight.  From this direction came the faint
+hum he had remarked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan knew instinctively that this was the city, and that he must get
+there.  He saw further that he was bound in the wrong direction.  The
+way he was heading the lights were thinning out; the thickest clusters
+were behind him.  His instinct further told him that where the lights
+were thick he would find a means of crossing the river.  So he retraced
+his steps.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Bye and bye houses began to rise alongside the road, all dark-windowed
+and still.  "It is very late," thought Evan.  Finally the road came to
+an end at the gates of a ferry-house.  Evan automatically produced a
+coin to pay his fare, and passed on board the boat.  There were but few
+passengers.  He gave them a wide berth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Reaching the other shore he started walking towards the centre of the
+city.  Coming to a place where trains of cars passed to and fro on a
+trestle overhead, he climbed a flight of steps to a station, and
+producing another coin, took a seat in the first train that came.  He
+was perfectly able to see, to hear, to read the advertising cards in
+the train, but it was all new and inexplicable to him.  Some power
+outside of his consciousness was directing his steps.  In the
+brightly-lighted car he shivered under the gaze of his
+fellow-passengers, but nobody paid him any special regard.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At a certain station something stirred his feet, and they bore him off
+the train, down the steps and through certain streets to a certain door
+facing upon a little Park.  Fronted by this door his hand dived into
+his pocket and brought forth a key which opened it.  Like a
+sleep-walker he mounted to the top of the house and entered a room
+there.  Something in the aspect of this room caused a deep sigh of
+satisfaction to escape him; he knew where everything was without
+lighting the gas.  Undressing and climbing into bed he fell into a
+dreamless sleep.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was awakened by a pillow flung at his head.  He beheld a grinning,
+sharp-featured face under a shock of lank, molasses-candy-coloured
+hair, a face as dear and familiar to him as the room, and he knew that
+the owner of it was called Charley.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aren't you going to get up to-day?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Go to Hell!" said Evan, grinning back.  Oh but the sight of his friend
+was good to his eyes!  Something real, something familiar, something
+that identified this poor wandering soul and gave it a locus.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must have made a night of it," remarked Charley.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Some deep instinct still bade Evan to conceal his condition.  "What's
+for breakfast?" he cried, jumping up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Same old stunt!  Beggs and acon."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Gee!  I'm as hungry as a hunter.  Break me three Humpty-dumpties and
+fry them sunny side up."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley perceived nothing amiss.  Breakfast was partaken of to the
+accompaniment of the usual airy persiflage.  Evan knew very well that
+Charley could supply the clues to his lost identity, but he couldn't
+bring himself to ask him directly.  He kept his ears open for any
+chance remarks that might throw light on the matter, but Charley's
+style was so flowery he didn't get much.  Charley finally departed on
+some errand of his own.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Left alone, Evan went about his room, touching the familiar objects,
+looking into everything, trying to fill in that blank space in his
+mind.  As soon as he saw the paraphernalia he knew he was a painter.
+His pictures interested him greatly.  He knew they were his own
+pictures, but he had lost all sense of kinship with them.  In a way it
+was a great advantage; he brought a fresh point of view to bear.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I see what's the matter with them," he said to himself.  "You have
+been trying to convey the inner spirit of things without being
+sufficiently sure of their outward form.  What you've got to do is to
+study the outsides of things further, and invite the spirit to express
+itself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So interested was he that he put a fresh canvas on his easel on the
+spot, and started to paint.  Any object would serve to prove his new
+theory; their brown pitcher with a broken spout and a green bowl beside
+it on the table.  An hour passed without his noticing its flight.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley returned.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hello!" he said.  "Had another row with your old man?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Old man!" thought Evan.  "Oh, nothing much," he said aloud.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I must say you take your job pretty lightly," said Charley.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought: "So I have a job."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley went on: "There was a story in the paper this morning about one
+of your lot.  I brought it in.  Sounds fishy."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan pricked up his ears.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley read: "A reporter assigned to police headquarters happened to
+see Inspector Durdan, chief of the Detective Bureau, and five plain
+clothes men climbing into a covered motor van on Mulberry street
+yesterday, and scenting a good story, followed in a taxi-cab.
+Naturally the Inspector does not personally take part except in raids
+of some importance.  The chase led to No. 11 Van Dorn street.  Van Dorn
+is an obscure little street on the far West side.  An agitated
+individual was discovered on the steps of this house whom the reporter
+recognised as Mr. George Deaves, son of the multi-millionaire.  He
+cried out to the police: 'He's gone in!  He's gone in!'  The police
+forced their way into the house.  One was left at the door, and the
+reporter was not allowed to enter.  Through the open door he saw other
+police inside, who must have entered from the back.  They were
+searching the house.  One called down-stairs: 'They've gone over the
+roofs towards MacDougall street,' whereupon several of the police
+started to run down the block to the corner of MacDougall and the
+reporter followed.  He was just in time to see two men issue from a
+tenement house carrying what looked like the corpse of a third between
+them.  The body was wrapped in an old cotton comforter.  They threw it
+in a waiting taxi and made a getaway though the police fired in the
+air, and ordered them to stop.  At police headquarters all information
+was refused.  At Mr. Deaves' residence word was sent out that Mr.
+Deaves had not been out that morning.  The woman who keeps the Van Dorn
+street house, a Mrs. Patten, either would not or could not tell what
+had happened."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At this point in the story Charley looked up to see how Evan was taking
+it.  Seeing Evan's expression he forgot to read the rest.  Evan was
+staring into vacancy as if he saw a ghost.  As a matter of fact
+complete recollection had returned in a great flash, and the reaction
+was dizzying.  His first conscious act was to feel of his temple.  It
+was whole.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter with you?" cried Charley.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I&mdash;I was that corpse," stammered Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you gone crazy?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here, I've got to see about this!" cried Evan, and seizing his hat he
+ran out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan took a taxi-cab to the Deaves house.  He took out his pocket book
+to pay the driver.  It was the first time he had used it.  The money in
+it was intact, but something had been added, a little note.  Evan read
+it while the driver made change.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You've got good pluck.  When the pistol missed fire we decided to let
+you off.  Take warning.  Keep away from the Deaves outfit or next time
+you'll get a ball."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought: "The pistol did not miss fire.  It was loaded with a
+blank.  The whole scene was staged just to break my nerve.  I passed
+out temporarily just as a result of self-suggestion.  Lord! what a
+weak-minded fool I was!  But by God!  I'll get square with them!  This
+is how I answer their threat!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He glared around him defiantly, hoping he was watched, and rang the
+bell of the Deaves house.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The servant who opened the door looked at him queerly.  This successor
+to Alfred was more respectful, but Evan did not trust him much further.
+"Where is Mr. George Deaves?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't think you can see him just now, sir," was the answer.  "He's
+up-stairs."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And Mr. Simeon Deaves?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He's in the library, I believe."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll go up there."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they got further into the house shrill cries, muffled by several
+doors, reached Evan's ears.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's that?" he asked startled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mrs. Deaves, sir," said the man demurely.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter with her?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hysterics, I believe, sir."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah!" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He found Simeon Deaves in the library.  The old man greeted him with
+the unvarying sly grin.  There was something inhuman about that grin.
+Nothing could move the old man much&mdash;save the threatened loss of money.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So you got here," he said with cheerful indifference.  "George told me
+they carried you off.  How did you get clear?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan told him briefly what had happened&mdash;keeping certain details to
+himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Pooh!  Sounds like a melodrama!" said the old man.  "Don't believe a
+word of it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, well-used to his ways by now, simply shrugged.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There's the devil to pay here this morning," the old man went on,
+grinning like a mischievous boy at others' misfortunes.  "Maud got a
+letter from them, and went into hysterics."  He pointed up-stairs and
+laughed his noiseless laugh.  "Hear her?  George is up there slapping
+her hands and begging her to come to, and he'll pay the money.  That's
+no way to treat hysterics.  George is a fool."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan heard a heavy step on the stairs.  "Here he comes," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man notwithstanding his expressed contempt for his son was not
+anxious to face him.  "Well, well, I've got to go down-stairs," he
+said, shuffling rapidly out by the small door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves entered.  Evan could not but feel sorry for him, absurd
+figure though he was.  He looked as if his backbone had lost its pith;
+he sagged.  His necktie was awry, and his hair hung dankly over his
+forehead, his mouth hung open; he looked like a man nauseated with
+perplexity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So you're here," he said to Evan, not any more concerned about his
+fate than his father had been.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan repeated his brief tale.  George Deaves made no comment; scarcely
+seemed to listen to it in fact.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan said: "I suppose the police are looking for me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves nodded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I had better report to them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This partly roused Deaves from his apathy.  "Leave that to me," he
+said.  "I will see that they are told what is necessary.  I don't want
+any more fuss."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Simeon Deaves tells me another letter has been received this
+morning."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't discuss that with you," said George Deaves stiffly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's eyebrows went up.  "Indeed!" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The weak man could not face out Evan's indignant stare.  "Oh, I don't
+blame you," he mumbled.  "But I'm sorry I listened to you yesterday.
+Mrs. Deaves is heartbroken at what she considers my deception."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan reflected grimly that a broken heart does not customarily take
+itself out in hysterics, but he kept the reflection to himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You will have to go," said George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly a hurricane blew into the room in the person of Maud Deaves
+with her hair and kimono flying.  The innocent Evan stood aghast at the
+terrible secrets of the boudoir that were revealed.  The magnificent
+Mrs. Deaves was reduced by rage to the level of a furious fish-wife,
+but lower, for no fish-wife ever so far neglects self-interest in her
+rage.  Mrs. Deaves' face was splotched and livid; unbridled passion had
+added fifteen years.  She addressed her husband with a ridiculous
+assumption of calmness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They told me this person was here.  I came down to see that you did
+your duty!  This clever rascal has twisted you about his finger once
+too often for me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan flushed up.  "Are you referring to me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes I am!" she cried.  "You've been a nuisance in the house from the
+first with your officious meddling!  You take too much on yourself!
+You forget your place!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Good Heavens, madam, <I>I</I> didn't write the story about your marriage!"
+said Evan with meaning.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It never reached her.  In the fury she had worked up, she had
+conveniently forgotten that she had written it herself.  "Don't answer
+me back!" she cried, beside herself.  "I don't know whether you did or
+not.  I don't know whether you're more a rascal or a fool!  But I know
+we're done with you.  You're discharged, do you understand?  You can
+go!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan stared at her in frank amazement.  Then he laughed.  He was sorely
+tempted to tell what he knew, but when he looked at the crushed figure
+at the desk, he hadn't the heart.  He wasn't going to take his
+dismissal from her, though.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Deaves, do you wish me to go?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves nodded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very well," said Evan.  "It suits me!"  He bowed ironically to each of
+them, and left the room.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the lower hall on his way out he was arrested by a cautious "Sst!
+Sst!"  The old man appeared from around a corner.  With many a furtive
+look over his shoulder, he pulled Evan into the small reception room
+off the hall.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Did they fire you?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They did," said Evan grimly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, well, well!" said the old man with that unalterable grin.
+"You're a good boy too!  I always said so!  But what can anybody do
+with a wilful woman!  So we've had our last walk together, eh?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He really seemed to be sorry.  So was Evan.  In spite of all, Simeon
+Deaves was a funny old cuss.  "Our last walk!" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But of course you're not worth what George pays you," he added,
+quickly.  "Nothing like!  Nothing like!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old fellow was incorrigible.  Evan laughed.  "Well, good-bye," he
+said without any hard feeling.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait a minute.  Say, I hate to think of those blackguards getting away
+with the money after all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So do I," said Evan quickly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why don't you go after them yourself?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where is the money to be sent to-day?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"To the library."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you remember what book was mentioned?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes.  'Carlyle's Essays,' Riverside edition."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, maybe I will," said Evan.  "I owe them something on my own
+account."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's right!  That's right.  If you land those rascals behind the
+bars, I'll mention you in my will."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's kind of you," said Evan dryly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan didn't care to show his eagerness to the old man, but as a matter
+of fact his heart jumped at the suggested chance of getting back at the
+gang.  He could hardly hope to do anything at the library in his own
+person, but Charley's assistance might be enlisted.  Evan hastened home
+to get him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+An hour later Evan and Charley called upon the librarian who had
+assisted Evan and George Deaves on the former occasion.  In the
+meantime Charley had been told the story of the previous night's
+happenings, and he was eager to take a hand in the game.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan said to the librarian: "Mr. Deaves received another demand for
+money this morning."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The librarian naturally assumed that Evan was still in his employ, and
+it was not necessary for Evan to lie in that connection.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A similar arrangement to the previous one was made.  An inquiry
+revealed the fact that "Carlyle's Essays" had just been returned to the
+shelves.  They were brought to the librarian's office, and Evan found
+that the bills were indeed in volume one.  He marked them and the books
+were returned with instructions that they were to be notified when they
+were again called for.  Evan and Charley waited.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were called for in an hour, and from the same seat in the
+reading-room as on the former occasion, number 433.  Charley and the
+librarian departed for the reading-room.  Charley's instructions were
+to make very sure that the bills were actually abstracted from the
+book, and then to apprehend the man who took them without waiting for
+him to get out of the building, and to call on any of the library
+attendants for assistance if need be.  Meanwhile Evan waited in the
+librarian's office, prepared to take a hand when the alarm was raised.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But no alarm was raised.  Evan waited half an hour in the keenest
+impatience and then the librarian returned alone.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What happened?" demanded Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing&mdash;as yet," was the answer.  "I took your friend around through
+the American History room, just as I took you that day, and explained
+to him the location of seat 433.  Since there was no danger of his
+being recognised he went right into the reading-room and took a seat at
+the same table.  I scarcely liked to show myself, so I waited in the
+adjoining room.  I had an attendant there in case he needed help.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But we heard no sound, and when I finally looked into the reading-room
+I saw that your friend had gone, and that seat number 433 was also
+empty.  The Carlyle books were lying on the table.  The money had been
+taken.  So I came back here to tell you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was anxious and perplexed.  "I don't understand what could have
+happened," he said.  "If the crook got away in spite of Charley, why
+didn't he come back here to report?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps he's still on his trail."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But he was told not to let him get out of the building.  There's
+nothing for me to do I suppose, but wait here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan waited in the librarian's office until after lunch, but Charley
+neither came back nor sent any word.  By the end of that time Evan,
+divided between anger and anxiety, was in a fever.  He decided to make
+a trip home.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+By the time he reached Washington Square anxiety had the upper hand.
+The gang must have got the better of Charley he told himself, or he
+would have had some word.  Evan had had experience of the desperate
+lengths to which they were prepared to go.  Would they now put their
+final threat into execution upon his hapless friend?  Evan blamed
+himself bitterly for having sent Charley into danger.  "If I do not
+hear from him during the afternoon, I'll send out a general alarm at
+police headquarters," he thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When Evan opened the door of 45A, Miss Sisson, according to her custom,
+stuck her head out into the hall.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I suppose you haven't seen Mr. Straiker," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I have," she answered.  "He came in about lunch time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What!" said Evan staring.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He came in and packed his trunk and took it away in a taxi-cab.  Said
+he was going away for a few days.  Wouldn't tell me where he was going.
+Seemed funny to me he wanted his trunk if it was only a few days, but
+of course I couldn't object for his rent is paid up and he left his
+furniture anyway, though that wouldn't bring much.  I will say he acted
+funny though, to an old friend like me.  Wouldn't give me any
+information."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan stared at the woman as if he thought she had suddenly lost her
+mind.  Then without a word he ran up the three flights of stairs.  A
+glance in Charley's room confirmed what she had told him.  Things were
+thrown about in the wildest confusion.  But all Charley's clothes were
+gone, as well as all the personal belongings that he treasured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan never gave a thought to the five thousand dollars; what cut him to
+the quick was the suggestion that his friend had betrayed him.  There
+is nothing bitterer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I needn't have been so anxious about him," thought grimly.  "This is
+more like treachery!"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap17"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XVII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE <I>ERNESTINA</I> AGAIN
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+The next day was Saturday, and whatever had happened to Evan, he did
+not forget that this was the day of the <I>Ernestina's</I> excursion, nor
+would he relinquish his determination to take it.  In his present sore
+and bitter state of mind the prospect of a row was rather welcome than
+otherwise.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He timed himself to arrive at the East Twentieth street pier at
+nine-twenty, that is to say ten minutes before the steamboat was due to
+leave.  He found Denton taking tickets at the gangway as before, but it
+was a very different face that Denton turned to him this morning;
+censure, reproach and apprehension all had a part in his expression.
+"He's been filled up with great stories about me," thought Evan.  There
+was a policeman standing near Denton.  Evan's eyes glittered at the
+sight of him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan made believe not to notice any change in Denton's manner.  "Good
+morning," he said cheerfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Denton made no reply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What can I do to-day?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Denton shook his head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan affected to be greatly surprised.  "Why, what's the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I guess you know," the other said sorely.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The policeman stepped up.  "Is this the guy as made trouble for you
+last trip?" he asked hoarsely.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Denton nodded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The policeman turned self-righteously on Evan.  "Say, fella, you'd
+ought to be ashamed of yourself!  Don't you know no better than to make
+trouble for a charity!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You've got me wrong, officer," said Evan sweetly.  "I didn't make any
+trouble.  It was the other fellows made trouble for me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, they did!" was the scornful rejoinder.  "That's what they all
+say!  Well, they're running this show, see?  And they don't want you.
+So beat it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan did not suppose that any charge would be pressed against him, but
+even if he were arrested and allowed to go, it would end the trip as
+far as he was concerned.  He decided upon a strategic retreat.  A new
+idea had occurred to him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's all right, old fellow," he said indulgently.  "Don't
+apologise."  He turned to go.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The policeman turned a shade pinker than his wont.  "Don't you get gay,
+young fella!  I ain't apologising to the likes of you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My mistake," said Evan, laughing over his shoulder.  "Keep the change!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As he passed out of hearing the blue-coat was saying sagely to Denton:
+"He's a bad one, all right.  You can see it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When Evan reached the shore end of the pier, he was cut off from the
+view of Denton and the policeman by a pile of freight which rose
+between.  Unobserved by them, he made his way out on the next pier.
+This pier like its neighbour was occupied by craft of all kinds,
+canal-boats, lighters, scows, etc.  Evan came to a stop opposite the
+<I>Ernestina</I>, and looked about him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At his feet lay a large power-boat.  She had a skiff tied to her rail.
+A burly harbourman, the skipper evidently, sat on the forward deck with
+his chair tipped back against the pilot-house and his hat pulled over
+his nose.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How are you?" said Evan affably.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How's yourself?" was the non-committal reply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I see you've got a skiff tied alongside," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Remarkable fine eyesight!" said the skipper ironically.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll give you a dollar if you'll put me aboard that steamboat yonder."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why the Hell don't you walk aboard by the gangway?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, you see it's a kind of joke I want to put up on them.  I want
+them to think they've gone off and left me, and then I'll show myself,
+see?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I never see nothing as don't concern me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll make it two dollars."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I ain't running my head into no noose."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I assure you it isn't a hanging matter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothin' doin', fella."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, look here; you be looking the other way, and I'll take the
+skiff, see?  Then you won't know anything about it.  You can recover it
+with one of the other skiffs in the slip here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How do I know you won't make off down the river in my skiff?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All you've got to do is start your engine."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothin' doin'!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You get the two dollars first of course."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The skipper let his chair fall forward and slowly rose.  He looked past
+Evan.  "Hey, Jake!" he cried to one on the pier.  "Wait a minute!  I
+got somepin' t' say to yeh."  He stepped to the stringpiece.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought he had failed&mdash;until he saw a hand poked suggestively
+behind the skipper.  Into it he hastily thrust two dollars.  The
+skipper nonchalantly went his ways.  Evan stepped aboard the power
+boat, skinned over the rail, and untied the skiff.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A few strokes of the oars brought him alongside the <I>Ernestina</I>.  A
+steamboat of this type has a wide overhang bounded by a stout timber
+called the "guard."  When Evan stood up in his skiff his shoulders were
+at the level of the guard.  But as the ledge it made was only three
+inches wide and the gunwale rising above it provided no hand hold, it
+was a problem how to draw himself up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He finally drew the skiff down to the paddle-box where the interstices
+of the gingerbread work enabled him to get a grip.  As he pulled
+himself up he thrust the skiff away with his foot.  He climbed back
+along the ledge to her stern gangway and vaulting over the rail found
+himself on the narrow deck encircling the stern, which is in marine
+parlance the "quarter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+All the business of the vessel was on the pier side, and this part was
+deserted.  The sliding door leading to the entrance hall was closed and
+Evan took care to keep out of the range of vision of anyone who might
+look out through the panes.  He determined to stay where he was until
+she got under way.  A warning whistle had already been sounded.  He
+made himself comfortable on a camp stool.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He chuckled to think of the sensation his appearance would cause.
+True, they might seize him and put him down in the hold again; they
+were strong enough.  But at least this time they would not take him by
+surprise, and he doubted anyway if they would attack him before the
+children.  Evan was strong with the children.  It might precipitate a
+riot on board.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The <I>Ernestina</I> began to back out of the slip without anybody having
+stumbled on Evan's hiding-place.  By this time the skipper of the power
+boat had recovered his skiff, and was watching Evan stolidly.  Evan
+waved him a farewell.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan had no notion of risking all he had gained by venturing out too
+soon.  He sat tight, entertaining himself as best he could with the
+unbeautiful panorama of Long Island City, Greenpoint (which is anything
+but green nowadays) and Williamsburgh.  They had passed under the
+far-flung spans of the three bridges, rounded Governor's Island and
+headed down the Bay before he ventured to open the sliding door into
+the entrance hall.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the moment there was no one in the hall who knew him, nor upon the
+stairway.  He mounted unhindered.  At the top he almost collided with
+Domville, the meekest of Corinna's brethren.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How are you?" said Evan affably.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Little Domville stood as if rooted to the deck, his face a study in
+blank dismay.  Then he turned without a sound, and scurried like a
+rabbit down the saloon and out on the after deck, presumably to spread
+the dreadful news.  Evan chuckled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Others in the saloon had recognised Evan.  "Mister!  Mister!  Tell us a
+story!  You know.  About the robbers in the cave.  They was just going
+to shoot Three-Fingered Pete for treachery!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan reflected that he could hardly do better than take a leaf out of
+Corinna's book, and protect himself with a rampart of children.  So he
+sat himself down and began, while they pressed close around:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, Three-Fingered Pete was just about ready to give up when a shot
+was heard at the mouth of the cave, and a clear young voice cried,
+'Hold! in the name of the U. S. cavalry!'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The door to the after deck opened and Domville returned with Corinna
+and Dordess, the cynical one.  Evan watched them without appearing to,
+and laughed inwardly at their amazed expressions.  His heart beat fast
+at the sight of the red-haired girl.  He told himself he hated her
+now&mdash;but perhaps hate can accelerate the pace of a heart too.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For a moment the three remained by the door in consultation, then
+Corinna and Domville went out on deck again, while Dordess came down
+the saloon, not towards Evan but on the other side.  Evan was not going
+to let him pass in silence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How are you?" he called cheerfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess sent him an ironical and courteous greeting.  He had more
+<I>savoir faire</I> than the younger males of Corinna's family.  He passed
+out of sight behind the engine trunk.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Gone to get the others," thought Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Dordess presently returned alone, and nothing happened.  He went
+back to the after deck.  As the minutes passed, Evan grew anxious, not
+knowing what they had in store for him, but he kept the story going.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly he saw the hump of Staten Island sweep around into view
+through the stern windows, and the Statue of Liberty passed by on the
+port side.  A few minutes before they had left it to starboard.  Wails
+began to be raised in the cabin.  "Oh!  We're going back again!  What's
+the matter?  I don't want to go back!"  No need for Evan to ask himself
+then what they were going to do.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He saw his opportunity when Corinna appearing in the saloon, stopped to
+pacify a crying child near the door.  Dordess was on the other side of
+the saloon.  Going to Corinna's side Evan said softly:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I suppose you're going back to put me ashore."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She did not answer.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He said in the same tone: "Corinna, I will not submit to such a
+humiliation a second time."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have brought it on yourself," she answered without looking at him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just the same I will not submit to it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What are you going to do about it?" she asked scornfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll go down to the little deck outside the entrance hall on the port,
+that is the left-hand side.  I will wait for you there.  If you do not
+come to me before we pass under Brooklyn Bridge, I'll jump overboard."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She looked at him startled and searchingly.  "You can't frighten me
+that way," she said proudly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm not trying to frighten you.  I'm making a simple statement.  You
+know what it is to have a strong will.  Very well, others may have as
+strong a will as your own.  When I say a thing I'd die rather than go
+back on it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna paled, but would not weaken.  "I am not your keeper," she said.
+"You must do as you will."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me five minutes talk alone with you, and I'll go ashore
+willingly.  That's all I came for."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will not come.  You will only make a fool of yourself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very well, you have your choice," said Evan.  He turned and went down
+the stairway.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Back on his camp-stool on the narrow deck, he felt as a man must feel
+after burning his bridges, a little shaky.  He knew the lengths to
+which a stubborn will may carry a person, and he was not at all sure of
+her coming.  Not that he meant to draw back; he spoke truth in saying
+he would have died first; he was a good swimmer, and he had no serious
+doubt of his ability to reach the shore, but he did not fancy being
+dragged out on a pier drenched and shoeless, and having to give an
+account of himself.  And in that case Corinna would win out anyway.
+The only way he could really get the better of her would be by
+committing suicide, and he was not prepared to go as far as that.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To save time the <I>Ernestina</I> passed through Buttermilk channel between
+Brooklyn and Governor's Island.  On the New York side the slips of
+South Ferry and Hamilton Ferry passed before Evan's eyes, and a little
+later Wall street ferry.  The bridge was not visible to him where he
+sat, but he knew it was looming close ahead; the next ferry-house,
+Fulton Ferry, was almost directly under it.  Finally he got an oblique
+view of the approach to the bridge with the trolley cars and trucks
+crawling upon it, and he stooped over to untie his shoes.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly the <I>Ernestina</I> gave a little lurch, and he looked up to see
+what was the matter.  She was swinging around again!  She turned her
+tail to Brooklyn Bridge and started out to sea again.  Certainly if
+anybody had been following her course that morning they would have been
+justified in supposing the Captain to be slightly demented.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laced up his shoes.  He grinned to himself in mixed satisfaction
+and chagrin.  Corinna had found a way to evade the choice he had given
+her!  True, she had prevented him from jumping overboard, but she had
+not come to him.  Clearly she preferred to endure his presence on the
+boat all day rather than give him five minutes alone with her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The only thing he could think of to bring her was the power of
+curiosity.  Perhaps if he stayed where he was she would be forced in
+the end to come see what had happened to him.  He determined to try it
+anyhow.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But as soon as she looks out of the door and sees me safe, she'll fly
+back," he thought.  He moved his stool around to the very stern of the
+<I>Ernestina</I>.  Here he was invisible unless one came all the way round
+to see.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Here his patience was indeed put to a test.  He had nothing to read&mdash;he
+could not have applied his mind to it, if he had had, and he dared not
+smoke for fear of betraying himself.  All he could do was to sit and
+study the scenery.  The <I>Ernestina</I> went back through Buttermilk
+channel, and rounded Red Hook.  She passed the Erie basin where upon
+the boundary fence Evan had the edification of reading a sign half a
+mile long extolling the virtues of a certain English condiment.  And
+they say the English are not enterprising!  She crossed the mouth of
+Gowanus bay and passed the villas of Bay Ridge, and still nothing
+happened.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But as she approached the Narrows, Evan thought he heard one of the
+sliding doors squeak, and his heart leaped.  Jumping up he flattened
+himself against the deck house.  There was an agonising pause.  If only
+he dared peep around the side.  Then Corinna came plump into view.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At sight of him a sharp exclamation escaped her.  She hung motionless
+for a moment, her face fixed in a comical mask of surprise and
+indignation, like a child's, then she turned to run.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait!" cried Evan peremptorily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She saw that he could seize her before she gained the door.  She had
+learned the folly of running from him.  So she stood still.  Drawing
+herself up she said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have nothing to say to you.  I only wished to make sure that you had
+not done anything foolish."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan glanced at the shores.  Staten Island was the nearer&mdash;less than
+half a mile.  "It is not too late," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Overboard I go," said Evan, "unless you stop here and talk to me as if
+I were a Christian."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She smiled scornfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I shall not be fooled a second time," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You were not fooled the first time," he said quietly.  He bent down
+and started to unlace his shoes.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What are you doing?" she demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can't swim with my shoes on," Evan said without looking up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He heard her catch her breath, but her voice was still inflexible.  "Do
+you think me so simple!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't think at all," said Evan with his hand on the rail.  "I give
+you your choice.  Will you stop and talk to me like a reasonable being
+for five minutes."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their hard eyes battled furiously, and neither pair would down.  "No!"
+she said, though her lips were white.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He glanced down at the water boiling from under the <I>Ernestina's</I>
+counter, and gathered himself for the spring.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The glance was too much for Corinna.  "Evan!  Evan!" she cried sharply,
+and put her hands out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In a trice he had her in his arms.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, don't kiss me!" she begged, even while her lips surrendered to his.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, you nearly let me go!" murmured Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would have gone too!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then we'd both have drowned.  I couldn't carry you all that way."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I wouldn't have cared."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'd rather live with you, you beautiful thing!  Why do you want to
+kill us both?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She tore herself from his arms.  "I can't help myself.  This is only
+torment."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But why? why?  I'm of age.  I have a right to know, to judge for
+myself.  What comes between us?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot tell you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And do you expect me to let you go on your mere say-so?  No, by God!
+Not while I live!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You must let me go!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is it a sin for you to love me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is impossible."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's not answering my question.  Have you a husband?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly not!" she said indignantly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He laughed at her tone.  "Is there any other man who has a better claim
+on you than I have?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She shook her head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, then!" he cried in great relief.  "What's the matter?  There's
+no other reason that I would recognise."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have mercy on me," she murmured.  "Let me go.  Help me to be strong!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In other words help you not to love me," he said tenderly.  "Not on
+your life!  I will never let you go without a good reason."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will tell you everything as soon as I can."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What does that mean, 'soon as you can'?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In a few days, a week maybe."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why not now?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Something must happen first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna, don't you understand how this mystery tortures one who
+loves!" he cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I know.  I cannot help myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you promise to tell me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, if you will let me entirely alone until I do tell you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll do my best," he groaned.  "One can't promise miracles."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And you must not let yourself love me, until you know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, that's clearly impossible.  I would have to love you just the same
+if you had two or three husbands and were the wickedest woman in the
+world beside."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm not a wicked woman!" she passionately cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, I didn't suppose you were," he said surprised.  "But it wouldn't
+make any difference."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let me go now," she begged.  "This only makes it harder."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Tell me you love me, and I'll let you go.  You owe me that after
+having had me assaulted on the last trip."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I didn't know what they were going to do."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, tell me you love me, anyhow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I do not love you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You do!  It's in your eyes, your lips, I know you do!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If I told you it would be impossible to manage you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed a peal.  "Darling stubborn child!  Then kiss me of your
+own free will and I'll let you go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No!  No!  No!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I must kiss you."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap18"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XVIII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE ACCIDENT
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Evan's talk with Corinna did not help him at all with the brotherhood.
+Whether they knew or not that he had had his five minutes with her, the
+fact that Corinna had ordered him put ashore and had then countermanded
+the order, was enough to rouse their jealous suspicions.  One and all
+they sent Evan to Coventry.  Let him work as willingly and cheerfully
+as he might, they ignored him: when they met they looked straight
+through him or over his head.  Evan told himself he didn't care&mdash;and
+devoted his time to the children; but he was a man, and the heart in
+his breast was hot against them.  With the children his popularity grew
+apace.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To-day the <I>Ernestina</I> was bound for Sandy Hook to give the small
+passengers a sight of the real ocean.  They saw the ocean, and were not
+much impressed.  Apparently they had expected the waves to come rolling
+in mountains high, whereas the ocean was as flat as Central Park lake.
+To be sure there was a slow swell that mysteriously heaved the
+<I>Ernestina</I> and troubled squeamish tummies, but it was not at all
+spectacular.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Later they lay in calm water inside the Hook while everybody ate.  As
+the day wore on the weather began to thicken.  The wind veered to the
+East and blew chill, and banks of white fog gathered on the horizon.
+Evan wondered why no one gave the word to return.  It was hardly his
+place to interfere, but in the end he felt obliged to.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Tenterden happened to be the one that he spoke to.  "We're going to
+have some dirty weather," Evan said lightly, "and we're a long way from
+the Bowery."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Tenterden looked him up and down.  "Say, are you going to tell us how
+to run this show?" he asked.  "That's good."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan shrugged and left him.  "I owe you one for that, old man," he
+thought.  "All right, my time will come."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It came sooner than he expected.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Someone did give the word, and the little <I>Ernestina</I> started back up
+the lower Bay at her customary head-long rate of eight miles an hour.
+And none too soon; the white wall of fog was creeping fast on her trail.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was doing duty on the forward deck where the largest crowd of
+children was gathered.  These were the healthiest and most obstreperous
+of their passengers.  With his back in the point of the bow he could
+survey all his charges at once.  No other helper was in that part of
+the boat at the moment.  All was serene; the children for the most part
+swinging their legs in camp chairs and amiably disputing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly from the very bowels of the vessel there came a horrifying
+report.  The <I>Ernestina</I> staggered sickeningly, listed to port, and
+commenced to limp around in a circle like a wounded bird.  Terrible
+smashing and rending sounds succeeded the first crash.  It seemed as if
+the frail little vessel must fly asunder under such blows.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After a second's frozen silence on deck a dreadful chorus broke forth.
+Only those who have witnessed a panic at sea will know.  On land one
+may always run from a horror; at sea there is nothing between horror
+and horror.  When the majority of passengers are helpless children the
+scene surpasses horror.  With sharp animal cries of fright, they ran
+around in blind circles, or charged in a body from side to side of the
+deck.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+An icy hand was laid on Evan's breast.  He expected to see little
+bodies with flying skirts drop into the water.  How could he be
+everywhere at once?  He sprang on a seat.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sit down, children!" he cried.  "She's broken her engine, that's all.
+The danger's over now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They were deaf to his voice.  The most frantic of them all was not a
+child but a woman, who half lay on a bench with limbs stiffened out,
+screaming continuously like a maniac.  Evan's voice was powerless
+against those cries.  He was obliged to silence her.  She fell over on
+the bench limply.  Evan sprang up into sight of all again.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sit still!" he cried.  "The danger's over.  Sing with me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He raised his voice in Suwanee River, the song every child knew.  A few
+joined in, some of the mothers helped.  The frantic cries were stilled
+a little.  The crashing sounds had ceased, but presently the roar of
+escaping steam renewed the confusion.  Panic broke out afresh.  Evan
+sang louder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They looked in his steady face and ceased their aimless running about.
+Many joined in.  The chorus swelled louder and louder.  It was
+extraordinary what reassurance there was in the sound.  The children
+sat down again, and presently like children, many of them were laughing
+at their late terrors.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The situation was saved on the forward deck, but Evan sang on with a
+sick anxiety in his breast.  He looked up at the pilot-house.  It was
+empty.  Under the chorus he could hear ominous sounds from below, and
+from the saloon.  And Corinna, what of her?
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In a moment Corinna herself came out on deck, deathly pale but mistress
+of herself.  Her eyes sought Evan's eyes.  His heart swelled that she
+had thought of him in her extremity.  Amazement filled her eyes at the
+sight of the laughing, singing children, amazement and a passion of
+relief.  She closed her eyes, and swayed, clinging to the door-handle.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sing!" cried Evan quickly.  "That's <I>your</I> job!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She quickly pulled herself together, and throwing back her head let her
+full voice go out.  It gathered up the ragged chorus, and gave the song
+a fresh start.  Fog began to creep around the vessel.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Inside with you!" cried Evan.  "Show those crazy kids in there how to
+sing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He and Corinna herded them in by the two doors.  The singing procession
+streaming into the cabin had an effect little short of magical on the
+bedlam within.  Corinna changed the tune to Annie Laurie.  The cabin
+roof rang with it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Little Domville was rushing to and fro in well-meant but futile efforts
+to reassure the children.  Evan seized him and planted him at one of
+the doors.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let no one go out!" he commanded.  "And sing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Another youth rushed up.  "Corinna, are you all right?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure, she's all right!  Everybody's all right!" cried Evan.  He put
+him at the other door.  "Stand there and sing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The young man yielded instinctive obedience to the commanding voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan and Corinna passed down the saloon, Corinna singing and Evan
+beating time with extravagant gestures like an Italian bandmaster.
+Even the children who were still weeping had to laugh.  They met
+Dordess on the way.  Denton and Anway were bringing in the children
+from the after deck.  As far as the passengers were concerned the
+crisis was passed&mdash;but ominous sounds still rose from below.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan whispered to Dordess: "Put a man at each door and at the stairway
+and keep the kids together.  I'll go below and see what's the matter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess nodded.  There was that in Evan's eye which caused all the men
+to look to him.  Their late animosity was forgotten.  He was avenged.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan hastened down the stairway.  Below there was nobody in the after
+part of the vessel.  Up forward he found a scene of dire confusion.
+Alongside the engine room the engineer lay prone on the deck with his
+second bending over him.  Up in the nose of the vessel the remainder of
+the ship's company it appeared was engaged in a free-for-all fist fight
+with oaths and stamping.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At first Evan could not make head or tail of the fracas.  Then he saw
+that it was the mate, a manly, up-standing young fellow and Tenterden
+against the four deckhands and the two firemen.  But the two were more
+than holding their own; the six cringed and sought to escape their
+blows.  Evan rushed between them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Leave off!  Leave off!" he cried.  "You'll start the kids off again."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"These &mdash;&mdash; &mdash;&mdash; cowards won't work!" cried the mate.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let them be.  We've enough without them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The mate and Tenterden reluctantly drew off.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"First of all is there any immediate danger?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, she's not taking water," said the mate.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Go up to the pilot-house.  There's nobody there."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I left the Captain there," the mate said, surprised.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He's gone.  Sound a distress signal on the whistle.  Tenterden, you go
+with him to help keep a look-out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The two hastened up the forward hatch.  Even the truculent Tenterden
+made no bones about taking orders from Evan now.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan returned to the second engineer, leaving the sulky crew to their
+own devices.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the damage?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The second waved a tragic hand towards the engine, and Evan saw for
+himself what had happened.  The main shaft on the port side had broken
+clean through.  The sudden shifting of the strain had thrown the
+walking-beam out of plumb, and the connecting rods had snapped off and
+threshed wildly about.  The ruin was complete, but fortunately, all
+above the water-line.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is the chief badly hurt?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't think so.  Got a side swipe from the connecting rod.  I can't
+find any fracture."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Leave him to me.  Get the fires banked so you can shut off that
+infernal steam.  Just keep steam enough to blow the whistle."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come on, boys," said the Second to his firemen.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They did not budge.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come on, boys!" said Evan.  "Don't let the kids shame you!  Listen to
+the little beggars singing up there."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The two firemen slunk aft and disappeared down their ladder.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan presently had the satisfaction of seeing the engineer open his
+eyes.  He was apparently not seriously injured.  Two of the deckhands
+carried him to his berth which was on the same deck.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan returned to the saloon.  "All straightened out below," he said
+cheerfully.  "The old flivver has made a complete job of her engine.
+We'll have to get a horse."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The children laughed.  Evan said aside to Dordess: "When they're tired
+of singing, get up a show."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He went on up to the pilot-house.  The mate and Tenterden were
+anxiously straining their eyes through the fog.  At minute intervals
+the mate sounded the distress signal of five short blasts on the
+<I>Ernestina's</I> whistle.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Where's the Captain?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In his room," was the curt reply.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter with him?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The mate made a significant gesture of turning his hand up at his mouth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan whistled noiselessly.  "Has he been that way all day?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, he took a dram when the crash came to steady his nerves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, let him be," said Evan.  "What chance have we of being picked up
+here?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not very good," said the mate.  "We're on the flats inside the Hook.
+Few small vessels come down here, and a big vessel couldn't come to us
+even if she heard us.  I'm afraid it's a case of wait till the fog
+lifts."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We can't keep this gang out all night," said Evan.  "That's flat."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you propose?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Somebody must go ashore in a boat to telephone for a tug."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No easy matter to take a boat ashore in this fog."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It can be done.  Just before the fog came down on us I marked that
+Atlantic Highlands was due south of us, and not above a mile distant.
+The wind has just come in from the east, and she'll hold there a while.
+By keeping the wind abeam on the port side you'd hit the shore
+somewhere near the pier."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll try it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No; you're our only qualified seaman.  You must stand by the vessel.
+I'll go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How will you get back?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll borrow or beg a compass ashore.  You keep the whistle going, and
+if the steam gives out, ring your bell."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I doubt if you'll get the deckhands to bring you back.  They'll go
+quick enough."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll get boatmen from the shore if they desert."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The deckhands were brought up through the forward hatch, and one of the
+<I>Ernestina's</I> boats was lowered away.  As Evan stepped in he said:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Don't tell them below that I've gone ashore unless you have to."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a ghostly trip.  At a hundred yards' distance the <I>Ernestina</I>
+was swallowed up entire in the fog, and thereafter they proceeded
+blindly in a grey void.  Only a little circle of leaden water was
+visible around them, which travelled with them as they went.  At minute
+intervals the sound of her whistle reached them, but it was only
+confusing for it seemed to come now from this side, now from that.  Fog
+plays strange tricks with acoustics.  Evan steered, keeping the wake of
+his boat straight and the wind in his left ear.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally to his relief the shapes of trees swam out ahead, and he had
+the comfortable sensation of touching reality again.  It is a thickly
+settled shore, and he was quickly directed to the pier and the village.
+Here Evan's story quickly won him help from the water-farers.  To be
+sure, two of his men incontinently walked off, but a dozen volunteers
+offered to replace them.  After patient telephoning he succeeded in
+getting the promise of a tug from Perth Amboy, and stopping only to buy
+out the greater part of a grocer's stock, he started back.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Within an hour of leaving the <I>Ernestina</I> he was back on board.  The
+mate and Tenterden were still on deck.  For a single moment the latter
+looked at Evan with friendly eyes.  No vessel had come within hail,
+they reported.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan hastened down to the saloon.  Corinna and her aides had the
+children pretty well in hand&mdash;but a cry of welcome went up at the sight
+of Evan.  Somehow the smallest toddler on board had gathered that Evan
+was the man of the hour.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A tug will be along in half an hour to pick us up," Evan announced.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Cheers from the crowd.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, how do you know that?" Corinna demanded of him privately.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I just stepped ashore to telephone," said Evan airily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna sat down suddenly.  "You went ashore, and left us!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Within the promised time they heard a deep-toned whistle searching for
+them in the fog.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wh-e-e-re?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To which the <I>Ernestina</I> agitatedly responded: "Here!  Here!  Here!
+Here!  Here!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This duet was carried on for upwards of ten minutes.  The tug appeared
+to be travelling around them in a circle.  It was like a game of Blind
+Man's Buff with both sides blinded.  All of a sudden she came charging
+out of the fog, as if a magician had evoked her.  The children swarmed
+out on the deck with cheers.  Their elders let themselves relax with
+thankful hearts.  A furtive tear or two stole down Corinna's cheeks.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Ropes were passed to and fro, and with the tug alongside, the slow
+homeward journey began.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As soon as all danger was over Evan received another lesson in the
+curious workings of human nature.  Once more the brotherhood drew away
+from Evan as if the latter had the plague.  Evan had them in an
+uncomfortable hole now, for all were conscious of being under an
+obligation to him.  That only made matters worse, for when a person is
+resolved to hate you, to put him under an obligation only obliges him
+to be more hateful.  As for Corinna, she retired into herself and was
+inscrutable.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a weary journey.  The supper, materials for which Evan had
+brought from shore, created a welcome diversion; but supper over, they
+were still miles from home, and the helpers were hard put to it to keep
+the small passengers even moderately contented.  Fortunately during the
+last hour the greater part fell asleep where they were, on the sofas,
+on the floor, on a couple of camp-stools placed together.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan and Corinna happened to meet beside one child draped over the arm
+of a chair in an excruciating attitude.  They straightened her out
+together.  Corinna did not look at Evan nor speak, but from her to him
+he thought he felt a warm current pass&mdash;or perhaps it was only because
+he wished to believe it.  None of the other helpers were near.  The
+child was sleeping soundly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna, I love you," whispered Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"<I>Please!</I>" she murmured distressfully.  "You make it so hard for me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He would not remind her of what he had done for her, but he felt that
+it would be only decent of her to show some recognition of it.  "Is
+nothing changed?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing can be changed."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"After all we've been through?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm deeply grateful to you, but I suppose that's another story, isn't
+it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well&mdash;would you be satisfied with my gratitude?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No!" he said promptly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's all I can give you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna, you drive me mad!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, don't begin that again.  Think of my position.  Be generous!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're always appealing to my better feelings," he grumbled.  "I tell
+you, they won't stand the strain."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So absorbed were they in this little exchange that they did not hear
+footsteps approaching down the carpeted saloon.  Looking up, they
+beheld Dordess approaching with the whole brotherhood at his heels:
+Anway, Tenterden, Domville, Burgess, and the blonde youth whose name
+Evan never knew.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna flushed up at the sight of them, but it was impossible to say
+for sure what her feelings were&mdash;mixed, probably.  She looked guilty at
+being surprised in talk with Evan, and she was certainly angry; angry
+at the men, or angry at herself for betraying the blush.  Evan, on the
+alert for trouble, smiled grimly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess was no less cynical and bland than usual, but he could not
+conceal the angry glitter in his eye.  As for the others, they betrayed
+their feelings more or less according to their natures; Anway was hard
+and composed; Tenterden vicious and truculent; little Domville
+apologetic and reproachful, and the other two, youths of no particular
+character, merely self-conscious and inclined to bluster.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"May we have a few words with you?" said Dordess to Corinna.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly," she said stiffly.  "What's the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I speak for all of us," said Dordess, "to save time.  We wish to
+convey to Mr. Weir our appreciation of the fine way he acted at the
+time of the accident."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was not deceived by these honeyed words.  He saw that there was
+more to follow.  He spoke up.  "Not at all.  Every one of us did his
+darnedest, I'm sure."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess went on: "We willingly grant that he's a fine fellow.
+Unfortunately we don't like him any better than we did before.  And his
+fine conduct does not make it any more possible for us to work with him
+in future."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+An involuntary exclamation of indignant reproach broke from Corinna:
+"Oh!"  Evan was not displeased at the turn things were taking.
+"They're pushing her too far," he thought.  "They'll drive her into my
+arms."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess resumed: "You got us on board this boat.  We look to you as our
+head.  So we felt we ought to tell you at once how we felt, and leave
+it to you to act as you thought best."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was conscious that there was a good deal more in this than
+appeared on the surface.  He watched them keenly.  Dordess' eyes held
+Corinna's unflinchingly, and Corinna's were the first to fall.  Evan,
+seeing this, felt a sinking in his breast.  "What hold has he over
+her?" he asked himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you wish me to do?" asked Corinna in a muffled voice.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was amazed.  He had thought these men were Corinna's slaves, and
+here was Dordess visibly wielding the whip hand over her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Tell him," said Dordess, "that we very much regret it will be
+impossible for us to have him with us on future trips of our
+Association."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are ungenerous!" cried Corinna.  "After he has saved us all!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The six faces changed.  Evan imagined that he could feel their hate
+like a wave.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess' voice was still smooth.  "I can't tell you how sorry we are.
+He has put us in a difficult position.  But there is no help for it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Suppose you address me directly instead of through Miss Playfair,"
+said Evan, careful to keep his voice as smooth as the other man's.
+"Don't let the trifling service that I am supposed to have done you
+trouble you, but tell me what's the nature of your objection to me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I think you know that," said Dordess.  "You have been pleased to refer
+to us jokingly as the 'brotherhood.'  All right, we accept that word.
+We are a brotherhood working under a certain understood rule.  Well,
+you've had your chance, and you refuse to be governed by our rule.  You
+insist on playing your own hand.  That's all right.  But if every one
+of us was working for himself it would make these trips impossible.
+Surely you can see that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And if I refuse to tell him what you ask me to?" Corinna burst out
+angrily.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then the rest of us will go," said Dordess instantly.  "Our minds are
+made up as to that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A strike of the brotherhood!" cried Evan mockingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna kept her head down, and traced a pattern with the toe of her
+slipper.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan became anxious at her silence.  "Let them go!" he cried.  "I'll
+undertake to fill their places before the next trip."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To his astonishment all six men laughed scornfully.  Surely there was
+something going on here that he did not know.  He scowled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally Corinna raised her head.  She ignored Evan's offer.  She
+appeared to be looking at him, but her eyes did not quite meet his.  "I
+am sorry to appear ungenerous and ungrateful," she said like a child
+repeating a lesson, "but it is true, as Mr. Dordess says,
+notwithstanding your brave conduct to-day, it will be impossible for us
+to have you with us in future."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna!" cried Evan in dismay.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The six men triumphed.  In the faces of the weaker ones it showed
+offensively; the stronger hid it, but Evan was none the less conscious
+of it.  His self-love suffered a ghastly wound.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess relentlessly resumed: "We wish to be courteous, but there must
+be no misunderstanding.  Please tell him that if in spite of this
+friendly warning he persists in forcing himself on board, you will
+authorise us to put him ashore."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A flash from under Corinna's lowered lids suggested that Dordess would
+have to pay for this later on; nevertheless she repeated tonelessly:
+"If in spite of this friendly warning you persist in forcing yourself
+on board I will have to authorize them to put you ashore."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan stared at her in angry incredulity.  He simply could not take in
+the fact that she was putting so public an affront on him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess could no longer make believe to hide his real feelings.  He
+went on, sneering: "Tell him further that if he continues to force his
+unwelcome attentions on you, you will feel justified in appealing to us
+to protect you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna repeated: "If you continue to force your attentions on me, I
+shall be obliged to appeal to these gentlemen to protect me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan suddenly went cold.  His lip curled.  He told himself she had
+killed his love dead, and he didn't give a damn anyhow.  He bowed to
+her.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I assure you that won't be necessary," he said ironically.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna walked away down the saloon.  The brotherhood straggled after,
+victors perhaps, but secretly uneasy in the moment of victory.  Evan
+was left standing alone, looking after them scornfully.  The
+<I>Ernestina</I> blew for the pier.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap19"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XIX
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+FOUR VISITS FROM GEORGE DEAVES
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+As long as he was under the observation of his enemies it was possible
+for Evan to maintain his scornful and indifferent air, but at home and
+alone, his defenses collapsed.  Useless for him to tell himself that
+the girl was not worth troubling about, that it was impossible he
+should love her after having received such an injury at her hands.
+Perhaps it was true he no longer loved her, but the wrenching out of
+his love had left a ghastly gaping wound in his breast.  The only thing
+that kept him going at all was a passionate desire for revenge.  Oh, to
+get square!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At home he had an additional cause for pain in the empty room adjoining
+his, though Charley's defection was somewhat overshadowed by the
+greater misfortune.  But to be betrayed on succeeding days by his best
+friend and by his girl was enough to shatter any man's faith in
+humanity.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Next morning after breakfast he sat at his table with his head between
+his hands, when he was aroused by the sound of an apologetic cough in
+the hall outside his door.  The door was open.  A voice spoke his name
+deprecatingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here!" said Evan.  "Come in."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves appeared in the doorway, and Evan was sufficiently
+astonished.  Deaves was neatly dressed in black as for a funeral,
+carrying a highly-polished silk hat over his thumb.  He was pale and
+moist with agitation, and looked not at all sure of his reception.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I&mdash;I didn't know which door was yours," he stammered.  "The woman told
+me to come right up."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could hardly be said to be overjoyed to see his visitor, though
+his curiosity was somewhat aroused.  "Come in," he said.  "Sit down.
+This is an unexpected visit."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes.  Thank you."  Deaves looked around him vaguely.  "So this is
+where you live?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not a very palatial abode, eh?" said Evan, following the other's
+thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not at all!  Not at all!" said Deaves hastily.  "I mean, very nice.
+Very suitable.  One understands of course that a young artist has his
+way to make."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was clear from his agonised and distraught eye that he had not come
+merely to exchange civilities.  "What can I do for you?" asked Evan
+bluntly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves trailed off into explanations that explained nothing.  "I
+intended to come anyway&mdash;to tell you&mdash;to express how it was&mdash;my
+position is very difficult&mdash;you can understand I am sure&mdash;to tell
+you&mdash;to tell you how sorry I was to be obliged to let you go."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, that's all right," said Evan indifferently.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And then something happened which obliged me to come at once.  I was
+here yesterday, but you were out."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I was out all day," said Evan bitterly.  "What has happened?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves wiped his face.  "I have had another letter from those
+blackguards, a&mdash;a most dreadful letter!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Already?" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And so I came to you at once."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You will pardon me," said Evan coolly, "but I do not yet see why you
+should come to me about it&mdash;after the manner of our parting."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I had no one else to go to," said Deaves helplessly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In spite of himself Evan was a little touched.  "Let me see the
+letter," he said, holding out his hand.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves passed it over and Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Dear Mr. Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Our enterprise has had its exciting side.  We'd be willing to keep it
+up indefinitely for the pure fun of the thing were it not that it is so
+expensive.  I mean, a large part of our takings is swallowed up in the
+inevitable charges.  This leads us to offer you an alternative plan.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Under the present scheme we will assess you this season about forty
+thousand dollars, and an equal amount, or more, next year.  Now we
+propose to save you money and ourselves trouble by asking you to endow
+the Ikunahkatsi once and for all.  Four hundred thousand dollars is the
+sum required.  At five per cent this is only twenty thousand a year, so
+you see you would save a clear half.  On our part we would bind
+ourselves not to ask you to advance us any further sums of money on any
+pretext whatsoever.  You will concede that heretofore we have
+scrupulously kept all our engagements with you.  To put it humorously,
+it will cost you four hundred thousand dollars to get rid of us for
+good.  Isn't it worth it?  Especially now that the old gentleman has
+lost his efficient guardian.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+We will give you until Sunday morning to think it over.  If you agree
+to our proposal hang a flag from the pole that juts from the second
+story of your house, and we will send you instructions how to proceed.
+We are sure you will agree, but if you do not, we have further
+arguments to offer you.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Yours very sincerely,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">THE IKUNAHKATSI."</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"Same old humourist!" said Evan grimly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And only the day before I sent them five thousand!" groaned Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just the same this is a confession of weakness," said Evan.  "I see
+that clearly.  The game is getting too difficult for them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What would you advise me to do?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ignore that letter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But&mdash;but what do you suppose they mean by 'further arguments'?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know.  Make them show their hand."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you suppose they contemplate&mdash;er&mdash;personal violence?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They may intend to threaten it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves shuddered.  "Suppose they took me into custody as they did you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, they didn't do me any harm, really."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I am not so sure&mdash;the second time&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They wouldn't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," said Evan
+grimly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves saw nothing humorous in the illustration.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Have you shown the letter to Mrs. Deaves?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves shook his head.  "I suppose they will be writing to her next,"
+he moaned.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your father?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the use?"  Deaves struck his forehead.  "My position is
+becoming unbearable!" he cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm sorry for you," Evan said, thinking: "If you only had a little
+more backbone!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves arose lugubriously.  "After all there is nothing for me to do
+but to ignore this letter," he said.  "I suppose you do not feel
+inclined to help me any further in the matter."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"On the contrary, I'll be glad to," said Evan quickly.  "But on my own
+terms.  I have my own score to settle with this gang."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves looked heartened.  "Then if I hear from them again what is your
+telephone number?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There is no telephone in this house."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But I may send to you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By all means."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"&mdash;Er&mdash;would you mind coming down-stairs with me?" said Deaves.  "The
+halls are so dark.  And this letter has made me wretchedly nervous."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan went with him, concealing his smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the lower hall Deaves said: "Of course I shall not venture out on
+foot after this.  I shall always use the car."  A new and dreadful
+thought struck him.  "But then in a car one offers such a conspicuous
+mark to a bullet!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You needn't fear bullets," said Evan.  "A dead man can't pay
+blackmail."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves seemed to take little comfort from this.  "What do you think
+about my chauffeur?" he asked anxiously.  "Take a look at him.  Does he
+look honest?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan glanced through the narrow pane beside the door.  "There's nothing
+remarkable about him," he said.  "He looks like&mdash;like a chauffeur.  How
+can one tell from a man's looks what he's thinking about?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Suppose they were to bribe him, and he drove me off to their lair?"
+stuttered Deaves.  "I&mdash;I think I'd better stay home altogether
+hereafter."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+But he was back again at nine o'clock that night in a still greater
+state of agitation.  "Father has not come home!" he cried.  "Where is
+he?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How should I know?" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you accompanied him on all his walks!  You know his haunts!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"His haunts!" exclaimed Evan.  "His haunts comprised the whole five
+boroughs of Greater New York with occasional excursions into Jersey!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you must go in search of him!  I cannot let the night pass and do
+nothing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear sir, I wouldn't have the faintest notion where to begin.  The
+only thing to do is to send out a general alarm through the police."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves wrung his hands.  "I can't do that!  I can't risk another
+horrible newspaper sensation on top of everything else!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then there's nothing to do but wait to see what happens," said Evan
+patiently.  "If he's had an accident in the street, you will be
+notified."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You think I'd be glad if something happened to him," said Deaves.
+"Everybody thinks so.  But after all he's my father.  It's the suspense
+that drives me out of my mind!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It cannot be for long.  If the blackmailers have kidnapped him&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That is what I fear!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They will open negotiations in the morning.  And you need not fear
+that anything will happen to him during the course of negotiations."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But what good will it do to negotiate?" cried poor Deaves.  "I cannot
+possibly meet their demands."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Tell them so," said Evan.  "Put it up to them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then they'll make him suffer."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In that case he can pay them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, you don't know my father!  Four hundred thousand dollars!  He'd
+die rather!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, that's up to him, isn't it?" said Evan coolly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah, you have no heart!" cried George Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"My dear sir," said Evan patiently, "it is your 'heart' as you call it
+that these fellows are working on.  They would not dare to harm Mr.
+Deaves, really.  If they did, it would arouse public opinion to that
+extent we could catch and hang every man jack of them!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Your cold words cannot ease the heart of a son!" cried Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan ushered him gently towards the staircase.  "Take it easy!" he said
+soothingly.  "Wait until to-morrow.  Perhaps in opening negotiations
+they will give us a good chance to trip them up."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Deaves returned next morning before Evan had finished his breakfast.
+He extended a letter in a trembling hand.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In the first mail," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"One of our members happened to meet Mr. Simeon Deaves on the street
+yesterday, and invited him to spend a few days as our guest at the
+clubhouse.  He is with us now, and appears to be enjoying himself
+pretty well, but unfortunately the climate of the vicinity is very bad
+for him.  At his age one cannot be too careful.  We think he should be
+returned home at once.  A single day's delay might be fatal.  If you
+agree, hang out the flag at eleven, Monday.  We realize that you feel
+you must be extra careful in regard to the old gentleman's health,
+because you would profit so greatly by his death.  You are so
+conscientious!  Personally we would be very glad to see you come in for
+a great fortune; it would enable you to put so much more into the
+enterprise in which we are jointly associated."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Said Evan: "Stripped of its humorous verbiage this means: 'Come across
+or we'll croak the old man.  And you needn't think you would profit by
+his death because we'd come down on you harder than ever then!'"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Isn't it awful!  Isn't it awful!" gasped Deaves.  "Was ever a man put
+in so frightful a position?  What am I to do?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Three courses are open to you," said Evan patiently; "the first, and
+in my opinion the wisest, course is&mdash;to do nothing.  Put it up to them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But my father!  He will suffer for it!  A rotting old house overrun
+with rats, you said.  And such an ordeal as you went through!  It might
+very well kill him.  How can I risk it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He will always have the option of freeing himself," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He would die rather than submit!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan shrugged.  "Well, we went over all that last night.  Your second
+course would be to take that letter to the police and put the whole
+matter in their hands.  A force of ten thousand men with the
+information I can give them ought to be able to locate the clubhouse
+before night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And find papa's body!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, your third course is to hang out the flag and open negotiations."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have nothing to negotiate with!  I cannot raise a cent more!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Never mind; bluff them.  Spin them along as far as you can, on the
+chance of outwitting them in the end."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What chance would I have of outwitting them?" cried Deaves mournfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan looked at the poor distraught figure and thought: "Not much, I
+guess."  Aloud he said: "Well, that's the best I can do for you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All three courses are equally impossible!" cried Deaves desperately.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yet you must follow one of them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You are no help at all!" cried Deaves.  He turned like a demented
+person, and ran down-stairs.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought he had seen the last of him.
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+But on the afternoon of the following day he returned once more.  He
+was still perturbed, but his desperate agitation had passed; there was
+even a certain smugness about him.  Clearly something had happened to
+ease his mind.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, what did you do?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves looked confused.  "Well&mdash;I couldn't make up my mind what to do,"
+he confessed.  "I&mdash;I didn't do anything."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just what I advised," said Evan.  "Then what happened?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves evaded a direct answer.  "I came to ask you if you would
+accompany me on a little expedition to-night?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What for?" demanded Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is it necessary for me to tell you?  I would pay you well."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's not a question of pay," said Evan.  "I must know what I'm doing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You wouldn't approve of my course of action."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All the more reason for telling me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves still hesitated.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let me see the latest letter," said Evan at a venture.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves stared.  "How did you know there was a letter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well there always is another when the first doesn't work, isn't there?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves looking a little foolish produced a letter and handed it over.
+Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"The enclosed speaks for itself.  You will please proceed as
+follows:&mdash;bearing in mind that the slightest departure from our
+instructions in the past has invariably been followed by disaster:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+You will leave home in your car at eight P.M. Tuesday.  You may bring a
+companion with you in addition to your chauffeur, as we realize you
+have not the constitution to carry this through alone and we do not
+wish to ask the impossible.  Therefore you may bring the huskiest
+body-guard obtainable&mdash;but neither you nor he must bear weapons of any
+description.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+You will proceed over the Queensboro Bridge and wait on the North side
+of the Plaza at the corner of Stonewall avenue until eight-thirty
+precisely.  You will not get out of your car during this wait.  You
+will be under observation the whole way, and we will instantly be
+apprised of any departure from our instructions.  In that case you will
+have your trip for nothing and the consequences will be on your head.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+At eight-thirty you will proceed out Stonewall avenue to the corner of
+Beechurst, an insignificant street in the village of Regina.  It is
+about ten minutes' drive from the Plaza.  You will know Beechurst
+street by the large and ugly stone church with twin towers on your left
+hand.  You get out on the right-hand side and send your chauffeur back.
+Tell him to return to the bridge Plaza and wait for you.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+When he is out of sight you proceed up Beechurst street to the right.
+It climbs a hill and seems to come to an end in less than a block among
+a waste of vacant lots.  You will find, however, that it is continued
+by a rough road which you are to follow.  It crosses waste lands and
+passes through a patch of woods.  You will be held up on the way, but
+do not be alarmed.  This is merely for the purpose of searching you for
+weapons.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+In the patch of woods further along, you will find two men waiting for
+you.  To them you will deliver the securities.  They will examine them
+and if they are all right you will be allowed to proceed.  Do not
+return the way you came, but continue to follow the rough road.  A
+short way further along it will bring you to a highway with a trolley
+line by which you may return to the Bridge Plaza.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+If you do your part Mr. Simeon Deaves will be home before morning.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"What was the enclosure they speak of?" asked Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A note from my father."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ah!  May I see it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I haven't it.  It was addressed to Culberson, President of the
+Mid-City Bank."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"An order?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, for Culberson to buy $400,000. of non-registered Liberty bonds
+and deliver them to me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So he gave in!" cried Evan in strong amazement.  "Even Simeon Deaves
+values his skin more than his money!" he added to himself.  "You have
+already secured the bonds?" he asked Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The latter nodded.  "They're at home."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"By God!  I hate to let those rascals get away with it!" cried Evan.
+"Four hundred thousand!  Think of the good you could do with such a
+sum!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But they have promised to let us alone for good," said Deaves eagerly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They can afford to!" said Evan dryly.  "It fairly drives me wild to
+think of them triumphing!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you'll come with me?" said Deaves anxiously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure, I'll go with you.  I may get a chance at them yet!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No!  No!" cried Deaves in a panic.  "That would ruin everything!  You
+must promise me you will make no attempt against them!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I must be free to act as I see fit!" said Evan stubbornly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I cannot take you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's up to you," said Evan with an indifferent shrug.  He turned
+away.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves lingered in a state of pitiable indecision.  "I have no one else
+I can ask," he said appealingly.  "I beg of you to be reasonable, Weir.
+You must see that we are helpless against them.  Promise me you will do
+nothing against them, and you may ask me what you like."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I want nothing from you," said Evan coldly.  "I won't promise."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then I must take a servant," said Deaves helplessly&mdash;"and perhaps lay
+myself open to fresh demands from another quarter!"  He turned to go.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan of course was keen on going.  When he saw that Deaves was actually
+prepared to stick to what he said, Evan gave in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll compromise with you," he said.  "I promise to carry out
+instructions exactly as given in the letter until after the securities
+are handed over.  After that I must be free to act as I see fit."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean to do?" asked Deaves anxiously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't know.  How can I tell?  I'm hoping that something may happen
+to give me a clue that I may follow up later."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh well, that's all right," said Deaves.  "You'll be at my house
+before eight then?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll be there."
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap20"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XX
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves and Evan sat in the Deaves limousine with the package of
+bonds between them.  Deaves was perspiring and fidgetty, Evan the
+picture of imperturbability&mdash;not but what Evan was excited too, but the
+display of agitation the other was making put Evan on his mettle to
+show nothing.  The car was lying against the curb on the North side of
+the Queensboro Bridge Plaza, and they were watching the hands of a
+clock in a bank building creep to half-past eight.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why do you suppose they insisted on our waiting here?" said Deaves
+querulously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Can't say," answered Evan.  "I have fancied that some of their orders
+were just thrown in to mystify us, to undermine our morale.  Possibly
+they stipulated we must leave this point at eight-thirty so they would
+know exactly when to expect us."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That man who just passed us, how he stared!  Do you suppose he could
+have been one of them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There must be a lot of them then.  Everybody stares.  Like ourselves,
+they wonder what we're waiting here for."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the stroke of the half hour they gave the chauffeur word to proceed
+out Stonewall avenue.  The village of Regina is not a beautiful hamlet.
+Its founders had large ideas; they laid off the principal street a
+hundred feet wide, but the city has its own ideas about the proper
+width of streets, and when in the course of time the municipality took
+over Regina it paved but two-thirds of Stonewall avenue, leaving a
+muddy morass at each side.  The buildings that lined this thoroughfare
+were something between those of a city slum and those of a Western boom
+town.  They had no difficulty in picking out Beechurst street; the big
+stone church in its muddy yard was a horror.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They alighted in the middle of the street, for the chauffeur opined
+that if he fell off the hard pavement he'd never be able to climb back
+on it.  They dismissed him, and watched him turn and roll out of sight.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves shuddered.  "I wish I was safe inside!" he murmured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan took careful note of their surroundings.  On the corner where they
+stood was a stationery store, and across Beechurst street was a saloon.
+"Someone watching us from in there I'll be bound," thought Evan.  If he
+had been alone he would have gone in.  Across Stonewall avenue from the
+saloon was the church aforementioned, and the fourth corner was vacant.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They turned up Beechurst street, which was swallowed up in unrelieved
+blackness a few yards ahead.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I feel as if there were watching eyes on every side of us," said
+Deaves tremulously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They're welcome to look at me if it does them any good," said Evan
+lightly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You carry the package," said Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Aren't you afraid I might skip with it?" said Evan teasingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves had no humour.  He hastily took the package back.  Evan chuckled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The sidewalk ended abruptly, and they took to the centre of the street.
+Here they found a rough and stony road grown high with weeds on either
+hand.  Mounds of ashes and tin cans obstructed the way; an automobile
+would have found it well-nigh impassable.  It wound across that ugly
+no-man's land between the pavements and the cultivated land.  What with
+his terrors and the tenderness of his feet, Deaves made heavy going
+over the stones.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To complete his demoralisation, a shrill whistle presently rang out of
+the dark behind them.  Deaves gasped and clutched Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's only their signal that all's well," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This is no place for me!" moaned Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The road became a little smoother, and alongside they saw the neat rows
+of a market garden.  Evan sniffed that curious odor compounded of
+growing vegetables and fertilizer.  Then the road dipped into a hollow
+and thick bushes rose on either side.  The air was sweet of the open
+countryside here.  It was very dark under the bushes.  Deaves clung to
+Evan's arm.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly they found themselves surrounded by several figures with
+masked faces.  A crisp voice commanded:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hands up, gentlemen!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves obeyed so quickly that the package rolled on the ground.
+Somebody sniggered.  The first voice sternly bade him to be quiet.
+Deaves stooped to pick up the precious package.  He was ordered to let
+it lie.  Evan and Deaves, their hands aloft, were rapidly and
+thoroughly frisked for weapons.  Deaves gasped with terror when they
+touched him.  The spot was so dark, Evan could make but few
+observations.  He did see though that the men&mdash;he counted four of
+them&mdash;were roughly dressed, and from this he deduced that they were
+from the higher walks of life.  Clever and successful crooks nowadays
+are invariably well-dressed.  The rough clothes were in line with the
+gruff voices the men assumed.  Gruffness could not hide the educated
+forms of speech that they used.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The search was over in a minute.  "Pick up the package, gentlemen, and
+proceed," ordered the voice.  The figures melted away in the darkness.
+Evan and Deaves went on.  The road rose out of the hollow, and they had
+more light to pick their tracks.  Again a whistle sounded behind them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The word is being passed along to those in front of us," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+After the market gardens came a patch of woods.  Deaves halted at the
+edge and peered into the shadows.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I cannot trust myself in there," he muttered.  "I simply cannot!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just as you say," said Evan.  "I don't suppose they'll let us back
+now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With a groan Deaves started ahead.  Evan sniffed the trees gratefully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the thick of the woods two figures faced them.  White cotton masks
+over their faces gave them an unearthly look.  Deaves tremulously held
+out the package, and it was taken from his hands.  No word was spoken.
+One man snapped on an electric flash, and in the disk of light that it
+threw the other hastily unwrapped the package and examined the bonds.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Now from the white papers a certain amount of light was reflected back
+on the man who was holding the flash, and Evan studied him attentively.
+He was holding a pistol in his other hand.  Something familiar in the
+creases of the suit he wore first arrested Evan's attention.  That is
+to say, these creases suggested the lines of a figure that Evan had
+often drawn and painted.  When in addition he perceived a certain
+well-remembered involuntary twitching in the figure, amazement and
+incredulity gave place to certainty.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Charl!" he cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The two masked figures started back.  He who held the light took his
+breath sharply, and Evan knew he was not mistaken.  The man with the
+bonds quickly recovered himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Be quiet!" he sharply commanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Evan in his anger had forgotten prudence.  "Charl!" he cried.
+"What does this mean?  Have you turned crook!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The other man whispered in a passion: "Shoot him if he doesn't shut his
+mouth!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, shoot your partner," cried Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley shrunk back.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me the gun and I'll do it," said the other man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Weir, for God's sake, for God's sake, for God's sake!"  Deaves was
+gabbling in an ecstasy of terror.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With an effort Evan commanded himself.  Nothing was to be gained by
+making a row there in the woods.  Indeed he already saw how foolish he
+had been to betray his discovery.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The examination of the bonds was concluded.  The man who had them spoke
+to his partner: "These are all right.  Hold them here while I start the
+engine."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, more accustomed now to the darkness of the woods, made out that
+at the point where they stood the road forked.  In the left fork he
+dimly perceived the form of a car at a few paces distance.  The top was
+down.  Presently the engine started, and Evan recognised that it was
+the same car that had carried him off.  The engine had its own rattle.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley said in a disguised voice: "Keep straight ahead to the right."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He started to back away from them, keeping the light playing on the
+agonised, fascinated face of Deaves, who stood rooted to the ground.
+The hand that held the light trembled a little.  Suddenly it was
+switched off and Charley ran the last few steps that separated him from
+the car.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan involuntarily sprang forward, leaving a speechless and gasping
+Deaves in the road.  But Evan was not thinking of Deaves then.  He saw
+Charley take the driver's seat in the car.  The noise of the engine
+drowned what sounds Evan's feet made.  He laid hands on the back of the
+car as it started to move, and swung himself off the ground.  His knees
+found the gasoline tank.  He cautiously turned around and let himself
+down upon it in a sitting position, his hands still clinging to the
+folds of the lowered top above his head.  As they got under way the man
+beside Charley blew a blast on a whistle similar to those they had
+heard before.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They went but slowly for the way was rough.  Evan prayed that the tank
+beneath him might be stoutly swung to the frame.  As well as he could
+he distributed his weight between the tank and the top.  After passing
+over some spring-testing bumps in safety he felt somewhat reassured.
+If she stood that there would not be much danger on a smoother road
+when they hit up speed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Emerging from the woods they turned into a farm road not so bad, and by
+means of the farm road they gained a dirt highway, ever increasing
+speed as the way became smoother.  All this neighbourhood was quite
+unknown to Evan of course, and his point of view was somewhat
+restricted, being directed solely towards the rear.  He watched the
+stars and made out that the car was choosing roads that were gradually
+bringing it around in a great circle.  He supposed that it was bound
+back for town&mdash;for the "club-house," if he was lucky.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan had no clear idea of what he meant to do.  His one purpose was to
+get Charley by himself.  He knew the ascendancy that he possessed over
+that mercurial youth.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They finally struck a smooth macadam road upon which they travelled
+East at thirty-five miles an hour, the best, no doubt, the old car
+could do.  It was a well-travelled road.  They passed all cars bound in
+the same direction, and to the drivers of these cars Evan on his perch
+was brilliantly revealed in the rays of their headlights.  With the
+idea of suggesting that it was all a joke, Evan waved facetiously to
+them.  They accepted it as intended, or at any rate none of them sought
+to give him away.  They passed through several villages, but the people
+on the sidewalks rarely noticed Evan, or, if they did, they merely
+gaped at him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They crossed the long viaduct over the railway yards in Long Island
+City, and Evan began to grow anxious.  If they were going to traverse
+the whole length of town how could he hope to avoid having the
+attention of the two men on the front seat called to him by the
+sharp-eyed small boys?  They crossed the Plaza and swung out on
+Queensboro Bridge, keeping close to the speed limit, or edging over it
+a little.  The drivers they passed still obligingly accepted Evan's
+suggestion that he was paying an election bet, or was up to some other
+foolishness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They passed a limousine which looked familiar.  Evan looked twice and
+recognized the Deaves turnout.  George Deaves sat behind the glass
+windows, looking pale and shaken.  So he had got out of the woods all
+right!  The chauffeur stared at Evan, then grinned widely, and stepped
+on his accelerator.  The big car came up close.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan saw Deaves lean forward to rebuke his chauffeur for the speed.
+The chauffeur called his attention to Evan.  Deaves' eyes nearly
+started out of his head.  Evan waved his hand.  Deaves, with emphatic
+adjurations to his chauffeur to slow up, fell back on his seat and
+closed his eyes.  "He wants to forget about me," thought Evan.  The
+limousine gradually dropped back out of sight.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's anxiety about the streets of town was presently relieved.  After
+crossing the Bridge Plaza, where, to be sure, a number of people
+laughed and pointed at him but without apparently attracting the
+attention of the two men in front, they turned into the darkest and
+quietest streets.  Evan soon saw that they were not bound for the
+club-house.  Their journey through town was not long; through
+Fifty-eighth to Lexington; down Lexington in the car tracks to
+Thirty-ninth, and East again.  In Thirty-ninth street the car slowed
+down and Evan held himself in readiness to drop off.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the moment of stopping Evan ducked under the side of the car
+opposite to the curb.  He heard the car-door slam and feet run across
+the pavement.  Cautiously peering around the back he saw Charley, fully
+revealed in the light of a street lamp, run up the steps of a house and
+let himself in with a latch-key.  Just before disappearing he glanced
+up and down the street; no other car was in sight.  Evan said to
+himself: "He is stopping here.  That is something to know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan peeped over the top.  To his surprise he found the car empty.  The
+second man had dropped off at some point en route without his seeing
+him.  Evidently he still had the securities for Charley's hands had
+been empty.  Evan was chagrined to think of this prize slipping through
+his fingers; however he still had a line on Charley.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Unfortunately for Evan at this moment a gruff voice behind him said:
+"Hey, young man, what do you think you're doin'?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a policeman who, having observed Evan's maneuvres from across
+the street, had felt a perhaps not unnatural curiosity and had come
+over to satisfy it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, silently cursing his luck, instantly said with a confiding air:
+"It's just a joke, officer.  Fellow I know hired this car to take his
+girl out, see?  I think they're going to run off and be married, and I
+want to give them the laugh, see?  All in fun."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, it may be so," was the heavily facetious reply, "and again it
+may not.  You better leave that guy be, see?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Just as you say," said Evan with a shrug.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was not at all anxious to have Charley come out and find him in talk
+with the blue-coat, so he sauntered off down the street, the policeman
+following with a darkly suspicious eye.  Glancing over his shoulder,
+Evan, to his unspeakable chagrin, saw Charley come scampering down the
+steps, jump in the car and start off in the other direction.  In his
+heart Evan cursed the whole race of blue-coats.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan walked around the block and approached the house from the other
+side.  The policeman was now out of sight.  It was still only half-past
+nine, not too late conceivably to pay a call.  Evan rang the bell.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The door was opened by a handsome, bold-eyed girl who had a challenging
+glance for any personable young male.  Evan gave her look for look; she
+was a potential source of valuable information.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Charley Straiker live here?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, but he's out now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you know when he'll be in?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In half an hour.  He's gone to the garage to put the car away."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure he's coming back?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He just told me.  In case anybody called up."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The trail was not lost then; Evan took heart.  "Well, I'll wait for
+him," he said.  "Where's his room?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The girl gave him a provoking glance.  "I don't know if I ought to let
+you up.  I don't know you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll stop and talk to you and you soon will," retorted Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She tossed her head.  "I can't stand here all night talking."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's your name?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ethel Barrymore.  What's yours?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Leo Dietrichstein."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Some li'l jollier, aren't you?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm just learning from you, Ethel."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Are you an artist like Mr. Straiker?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, I'm a Wall street broker."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes you are!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Any rooms to rent, Ethel?  I'd like to hang out where you are."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All the hall rooms are taken."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They would be, around you.  How about a man's size room?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Who do you want it for?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This sprightly exchange was cut short by a shrill voice from the
+basement calling: "Sa-a-d-e-e-e!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Darn!" muttered the girl.  "I've got to go or she'll scream her lungs
+out!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Which is Charley's room?" said Evan.  "I'll go up."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Second floor rear hall," she said as she disappeared.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Her cryptic description was sufficient to anyone who knows New York
+rooming houses.  The room was typical.  Charley had not been in it long
+enough to give it any of his own character.  You squeezed past the bed
+to a tiny rectangular space at the foot where there was just room
+enough for a bureau, a wash-stand and one chair.  If the occupant had a
+visitor one of them must sit on the bed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan sat down in the chair and filled his pipe, thinking grimly of the
+surprise that Charley was due to receive when he opened the door.
+Suppose Charley flatly refused all information, how could he make him
+speak?  It occurred to him that it would be well to be supplied with
+evidence, and he began to look over Charley's things.  After the way
+Charley had acted he had no scruples in doing so; he would not have
+been at all put out of countenance had Charley come in.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He scarcely expected to find anything of importance&mdash;still Charley was
+extraordinarily careless.  Seeing a book lying on the bureau (a novel
+by Jack London) Evan was reminded of an old habit of his friend's of
+putting any paper he wished to save between the leaves of a book.  He
+shook the book and several papers dropped out: to wit: a letter from
+his mother; ditto from a girl in his home town, and lastly a sheet of
+thin paper with typewriting upon it.  Evan put the first two back and
+studied the third.  As he grasped the purport of it, he pursed up his
+lips to whistle and his eyes grew round.  This was a prize indeed!
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap21"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XXI
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+LATER THAT NIGHT
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TUESDAY NIGHT
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Members P.D. and H.B. will be on the ground not later than five o'clock
+Tuesday afternoon to make sure that no surprise is planted on us
+beforehand.  P.D. will hang out in the little roadhouse marked A. on
+the map, where he can see anything that turns the corner, and H.B. will
+take up his station in the saloon B. at the other end of the road C.
+These two can communicate with each other by telephone if anything
+suspicious is observed.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Members J.T., L.A., J.M. and C.C. will proceed in two couples
+separately by trolley to the saloon at B. where they should stop for a
+drink for the purpose of showing themselves to H.B. who is watching
+there, and to give H.B. a chance to warn them if he has observed
+anything suspicious.  All members must bear in mind that no chances
+must be taken.  There is too much at stake.  If anybody sees anything
+out of the way let him warn the others, and the operation be called off
+for the night.  Unless warned by H.B., J.T. and the three others will
+proceed from the saloon to their station at the clump of bushes marked
+D. on the road C.  They should not get there until eight-thirty as
+their continued presence in the neighbourhood might arouse suspicion.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Meanwhile T.D. and C.S. are to proceed in the car to the fork E. of the
+road by the route they have already been over.  There is no need of
+watching the track through the woods to E. as it is not marked on any
+map, and could not be found except by one entering from A. or B. which
+will both be watched.  The car must be in place, turned around and
+ready to run back at eight-thirty.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+A most important duty devolves on H.B. who must satisfy himself that
+the man and his companion are not accompanied nor followed by the
+police.  When the two pass the corner B. let member H.B. if all is well
+blow one long blast on his whistle as a signal to J.T. But if they are
+followed let H.B. blow five short blasts and take to the fields.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+When J.T. gets the O.K. signal let him post his men in readiness to
+quietly surround the two and search them for weapons.  If he gets a
+warning signal let him pass on a warning to J.T. and all must scatter
+in the market gardens and make their way home separately.  After the
+two have been searched and sent on, J.T. will give the clear signal to
+T.D.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+When the two arrive at the fork of the road E. member C.S. will keep
+them covered while T.D. takes the package and examines the contents.
+It is supposed that the man will bring Evan Weir as his companion, and
+C.S. must therefore take especial care not to betray himself by his
+voice.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+When T.D. has satisfied himself the package is O.K. let him direct the
+two men to continue walking by the right-hand fork of the road, and
+when they have passed on, let T.D. and C.S. make their getaway in the
+car, signalling all clear as they start.  When T.D.'s clear signal is
+heard let all members make their way separately to their homes.  On the
+way back J.T. can give the word to H.B.  None of the members must meet
+together later that night.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Meanwhile T.D. and C.S. make their way back to town by the same route
+they went out by, C.S. driving.  T.D. after distributing the contents
+of the package through his various pockets, will drop off the car at
+any suitable spot according to his judgment, taking care that he is not
+under observation at the moment.  He will return home, taking due
+precautions against being followed.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+C.S. will return to his home in the car.  If the car is required, a
+telephone message will be awaiting him there.  If there is no message
+let him put the car up.  If he is followed, it is no great matter,
+nothing can be brought home to him.  After putting the car up let him
+return to his home for an hour.  At the end of that time if no one has
+been there he can be pretty sure that he has not been traced.  At
+eleven o'clock then, let him proceed to the club-house and report to me
+on the night's happenings.  He can then take the old man home.  A
+pass-word for the night will be communicated to him verbally.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Let every member commit the contents of this paper to memory and
+destroy his copy.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+THE CHIEF.
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Evan thought hard.  This communication put an entirely new complexion
+on affairs.  Far from wishing to confront Charley, Evan now desired at
+any cost to avoid him.  If he could only succeed in following Charley
+to the "club-house" and in trapping the elusive chief himself, what a
+triumph!  His heart beat fast at the very thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He hastened down-stairs, dreading to hear Charley's key in the door.
+Nevertheless he had to linger long enough to square the girl, for if
+Charley encountered her and she told him of his visitor it would spoil
+all.  Evan looked up and down the street.  No sign of Charley yet.  He
+rang the bell to bring the girl.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She appeared, saying scornfully: "Oh, it's you, is it?"&mdash;but not
+ill-pleased by the summons.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I hate waiting around," said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He'll be here any minute now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm not so keen about seeing him anyhow.  I'd rather visit with you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Quit your kidding, Leo."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come on out and have a soda while I'm waiting."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She hesitated, looked up and down&mdash;and succumbed.  "All right.  I'll
+have to hurry back.  I don't need a hat."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was careful to lead her towards Lexington, since it was from the
+other direction Charley would presumably appear.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They had their soda, never ceasing to "con" each other in the style
+that has been suggested.  Sadie enjoyed it to the full; Evan on the
+other hand was rather hard put to it to keep up his end, for his
+thoughts were far away.  His fits of abstraction rather added to his
+attractiveness in the girl's eyes; she couldn't quite make him out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His problem was how to keep her from seeing Charley before Charley left
+the house for the last time, and yet be on time himself to follow
+Charley when he started out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Issuing from the drug-store, Evan suggested a short walk, to which
+Sadie was nothing loath.  He steered her through another street back to
+Third avenue, and managed to fetch up as if by accident before a
+moving-picture palace.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let's go in," he said carelessly.  "The last show will just be
+beginning."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Once more Sadie hesitated, made objections&mdash;and allowed him to brush
+them away.  Sadie was fascinated.  Evan took her by the arm and marched
+her in in masterful style.  For his own ends he chose seats in that
+part of the house where smoking was permitted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+To Evan's relief the picture proved to be one of which Sadie could
+wholly approve, and she no longer required to be entertained.  She
+became absorbed in its unrolling.  The hard eyes softened a little;
+clearly she was lifted out of this mundane sphere of rooming-houses and
+attractive, fresh young men you had to be careful with, into a realm of
+peculiar magnificence.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Meanwhile Evan watched the illuminated clock with which the proprietor
+thoughtfully provided his patrons, and made his calculations.  He had
+to figure closely.  He knew that all these picture houses let out at
+eleven, and they were only five minutes' walk from the rooming-house.
+If the show was over a little early to-night, or if Charley was a
+little late in starting, all his careful planning would go for nothing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At ten minutes to eleven the drama was still going strong, with
+everything as yet unexplained.  Evan whispered to his companion.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm out of smokes.  Excuse me while I get a pack at the stand."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She nodded without taking her eyes from the screen.  She did not mark
+that he took his hat with him.  He stopped not at the cigar-stand, but
+made his way out of the theatre.  There was little chance of her
+following while any of the fascinating drama remained unrevealed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stopped in a haberdasher's and bought three of the largest size
+handkerchiefs for a grim purpose.  Back in Thirty-ninth street he
+concealed himself in the area-way of a vacant house across the street
+from the rooming-house.  Now, if only Sadie did not come back before
+Charley went out, and if an inquisitive policeman did not put a crimp
+in his plans!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A church clock struck eleven, and Charley appeared almost upon the last
+stroke.  He slammed the door after him, and his feet twittered down the
+steps in style peculiarly his own.  He stopped on the pavement to light
+a cigarette&mdash;and incidentally to look warily up and down the street.
+Reassured, he started quickly towards Lexington.  He was an easy man to
+trail, gait and appearance were both so marked.  Evan could hardly lose
+that cheap Panama hat cocked at a slightly rakish angle.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan let him get around the corner before he ventured out of his
+hiding-place.  As Evan himself reached the corner of Lexington he
+looked back and saw Sadie turning into the block from Third.  "A close
+shave!" he thought.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley was still visible hastening North with his loose-jointed
+stride, his "kangaroo lope" Evan had called it.  He turned West in
+Forty-second street.  This was an advantage to Evan, for Forty-second
+street is crowded at this hour.  Charley took the more crowded
+sidewalk, and Evan kept the Panama in view from across the street.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They crossed the whole central part of town, breasting the current of
+pedestrians bound from the theatres to the terminal station.  At Sixth
+avenue Charley went up one stairway to the elevated, and Evan up the
+other.  The platform was crowded, obviating the greatest danger of an
+encounter.  When a train came along Evan lost Charley for a while, for
+he could not risk boarding the same car of the train.  But he had
+little doubt now where Charley was bound for: i.e., Central Bridge, the
+end of the line.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Up-town, when the crowd began to thin out a little; Evan satisfied
+himself that Charley was still safe in the next car but one ahead.
+"Lucky for me," he thought, "they set the only hour at night when the
+cars are crowded."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the end of the line there were still many left to get off and Evan
+safely lost himself amongst them.  Most of these people (including the
+Panama hat) climbed to the viaduct above to take the red trolley cars
+of various lines.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley boarded a Lafayette avenue car, but displayed an inclination to
+remain out on the back platform.  This was a poser for Evan, but he
+managed with several others to crowd on the front end, which is against
+the rules.  He found a little seat in the corner of the motorman's
+vestibule, where he sat down in the dark.  Looking back through the car
+he could make out a square of Charley's striped coat through one of the
+rear windows.  He kept his eye on that.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley rode clear to the end of the line at Featherbed lane.  Evan, by
+lingering to ask the motorman a question as to his supposed direction,
+let him get away from the car.  Eight people got off at this point.
+Five waited at the transverse tracks for the Yonkers car, while three,
+of whom Evan and Charley were two, crossed the tracks and kept on
+heading North by the automobile highway.  They were at the extreme edge
+of the town in this direction.  The last electric lights were behind
+them; only a house or two remained alongside the road, then tall woods
+and darkness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was no sidewalk; they proceeded up the middle of the road, first
+Charley, then the suburbanite, then Evan.  Charley frequently looked
+over his shoulder, the pale patch of his face revealed in the receding
+lights.  But Evan kept on boldly, confident that he could not be
+recognised with the lights at his back.  The suburbanite turned in at
+one of the houses; Charley was presently swallowed by the shadow of the
+woods.  Evan made believe to turn in at the last house, but dropped in
+the ditch, and crept along until he, too, gained the woods.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Running in the soft stuff at the side, pausing to listen, and running
+ahead again, Evan continued to follow Charley by the sound of his
+nervous steps on the hard road.  The road turned slightly, and the
+lights behind them passed out of sight.  The tall trees pressed close
+on either hand, and it was as dark below as in a cavern.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The steps ceased.  Evan paused, listening.  Had Charley stopped, or had
+he, too, taken to the soft stuff?  They re-commenced, grew louder, he
+was coming back!  Evan hastily withdrew close under the bushes at the
+side.  Charley passed him at five yards distance.  In the stillness
+Evan could even hear his agitated breathing.  In a queer way Evan felt
+for him.  It was no joke to fancy one's self followed on such a road at
+such an hour.  He showed pluck in thus boldly venturing back.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was obliged to take into account the possibility that this whole
+excursion up the dark road might be a feint.  He dared not let Charley
+out of sight and hearing.  He followed him back to the turn in the
+road, still creeping in the soft stuff.  From this point Charley's
+figure was outlined against the twinkling lights of the trolley
+terminus, and Evan waited to see what he would do.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley went back to the edge of the woods: stopped, listened, walked
+back and forth a few times, then returned towards Evan, but now, like
+the other man, taking care to muffle his steps in the grass alongside.
+Evan could only see him at moments now.  He was on Evan's side of the
+road.  Evan drew back under a thick bush.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley came creeping along, bent almost double with the primordial
+instinct of concealment.  He paused to listen so close to Evan that the
+latter, squatting under his bush, could have reached out and touched
+Charley's foot.  Evan breathed from the top of his lungs, wondering
+that the beating of his heart did not betray him.  He heard Charley's
+breath come in uneven little jerks.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For seconds Charley stood there.  Was it possible he knew an enemy was
+near?  Evan could make out his head turning this way and that.  The
+tension was hard on nerves.  Though he lay as still as a snake it
+seemed incredible to Evan that Charley did not feel his nearness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally he went on, and a soft, blessed breath of relief escaped Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He gave him ten yards and started to follow.  Charley was on the alert
+now; very well, he must be twice as alert and beat him at his own game.
+Evan followed him by the swish of his feet in the grass, by the soft
+brushing of leaves against his clothes, by the crackle of an occasional
+twig under foot, at the same time taking care to betray no similar
+sounds himself.  The advantage was greatly with the one who followed,
+for he knew the other man was there, while the one in front only feared.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's patient stalking was interrupted by the passage of an
+automobile.  He was obliged to seek cover from the rays of its
+headlights.  It bowled up the road with a gay party, laughing and
+talking, all unsuspecting of the drama being enacted beside the road.
+Before it was well by Evan was out again.  For a second he had a
+glimpse of Charley running like a deer up the road.  Then he plunged
+into the bushes.  Whatever the automobile party thought of this
+apparition, they did not stop to investigate.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan hastened to the vicinity of the spot where he had seen Charley
+disappear.  Lying low, he concentrated all the power of his will on the
+act of hearing.  He was rewarded by the faintest whisper of a sound
+from within the woods to the left of the road.  It was repeated.
+Someone was creeping away in that direction.  Charley had left the
+road.  A sharp anxiety attacked Evan, for his difficulties were now
+redoubled.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But when he sought to feel a way into the woods, he discovered a place
+near by where it was comparatively open.  There was no underbrush.  In
+fact a road was suggested, a former road perhaps, for it was rough and
+tangled underfoot.  Evan's heart bounded.  Could this be the track that
+led direct to the abandoned house?  He lost all sound of Charley, but
+continued to press forward full of hope.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At intervals he paused to listen, but no sound such as he wished to
+hear reached his ears; only the whisper of the night breeze among the
+leaves, and the faint far-off hum of the living world.  A hundred feet
+or so from the highway the wood-track made a turn, and the trees hemmed
+him all about.  The darkness of the road outside was as twilight to the
+blackness that surrounded him here.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly a sixth sense warned Evan of danger from behind.  He whirled
+around only to receive the impact of a leaping figure which bore him to
+the earth.  Dazed by the fall, for a moment he was at a hopeless
+disadvantage.  The whole weight of the other man was on his chest.
+Evan struck up at him ineffectually.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley's voice whispered hoarsely: "I'm armed.  Give up, or I'll shoot
+you like a dog!  Will you give up?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Never!" muttered Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The effect was surprising.  "Evan!  You!  Oh, my God!" whispered
+Charley.  The tense body slackened for a moment.  Evan, gathering his
+strength, heaved up and threw him off.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Charley was quick too.  When Evan reached for him he was not there.
+Evan, grinding his teeth with rage, scrambled for him on hands and
+knees.  The other kept just beyond his reach.  Both were confused by
+the utter darkness.  Each time one succeeded in getting to his feet, he
+promptly crashed over a branch again.  Evan clutched at Charley's
+clothes, and Charley wrenched himself free.  Charley, seeking to escape
+Evan, collided with him and recoiled gasping.  Meanwhile he never
+ceased imploring him in a desperate whisper.  But it was something more
+than the note of personal fear that actuated his pleading.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Evan, hold up!  You don't know what you're doing!  Evan, listen!  Let
+me talk to you quietly!  I swear I'm on the square!  Evan, for God's
+sake hold up, or I swear I'll have to shoot you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Evan was past listening.  "Throw your gun away, and stand up to me
+like a man!" he said thickly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the mad, blind scramble, Charley finally got his bearing and started
+to run back towards the highway.  Evan plunged after him.  Charley
+tripped and fell headlong, and Evan came down on top of him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley was helpless then, for in strength he was no match for Evan.
+Yet he still struggled desperately.  Not to escape though.  His hand
+was in his pocket.  Not for his gun, because that was already out.  He
+managed to get the hand to his lips, and then Evan understood.  The
+warning whistle!  As Charley drew breath to blow, Evan snatched it out
+of his hand and flung it into the bush.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+While Charley still implored him, Evan shook out a handkerchief in his
+teeth, and gagged him.  With the other handkerchiefs that he had
+brought against such a contingency, he tied his hands behind his back,
+and tied his ankles.  He then possessed himself of Charley's pocket
+searchlight, and with its aid found the revolver which had flown from
+Charley's hand upon his fall.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With his antagonist bound and helpless at his feet, Evan cooled down.
+He rapidly considered what he must do next.  He had no means of knowing
+how well the old house might be barricaded, and it would be the height
+of foolhardiness to attempt to storm it single-handed.  On the other
+hand, if he took the time to go for the police, the chief of the gang,
+warned of danger by Charley's non-arrival, might make his getaway.
+Perhaps he could commandeer an automobile.  Late as it was, an
+occasional car still passed on the highway.  Evan hastened back.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As he turned the bend in the road he saw the lights of a car standing
+in the main road with engine softly running.  Evan prudently slowed
+down.  The occupants could not possibly see him yet.  They were
+talking.  Evan listened.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+One said: "Well, it's all over now, anyway."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Another replied.  "Come on in, and let's see what was the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Into that black hole?  Not on your life!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We have flashlights."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and a nice mark they'd make for bullets!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was sufficiently reassuring.  Evan showed himself.  He saw an
+expensive runabout with two young fellows in it.  They burst out
+simultaneously:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I had a fight with a crook in there," said Evan.  "They have a
+hang-out in an old abandoned house."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Do you want any help?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No thanks.  I've got him tied up.  But I wish you'd go for the police
+if you don't mind."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Sure thing!  The nearest station's in Tremont, five miles over bad
+roads.  We'll bring 'em back in half an hour!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In his excitement the young fellow threw his clutch in, and the big car
+leaped down the road before Evan could give him any further particulars.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On his way back Evan felt certain compunctions at the sight of Charley
+lying bound in the road.  After all, Charley had been his friend for
+many a year.  He wouldn't mind saving him from the consequences of his
+own folly if he could.  That the police might not discover him when
+they came, Evan dragged him out of the road, and under a thick leafy
+bush to one side.  Charley made imploring sounds through the gag.  Evan
+continued along the rough track.  He had the pocket flash to help him
+over the rough places now.  In a quarter of a mile or more from the
+highway he came upon the dark mass of the old house rising against the
+night sky.  It stood on a little rise in the midst of its clearing,
+which could scarcely be called a clearing now, for except in a small
+space immediately around the building the young trees were rising
+thickly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a square block of a design somewhat freakish for a country
+residence, since the principal storey was above the entrance floor.
+There was a row of tall windows here, and above these windows an attic
+in the style of the eighteenth century.  The tall windows evidently
+lighted the great room where Evan had suffered his ordeal at the hands
+of the Ikunahkatsi.  It was in one of the back rooms on the same floor
+that the chief had his sanctum, he told himself.  All the windows of
+the house were dark, but this did not prove that people were not within
+and awake, for Evan remembered the heavy shutters inside the windows.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He waited for a minute or two, and then began to get restless.  In fact
+he itched for the glory of taking the chief single-handed.  The letter
+of instructions had suggested that the chief would be alone in the
+building to-night, except for the old negress and the prisoner.  And
+Evan was armed now.  If he could find some way to make an entrance
+without giving an alarm, he believed it could be done.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He stole up to the front door on all fours.  It was locked of course.
+He went around to the back; there were two doors here, both locked.  He
+went from window to window.  All of them had panes missing, but within
+each window the heavy shutters were closed and barred.  He thought of
+cellar windows, sometimes they were forgotten.  In certain places thick
+clumps of sumach had sprung up close to the house.  Pushing behind one
+such clump, he stumbled on an old stone stair leading down.  Once it
+had been closed by inclined doors, but these had rotted and fallen in.
+The steps led him into the cellar.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With the aid of his light he picked his way over the piles of rubbish
+and around the brick piers.  Immense brick arches supported the
+chimneys of the house.  They built more generously in those days.  The
+rats scuttled out of his way.  In the centre of the space there was a
+steep stair leading up.  It looked sound.  Pocketing his light, he
+crept up step by step and with infinite care tried the door at the top.
+It yielded!  He was in!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+All was dark and silent throughout the house.  He judged that he must
+be in the central hall.  He dared not use his light now, but felt his
+way towards the front.  The sensation was not unlike that when he had
+been led through the house blindfolded.  He touched the edge of the
+stairway, and guided himself to the foot.  As he turned to mount, a
+sound brought the heart into his throat.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He identified it, and smiled grimly.  It was a human snore and it came
+through the door on his left.  This was the room where he had been
+confined, and it was more than likely old Simeon Deaves was sleeping
+there now.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He went up, stepping on the sides of the stair-treads to avoid making
+them creak.  The stairway turned on itself in the middle, and at the
+top he was facing the front of the house again.  Here he had to flash
+his light for a second.  Immediately before him a pair of doors gave on
+the big room.  They stood open.  There were two more doors, one on each
+hand, both closed.  Evan put out his light.  As he did so a tiny ray of
+light became visible through the keyhole of the door on his left.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan dropped the light in his pocket, and took out his gun.  Drawing a
+deep breath to steady himself, he smartly turned the handle and,
+flinging the door open, stepped back into the darkness.  He saw in the
+centre of the great, bare, ruinous room an old packing case with a
+common lamp upon it, and a smaller box to sit on.  He saw in the corner
+an army cot with a little figure lying upon it covered by a carriage
+robe, a figure which turned over and sat up at the sound of the door.
+He saw&mdash;Corinna!
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap22"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XXII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+TOWARDS MORNING
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+The shock of astonishment unmanned Evan.  His pistol arm dropped weakly
+at his side, his mouth hung open, he stared like an idiot.  To have
+crept into the house heart in mouth and pistol in hand, to have nerved
+himself to meet and overcome a desperate criminal&mdash;and then to find
+this!  The violence of the reaction threw all his machinery out of
+gear; he stalled.  He felt inclined to laugh weakly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna could not see him clearly, though presumably she was aware of a
+figure standing in the hall.  She was very much affronted by the
+violence of the intrusion, and not in the least afraid.  She sat up
+with her glorious hair a little tousled, and her eyes flashing like a
+diminutive empress's.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Straiker, is it you?  What does this mean?" she demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan could not readily find his tongue.  Amazement broke over him in
+succeeding waves like a surf.  Corinna!  Corinna here!  Corinna a
+member of the blackmailing gang!  Corinna, the chief!  Oh, impossible!
+He was in a nightmare!
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Straiker!" repeated Corinna more sharply.  "Come in at once!"  She
+was on her feet now.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's faculties began to work again.  In anticipation he tasted the
+sweets of perfect revenge.  This little creature had put an intolerable
+humiliation upon him.  Very well, here she was absolutely in his power!
+Dropping the gun in his pocket, he stepped into the room smiling.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At sight of him Corinna did not cry out, but the shock she received was
+dreadfully evident in her eyes.  She went back a step, one hand went to
+her breast, her lips formed the syllable "You!"&mdash;but no sound came from
+them.  Every vestige of color faded from her face.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's gaze burned her up; she was so beautiful, and she had injured
+him so!  "So you're a member of the gang!" he said mockingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna quickly recovered her forces.  She shrugged disdainfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And even the chief, it seems!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So it seems."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Amazement overcame him afresh.  "You&mdash;you little thing!" he cried.  "I
+cannot believe it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna affected to look bored.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"So this was the real work of the brotherhood!" Evan went on.
+"Blackmail.  This was why you couldn't fire them when they threatened
+you.  A new way to raise money for philanthropic purposes, I swear!  To
+hold up a usurer with one hand, and feed poor children with the other!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"A usurer, yes," said Corinna contemptuously.  "Your master!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That doesn't get under my skin," retorted Evan coolly.  "No man is my
+master a day longer than I choose."  He dissolved in amazement again.
+"But you!  To think up such a scheme!  To carry it out!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, spare me your bleating!" said Corinna impatiently.  "What are you
+going to do about it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Turn you over to the police," he said promptly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Three of my friends are sleeping across the hall," she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+So perfect was her aplomb that Evan was taken aback.  He half turned,
+uncertainly.  But as he did so, out of the tail of his eye he saw
+Corinna's hand go to her bosom.  He whirled back with the gun in his
+hand again.  A woman is at a serious disadvantage in drawing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Put your gun on the box," commanded Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have no gun!" she cried.  "I will not be spoken to so."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan took a step nearer her.  His eyes glittered.  "Put your gun on the
+box.  Don't oblige me to use force.  I should enjoy it far too well!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+With a sob of rage, she drew a little pistol from her dress and threw
+it on the box.  Evan possessed himself of it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Now we'll see about the three friends across the hall," he said
+mockingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He backed out of the room.  Corinna followed to the door.  In her eye
+he read her purpose to make a dash for liberty down the stairs, and he
+took care to give her no opening.  He flung open the door opposite and
+flashed his light inside the room.  It was empty of course.  He
+returned across the hall, and Corinna backed into the lighted room
+before him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They have stepped out, it seems," he said mockingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna disdained to reply.  Like a child, she was not in the least
+abashed when her bluff was called, but immediately set her wits to work
+to think of another.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How do you purpose taking me to the police?" she asked scornfully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm not going to take you.  They're coming here."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna changed color.  She studied his face narrowly.  Evidently she
+decided that he was bluffing now, for she tossed her head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Go and sit down on the cot," he said coolly, "so we can talk quietly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I will not!" cried Corinna.  "How dare you speak to me so!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was delighted with the spirit she showed.  "It's too bad no one did
+it long ago," he said provokingly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He approached her, and his eyes glittered again.  Corinna, seething
+with rage, retreated, and plumped herself down on the cot.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That's better," he said indulgently.  He took the small box and,
+placing it against the wall, sat down and leaned back.  Producing his
+pipe he filled it in leisurely style, affecting to be unconscious of
+her.  Corinna's eyes blazed on him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, what have you to say for yourself?" he drawled at last.  "You
+pretty little blackmailer!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You needn't insult me!" cried Corinna.  Her eyes filled with angry
+tears.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But Evan's heart was hard.  "Insult you!" he cried.  "I like that!
+What have you been doing to me lately?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you were capable of thinking, you would see that I could not have
+acted otherwise!" she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have me there," said Evan coolly.  "For I don't see the necessity
+of being a blackmailer."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna jumped up and stamped her foot.  Her face reddened, and two
+large tears rolled down her cheeks.  "Don't you dare to use that word
+to me again, you fool!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed delightedly.  "Why shy at the word and commit the deed?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You know nothing of the circumstances!" she stormed.  "You have
+neither sense nor feeling!  You take all your ideas ready made from
+others.  You are as empty as a drum!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Bravo!" he cried.  "Keep it up if it makes you feel any better!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If it is a crime to extort money from a foul old robber and give it to
+the poor, all right, I'm a criminal!  I glory in it!  I would do it all
+over again!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I don't deny one has a sneaking sympathy with a life of crime," Evan
+said, affecting a judicial air.  "But after all, law is law.  You have
+to make your choice.  I chose to stay inside the law, and naturally I
+have to uphold it like everybody on my side."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're a nice upholder of the law!" she cried.  "You're just trying to
+get back at me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan grinned.  "You're so frank, Corinna.  But after all, being on the
+side of the law gives me an advantage now, doesn't it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, if you want to take the pay of a scoundrel like Deaves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I was fired some days ago.  I'm working on my own now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're just angry and jealous!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I dare say.  I admit I don't mind your blackmailing operations half as
+much as the other thing."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What other thing?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Those fellows on the <I>Ernestina</I>; to take advantage of their wanting
+you, and use them for your own ends."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Everything was understood between us.  Everything was open and
+aboveboard."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of course.  But they were already enslaved, you see.  And you forced
+them to serve your pride and arrogance.  You queened it over them.
+That makes me more indignant than blackmailing a usurer, for the other
+thing's a crime against a man's best feelings, and I'm a man myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're only jealous!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why should I be.  <I>I</I> wouldn't stand for the brotherhood.  I know you
+gave me&mdash;or I took&mdash;more than you ever gave them."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're a brute!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why sure!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was a silence.  Corinna kept her eyes down.  It was impossible to
+say of what she was thinking.  But her passion of anger visibly
+subsided.  She murmured at last:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If, as you say, you sympathise with me for getting money out of Simeon
+Deaves&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I didn't quite say that," interrupted Evan.  "But it's near enough, go
+on!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why do you want to hand me over to the police?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was fun to torment Corinna, and it satisfied his deep need for
+vengeance.  But the sight of her quiet, with the curved lashes lying on
+her cheeks, and the soft lips drooping, went to his breast like a
+knife.  Vengeance was suddenly appeased.  Such a gallant little crook!
+He realised that not for a moment had he really intended to hand her
+over.  He jumped up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'm not going to send you to jail," he said.  "You're going to make
+restitution."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna stared.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Give me an order on Dordess for the bonds&mdash;if it is Dordess who has
+them, and give me your word that you will lead an honest life
+hereafter."  He was smiling.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna blazed up afresh.  "Never!" she cried.  "I'd die rather!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You <I>must</I> do it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why must I?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Because you're going to marry me, and naturally I want an honest woman
+to wife."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna laughed a peal.  "I'd die rather!  And you know it now!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Indeed in his heart he was not at all sure but that her Satanic pride
+might break her before she would give in, but he bluffed it out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Come on!" he said.  "There's no time to lose.  I have sent for the
+police though you make out not to believe it.  I see you've been
+writing on the table.  Sit down and write me an order for the bonds."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Break up our organisation on your say-so?  Never!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you don't the police will.  Come now, whatever happens you can't go
+on using those infatuated boys to further your own ends.  That's low,
+Corinna; that's like offering a starving man husks."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You have your gun in your pocket," she cried passionately.  "Use it,
+for you'll never break my will!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's not a bullet that waits you, but jail," said Evan grimly.  "No
+grand-stand finish, but endless dragging days in a four-by-ten cell!
+Come on, give up the loot.  You'll have to anyhow, and go to jail in
+the bargain!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's not loot!" she cried.  "It's mine!  By every rule of justice and
+right, it's mine.  Simeon Deaves robbed my father.  Beggared him and
+brought him to his grave!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Ha!" cried Evan, "I might have guessed there was something personal
+here!  But someone has to lose in the warfare of business."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"This was not the chance of warfare.  This was malice, cold and
+calculated.  I'll tell you.  It spoiled my childhood.  Deaves and my
+father were workers in the same church.  You didn't know, did you, that
+Deaves was a religious man.  Oh, yes, always a pillar of some church
+until his avarice grew so upon him that he could no longer bring
+himself to subscribe.  My father learned that he was using his position
+in our church to lend money to other members at usurious interest, and
+to collect it under threats of exposure.  My father showed him up, and
+Deaves was put out of the church.  He set about a cold and patient
+scheme of revenge, but we didn't learn this until the crash came a
+couple of years afterwards.  He bought up,&mdash;what do you call it?&mdash;all
+my father's paper, the notes every merchant has to give to carry on his
+business.  At last he presented all my father's outstanding
+indebtedness at once with a demand for instant payment, and when my
+father couldn't meet it, Deaves sold him out, and we were ruined.  It
+killed my father and embittered my mother's few remaining years.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"That was what I grew up with.  I don't know when it started, but the
+determination to punish him grew and grew in my mind until it crowded
+out every other thought.  I planned for years before I did anything.  I
+followed him.  I learned all about him.  His avarice went to such
+lengths at last that I began to see my chance to show him up.  I met
+Dordess and the others, and the idea of the Avengers slowly took shape.
+There was something fine to us in the idea of making him pay to bring
+pleasure and health to the poor.  None of us would spend a cent of his
+filthy money on ourselves.  What have I done to Deaves to repay the
+crushing blows he dealt to me and mine?&mdash;a few pin-pricks, that's all.
+Well, it is my life.  I cannot change it now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was more softened than he cared to show.  "I understand," he said.
+"It excuses your heart, but not your head.  It was so foolish to try to
+buck the law!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't help it," she said.  "I would rather die than return what I
+have made that old robber disgorge.  I have worked too long for this!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan inwardly groaned.  To reason with her seemed so hopeless.  "You
+can't live outside the pale of the law," he said.  "No man can, let
+alone a woman.  Only wretchedness can come of it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll take my chance," she said with curling lip.  "Thank God, I have
+friends who are not so timid."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan changed his tone.  "Well, never mind the right and the wrong of
+it," he said earnestly.  "Do it because I love you.  I love you with
+all my heart.  We quarrel, but my heart speaks to yours.  You must hear
+it.  I have endured from you what I believe no man ever forgave a
+woman.  But I forgive you.  If you go to jail my life will be a desert.
+But go to jail you shall, unless you make restitution!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna laughed mirthlessly.  "Funny kind of love!" she said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is the best kind of love.  I have sense enough left to realise that
+if I give in to you on a clear question of right it would ruin us both.
+We would despise each other."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have promised to trouble the Deaves no further," she said.  "They're
+satisfied."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The bonds must go back."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I had already decided to break up the Avengers, too.  Isn't that
+enough?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He shook his head.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She turned away.  "You ask the impossible," she said.  "I'd rather die!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But to go to jail," he said relentlessly, "to have your beautiful hair
+cut off" (he was not at all sure of this, but he supposed she was not
+either), "to wear the hideous prison dress, to have the sickly prison
+pallor in your clear cheeks, and your eyes dimmed.  Your best years,
+Corinna!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This went home.  She paled; her breath came unevenly.  "You say you
+love me," she murmured, "and you'd hand me over to that."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I must!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna said very low: "I love you.  Isn't that enough?  Costs me
+something to say it.  Costs me my pride.  It would have been more
+merciful to beat me with a club.  I cannot entreat you.  I never
+learned how.  But&mdash;but I am entreating you.  Love me, Evan.  Let us
+begin from now.  Let the past be past."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was tempted then.  His senses reeled.  But something held fast.
+"I can't!" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She shrank sharply.  "It is useless, then," she muttered.  "I will not
+be a repentant sinner!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"For the sake of our love, Corinna!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You do not love me.  You want to master me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He groaned in his helplessness.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Suddenly an ominous peremptory knock on the front door rang through the
+empty house.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The police!" gasped Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Then it's over!" said Corinna, desperately calm.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No!" he cried.  "Quick!  Write!  I'll get you out!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She dragged him towards the door.  "Ah, come! come!" she beseeched him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The very heart was dragged out of his breast, but he resisted her.
+"Choose!" he whispered.  "A living death or happiness!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+For an instant their desperate eyes contended.  Corinna read in his
+that he would never give in.  She ran to the box and scribbled three
+lines.  The knock was repeated below.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She handed him the sheet with averted head.  Evan blew out the lamp.
+Hand in hand they ran softly down-stairs.  The knock was repeated for
+the third time and a gruff voice commanded:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Open the door or we'll break it down!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Aunt Liza was in the lower hall whimpering: "Lawsy!  What you gwine do,
+Miss?"  And behind her they heard Simeon Deaves muttering confusedly:
+"What's the matter?  What's the matter?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan breathed in Corinna's ear.  "The cellar door under the stairs.
+You lead the woman."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He felt for Simeon Deaves, and got his hand.  "Follow me," he
+whispered.  "I'll save you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves came unresistingly, his old wits in a daze.  As Evan got the
+cellar door open the blows were falling on the front door.  He flashed
+his light to show his little party the way down.  He came last and
+closed the door.  As he did so the front door went in with a crash.
+Joining the others, Evan whispered:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Take it easy.  They'll search the rooms first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man whispered tremulously: "What's the matter?  I don't
+understand."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Be very quiet," returned Evan.  "We're taking you home now.  Be quiet
+and there will be no publicity."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was a magical suggestion.  They heard no more from Deaves.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Meanwhile heavy feet were tramping overhead.  Doors were flung open.
+One man ran up-stairs.  There were at least three men.  Evan did not
+think it possible they had come in sufficient force to completely
+surround the house.  It was safe enough to flash his light in the
+depths of the cellar.  He led the way to the foot of the stone steps.
+The stars showed through the broken door overhead.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Making them wait behind him, he cautiously parted the thick screen of
+bushes and looked out.  Nothing was stirring on this side of the house.
+The grass and weeds were waist high down to the edge of the woods.  It
+was less than fifty yards to shelter.  Evan whispered to his little
+party:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Hands and knees through the grass.  Take it slow.  Each one keep a
+hand on the ankle of the one in front.  Corinna, you go first."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was done as he ordered.  Surely a more oddly-assorted party of
+fugitives never acted in concert to escape the law: girl, negress,
+multi-millionaire, and artist.  Like a snake with four articulations,
+they wound through the grass.  In the most sophisticated man lingers a
+wild strain; the stiff-jointed millionaire took to this means of
+locomotion as naturally as the negress.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+As they left the house behind them they came more within the range of
+vision of those who were presumably watching the front and back.  At
+any rate, while they were still fifty feet from the trees, a hoarse
+voice was raised from the front: "There they go!"  And an answering
+shout came from the rear.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The four fugitives of one accord rose to their feet and dashed for the
+trees.  Gaining the shadows, Corinna whispered:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We must separate.  You take Deaves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan pressed her own revolver back in her hand, whispering: "Fire it
+off if you are in danger."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Seizing Deaves' hand, Evan pulled him away to the right.  Corinna and
+Aunt Liza melted in the other direction.  The old man came through the
+underbrush like a reaping machine, and of course the police took after
+them.  For a moment Evan considered abandoning him.  He would come to
+no harm, of course.  But on the other hand, Evan now ardently desired
+to have the whole affair hushed up.  He got Deaves across the rough
+road in safety, and on the other side, coming to an immense spruce tree
+with drooping branches, he dragged him under it, and they sank down on
+a fragrant bed of needles.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The pursuing policemen, coming to the road, instinctively turned off
+upon it, and Evan knew they were safe for the moment.  Presently they
+came back, aimlessly threshing the woods and flashing their lights, but
+they had lost the trail now.  They were looking for a needle in a
+hay-stack.  Evan's only fear was that they might stumble on Charley,
+but he heard no sounds from that direction that indicated they had done
+so.  The sounds of searching moved off to the other side of the road,
+and Evan determined to go to Charley himself.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Leaving the old man with a whispered admonition to silence, Evan set
+off.  He found Charley where he had left him under the leafy bush.
+Evan whispered in his ear:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I found her.  I am on your side now.  The police are all around us.
+Make no sound!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He unbound Charley.  The latter sat up and rubbed his ankles.  Whatever
+he thought of the new turn of affairs, he said nothing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan said: "I have Deaves back here.  Follow me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Foot by foot they crept back in a course parallel to the rough road.
+Hearing footsteps approach, they hugged the earth.  Two men passed in
+the road.  One was saying:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Send Wilson back in the car to the road house to telephone for enough
+men to surround this patch of woods.  You patrol the road outside."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan and Charley crept away through the underbrush like foxes at the
+sight of the hunter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They reached the big spruce tree without further accident.  The old man
+greeted them with a moan of relief.  Evan and Charley drew away from
+him a little while they consulted.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan said: "Corinna and Aunt Liza are somewhere in the woods across the
+road.  We had to separate.  How can we get in touch with them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They'll be all right," muttered Charley.  "Corinna knows this place.
+They're safer than we are."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't leave here until I am more sure," said Evan.  "Will you take
+the old man and put him on the way home?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All right."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How will you go?  I'll have to follow you later."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The Lafayette trolley line will be watched, and the Yonkers line stops
+at one o'clock.  We'll have to walk to Yonkers.  Follow the road
+through the woods in the other direction, and it will put you on a
+regular road.  Keep going in a westerly direction."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I get you," said Evan.  "Where does Corinna live?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you want to know for?" growled Charley.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If I hear nothing from her here, I want to go to make sure she got
+home all right."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I won't tell you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Everything is changed now.  I am on your side and hers."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I hear you say it," Charley said sullenly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan's sense of justice forced him to admit that Charley was justified.
+"Well, will you do this?" he said.  "When you've got the old man off
+your hands, go to her place yourself, and then come to me and tell me
+if she's all right."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll do it if she wants me to," Charley said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Here's your flashlight," said Evan.  "I'll keep the gun a little
+while, in case Corinna calls for my help."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley pocketed the light in silence and led the old man forth from
+under the tree.  Simeon Deaves that night was like a pet dog on a
+leader, passed impatiently from hand to hand.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, fancying that the thick branches hindered him from hearing, crept
+out and lay down on the grass.  The woods were not so thick in this
+place.  This had evidently been part of the grounds surrounding the old
+house in its palmy days, and the spruce was a relic of those times.  He
+heard an automobile approach in the highway, and stop at the end of the
+woods track.  This would be the man returning from having telephoned.
+All sounds of the search through the woods had ceased.  Evidently they
+had decided that the better way was to watch all outlets.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+No sound from any quarter betrayed the whereabouts of Corinna and the
+old negress.  They were swallowed up as completely as if they had taken
+to their burrows like rabbits.  Evan's heart was with her, wherever she
+was.  He had not the same anxious solicitude for her that one would
+have for an ordinary woman hunted in the dark woods, for he was well
+assured that Corinna was not a prey to imaginary terrors.  She would be
+no less at home in the woods at night than he was.  Still no sound came
+from her.  He was not at all sure that she would summon him if hard
+pressed, but they could not take her without his hearing it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+In the end the greying sky in the East bade him consider his own
+retreat if he wished to avoid capture.  He had committed no crime, of
+course, but he was very sensible of the awkwardness of trying to
+explain his own share in the night's doings, should he be taken.  He
+had good hopes that Corinna had escaped by now.  He started to make his
+way westward.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He made a wide detour around the house and struck into the rough track
+on the other side, travelling softly, and keeping his ears open.  He
+had heard no searchers on this side.  After a half mile or so he saw
+light through the trees ahead.  He saw a road bounding the woods on
+this side, and open fields beyond.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He struck into the woods again, and took a cautious reconnaisance of
+the road from the underbrush before venturing upon it&mdash;the world was
+filled with ghostly light now.  It was well that he did so, for he saw
+a burly individual loafing in the highway, with his eye on the end of
+the wood track.  He wore civilian clothes, but "policeman" was written
+all over him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan had to get across that road somehow, but it was so straight the
+watcher could see half a mile in either direction.  And on the other
+side there was no cover, only cultivated fields.  There was one spot
+some hundreds of yards north where the road dipped into a hollow and
+was lost to view for a short space.  Evan, keeping well within the
+woods, made for that.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+There was a stream with a bridge over it.  By hugging the edge of the
+stream and ducking under the bridge he made the other side of the road.
+A field of growing corn received him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+That was his last serious hazard.  In the sweet coolness of the dawn he
+made his way over field after field, keeping the sunrise at his back.
+He crossed the roads circumspectly and gave the villages a wide berth.
+Finally he climbed a wooded hill, and from the other side looked down
+into the city of Yonkers.  Here he ventured to show himself openly,
+took a car for town, and an hour and a half later was climbing the
+stairs to his own room.  His heart was heavy with anxiety.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+When he entered he saw Charley sitting at his table with his head on
+his arms, asleep.  Evan's heart leaped.  He shook the sleeper.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Is she all right?" he cried.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley lifted a sullen and resentful face.  "She got home all right,"
+he muttered, and immediately started for the door, still swaying with
+sleep.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait a minute," said Evan.  "Here's your gun."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Charley held out his hand for it without looking at the other.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan no longer blamed Charley for what had seemed like treachery.
+Indeed, his heart was warm now towards his old friend.  "Don't you want
+to stop and talk things over?" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I have nothing to say to you," Charley said sorely, and went on out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, with a sigh, turned bedwards.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap23"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XXIII
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+SIMEON DEAVES TURNS PHILANTHROPIST
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+During his long vigil beside the spruce tree a scheme for dealing out
+poetic justice all around had occurred to Evan.  Of course one can
+never tell in advance how people are going to take things, but he had
+chuckled and resolved to try it anyhow.  So full was he of his scheme,
+even in sleep, that he awoke in an hour, and bathed, dressed and
+breakfasted at his usual time.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+On the slip of paper that Corinna had given Evan was written:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="noindent">
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Thomas Dordess,</SPAN><BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1.5em">&mdash; Broadway,</SPAN><BR>
+Give Weir the bonds.<BR>
+<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">C. PLAYFAIR.</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Evan presented himself at this address at a few minutes past nine, when
+offices were just opening.  Dordess, it appeared, was not a journalist,
+as Evan had once guessed, but an architect; that is to say, an elderly
+architectural draughtsman, one of the race of slaves who help build
+other men's reputations.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Early as it was, Dordess had already been apprised of Evan's coming.
+Evan had only to look at him to know that.  The ironic smile of the man
+of the world was on his lips, in his eyes the resentful hatred of a
+youth for his successful rival.  The package of bonds was already done
+up and waiting, it appeared.  With scarcely a glance at Corinna's note,
+which Evan offered him, Dordess handed it over.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Better open it and look them over," he said bitterly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Time enough for that," said Evan.  "I want to talk to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess' eyebrows went up.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I know you hate me like the devil," said Evan.  "But I'm hoping
+you'll know me better some day.  Anyhow, I want to talk to you
+privately for a few minutes.  Is it safe here?  I want to put up a
+scheme to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Dordess indicated the package.  "What more is there to say?" he asked
+with his bitter smile.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Better hear it," said Evan.  "It may make it easier all around.  Won't
+hurt you to listen, anyway."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"All right," said Dordess.  "Can't talk here.  Too many going in and
+out.  I'll come out with you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+They ensconced themselves in an alcove of the café across the street.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's your scheme?" said Dordess.  "Shoot!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I gather from your generally humorous style," said Evan, "that
+it was you who wrote the letters for the Ikunahkatsi.  By the way, what
+does Ikunahkatsi mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"An Indian word for avengers.  Yes, I wrote the letters.  What of it?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I want you to write one more.  Also another article for the <I>Clarion</I>."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I would have to consult Miss Playfair."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No.  She mustn't know anything about it until later."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Nothing doing, then."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But listen&mdash;&mdash;!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Their heads drew close over the table, and for five minutes Evan talked
+uninterruptedly.  As Dordess listened his expression changed oddly; a
+conflict of feelings was visible in his face; incredulity, chagrin, an
+unwilling admiration, and laughter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Damn you!" he cried at last.  "It's true I hate you!  I wish to God
+you were an out and out bad one so I could hate you right.  But now
+you're trying to bluff me that you're a decent head!  I don't believe
+you!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan laughed.  "Call my bluff," he said.  "I'd do the writing myself,
+only it would lose all its effect in another handwriting.  And I never
+could imitate your style."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Very well, I'll do it," said Dordess.  "Come back to my office in an
+hour and a half and they'll be ready."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He was as good as his word.  He and Evan laughed grimly together over
+the result of his labours.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Send it up by messenger," said Evan.  "It will save time.  I'll be on
+hand when it arrives."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was past eleven when Evan rang the bell of the Deaves house.  He was
+not without anxiety as to the reception he would receive.  It was
+possible that the old man, when he had quieted down, might begin to
+remember things, and to put two and two together.  However, he had to
+take that chance.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He learned that Simeon Deaves was not yet up, that Mrs. George Deaves
+was out, and her husband in the library.  The latter received him with
+no friendly face.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You shouldn't have come here," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan excused himself on the score of his anxiety about the old man.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Papa got home all right," said George Deaves.  "What happened to you
+last night?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan led him to suppose that his chase had ended in nothing.  He asked
+a cautious question.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh," said the other.  "Papa told a confused story about the house
+where he was confined being raided by the police, and a chase through
+the woods.  I thought maybe you were mixed up in it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man had not recognized him, then.  Evan was relieved.  He
+affected to be greatly astonished.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The police!" he said.  "Who could have put them on to it?  There was
+nothing in the paper this morning."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, thank Heaven!" said Deaves fervently.  "Maybe his mind was
+wandering.  I couldn't make sense of his story.  I hope and pray the
+thing is done with now."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But poor George Deaves was due to receive a shock when the second man
+presently entered.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Letter by messenger, sir.  No answer."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+At the sight of the superscription Deaves turned livid and fell back in
+his chair.  He stared at the envelope like a man bewitched.  He
+moistened his lips and essayed to speak, but no sound came out.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter?" asked Evan when the servant had left.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Another letter&mdash;already!" whispered Deaves huskily.  "And only
+yesterday&mdash;four hundred thousand!  What a fool I was to believe in
+their promises!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But open it!" said Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I can't&mdash;I can't face any more!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves feebly shoved it towards him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan tore open the envelope.  His cue was to express surprise, and he
+did not neglect it.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Listen!" he cried.  "This is extraordinary!  This is not what you
+expect!"  He read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Dear Mr. Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+The securities came safely to hand.  Many thanks for your promptness
+and courtesy in the matter.  To be sure, your employee did not obey
+instructions, but as it happened, no harm came of it.  We trust your
+father got home all right.  We so much enjoyed having him with us.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Well, Mr. Deaves, this terminates our very pleasant business relations;
+that is to say it will terminate them, unless you are disposed to fall
+in with the new proposition we are about to put up to you&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+George Deaves groaned at this point.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Wait!" said Evan.  "It is not what you think!" He resumed:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"As a testimonial of our gratitude for your favours, we purpose with
+your approval, to apply your father's great contribution to a worthy
+charitable cause in his name.  Let Mr. Deaves write a letter to Mr.
+Cornelius Verplanck, president of the Amsterdam Trust Company,
+according to the form marked enclosure No. 1.  This to be mailed him at
+once.  If this is done in time, the enclosure marked No. 2 will appear
+in all the New York evening papers.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+Very sincerely,<BR>
+<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">THE IKUNAHKATSI.</SPAN><BR>
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+P. S. It is scarcely necessary to state that Mr. Verplanck does not
+know the writer or any of his associates.  We have chosen him simply
+because of his national reputation for philanthropy."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+"I don't understand," murmured Deaves in a daze.  "What are the
+enclosures?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan read: "Enclosure No. 1: form of letter to be sent to Mr.
+Verplanck."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"Dear Mr. Verplanck:
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+In the course of the day you will receive from me the sum of four
+hundred thousand dollars in U. S. Government bonds.  My wish is that
+you establish with this sum a fund to be known as the Simeon Deaves
+Trust, the income of which is to be applied to providing outings on the
+water for the convalescent poor children of the city.  Draw the deed of
+trust in such a way that the donor cannot at any time later withdraw
+his gift.  Let there be three trustees yourself (if you will be so good
+as to serve) myself, and a third to be selected by the other two."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Deaves stared.  "And the newspaper story?" he murmured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan read:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"It appears that Simeon Deaves has been the victim of an undeserved
+unpopularity.  Instead of being the soulless money-changer, as the
+popular view had it, an individual without a thought or desire in life
+except to heap up riches, he has placed himself in the ranks of our
+most splendid philanthropists by the creation of the Deaves Trust, the
+facts of which became known to-day.  A sum approximating half a million
+dollars has been set aside for the purpose of providing fresh air
+excursions for the convalescent children of the poor.  In the
+administration of the fund Mr. Deaves has associated with himself Mr.
+Cornelius Verplanck whose name is synonymous with good works.  There is
+to be a third trustee not yet named.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"The convalescent children of the poor!  It would be difficult to think
+of a more praiseworthy object.  To bring roses back to little pale
+cheeks, and the sparkle to dull eyes!  Those who have thought harshly
+of Simeon Deaves owe him a silent apology.  Perhaps while people
+reviled him, he has been carrying out many a good work in secret.
+Perhaps that was his way of enjoying a joke at the expense of his
+detractors.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"When approached to-day Mr. Deaves with characteristic modesty, refused
+to say a word on the subject, referring all inquiries to his associate
+Mr. Verplanck.  Mr. Verplanck said: (<I>Add interview Verplanck.</I>)"
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Deaves rose out of his chair.  His gaze was a little wild.  "Do you
+suppose&mdash;they would really print that&mdash;about my father?" he gasped.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"They say they will," said Evan with a disinterested air.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I&mdash;I can't believe it!  It's a joke of some kind!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's worth trying.  They don't ask for anything."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What am I to do?" cried Deaves distractedly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Put it up to your father."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He would never consent!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why not?  The money's gone anyway.  He might as well have the
+reputation of a philanthropist.  Won't cost any more."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He <I>would</I> consent!  That's the worst of it.  He'd write that letter
+to Verplanck.  Then as soon as Verplanck got the bonds he'd go to him
+and demand them back.  There'd be a horrible scandal then!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This was a possibility that had not occurred to Evan.  His spirits went
+down.  At the moment no way of getting around the difficulty occurred
+to him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+But George Deaves visibly nerved himself to make a resolution.  "I'll
+write the letter myself!" he said.  "I'll create the trust in Papa's
+name.  I won't tell him anything about it until it's too late for him
+to withdraw.  He couldn't get the money back anyhow, if I sent it to
+Verplanck as from myself."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was quick to see the advantages of this arrangement, but he took
+care not to show too much eagerness.  "Very good," he said, "if you are
+willing to take the responsibility."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+A round pink spot showed in either of Deaves' waxy cheeks.  "Willing!"
+he said, with more spirit than Evan had ever seen him display.  "I'd do
+anything, <I>anything</I>, to get such a story in the papers!  It will make
+the family!  And how pleased Mrs. Deaves will be!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan had his own ideas as to that, but he did not voice them.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Deaves wrote the letter.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Would you mind posting it on your way out?" he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll take it directly to Mr. Verplanck's office, since time is an
+object," said Evan casually.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you will be so good," said Deaves.  A sudden terrified thought
+arrested him in the act of turning over the letter.  "But suppose the
+bonds are not forthcoming?" he said.  "Could Verplanck come down on me
+for them?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Certainly not," said Evan.  "His concern in the matter doesn't begin
+until he gets the securities."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll take a chance," said Deaves, handing over the letter.
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Verplanck received both the
+letter and the bonds in short order.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap24"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+CHAPTER XXIV
+</H3>
+
+<H4 ALIGN="center">
+CONCLUSION
+</H4>
+
+<P>
+The Simeon Deaves story began to appear in the editions that came out
+at four o'clock that afternoon.  Every paper in New York featured it.
+The clever re-write men did their best on it, and the accounts varied,
+though the main facts remained the same.  Many of the papers ran a
+two-column cut.  Evan bought them all and retired to his room to await
+developments.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The first came in the shape of a note from George Deaves, reading:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"The bonds were delivered to Mr. Verplanck shortly after my note.  He
+telephoned me, and I have just returned from seeing him.  I suggested
+you as the third member of the trust, to which he was agreeable.  You
+will be in charge of the administration, and a proper salary will be
+paid you out of the fund.  If you are agreeable please see Mr.
+Verplanck to-morrow at eleven.  Papa has been out since lunch.  I shall
+not mention to him that you had any foreknowledge of the affair, so he
+won't suspect any collusion between us.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+G. D."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Evan answered:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"I accept with pleasure."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+Shortly after this, Simeon Deaves turned up at Evan's room.  It was
+evident as soon as he spoke that he had not yet read the afternoon
+papers.  He had been drawn to Evan's room on his wanderings by his
+insatiable curiosity.  Nothing in the room escaped his sharp, furtive
+glances.  The newspapers were lying about.  Evan made no attempt to put
+them away.  The old man had to learn soon anyhow.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+His glance was caught by his photograph in one of the sheets.  He
+pounced on it.  Evan watched him slyly.  The old man's face was a study
+in astonishment.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's this!" he cried.  "Do you know about it?  Half a million for
+charity!  Who got up this lie!"  He was as indignant as if he had been
+accused of stealing the money.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"One of the papers mentioned the exact sum as four hundred thousand,"
+said Evan innocently.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's a hoax."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And they said U.S. government bonds, so I supposed the blackmailers
+must have turned over what they got from you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why should they go to all that trouble just to give it to charity?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was careful to maintain his detached air.  "Well, I thought maybe
+they were not common crooks, but socialists or anarchists or something
+like that, who believed in dividing things up, you know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The scoundrels!" cried the old man.  "I'll put a stop to their game.
+I'll see Verplanck and get the bonds back."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You can't see him to-day," said Evan carelessly.  "It's after five.
+He lives in the country."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I'll see him in the morning, then."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You'll have a chance to talk it over with your son in the meantime."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What's George got to do with it?  The money's mine!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Of course," said Evan carelessly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He let the old man rage on without interruption.  When he saw his
+opportunity he said offhand: "Too bad to spoil this elegant publicity,
+though."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It's in all the papers.  Every man in the country will read it before
+to-morrow morning.  It will make over your reputation in a night."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What do I care about my reputation?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If you call the scheme off, think how they'll get after you!  Not only
+an obscure sheet like the <I>Clarion</I>, but the entire press of the
+country.  Like a pack of hounds.  They'll never let the story drop."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+This thought gave the old man pause.  He scowled at Evan.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was making a pretence of cleaning a palette.  "You'd hardly care
+to venture out in the street after that.  You'd be hooted; stoned,
+perhaps.  It's bad enough already.  The reason you hired me was to
+prevent unpleasant experiences.  But if every paper in town got after
+you&mdash;well, you couldn't go out except in a closed car."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man made a queer noise in his throat, and pulled at his seamy
+cheek.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan went on without appearing to notice him: "It's a swindle, of
+course, to try to make you out a philanthropist in spite of yourself.
+They must have a funny sense of humour.  But I couldn't help but be
+struck by the opportunities for the right kind of publicity.  You could
+turn it so easily to your own advantage."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How do you mean?" he asked.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Take this philanthropic trust, or whatever they call it; excursions
+for poor children!  Good Lord!  Every sob sister on the press would be
+good for a column once a week.  It's up to you to see that the
+publicity is properly organised.  Every time they give an excursion
+have the stuff sent out.  It's cheap at the price, if you ask me.  You
+couldn't buy it at any price.  You'll be received with cheers on the
+street then.  No need to hire a body-guard.  And you still do more or
+less business.  Think how it would help you in your business!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+The old man was greatly impressed.  "Well, I'll think it over," he
+said.  "It's too much money.  I'll offer to compromise with Verplanck
+on half."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan saw that even this was an immense concession.  "Talk it over with
+Mr. George," he said.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, George is a fool!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan, fearful of overdoing it, let the matter drop.  Everything
+depended on George now.  The old man presently departed.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It may be mentioned here, out of its proper place chronologically, that
+later that night Evan got another note from George Deaves:
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+"I have had it out with Papa.  It took me two hours.  But I won.  There
+will be no interference with the Deaves Trust.  In the future I mean to
+be firmer with Papa.  I have given in to him too much.
+</P>
+
+<P CLASS="letter">
+G. D."
+</P>
+
+<BR>
+
+<P>
+At six o'clock Evan heard a quick light step on the stairs and the
+heart began to thump in his breast.  He had been longing for this&mdash;and
+dreading it.  Corinna presented herself at his open door.  She had
+newspapers in her hand, and there was no doubt but that she had read
+them.  But if Evan had expected her to be pleased, he was sadly
+disappointed.  Her eyes were flashing.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What does this mean?" she demanded, waving the papers.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Dordess wrote the story," said Evan, sparring for time.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I know he did.  I have seen him.  He referred me to you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, the story tells all," said Evan.  "I didn't return the bonds,
+but created a philanthropist out of Simeon Deaves."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"And rehabilitated him in the eyes of the public!" she cried bitterly.
+"The unrepentant old scoundrel!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He'll find popularity so sweet he'll have to live up to it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He doesn't deserve it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan was moved to protest.  "Look here, Corinna, you've nourished your
+grudge against him for so long that you've positively fallen in love
+with it.  You're just sore now because it has been removed!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I might have expected you to say that!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Be fair, Corinna.  I threshed my brains to find a way out that would
+do everybody good.  And this is all the thanks I get!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Much obliged, but I don't care to have anybody play Providence to me.
+I expect to be consulted in matters that concern me.  Good for
+everybody, you say.  How is the Deaves Trust good for me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why, the sum for supporting the excursions remains intact; the very
+sum you asked for."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But you've ousted me!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Not at all.  What the papers do not state is that I have been
+appointed the third trustee with power to administer the fund."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What good will that do me?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Evan said very off-hand: "Well, I thought you were going to administer
+me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He did not look at her as he said it.  She gave him no sign.  She was
+silent for so long that a great anxiety arose within him.  Yet he felt
+that to speak again would only be to weaken his plea.  He looked at
+her.  The shining head was studiously averted, the long lashes down.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Finally she said, low and firmly: "It is impossible."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Why?" he demanded.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You want a clinging vine," she said scornfully.  "A tame woman who
+will look up to you as the source of all wisdom!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"If I did would I be asking you?" he said dryly.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You hope to tame me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Never!  The shoe is on the other foot.  You want a husband whose neck
+you can tread on."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What difference does it make whose fault it is?" she said wearily.
+"The fact remains we would quarrel endlessly and hatefully.  It would
+be degrading!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"People who love each other always quarrel," said Evan cheerfully.
+"There's no harm in it."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She stared at him.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Let us quarrel&mdash;and continue to respect each other!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She shook her head.  "You speak about it too coldly."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Cold&mdash;I?" he said.  "You silence me when you say that!  You know I am
+not cold!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It is better for us to part," she said, moving towards the door.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+He hastened to get between her and the door.  "Corinna, the reason I am
+obliged to fight you is because you wield such a dreadful power!  In
+reality I am terrified of you!  If you married me I would have no
+defences at all!  I would be at your mercy because I love you so!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You're always laughing at me," she murmured.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I swear I am not!  People who love do not make bargains, Corinna.  All
+that I am or ever will be is yours.  Take me and make what you can of
+it!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+Corinna, who had not looked at him all this while, now turned a comical
+face of remonstrance.  "But you mustn't!" she said.  "You mustn't give
+in to me like that!  You must oppose my temper and my wilfulness,
+whatever I say!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+It was Evan's turn to stare.  Then he understood that this was
+surrender&mdash;Corinna's way.  He laughed in pure delight and opened his
+arms.  "Come here, you wretch!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She sidled towards him, blushing deeply, intolerably confused.
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<A NAME="chap25"></A>
+
+<H3 ALIGN="center">
+POSTSCRIPT
+</H3>
+
+<P>
+Two weeks later.  The Executive Committee of the Deaves Trust was
+holding an informal meeting.  Said Evan:
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The <I>Ernestina</I> is in commission again, but of course we don't want
+her as long as the present skipper is in charge.  I have found a new
+boat, the <I>Thomas Higgins</I>, safe and comfortable.  The only thing
+against her is her name, and I propose to change that to <I>Corinna</I>."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Silly!" said the other member of the committee.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The owners have made me a fair price, and the other trustees have
+authorized me to purchase her outright."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Won't that take all our money?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"No, indeed.  I have arranged to run her three days a week to the town
+of Redport, which wants a steam-boat service with the city.  The
+merchants of the town have guaranteed an amount of business sufficient
+to pay operating expenses and interest on the investment.  In addition,
+on Thursdays and Sundays she will be available for charter.  On Sundays
+we can always get a big price for her.  So you see, we'll not only have
+our own steamboat, but our income, too."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How clever you are!" said Corinna.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"After I arranged about that I went to see Dordess&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Was he friendly?"&mdash;this anxiously.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, indeed.  We understand each other.  I always was attracted to
+him, and he is resigned to the inevitable now.  He says he's content to
+be an uncle to our children."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"<I>Evan!</I>"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He was to sound the other fellows, you know, and find out how they
+were disposed towards the new trips.  Well, Anway and Tenterden decline
+with thanks.  That was to be expected.  But the others, Domville,
+Burgess, Minturn, and that odd little chap in the grey suit with the
+big eyes&mdash;&mdash;"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Paul Roman."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Yes, they're all crazy to come.  They have accepted me as a necessary
+evil.  The little fellow, Roman, came into Dordess's office while I was
+there.  Shook hands with me like a little man.  He has pluck, that kid.
+I will never forget the dogged way he trailed me.  By the way, why did
+you never take him on the <I>Ernestina</I>?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"We did sometimes, and sometimes he remained on shore to trail Simeon
+Deaves.  He made up as a girl, and you never spotted him.  When you
+came aboard the <I>Ernestina</I> we had to hide him."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"The deuce you did!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"What about Charley Straiker, Evan?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"He's coming, too.  Dear old Charl!  We have had a heart-to-heart talk.
+Everything is fixed up between us.  You have never told me how you got
+hold of him that day.  I didn't like to ask him.  Too sore a subject."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"There's nothing much to tell.  I was in the library reading-room that
+morning, not to get the money but just to watch out for danger.  Paul
+Roman got the books out.  I saw Charley come in and sit down beside
+him, and I knew what was up.  I immediately went and sat down on the
+other side of Charley.  He was glad to see me.  I was quite frank with
+him.  I introduced Paul Roman to him.  I told him my story.  It won his
+heart, that's all."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"It wasn't the story, but your eyes, confound them!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, you never will believe that anybody can be influenced by
+disinterested motives!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"How did you find out that other time that the bills were marked?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Tenterden has a brother in a bank.  He told us about the warning sent
+out by the Mid-City Bank."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna, how did you ever come to chum up with a woman like Maud
+Deaves?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I didn't chum up with her.  I never laid eyes on the woman.  It came
+about gradually.  I found out early in the game that when we sent
+letters to her it had the effect of exerting a tremendous pressure on
+her husband to pay.  Later, through the servants, whom Paul Roman had
+bribed for me, I found out that she was in money difficulties.  After
+that every time we got the money I sent her part, and she worked for us
+like one of ourselves.  We never failed to get the money one way or
+another, as you know."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I know," said Evan ruefully.
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"But don't let us talk of those times any more.  It's a sore subject
+with me, too."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"One more question, and I'll drop it forever.  Confess that you came
+and took a room at 45A Washington Square for the especial purpose of
+seducing me."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Evan!  What a word to use!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"I used it merely in a figurative sense, my child.  Confess!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Well, of course when Paul Roman reported all that had happened that
+day, and where you lived, and later when I learned through the Deaves'
+servants that you had been engaged to go around with the old man, my
+first thought was to win you to our side.  Paul reported that you were
+a gentleman, and seemed like a good sort of fellow."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Oh, he did, did he?"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"In such a position, of course, if you were against us you could ruin
+everything; while if you were on our side you would be invaluable.  So
+I went to that house and took a room, hoping to become acquainted with
+you."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"You didn't stay long."
+</P>
+
+<P>
+She looked at him through her lashes.  "No, I fell in love with you,
+confound you!  It spoiled everything!"
+</P>
+
+<P>
+"Corinna!" he cried delightedly.  "I am beginning to think I shall yet
+succeed in grafting a sense of humour on you!"
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR>
+
+<P CLASS="finis">
+THE END
+</P>
+
+<BR><BR><BR><BR>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Deaves Affair, by Hulbert Footner
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Deaves Affair, by Hulbert Footner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Deaves Affair
+
+Author: Hulbert Footner
+
+Release Date: February 22, 2010 [EBook #31361]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAVES AFFAIR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Al Haines
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE DEAVES AFFAIR
+
+
+By HULBERT FOOTNER
+
+
+
+AUTHOR OF
+
+_"The Owl Taxi," "The Substitute Millionaire,"
+  "The Fur Bringers," "The Woman from Outside,"
+    "Thieves' Wit," etc._
+
+
+
+
+A. L. BURT COMPANY
+
+Publishers  New York
+
+
+Published by arrangement with George H. Doran Company
+
+Printed in U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+COPYRIGHT, 1922,
+
+BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
+
+
+
+PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
+
+
+
+
+TO
+
+THE NOANKERS
+
+KATHERINE FOREST
+
+RUTH GREEN HARRIS
+
+AND THE CHERUB WHO SITS UP ALOFT
+
+W. SHERMAN POTTS
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER
+
+     I  A Penny Change
+    II  A Rich Man's House
+   III  Snooping
+    IV  The New Lodger
+     V  The Happy Little Family
+    VI  The Little Fellow in Grey
+   VII  Platonic Friendship
+  VIII  Evan is Re-engaged
+    IX  The Compact is Smashed
+     X  Maud's Interest
+    XI  The Steamboat _Ernestina_
+   XII  Evan Loses a Round
+  XIII  A Little Detective Work
+   XIV  Number 11 Van Dorn Street
+    XV  The Club House
+   XVI  Back to Earth
+  XVII  The _Ernestina_ Again
+ XVIII  The Accident
+   XIX  Four Visits from George Deaves
+    XX  The Beginning of the Night
+   XXI  Later that Night
+  XXII  Towards Morning
+ XXIII  Simeon Deaves Turns Philanthropist
+  XXIV  Conclusion
+        Postscript
+
+
+
+
+THE DEAVES AFFAIR
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A PENNY CHANGE
+
+Evan Weir's pipe was foul; he threw it down with an exclamation of
+disgust.  Its foulness was symbolic; everything was out of kilter.  He
+looked at the picture he had been painting for a week--rotten!  It was
+a still life; a broken jar and three books on a rag of Persian
+embroidery.  Picking up his pen-knife he deliberately cut the canvas
+out of the stretcher, and setting a match to a corner of it, tossed it
+in the empty stove.  He paced up and down the room wondering what the
+devil was the matter with him; he couldn't work; he couldn't read; his
+friends bored him; life was as flat as beer dregs.
+
+His attic studio was lighted by a dormer window at a height convenient
+to receive his elbows on the sill.  He came to a pause in that position
+morosely staring out on Washington Square basking in the summer morning
+sunshine.  In some occult way the gilding on the green leaves stabbed
+at his breast and accused him of futility.
+
+"What the deuce am I doing up here in this dusty garret painting bad
+pictures while the whole world is alive!" he thought.
+
+He picked up his hat and went slowly down the three flights to the
+street.  At the corner of the square he turned down Macdougall street
+into the Italian quarter.
+
+This intimate thoroughfare was as crowded as a bee-hive.  Happy, dirty,
+big-eyed children played in the gutters while their obese mothers
+squatted untidily on the stoops.  No lack of the zest of life here.  It
+shamed the pedestrian without cheering him.
+
+"They haven't much to live for," he thought, "and they're not
+complaining.  Why can't I take things as they come, as they do, without
+searching my soul?"
+
+It was a point of pride with Evan not to look like a denizen of
+Washington Square.  So his hair was cut, and his clothes like anybody's
+else.  He even went so far as to keep his hat brushed, his trousers
+creased and his shoes polished.  For the rest he was a vigorous,
+deep-chested youth of middle height with rugged features and glowing
+dark eyes.  He had a self-contained, even a dogged look.  Like all men
+susceptible of deep feeling, he did not choose to wear his heart upon
+his sleeve.
+
+Half an hour later found him in that quaint corner of the island
+bounded by Liberty street, Greenwich street and the river.  It is
+generally called the Syrian quarter, though shared by the Syrians with
+immigrants of all nations, whose boarding-houses abound there,
+convenient to the landing station.  A feature of the neighbourhood is
+the cheap clothing stores where the immigrants buy their first United
+States suits.  These suits hang swinging from the awnings like wasted
+gallows birds.  A hawk-eyed salesman lurks beneath; in other words the
+"puller-in."
+
+As Evan approached such a place in darkest Greenwich street a customer
+issued forth of aspect so comical and strange that Evan was drawn out
+of himself to regard him.  It was a tall, lean old man who moved with a
+factitious sprightliness.  He was clearly no immigrant but a native of
+these United States.  He was wearing a hand-me-down which hung in weird
+folds on his bones.  The trousers lacked a good four inches of the
+ground, and the sleeves revealed an inch of skinny wrist.  The wearer
+looked like a gawky school-boy with an old, old face.  Yet he bore
+himself with the conscious pride of one who wears a new suit.  On his
+head he wore a brownish straw hat which was a little too small for him,
+and had seen three summers.  As he walked along with his sprightly
+shuffle, which did not get him over the ground very fast, his head
+ceaselessly turned from side to side, and he continually looked over
+his shoulder without seeming to see anything.  His mouth was fixed in
+the lines of a sly smile, which had nothing to do with the expression
+of his eyes.  This was furtive and anxious.  His little grey eyes
+searched in all the corners of the pavement like a rag-picker's eyes.
+To Evan there was something familiar about the face, but he couldn't
+quite place it.
+
+The old man turned a corner into one of the little streets leading to
+the river.  Evan, bound nowhere in particular, and full of curiosity,
+followed.  There was something notable about the old figure in its
+ridiculous habiliments; this was no common character.  Under his arm he
+carried a bundle wrapped in crumpled paper, which presumably contained
+his discarded suit.
+
+He stopped at a fruit-stand, and as Evan overtook him, was engaged in
+scanning a tray of apples as if the fate of nations depended upon his
+picking the best one at the price.  The fruit-vendor regarded him with
+a disgusted sneer.  Evan loitered, and as the little comedy developed,
+stopped outright to see it out.
+
+The old man after an anxious period of indecision finally made his
+choice.  After having satisfied himself that there was no concealed
+blemish in his apple he proffered a nickel in payment and extended a
+trembling hand for the change.  The Syrian dropped a penny in it, and
+turned away with a suspiciously casual manner.
+
+"Where's my other penny?" demanded the old man in a high-pitched,
+creaking voice.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" demanded the vendor with a wholly
+disproportionate display of passion.  "That's all you get."
+
+The old man pointed an indignant forefinger to the ticket on the tray.
+"Two for five!" he shrilled.
+
+"That's right.  Or four cents a piece," was the rejoinder.
+
+"No you don't!  Half of five is two and a half.  You make half a cent
+on the deal anyhow."
+
+"Well, if y'ain't satisfied, gimme the penny and take another!"  With
+an unerring eye the vendor pounced on the smallest and knobbiest apple
+in the tray and offered that.
+
+The old man would have none of it.  "Give me my other penny!" said he.
+
+"That's all you get!"
+
+"Give me my other penny or I'll call the police!"
+
+"Yah!  For a penny would you!  You're a big man of business you are!
+Call a cop, go on, and see what he'll say for a penny!"  The vendor
+passionately searched under a shelf, and producing a ticket marked "4c"
+defiantly stuck that alongside the "2 for 5."
+
+"No you don't!" cried the old man.  "You can't raise the price on me
+after I've bought!"
+
+"One for four, two for five!  I guess I charge what I like!  I don't
+have to charge half the price for one!"
+
+"You're a robber!"
+
+The vendor appealed to Heaven to witness that he was maligned.  He
+brandished a fist before the old man's nose.  "You lie!  You lie!" he
+cried.  "Get out of here.  I don't want you by my stand!"
+
+"Give me my penny!"
+
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+
+Evan was not the only grinning on-looker.  A crowd collected out of
+nowhere as crowds do.  The anxious vendor had now not only to keep up
+his end of the argument, but to watch his exposed stock as well.  But
+he showed no signs of giving in.
+
+"Get out of here!  I don't want you round me!" he cried.
+
+"Give me my penny!"
+
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+
+They repeated it with incredible passion, over and over.
+
+The crowd at first egged on both parties impartially:
+
+"Go to it, men!  A penny's a penny at that!"
+
+"Don't let him jew you, old man.  All them dagoes is robbers!"
+
+"Soak him one, Tony, the tight-wad!"
+
+"Sue him for the penny, Grandpa.  I'll go witness for you."
+
+"Aw, give him his penny, Mike.  He needs a new lid."  And so on.
+
+"Gimme my penny!"
+
+"Ain't no penny comin' to yeh!"
+
+Finally the old man threw the apple back on the tray.  "I won't deal
+with you at all!" he cried.  "You're a robber!  Gimme my money back!"
+
+"You bruised it!" cried the Syrian tragically.  "I don't take back no
+spoiled goods.  Leave it lay at your own risk!"
+
+"Gimme back my money!" cried the old man undaunted.
+
+A grimy little hand slid out from the crowd and closed over the
+disputed apple.  In the flick of a whip it was gone, and no man could
+say where.  The crowd rocked with laughter.
+
+The vendor shrugged.  "Ain't my loss.  It's his apple."
+
+"Gimme my money back!" demanded the old man.
+
+"Ah, what do you want, the apple and the money and the change too?"
+
+The old man snapped the penny down on the glass top of the candy case.
+"Gimme my nickel," he said like a bird with one note.
+
+The vendor passionately snatched up the penny and cast it at his feet.
+"Go to Hell with your penny!" he cried.
+
+Someone put a foot on it and that likewise was seen no more.
+
+"Gimme my nickel!" said the old man.
+
+Suddenly a voice in the crowd was heard to say: "Gee! it's Simeon
+Deaves!"
+
+"Simeon Deaves, of course!" thought Evan.  That old face was
+continually in the newspapers.
+
+Instantly the temper of the crowd changed.  There was nobody who could
+read English that was not acquainted with this man's reputation.  A
+chorus of imprecations was heard:
+
+"Miser!  Skinflint!  Tight-wad!  Robber!"
+
+The sallies of the sidewalk wits were almost drowned in the mere cries
+of rage:
+
+"Tight-wad, did you say?  His wad is ossified to him!"
+
+"He wants to put that penny out at interest!"
+
+"Say, the Jews go to school to him."
+
+"He'd skin the cream offen a baby's bottle, he would."
+
+The old man looked down and back at them snarling.  Like a cowed
+animal's, his gaze was fixed upon their feet.  Fearful of blows to
+follow, he turned around, and edging away from the stand got his back
+against the wall of the building.  His face was ashy, yet oddly the
+mouth was still fixed in the unvarying lines of the sly smile.  The
+fruit vendor made haste to shut up his stand.
+
+A flushed and burly Irishwoman stepped in advance of the crowd.  She
+looked Deaves up and down insultingly.  "What kind of a man do you call
+yourself?" she cried.  "With all your millions locked up in the bank,
+and dressed in a suit that my old man wouldn't sweep up manure in!
+What are you doing down here anyhow?  Go back up town where you
+belong!"  She shook a fist like a ham in his face.  "Do you see that?
+That's an honest hand that never filched a penny.  For a word I'd plant
+it in your ugly face, you Shylock!  You penny-parer!"
+
+A youth's voice cried out: "Come on, fellows, let him have it!"
+
+The crowd suddenly swayed forward.  No one could tell exactly what
+happened.  A raised clenched fist smashed the old man's hat over his
+eyes.  Deaves went down out of sight.
+
+This was too much for Evan.  After all the man was old and it was fifty
+to one against him.  His blood boiled, and the megrims were forgotten.
+He rushed in on the old man's side, swinging his arms and shouting:
+
+"Get back, you cowards!  Give the old man a chance!"
+
+The passionately indignant voice was more effective than the blows
+against so many.  The crowd drew back shamefacedly, revealing the old
+man prone on the sidewalk, but not visibly injured.  He was able to
+scramble to his hands and knees as soon as they gave him room.  Evan
+helped him to his feet.
+
+"Come on, I'll get you out of this," he said peremptorily.  With his
+flashing eyes he searched the faces of the crowd for eyes that dared to
+withstand his, but none cared to.
+
+He started to march the dazed old man smartly towards West street.  It
+was an uncomfortable moment when they were obliged to turn their backs
+on the crowd.  Evan expected another rush.  But it did not come.
+
+They had not taken ten steps when the old man pulled back.  "M-my
+bundle," he stammered.  "I've lost my bundle."
+
+Evan could not tell what the crowd might do.  There was of course no
+policeman to be expected in that forgotten little street.  "Let your
+bundle go!" he warned him.  "Come on."
+
+But the old man planted himself like a child with immovable obstinacy.
+"My old clothes!" he said.  "They're worth money!  I'm not going to
+give them up!"
+
+Evan with an exasperated laugh went back.  The crowd which had started
+to follow backed off.  The bundle lay where the old man had fallen.  It
+had come unwrapped and the deplorable garments were fully revealed.
+Evan, gritting his teeth, stooped over and rolled them up.  He knew
+what a chance he was providing to the wits of the crowd.
+
+"Old clo'!  Old clo'!"
+
+"Rags, bones, bottles!  Any rags, bones, bottles!"
+
+"Say, fella, what do you think you'll get out of it?"
+
+"Aw, Simeon Deaves 'll give him his old clothes."
+
+The envious note was clearly audible.  Individuals in the crowd were
+beginning to ask themselves now, why they hadn't had the wit to take
+the old man's part, and earn his gratitude.  Evan held himself in from
+reply.
+
+"What's the use," he thought.  "Scum!"
+
+Rejoining the old man he led him to the West street corner.  Deaves had
+had a bad shock, and he was still trembling all over, and stumbling
+slightly in his walk.  He betrayed no consciousness of gratitude
+towards his rescuer.  His mind was still running on the lost nickel.
+
+"Robber!  Outrage!  Thieving scoundrel!" he was muttering.
+
+They waited for a Belt line car.  Another man waited alongside of them,
+a quiet little youth in a grey suit whom Evan had seen as an onlooker
+in the crowd.
+
+When the car came the old man was still so shaky that it seemed to Evan
+only the part of common humanity to accompany him.  But on the step
+Deaves turned sharply.
+
+"You needn't come," he said.  "I can take care of myself."
+
+"That's all right," said Evan politely.  "It's no inconvenience."
+
+"I won't pay your fare," said Deaves.
+
+Evan laughed.  "I'll pay the fares," he said.  To himself he thought:
+"It's not often one has a chance of standing treat to a millionaire."
+
+Deaves did allow Evan to pay the fares, and indeed seemed quite pleased
+as if he had got the better of him in a deal.  But something about Evan
+disconcerted him.  He continued to glance at him sideways out of his
+restless, furtive little grey eyes.  Finally he said:
+
+"I'm not going to give you anything for coming with me."
+
+"Don't expect it," said Evan.
+
+"What are you coming for then?" Deaves demanded.
+
+Evan laughed in an annoyed way.  "Well, now that you put it to me, I
+don't exactly know.  I suppose I owe it to myself not to let an old man
+fall down in the street."
+
+Deaves thought over this quite a long while.  Along with his shrewdness
+there was something childish in the old man.  "You're a good boy!" he
+announced at last.
+
+Evan appreciated that this was an immense concession.  "Much obliged,"
+he said dryly.
+
+"Just the same, you needn't think you're going to get anything out of
+me," the old man quickly added.
+
+"I don't."
+
+Having established this point to his satisfaction Deaves seemed
+disposed to become friendly.  "What are you doing out on the street in
+the middle of the morning?" he asked.
+
+"I might ask the same of you," returned Evan good-naturedly.
+
+"I'm retired.  I've a right to take my ease.  But all young fellows
+ought to be at work.  Haven't you got any work to do?"
+
+"I'm an artist."
+
+"Pooh!  Waste of time!"
+
+Evan laughed.  It was useless to get angry at the old boy.
+
+"Why aren't you working at it now?" Deaves demanded to know.
+
+"It wouldn't come to-day," said Evan.
+
+"Stuff and nonsense!  You'll never get on that way!  Look at me!"
+
+Evan did so, thinking: "I wouldn't be like you for all your millions!"
+
+Deaves went on: "Keep everlastingly at it!  That's my motto.  That's
+what's brought me to where I am to-day.  I've retired now--though I
+still have my irons in the fire--but when I was your age I worked early
+and late.  I didn't waste _my_ time fooling round like young men do.
+No, sir!  My only thought was how to turn everything to advantage.  I
+denied myself everything; lived on two bits a day, I did, and put my
+savings to work.  The cents and the dollars are good and willing little
+servants if you make them work for you.  I watched 'em grow and grow.
+That was my young man's fun."
+
+Evan looking at him thought: "You are an object-lesson all right, old
+man, but not just the way you think."
+
+The current of Deaves' thoughts changed.  "You're a strong boy," he
+said, with a glance at Evan's stout frame.  He felt of his biceps
+through the thin coat.  "Hm!" he said scornfully.  "I suppose you're
+proud of your strength.  I suppose you spend the best part of your days
+exercising.  Waste of time!  Waste of time!  A strong man never comes
+to anything.  They're simple, mostly.  It's the head that counts!  How
+many of those ruffians did you knock down?"
+
+"Not any," said Evan carelessly.  "They ducked."
+
+"Well, you're a good boy.  You stick to me, and I'll show you something
+better than messing in colours.  I'll show you how to make money!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A RICH MAN'S HOUSE
+
+They rode up to Fifty-Ninth street, and transferring to a cross-town
+car, got off at the Plaza.  Evan's subconsciousness registered the fact
+that the little fellow in grey was still travelling their way, but he
+took no particular notice of him.  Deaves led the way to one of the
+magnificent mansions that embellish the neighbourhood.  He handed his
+bundle to Evan.
+
+"You carry it," he said.  "Maud always makes a fuss when I bring
+bundles home."
+
+"Who is Maud?" asked Evan.
+
+"My son's wife; a great society woman."
+
+"You want me to come in with you then?" said Evan.
+
+"Yes, you're a good boy.  I want to give you something."
+
+Evan was surprised.  "A dime, or even a quarter!" he thought, smiling
+to himself.  Nevertheless he went willingly enough, filled with a great
+curiosity.
+
+The house was a showy affair of grey sandstone built in the style of a
+French chateau.  But Evan's trained eye perceived many lapses of taste;
+it was not even well-built; the window-casings were of wood when they
+should have been of stone; the side of the house, plainly visible from
+the street, was of common yellow brick.  It looked like a jerry-built
+palace for a parvenu.  Evan wondered how the old money-lender had come
+to be stuck with it.
+
+"My son's house," said Deaves with a queer mixture of pride and scorn.
+"I live with them.  Sinful waste!"
+
+He avoided the front door with its grand grill of polished steel.  The
+street widening had shorn off the original areaway of the house, and
+the service entrance was now a mere slit in the sidewalk with a steep
+stair swallowed up in blackness below.  Down this stair old Simeon
+Deaves made his way.  Evan followed, grinning to himself.  It was
+certainly an odd way for a man to enter his own home.
+
+"We won't meet Maud this way," Deaves said over his shoulder.
+
+The remark called up a picture of Maud before Evan's mind's eye.
+
+In the basement of the great house they met many servants passing to
+and fro, before whom the old man cringed a little.  These superior
+menials turned an indifferent shoulder to him, but stared hard at Evan.
+Evan flushed.  Insolence in servants galled his pride.  "If I paid
+their wages I'd teach them better manners!" he thought.
+
+Somewhere in the bowels of the house, which was full of passages like
+all ill-planned dwellings, the old man unlocked a door and led Even
+into a vaultlike chamber without a window.  Carefully closing the door
+behind them he turned on a light.
+
+"This is where I keep all my things," he said innocently.  "Maud never
+comes down here."
+
+Evan looked around.  A strange collection of objects met his view; old
+clothes, old newspapers, old hardware, in extraordinary disorder.  It
+was like the junk room in an old farmhouse.  The walls were covered
+with shelves heaped with objects; old clocks, broken china ornaments,
+empty cans, pieces of rope, bundles of rags.  On the floor besides,
+were boxes and trunks, some with covers, some without; the latter
+overflowing with rubbish.  Evan wondered whimsically if the closed
+boxes were filled with shining gold eagles.  It would be quite in
+keeping, he thought.  But on second thoughts, no.  Your modern miser is
+too sensible of the advantages of safe deposit vaults.
+
+Deaves found a place for his bundle of old clothes, and seeing Evan
+looking around, he said with his noiseless laugh, which was no more
+than a facial contortion:
+
+"You never can tell when a thing will be wanted."
+
+Turning his back on Evan he rummaged for a long time among his shelves.
+Evan was somewhat at a loss, for his host appeared to have forgotten
+him.  He was considering quietly leaving the place when the old man
+finally turned around.  He had a small object in his hand which he made
+as if to offer Evan, but drew it back suddenly and examined it
+lovingly.  It was a pen-knife out of his collection.
+
+"Almost new," said Deaves.  "The little blade is missing, but the big
+blade is perfectly good if you sharpen it.  Here," he said, suddenly
+thrusting it at Evan as if in fear of repenting of his generosity.
+"For you."
+
+Evan resisted the impulse to laugh.  After all the value of a gift is
+its value to the giver.  He pocketed it with thanks.  It would make an
+interesting souvenir.  To produce it would cap the climax of the funny
+story he meant to make out of this adventure.  He turned to go.
+
+"Don't be in a hurry," said Deaves.  "Sit down and let's talk."
+
+He evidently had something on his mind.  Evan, curious to learn what it
+could be, sat down on a trunk.
+
+"You're a good boy, and a strong boy," said the old man.  "I'd like to
+do something for you."
+
+"Don't mention it," said Evan grinning.
+
+"Why don't you come every day and go out with me.  I like to walk
+about.  I can't stay cooped up here.  I like the streets.  But people
+recognise me."
+
+"And make rude remarks," said Evan to himself.
+
+"But with you I could go anywhere."
+
+"Ah, a body-guard," thought Evan.  The idea was not without its
+attractions.  It would be an amusing job.  He said:
+
+"If you want to hire me I'm willing.  I need the money."
+
+"Hire you!" said the old man in a panic.  "I never said anything about
+hiring you.  I just mean a friendly arrangement.  You have plenty of
+time on your hands.  I'll give you good advice.  Show you how to become
+a successful man."
+
+"Thanks," said Evan dryly.  "But the labels I paint bring in ready
+money."
+
+"Many a young man would be glad of the chance to go around with Simeon
+Deaves," he went on cunningly.  "It would be a liberal education for
+you."
+
+Evan got up.  It was the best argument he knew.
+
+"You could have your meals here," Deaves said quickly.  "They eat well.
+There's enough wasted in this house to feed an orphanage."
+
+"Sorry," said Evan.  "It doesn't appeal to me."
+
+"Well, you could have a room on the top floor.  You look pretty good;
+Maud wouldn't mind you.  Your living wouldn't cost you a cent."
+
+Evan thought of the supercilious servants.  Not for a bank president's
+salary would he have lived in that house.  He said: "I'm open for an
+offer as I told you, but only during specified hours.  I'd eat and
+sleep at home."
+
+"You're a fool!" said the old man testily.  "Free board and lodging!  I
+haven't any money."
+
+"All right," said Evan moving towards the door.  "No harm done."
+
+"Wait a minute.  Maybe my son would lend me the money to pay you a
+small salary.  He says I oughtn't to go out alone."
+
+"A small salary doesn't interest me," said Evan boldly.  "Fifty dollars
+a week is my figure."
+
+Simeon Deaves gasped.  "You're crazy.  It's a fortune.  At your age I
+wasn't making a third of that!"
+
+"Very likely.  But times have changed."
+
+The old man now opened the door for Evan.  As he did so there was a
+scuttle in the passage and a figure whisked out of sight.  "Snoopers!"
+thought Evan.
+
+"Will you show me the way up-stairs?" he said.  "I don't care to use
+the servants' entrance."
+
+"Sure, that's right," said Deaves soothingly.  "I hope we won't meet
+Maud.  Always picking on me."
+
+As they headed for the stairs he said cajolingly: "Fifteen dollars a
+week; that's plenty to live on.  Youngsters ought to live simply.  It's
+good for their health."
+
+"But how about putting something by?" said Evan slyly.
+
+"Well, I think my son might go as high as seventeen-fifty if I asked
+him.  Because you're a good boy and a strong boy."
+
+"Thanks.  Nothing doing."
+
+As Evan resolutely mounted the stairs, the old man hobbling after said:
+"Well, I'll add two and a half to that myself.  But that's my last
+word!  Not another cent!"
+
+"Nothing doing," said Evan again.
+
+At the head of the stairs Deaves said nervously: "Better let me take a
+look to see if Maud's around."  He peeped out.  "All right, the coast
+is clear."
+
+They were now in a square entrance hall of goodly size, very showily
+finished like a hotel with veneered panels, which already showed signs
+of wear.  Imitation antique chairs stood about, and in front of the
+fireplace, which was certainly never intended to contain a fire, was
+spread a somewhat moth-eaten polar bear skin.  Still it was grand after
+a fashion, and the old man in his hand-me-downs looked oddly out of
+place.
+
+"Better think it over!" he said.  "Twenty dollars a week!  It's a
+splendid salary!"
+
+"Nothing doing," said Evan, grinning.  In a way he liked the old
+scoundrel.
+
+Deaves affected to lose his temper.  "Oh, you're too big for your
+shoes!" he cried.  "Your demands are preposterous!"
+
+Evan continued calmly to make his way towards the front door.
+
+Just before they reached it the old man made one last appeal.  "Twenty
+dollars!" he said plaintively.
+
+A door at the back of the hall opened and an old-young man came out;
+that is to say he was young in years, but he seemed to bear the weight
+of an empire on his shoulders, and looked very, very sorry for himself.
+He was dressed as if he had to be a pall-bearer that day, but that was
+his ordinary attire.  He looked sharply from the old man to Evan.
+
+"Who is this, Papa?" he demanded with the air of a school-master
+catching a boy red-handed.
+
+The old man cringed.  "This--this is a young man."
+
+"So I see."
+
+"Well, I--I didn't exactly ask him his name."
+
+"Evan Weir," spoke up the young man for himself.
+
+"He came home with me," said Deaves.  "There was a little trouble."
+
+The younger Deaves was horrified.  "Another disgraceful street scene!"
+he cried.  Addressing Evan he said: "Please tell me exactly what
+happened."  He glanced nervously over his shoulder.  "But not here.
+Come up to my library."
+
+He led the way up-stairs, across another and a loftier hall with an
+imitation groined ceiling, and into a large room at the back of the
+house, which by virtue of a case of morocco bound books, clearly not
+often disturbed, was the library.  The young man flung himself into a
+chair behind an immense flat-topped desk and waved his hand to Evan
+with an air that seemed to say: "Now tell me the worst!"  Between the
+two, Evan's sympathies were with the father.
+
+He was not invited to sit.  He told his story briefly, making out the
+best case that he could for the old man.  The latter was not insensible
+to the favour.  His little eyes twinkled.  The young man became
+gloomier and gloomier as the story progressed.
+
+"We shall hear more of this!" he said tragically.
+
+The old man pished and pshawed.  "I offered him a steady job," he said,
+"to go round with me.  But his notions are too grand."
+
+"Why, that would be a very suitable arrangement," his son said
+pompously.  "How much do you want?" he asked of Evan.
+
+"Fifty dollars a week."
+
+"That's ridiculous!" young Deaves said loftily.  "I'll give you
+twenty-five."
+
+The scene of down-stairs was continued, with this difference that the
+son was not so naive as the father.  Evan kept up his end with firmness
+and good-humour.  After all there was some fun in contending with such
+passionate bargainers, and he saw that for some reason the son was more
+anxious to get hold of him than the father.  They finally compromised
+on forty dollars a week, provided Evan's references were satisfactory.
+Simeon Deaves was scandalised.
+
+"It's too much! too much!" he repeated.  "It will turn his head
+completely!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+SNOOPING
+
+Young Deaves (his father addressed him as George) passed out through a
+small door on the left presumably to telephone to Evan's references.
+His father followed him, still protesting tearfully that the salary he
+purposed paying Evan would ruin them both.  Evan was left standing in
+the middle of the room.  Before he had time to take a further survey of
+his surroundings the door from the hall was softly opened, and a smug,
+pale young man in a sober suit sidled into the room, a servant.  Evan
+learned later that "Second man" was his official title.  "Spy" was writ
+large on him.  The house seemed to be swarming with them.  This fellow
+had undoubtedly been listening at the door.
+
+"Good God! who would be rich!" thought Evan.
+
+The servant with a sly, meaning look in Evan's direction went to a
+console at the left of the room, and affected to busy himself in
+arranging the objects upon it.  In reality his long ears were stretched
+for sounds coming through the little door.  Having satisfied himself
+that the Deaves' were good for several minutes in there, he came
+towards Evan with an ingratiating leer.
+
+"Nice day," he said.
+
+Evan's impulse was to call the fellow down, but he reflected that if he
+was to become an inmate of the house, it would be just as well for his
+own protection to learn what this snooping and eavesdropping signified.
+
+"Fine," he said non-committally.
+
+"Are you going to be one of us?"
+
+"I don't know yet."
+
+"It's a rummy joint."
+
+"So I gather," said Evan dryly.
+
+"Have you seen the Missus yet?"
+
+"No."
+
+The lackey cast up his eyes and whistled softly.  "Oh boy!  You've got
+something to see!"
+
+This was Evan's first experience of the below-stairs point of view.  It
+was a revelation.
+
+"Were you planted here?" the servant asked with a mysterious air.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Evan.
+
+The other quickly turned it off.  "Oh nothing."  He glanced towards the
+little door.  "When you work for a bunch like this you don't feel like
+you owed them anything.  It's every man for himself."
+
+"I suppose so," said Evan.
+
+"But there's a square bunch down-stairs.  Come down to the butler's
+room when you can and get acquainted."
+
+"Thanks."
+
+"Take it from me you won't find it such a bad house if you stand in
+with the crowd down-stairs.  There's money to be made on the side if
+you're smart enough."
+
+"How?" asked Evan.
+
+The second man winked at him knowingly.  "Let's you and I get better
+acquainted before we get confidential."
+
+"Sure," said Evan.  "I see you're a wise guy."
+
+"Wise!" said the other.  "Solomon wasn't one two three with me."
+
+"What do they call you?"
+
+"Alfred.  I'll make you acquainted with the bunch down-stairs.  The
+women----"  He suddenly broke off, and stiffened into the blank-faced,
+deferential servant.
+
+Young Deaves and old Deaves returned through the little door.
+
+"If you please, sir," said Alfred quickly, "Mr. Hilton sent me to ask
+what wines you would have for dinner."
+
+"I'm busy!" snapped George Deaves.  "Tell Hilton when I want wine I'll
+let him know."
+
+"Yes, sir, very good, sir."  The rubber-shod one wafted out of the
+room, shutting the door behind him as softly as a flower closes.
+George Deaves looked sharply to see that it was closed, then looked as
+sharply at Evan.
+
+"Was he talking to you?" he demanded.
+
+Evan quickly decided that the only safe hand to play in this strange
+house was a lone hand; he would take no one into his confidence.
+"Nothing in particular," he said.
+
+"Why don't you fire him, George?" asked his father.
+
+The younger man shrugged wearily.  "What's the use?  The next one would
+be no better."  He turned his attention to Evan.  "Your references were
+satisfactory," he said.  "You may consider yourself engaged.
+Thirty-five dollars was the sum we agreed on, I believe."
+
+"No, sir, forty dollars," said Evan firmly.
+
+"Ah, my mistake.  It's a great deal of money.  I hope you'll be worth
+it.  You will be at my father's call whenever he wants you."
+
+"I will come at nine o'clock every morning and stay until five.
+Sundays are my own of course."
+
+George Deaves turned to his father.  "On your part, if I pay out all
+this money, you must promise me that you will not go out except with
+this young man."
+
+The old man gave an ungracious assent.
+
+"I will report at nine to-morrow," Evan said.
+
+"But I want to go out now," the old man said like a child.
+
+"You've had quite enough outing for to-day, Papa," George Deaves said
+severely.
+
+Simeon Deaves said to Evan spitefully like a balked child: "Well, your
+wages won't begin until to-morrow, then.  To-day doesn't count."
+
+As Evan had his hand on the door he became aware that George Deaves was
+making signals to him to remain.  He lingered, wondering what was in
+the wind now.  George said to his father:
+
+"Lunch is ready.  You'd better go down."
+
+Forgetting all about Evan, the old man hastened out of the room with an
+expectant air.
+
+When he had gone George Deaves hemmed and hawed, gazed at the ceiling,
+made scratches on his desk pad and beat all around the bush.  The gist
+of it as finally extracted by Evan was something as follows:
+
+"I am not paying you all this money as a simple attendant for papa.  I
+could get two at the price.  The fact is papa has an unfortunate
+faculty for getting involved in street disputes.  On account of his
+prominence a certain publicity is attached to it.  Very distressing to
+the family.  I shall expect you to keep him out of such troubles.  You
+will have to be firm.  He is very obstinate.  But I authorise you to
+take any measures, any measures to save him from his own folly."
+
+Evan was tempted to ask: "Even to cracking him on the bean?"  But
+instead he said demurely: "I quite understand."
+
+
+Evan made his way home down the Avenue ruminating upon what had
+happened.  "In the words of Alfred it's a rummy joint," he said to
+himself.  "Father and son are a pair of birds.  What do I care?  I'm
+not going to let them get under my skin.  I'll give them their money's
+worth for a month or so, then bid them ta-ta and hike to the blessed
+country on my savings.  Meanwhile the affair has its humorous side.
+Mystery, too.  Like a play."
+
+If Evan had not recollected when he got to Thirtieth street that he
+needed certain small articles of apparel to make himself presentable in
+his new job, he would probably not have discovered that he was being
+followed.  But as he retraced his steps to the shops his attention was
+caught by a man's back, a narrow back clad in grey.  The owner of the
+back was looking in a shop window.  It was the little youth that Evan
+had seen before that morning.  The inference was that he had stopped
+merely to give Evan time to pass him.
+
+"By God! another snooper!" thought Evan.  "This one dogged our
+foot-steps all the way up-town from the fruit-stand.  Well, I'll give
+him a little run for his money."
+
+Entering one of the big stores Evan made his purchases.  He then
+hastened up one aisle and down another.  It could have been no easy
+task to follow him through the crowded store, but his little grey
+shadow never lost the scent.  In their gyrations Evan had an
+opportunity to get a good look at his tracker.  He was not like Alfred;
+he had a decent look, or rather he looked neither decent nor mean, but
+simply watchful.  An impenetrable mask was drawn over his face, out of
+which his eyes looked quietly, giving nothing away.  In years he was no
+more than a lad.
+
+"Not a very dangerous customer, anyway," thought Evan.
+
+Issuing from the store Evan jumped on a moving bus bound up-town.  He
+took a seat on top; the youth got in below.  At Forty-Second street
+Evan changed to a cross-town car; his pursuer rode on the platform.  At
+Third avenue he changed again--but without shaking the other.  Half an
+hour later making his way through Waverly place towards Washington
+Square, he was well aware that the grey figure was still behind him,
+though pride forbade him turning his head to see.
+
+Reaching the Square, Evan dropped on a bench and waited to see what
+would happen.  The slender figure passed him, eyes calmly bent ahead,
+and sat down on a bench fifty feet farther on.  Evan rose again, and
+retracing his steps, walked down the east side of the Square, and
+entering from the Fourth street corner, sat down again.  Once more the
+youth passed him and sat down beyond.  There were but few people
+around; it was hardly possible that he thought his movements had not
+been perceived by the man he was following.  "As a sleuth you're an
+amateur," thought Evan.  "You don't care whether I'm on to you or not.
+But I must say you have your nerve with you.  I'm considerably bigger
+than you."
+
+He got up and approached the other.  The stripling looked straight
+ahead, affecting to be unconscious of his coming.  Evan came to a stand
+before him and said abruptly:
+
+"What's the idea, kid?"
+
+The youth looked up startled, then quickly drew the mask over his face.
+"I don't understand you," he said.
+
+"Come off," said Evan mockingly.  "Do you think I'm a blind man not to
+notice the particular interest you are taking in my doings?  What's the
+idea?"
+
+The boy's eyes held to Evan's steadily; they were the eyes of a fanatic
+rather than a crook.  "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
+
+"You've been trailing me for the last two hours."
+
+"You're mistaken.  I never saw you before."
+
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "That's childish!  Do you mean to say
+you didn't pick me up in Troy street two hours ago, after that row with
+the fruit vendor?"
+
+"I don't know where Troy street is," was the answer.
+
+Evan changed his tactics.  Dropping into the seat beside the boy he
+said: "Look here, I'm a regular fellow.  Loosen up, kid.  Give me the
+dope.  What's it all about?"
+
+The other was silent.
+
+"God knows why anybody should take after me," Evan went on.  "I haven't
+committed any crime that I know of.  And I don't own a thing in the
+world anybody could covet.  Who hired you to trail me?"
+
+"Nobody," said the boy.  "You're mistaken."
+
+Evan began to get hot under the collar.  He got up.
+
+"By God----!" he began, clenching his fist.  Then he stopped, because
+his anger rang false to him.  In fact he couldn't work up a genuine
+anger against the strange-eyed boy who neither cringed before him nor
+defied him but simply looked.
+
+"It would be a shame to hit you," he went on, "you're too little.  But
+I warn you to keep away from me hereafter.  The next time I stumble
+over you I won't be so gentle, see?  You keep out of my way, that's
+all."
+
+He strode off across the Square in the direction of his own place.  He
+felt exasperated and helpless.  He was clearly the injured party, yet
+he had come off second best in an encounter with a mere child.  To make
+matters worse he was perfectly sure that the youth was still trotting
+after him like a little dog that refuses to be sent home.  He would not
+look around to see.  As he passed in the door of 45A he did look
+around, and there sure enough was his little sleuth across the street.
+Evan slammed the door and went up-stairs swearing.
+
+The next time he had occasion to leave the house, the youth had gone.
+He saw him no more--that day.  "Perhaps his game was to learn where I
+lived," thought Evan.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE NEW LODGER
+
+Evan's pal Charley Straiker occupied the adjoining room on the top
+floor of 45A and the two pooled their household arrangements.  It was
+Evan's week to cook the dinners, consequently when dinner was eaten his
+was the privilege of occupying the easy chair with the stuffing coming
+out and cock his feet on the cold stove while Evan washed up.
+
+During the afternoon Evan had painted and delivered a label that had
+been ordered of him, and had cleaned up generally as if in preparation
+for a journey.  But he had not yet said a word to Charley of the events
+of the morning.  As a matter of fact Evan had a prudent tongue, which
+Charley most decidedly had not, and it had occurred to Evan that he had
+better find out where he was at, before entrusting the tale to his
+garrulous partner.
+
+Evan drew at his pipe and gloomed at the wall.  Now that the mild
+excitement induced by the morning's events was over, a heaviness had
+returned to his spirit.  Meanwhile Charley ran on like a brook.
+
+Charley was a lean and sprawling youth with lank blonde hair, a long
+nose, and an incorrigible smile that spread to the furthest confines of
+his face.  To quote himself, he was a bum artist and a squarehead.  He
+took people at their own valuation and was consequently a universal
+favourite.
+
+"Carmen rented her back parlour this afternoon," he was saying--Carmen
+being their own moniker for their landlady Miss Carmelita Sisson.  "To
+a female.  What do you know about it?  Carmen hates 'em round the
+house.  Too nosey, she says.  But the room's been vacant since spring,
+and roomers in summertime are as scarce as snowballs.  So she succumbed.
+
+"Haven't seen her yet--I mean the new roomer, but my hope and my prayer
+is that she's a looker.  I think she is because Carmen sniffed.  Does
+our Carmen love the beautiful of her sex?  She does--not!  She's a
+singing-teacher, Madame Squallerina, Carmen called her, with the rare
+wit for which she is famed.  Already moved in with her piano and all.
+I heard her moving round, but the door was closed.  I'm afraid she's
+not going to be sociable.  Hell! the parlor floor always looks down on
+the attic!  That's a joke in case you don't know it; parlor floor
+looking down on the attic!
+
+"Wish I could think of a good excuse to knock on her door.  It 'ud be a
+stunt, wouldn't it, to raise an alarm of fire in this old tinder-box.
+Say, if there's ever a fire I bags the new roomer to save--that is
+until I get a look at her.  If it's over a hundred and fifty, I'll give
+the job to you, Strong-arm."
+
+This failed to draw a smile from Evan.
+
+"Say, you're as lively as the dressing-room of a defeated team.  Wot
+th' hell's the matter?  Come on out and see a movie.  I'll blow."
+
+"I'm off pictures," said Evan.  "Go on yourself.  Maybe you'll meet
+Squallerina on the stairs.  Take her."
+
+"You've said it," said Charley.  "I'm off."
+
+The gas made the room hot, and Evan turned it out.  The instant he did
+so, he became aware of the moonlight outside, and he went and rested
+his elbows on the sill in his customary attitude.
+
+The moon herself was behind the house, but the Square beneath his
+window was mantled in a tender bloom of light.  As every painter knows,
+moonlight is most beautiful when the moon herself is out of the
+picture.  By moonlight the dejected old trees of the Square were shapes
+of perfect beauty, the grass was overlaid with a delicate scarf of
+light; the very figures on the benches were as strangely still as if
+the moon had laid a spell on them.
+
+But all this beauty only had the effect of putting an edge on Evan's
+dissatisfaction.  The gnawing inside him was a hundred times worse by
+moonlight.  "What's the matter with me?" he thought querulously.  "I
+wished for something to happen.  Well, something did happen, but
+there's no fun in it.  There's no fun in anything any more.  Moonlight
+makes me hate myself.  Oh, damn moonlight anyhow!  It turns a man
+inside out!"
+
+He flung away from the window and planted himself in his chair with his
+back to it.
+
+Presently he became aware of a sound new in that house.  His door stood
+open for ventilation and it came floating up the old stairs.  He was
+aware of a vague pleasure before he localised the sound.  It was music;
+a piano--but not the usual rooming-house instrument; a piano in tune,
+softly played.  It drew him to the door and to the banisters outside, a
+poignant, haunting melody rippling in a minor treble, a melody that
+queerly sharpened the knife that stabbed him, yet drew him on
+irresistibly.
+
+He stole down the dark stairs, guiding himself with a hand on the rail,
+his eyes as abstracted as a sleep walker's.  The sounds were issuing
+from the back parlour of course.  The door was partly open--so she was
+not as unsociable as Charley had feared, or perhaps it was only that it
+was hot.  The room was dark inside.  Evan leaned against the banisters
+with bent head, scarcely daring to breathe for fear of breaking the
+lovely spell.
+
+The music came to an end and his spirit dropped back to earth.  He
+lingered, silently praying for it to resume and give him wings again.
+Instead, the door was suddenly opened wider and he saw the tenant of
+the room on the threshold.  All he could see of her was that she was a
+little woman with a lot of hair.  The moonlight shimmering through the
+edges of her hair made a halo around her head.  Moonlight made two
+square patches on the floor of the room.
+
+It was too late for him to escape.  "I--I beg your pardon," he
+stammered.  "I couldn't help listening."
+
+"Oh!" she said.  "Who are you?"
+
+"Evan Weir.  I live up-stairs."
+
+"Oh!" she said again, but with a different inflection.
+
+By her voice Evan knew she was young and adorable.  It was a
+low-pitched voice for so little a woman, low and thrilling; a
+mezzo-soprano.  His spirit went to meet that voice.
+
+For a moment or two they stood silently facing each other in the dark.
+Evan was not conscious of any embarrassment; he was too deeply moved.
+His conscious self was in abeyance.  Moonlight, music and woman had
+bewitched him.  He was in the grip of forces that played on him like an
+instrument.  But someone had to speak in the end.  It was Evan.
+
+"What was that you were playing?" he asked simply.
+
+"The moonlight sonata," she answered.
+
+"Of course!  That's why it sounded so exactly right.  Won't you play
+again--please?"
+
+She could not but have been aware how genuinely moved he was, but
+however it may have pleased her, womanlike, she sought to pull down the
+conversation to a safer plane.
+
+"Oh, I can't!" she said.  "I have unpacking to do.  I was coming out to
+get a match to light the gas.  I can't find any."
+
+"I'll light the gas for you," he said eagerly.  She stood aside to let
+him enter.  The simple act thrilled him anew; she was not afraid of
+him; her spirit greeted his.  When she turned around he could see her
+face etherealised in the moonlight, a lovely pale oval with two dark
+pools.  There was a subtle perfume in the room that made him a little
+dizzy.  In the act of striking a match he paused.
+
+"Oh, it's a shame!" he said involuntarily.
+
+"What is?" she asked.
+
+"To light the gas on such a night."
+
+She laughed.  It was a delicious little sound.  It seemed to bid him be
+at home there.  "One must!" she said.  "What would the landlady say?"
+
+But the tone of the denial encouraged him to insist.  "A little more
+music," he begged.  "I never heard anything so lovely."
+
+She went to the piano bench obediently.  "Sit down if you can find a
+place," she said over her shoulder.
+
+Instead he came and leaned his elbows on the edge of the piano case.
+Once more her fingers rippled over the keys, and another delicate minor
+air ravished his soul.  She did not seem to strike the keys, but to
+draw out the sounds with the magical waving of her pale hands.  She
+kept her head down, and he could not see into her face.  Nor could he
+be sure of the colour of her hair, but only that it was shining.
+
+In the middle of the piece the flying fingers began to falter.  No
+doubt the intense gaze he was bending on the top of her head confused
+her.  At any rate she broke off abruptly and jumped up.
+
+A cry broke from Evan: "Oh, please go on!"
+
+"I cannot!  I cannot!" she said.  "Light the gas."  As he still
+hesitated she stamped her foot with delightful imperiousness.  "You
+_must_ light the gas!"
+
+With a sigh he struck the match.  The gas flared up with a plop.  Their
+curious eyes flew to each other's faces.  Evan saw--well, he was not
+disappointed.  His instinct had rightly told him in the dark that she
+was adorable.  Not regularly beautiful; the most charming women are
+not.  There were fascinating contradictions.  The bright hair was
+gloriously red: the eyes too large for her face and brown,
+extraordinary eyes revealing a strong soul.  They were capable both of
+melting and of flashing, but especially of flashing; the soul was
+imperious.  As for the rest of her, the dear straight little nose was
+non-committal, the mouth fresh and childlike, with a slight, appealing
+droop in the corners.  In short, Nature the great experimentalist had
+in this case endowed a most sweet and kissable little body with the
+soul of a warrior.
+
+Evan could not have argued this all out, but his inner self perceived
+it.  His feelings as he gazed at her were mixed.  The dear little
+thing! the enchanting playmate; his arms fairly ached to gather her in.
+At the same time the deeper sight was whispering to him that this was
+no playmate for a man's idleness, but a soul as strong as his own--or
+stronger, to whom he must yield all or nothing, and he was afraid.
+
+As for her, she simply looked at him inscrutably.  He could not tell if
+she were pleased with what she saw.
+
+Finally self-consciousness returned to both with a rush.  They blushed
+and turned from each other.
+
+"You must go now," the girl said gently.
+
+He understood from her tone that she did not greatly desire him to go,
+but that it was up to him to find a reason for staying.
+
+"Let me help you get your things in order," he said eagerly.  "You
+can't shove trunks and furniture around."
+
+She hesitated, thinking perhaps of the censorious landlady.
+
+Evan made haste to follow up his advantage.  "This trunk.  Where will
+you have it put?"
+
+She gave in to him with the ghost of a shrug.  "It has nothing in it
+that I shall want," she said.  "Shove it as far back in the closet as
+it will go."
+
+In the closet her dresses were already hanging.  The delicate perfume
+he had already remarked made his head swim again.  As he bent down to
+shove the trunk back, her skirts brushed his cheek like a caress.  They
+were burning when he came out.  Perhaps she guessed; at any rate she
+quickly turned her head.
+
+"You don't want the sofa in the middle of the room," Evan said to
+create a diversion.
+
+"Put it with its back against the fireplace, please.  I shall not be
+having a fire for months to come.  That will leave the space by the
+window for my writing-table."
+
+While they discussed such safe matters as the disposal of the furniture
+they never ceased secretly to take stock of each other.  What people
+say to each other at any time only represents a fraction of the
+intercourse that is taking place.  Under cover of the most trifling
+conversation there may be exciting reconnaisances going on, scout-work
+and even pitched battles of the spirit.
+
+Evan could not make her out at all.  She seemed to single him out, to
+encourage him as far as a self-respecting woman might, yet an instinct
+warned him not to bank on it.  There was an unflattering impersonal
+quality in her encouragement; behind it one glimpsed formidable
+reserves.  She was wrapped in reticence like a mantle.  Evan had a
+feeling that if she had been really drawn to him she would not have
+been so nice to him.  On the other hand "coquette" did not fit her at
+all; not with those eyes.  Evan thought he knew a coquette when he saw
+one; their blandishments were not such as hers.
+
+So for a while all went swimmingly, and the moments flew.  Evan managed
+to make the business of arranging the furniture last out the greater
+part of the evening.  To save her face she bade him go at intervals,
+but he always contrived to find an excuse to delay his departure.
+
+There was no reticence in Evan.  He loved her at sight and his instinct
+was to open his heart.  Of course he was not quite guileless; the
+portrait of himself that he drew for her was not exactly an
+unflattering one, but it was a pretty honest one under the
+circumstances.  He was careful not to bore her, and to grace his tale
+with humour.
+
+Oddly enough the more of himself that he offered her, the less pleased
+she seemed to be.  As the evening wore on she developed a tartness that
+was inexplicable to Evan.  He cast back in his mind in vain to discover
+the cause of his offense.  Yet she would not let him stop talking about
+himself either, but drew him on with many questions, interested in his
+tale it would seem, merely for the sake of making sarcastic comments.
+As for talking about herself, nothing would induce her to do so.
+
+It was a more unamiable side of her character that she revealed, but
+the enamoured Evan, even while she flouted him, forgave her.
+"Something is the matter," he said to himself.  "This is not her true
+self."  He told her of the black dog that had been on his back all day.
+
+"But now I'm cured," he said, looking at her full.
+
+She chose to ignore the implication.
+
+Evan began leading up to a desire that he had not yet dared to express.
+"My partner said you were a singer," he said.
+
+"Have you been discussing me?" she said with an affronted air.
+
+"Why, yes.  Nothing so exciting as your coming ever happened in this
+old house."
+
+"I teach singing," she said carelessly.
+
+"Won't you sing me a song?"
+
+She decisively shook her head.  "Not to-night."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"Dozens of reasons.  One is enough; I don't feel like it."
+
+"To-morrow night, then?"
+
+"Aren't you taking a good deal for granted?"
+
+"But you said not to-night.  That suggests another night."
+
+"Oh, one doesn't weigh every word."
+
+"Well, I'll be listening out to-morrow night on the chance."
+
+For some reason this annoyed her excessively.  A bright little spot
+appeared on each cheek-bone.  "Then you'll force me to keep silent
+however I feel."
+
+"Why--what's the matter?" said Evan blankly.
+
+"You imply that if I happen to sing you will regard it as an invitation
+to come down here."
+
+"Why, I never thought of such a thing," he said in dismay.
+
+His honesty was so unquestionable that she got angry all over again,
+because she had made the mistake of imputing such a thought to him.
+Indeed a disinterested observer could not but have seen that some
+perverse little imp was playing the devil with this charming girl.
+Angry at him or angry at herself--or both, she had ceased to be
+mistress of the situation and her forces were thrown into confusion.
+Whatever she said, it instantly occurred to her that it was the wrong
+thing to say.
+
+"You're spoiled like all the rest," she said.  "A woman cannot be
+decently civil to you, but you immediately begin to presume upon it."
+This was said with a smile that was supposed to be tolerant, but she
+was angry clear through, and of course it showed.
+
+It was all a mystery to Evan.  With a hand on the table he had just
+moved, he was staring down at it as if he had discovered something of
+absorbing interest in the grain of the wood.  He knew she was
+unreasonable, but he did not blame her; he was merely trying to think
+how to accommodate himself to her unreasonableness; he was pretty sure
+that whatever he might say would only make matters worse, so he kept
+silent.
+
+But no red-haired woman can endure silences either.  "If you've nothing
+further to say you'd better go," she said at last.
+
+"I was wondering what I had done to offend you," said Evan.
+
+She laughed, but it had not a mirthful sound.  "How funny you are!
+Strangers don't quarrel.  They've nothing to quarrel about!"
+
+"But you are angry."
+
+"Nonsense!" she said languidly.  "I'm very much obliged to you for your
+help.  But there's nothing else you can do."
+
+"Meaning I'd better beat it."
+
+She was magnificently silent.
+
+"I'm going.  But it's hard to go, not knowing what's the matter."
+
+She had the air of one dealing with a trying child.  "How often must I
+tell you that there's nothing in the world the matter?"
+
+"You are not the same as you were when I came."
+
+For some reason this flicked her on the raw.  She flushed.  She stamped
+her foot.  "You're--you're impossible!" she cried.  "_Will_ you go!"
+
+As Evan backed out she all but shut the door in his face.  How
+astonished would he have been could he have seen through the door how
+she flung herself face down on the sofa and wept.  That was the softer
+girlish part of her.  But not for long.  She sat up and digging her
+chin into her palm thought long and hard.  That was the warrior.
+
+"I will not give in to him--and spoil everything," she whispered.  "I
+will not!"
+
+Meanwhile, out in the dark hall Evan was leaning against the banisters
+trying to puzzle out what had happened.  At first only a blank dismay
+faced him.  Women were inexplicable.  But presently a slow smile began
+to spread across his face.  He said to himself:
+
+"Well, whatever it is, she's not exactly indifferent to me.  I've made
+an impression.  That's something for the first meeting.  And she's in
+the house.  And to-morrow's another night!"
+
+He went up-stairs with a better heart.
+
+He went straight to his window-sill and cooled his hot cheeks in the
+night air.  The old trees still stood sentry duty in the moonlight, the
+people sat still as dolls left out all night, the noises of the town
+were reduced to a pleasant murmur.
+
+"God! what a good old world it is!" thought Evan, unconscious of his
+perfect inconsistency.  "How good it is to be young and alive; to see;
+to feel; to laugh; to love; to know things!  I guess I'm a little drunk
+on it now, but I want more, more!  I shall never have my fill!"
+
+As he lay in bed it suddenly occurred to him that he was head over
+heels in love with a woman whose name he did not know.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE HAPPY LITTLE FAMILY
+
+At the Deaves mansion next morning it was Alfred who opened the massive
+steel grill to admit Evan.  The second man favoured him with a sly wink.
+
+"Cheese it, kid," he murmured out of the corner of his mouth.  "They're
+layin' for you."
+
+This meant nothing to Evan.
+
+In the centre of the house where the hall opened up he found George
+Deaves walking up and down with his head bowed and his hands clasped
+behind his back, the very picture of a harassed man of affairs.  There
+was a histrionic quality in all young Deaves' attitudes.  The old man
+in slippers was hunched in a pseudo-mediaeval chair, while a fat
+servant, Hilton, the butler Evan guessed, was standing at the foot of
+the stairs.  Another man in chauffeur's livery was beside him.
+
+It all had the look of a set scene, and from the way their faces
+changed at the sight of him, the inference was inescapable that it had
+been set for Evan.  He wondered greatly what it was all about, but felt
+no particular uneasiness.
+
+George Deaves bent a venomous glance on him.  "Follow me," he said
+hollowly.
+
+The whole procession wended its way up the winding, shallow stairs;
+first George Deaves, grasping the hand rail and planting his feet
+virtuously, then old Deaves, his heels coming out of his slippers at
+every step, then Evan, then the three servants.  Evan heard them
+sniggering behind him.
+
+At the door of the library George Deaves said: "You come in, Papa.
+Hilton, Wilson and Alfred, you wait outside in case I call you."
+
+"Does he expect me to assault him?" thought Evan.
+
+In the library young Deaves flung himself back in his chair, and
+placing the tips of his fingers together said pompously: "Now, my man,
+I advise you to tell the truth."
+
+Evan began to get hot.  "That is my custom," he said quietly.
+
+Notwithstanding his pompous air the younger Deaves was visibly nervous;
+he had not his father's force of character.  "It is useless for you to
+feign innocence," he said.
+
+"I don't know what you're talking about," said Evan.
+
+Deaves said: "I may as well let you know I have a policeman waiting
+down-stairs."
+
+There is no man however sure of himself that would not be to some
+degree disconcerted by this announcement.  Evan changed colour.
+Deaves, quick to notice it, smiled disagreeably, and Evan's cheeks grew
+hot indeed.
+
+"Have him up-stairs," said Evan.  "I don't know what this flummery is
+all about.  Hand me over to the police and maybe I'll find out."
+
+"Give me a specimen of your handwriting," said Deaves, shoving writing
+materials towards him.
+
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "I have no reason to be ashamed of it."
+
+"Write five thousand dollars, first in figures, then spelled out."
+
+Evan did so, and shoved the paper back.  Deaves compared it with a
+letter which lay in front of him, the old man peering over his shoulder.
+
+"Nothing like," the latter said disappointed.
+
+"That doesn't prove anything!" snapped the son.  "I didn't suppose that
+he worked this single-handed.  He has confederates."
+
+Evan's momentary discomfiture had subsided.  The situation was becoming
+too absurd.  Was he accused of forgery or blackmail?  He began to grin.
+
+"You said you were an artist," said George Deaves with a sapient air.
+"Can you prove it?"
+
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "If you'll come to my studio.  There are
+dozens of my canvases there."
+
+"But how would I know you painted them?"
+
+"Oh, I'll do you one while you wait."
+
+"Facetiousness won't do you any good," said Deaves severely.  "This is
+a serious matter.  Please explain how you came to be in that little
+obscure street where you met Papa yesterday?"
+
+"There is no explanation," said Evan.  "I was just walking about."
+
+The young man sneered.  He tossed over the letter that lay before him.
+"Read that," he said.
+
+Evan applied himself to it with no little curiosity.  Meanwhile he was
+aware that the two were watching him like lynxes.  The letter was
+written in a neatly-formed, highly characteristic hand on a sheet of
+cheap note-paper without any distinguishing marks.  Evan read:
+
+
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Sir:
+
+We take pleasure in enclosing copy of a humorous little story that has
+been prepared for the press.  None will appreciate it better than you
+and 'Poppa' we are sure.  If you think it is too good to be offered to
+the public it will cost you five thousand dollars for the exclusive
+rights, including motion pictures and dramatic.  But unless we hear
+from you before the day is out we will take it that you don't want to
+buy, and it will be offered to the _Clarion_ for to-morrow's edition.
+The _Clarion_ is always delighted to get hold of these human interest
+tales.  Copies will be mailed to everybody in the social register, and
+especially to Mrs. George Deaves.
+
+But if you want to reserve the fun to yourself bring five
+one-thousand-dollar bills to the reading-room of the New York Public
+Library this morning.  Call for Lockhart's History of the Crimean War
+in two folio volumes and insert the bills in volume one at the
+following pages: 19, 69, 119, 169, 219.  Then return the books to the
+desk.
+
+With kindest regards,
+
+Yours very sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+A noiseless whistle escaped from Evan's lips; his eyes were bright.
+For the moment he forgot that he was the accused.  His sole feeling was
+one of the keenest curiosity.  A fascinating mystery was suggested.
+The impudent letter was like a challenge.
+
+"May I see the enclosure?" he asked.
+
+"No," said Deaves stiffly.
+
+Evan shrugged.  "What's the nature of it?"
+
+"It's a would-be humorous account of the events in that little street
+down-town."
+
+"Is it a true story?"
+
+Young Deaves turned to his elder.  "Is it true, Papa?"
+
+"In a way it's true," was the snarling reply.  "From a certain point of
+view.  But it's blackguardly just the same."
+
+Evan stroked his lip to hide a smile.  "What makes you think I wrote
+it?" he asked.
+
+"Nobody else could have known all the circumstances."
+
+"But we were watched and followed every step of the way."
+
+"So you say."
+
+"Why, you're surrounded by spies.  I expect every servant in the house
+is in the pay of this gang.  I hadn't been in the house half an hour
+before they approached me."
+
+"What did I tell you?" the old man snarled to his son.  "Why don't you
+fire them?"
+
+"How many times have I fired them?  What good did it do?  As fast as we
+get a new lot they're corrupted from the outside."
+
+"Then it's been going on for some time," said Evan.  "I never had any
+connection with Mr. Deaves until yesterday."
+
+"How do we know that?"
+
+"That's why you were so eager to get a job here," added the old man.
+"To have a better chance of spying on me."
+
+"Never thought of such a thing.  The offer came from you."
+
+"You paid your own fare on the trolley-car, didn't you?  Mine, too!"
+
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "Well, if that's an incriminating
+circumstance I'm guilty!" he said.
+
+"Don't be a fool, Papa," muttered George Deaves.
+
+Evan went on: "If I was a member of the gang would I show my hand so
+clearly?  Would I betray the sources of my information?  I tell you
+Alfred told me yesterday there was good money to be made on the side in
+this house."
+
+"Why didn't you tell me that yesterday?" demanded Deaves.
+
+"I wanted to find out what was up first.  I know now."
+
+George Deaves began to look impressed.
+
+Evan made haste to follow up his advantage.  "Have up the policeman.  I
+can tell him no more than I've told you.  But the whole affair must be
+well aired, I suppose."
+
+George Deaves winced.  He and his father exchanged a glance.  "There's
+no hurry," he said.  "We may have been mistaken.  At any rate we don't
+want any unnecessary publicity."
+
+"You don't mean to say you're going to _pay_!" cried Evan involuntarily.
+
+"Wouldn't you advise it?" asked the old man craftily.
+
+"No!  Fight!  Call their bluff!  The nervy blackguards!  Oh, to give up
+to them would be too tame!"
+
+"I guess he isn't one of them, George," Simeon Deaves said dryly.
+
+George apparently agreed with him, though he made no direct
+acknowledgment.
+
+Evan struck while the iron was hot.  "Look here, here's a proposition
+for you.  This thing interests me a whole lot.  That letter was written
+by a damn clever crook, humorous too.  I'd like to match my wits
+against his.  Let me have a try at running them down.  Won't cost you a
+cent more than my salary, and you won't have to let in any outsiders on
+the affair.  Of course I've had no experience, but if I fail you'll be
+no worse off than you are now.  If you go to the police it will be the
+newspaper sensation of the year."
+
+Father and son looked at each other again.  Evan had given them two
+potent reasons for listening to his proposal.  But before they had time
+to express themselves there was an interruption.
+
+A lady swept into the room like a northwest gale, one whose attire put
+the rose and the lily to shame; comely in her own person too after a
+somewhat hard and glassy style.  Evan guessed this was Mrs. George
+Deaves, otherwise Maud.  At the sight of her stormy brows father and
+son looked like two schoolboys caught in the act.
+
+"What's going on?" she peremptorily demanded.  "What are all the men
+servants waiting in the hall for?"
+
+"Nothing, my dear," said George Deaves in a casual tone belied by his
+anxious eye.  "They are merely waiting for their orders."
+
+"My maid told me there was a policeman sitting in the housekeeper's
+room."
+
+"Must be a friend of Mrs. Liffey's," her husband said with feeble
+humour.
+
+"Friend nothing!" was the contemptuous reply.  She marched up to her
+father-in-law, who silently snarled and gave ground like a cat.
+"You've been up to your old tricks!" she cried.  "Another disgraceful
+street scene!  I see it in both your faces.  Another blackmailing
+letter, I suppose!"
+
+Young Deaves unobtrusively sought to turn over the letter on his desk,
+but she caught the movement out of the tail of her eye, and, whirling
+round, snatched it up.
+
+"Let me see that!"
+
+Her husband looked as helpless as a sheep.  He had lost his pomposity.
+"Happy little family!" thought Evan.
+
+Having read it, she threw back her head and laughed in bitter chagrin.
+"I thought so!" she cried.  "The third time this summer!  When is this
+going to end?  Where's the story?"
+
+"My dear, what's the use?" said her husband tremblingly.  "It would
+only anger you."
+
+"Be quiet!" she cried.  "I will see it.  Where is it?"  Her eye picked
+it out from among the papers on his desk, and she pounced on it.  More
+harsh and bitter laughter accompanied the reading of it.
+
+"Bought a new suit at an immigrant outfitters!  I see he has it on.
+Got into a row with a fruit-vendor over a penny change.  Rescued by a
+young man and taken home.  Made his rescuer pay the fares on the
+trolley.  Oh, this is rich, rich!" she cried, trembling with anger.
+"This is the best story yet.  This will be meat and drink to the
+populace!  And this is what they're going to send to the _Social
+Register_, to everybody I know.  It's enough to make me wish I'd died
+before I took the name of Deaves!"
+
+"My dear, we are not alone!" cried George Deaves in a panic.
+
+She threw an indifferent glance at Evan.  She thought he was a servant,
+and she was of that arrogant type which acts as if servants were
+something less than human.  "Do you think anything can be hidden in
+this house?" she said.  "The men-servants are listening at the door."
+
+George Deaves had forgotten about them.  He hastened to the door and
+sent them downstairs.
+
+Mrs. Deaves addressed her father-in-law.  "Well, if you can't control
+your avaricious tendencies you'll have to pay," she said.  "Send to the
+bank and get the money so George can take it to them."
+
+"Pay!  Pay!  Pay!  That's all anybody asks of me!" cried the old man in
+a passion.  "Five thousand dollars!  None of you know what that means.
+Money to you is like the winds of Heaven that come and go.  But _I_
+know what five thousand dollars is.  For I have saved it up dollar by
+dollar at the cost of my sweat and self-denial.  And will I give it up
+to these scoundrels, these sewer rats who threaten me?  No!  I'd as
+lief give them my blood!"
+
+Mrs. Deaves' face turned crimson.  "You'll pay!" she cried, "or I leave
+this house!"
+
+"And where will you go?" sneered the old man.  "Back to share your
+father's genteel poverty?"
+
+"Who made him poor?" she cried.  "Who robbed him?"
+
+George Deaves, with the tail of his eye on Evan, was sweating with
+terror.  "Maud, I beg of you--!" he whispered.
+
+It did seem to occur to her then that she had gone too far.  She glared
+at Evan as if defying him to judge her, and marching up to him said
+bluntly: "Who are you?"  This woman was magnificent in her insolence if
+in nothing else.
+
+Evan coolly met her eye.  "I'm the young man who paid the fares," he
+said, smiling.
+
+She scowled at him.  Clearly she had no humour.
+
+Evan explained further: "I have been engaged to accompany Mr. Deaves on
+his walks hereafter."
+
+"Oh, locking the stable door after the horse is stolen," she sneered.
+"He needs a keeper."  She indicated the typewritten sheets.  "Then you
+were present at this affair?"
+
+"I was."
+
+"Is this story true?"
+
+"I have not seen it."
+
+She handed him the pages.  Evan skimmed over it hastily.  Since the
+incidents have already been related, the opening paragraph will be
+sufficient to convey the style of the whole:
+
+
+"Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Simeon Deaves, is known as a great dandy
+among his friends.  He has always refused to divulge the identity of
+the creator of the svelte garments that grace his manly form, but
+yesterday the secret came out.  Not in the fashionable purlieus of
+Fifth Avenue or Madison does Mr. Deaves' tailor hang out his sign.  No;
+it is in Greenwich Street near the Battery where the unwary immigrant
+makes his first acquaintance with American business methods, that Mr.
+Deaves buys his clothes.  He was seen to buy an elegant mustard
+coloured suit there yesterday for $4.49.  Of course not everybody could
+afford this sum, but the goods were worth it.  Take it from us,
+high-water pants will be all the rage the coming Fall."
+
+
+And so on.  And so on.  Evan bit his lip to keep from smiling, and
+handed the sheets back.  It was easy to understand how the story
+affected these people like salt in a wound.
+
+"Is it true?" Mrs. Deaves again demanded of Evan.
+
+"The facts are true so far as I know," he replied.  "Of course, the
+humour was supplied by the author."
+
+"This young man has offered to help us," began George Deaves.
+
+The remark was unfortunate; Mrs. Deaves exploded again.  "I won't have
+any bungling amateur detective work here!" she cried.  "There's too
+much at stake.  If the story is true there's only one thing to be done,
+pay!"  She addressed the old man.  "You understand; you have disgraced
+us, and you shall pay."
+
+But Simeon Deaves' dander was up and he refused to be intimidated.
+"What for?" he snarled.  "I stand by my own acts.  I ain't ashamed of
+them.  If people don't like it they can lump it.  What do I care what
+they say about me?  They're only envious.  They'd give their eyes to
+have what I've got.  Let them publish their story.  Who's hurt by it?
+Nobody but your feelings.  Am I going to pay through the nose to soothe
+your feelings?  Not five thousand dollars' worth!  I'll be damned if
+I'll pay!"
+
+He went out through the smaller door, slamming it behind him.
+
+Mrs. Deaves turned hard inimical eyes on her husband.  "Then it's up to
+you to find the money," she said.
+
+"But, my dear," he whined, "you know my circumstances.  How can I?
+Where?  It is out of the question!"
+
+"I don't care where you get it; you get it," she returned callously.
+"If that story is published I leave this house.  You know what that
+means."
+
+She marched out by the main door.
+
+Evan could not but feel for the poor, crushed, flabby creature at the
+desk.  In Evan's own phrase George got it coming _and_ going.  He was
+like a pricked bladder; all his pomposity had escaped like gas.
+
+"What am I to do?" he murmured.
+
+"Get the money together," said Evan, "and pay it over according to
+their orders.  Then let me see if I can't get it back again--and get
+them, too."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE LITTLE FELLOW IN GREY
+
+It turned out that George Deaves could lay his hands on the money,
+though perhaps it was not easy for him to do so.  George's principal
+fortune consisted in being the son of his father; he could get almost
+unlimited credit on the strength of that connection.  When Simeon
+Deaves saw that he was determined to pay the money to the blackmailers,
+he urged him to accept Evan's offer to run them down, and in the end,
+notwithstanding his terror of Maud Deaves, George gave in.  Father and
+son, who had begun the day by accusing Evan of the crime, ended by
+depending on Evan to run down the criminals.
+
+At ten o'clock George Deaves and Evan set out for the bank.  It was not
+far and they proceeded on foot down the Avenue.  Evan kept his eyes
+open about him, and before they had gone more than a block or two he
+spotted the well-remembered little figure in the grey suit still
+dogging their footsteps.  Drawing George Deaves up to a shop window as
+if to show him something inside, he called his attention to the
+stripling with the pale and watchful face.  Deaves shivered.
+
+"Do you suppose he means us personal harm?" he said.
+
+Evan smiled to himself, seeing the size of their enemy.  "Well, I
+hardly think so," he said.  "At least not as long as we seem disposed
+to pay up."
+
+Deaves was received at the bank with extreme deference.  He was not
+obliged to apply at the teller's window like a common customer, but was
+shown directly into the manager's office which looked on the pavement
+of the Avenue.  A fine-meshed screen protected the occupants of the
+room from the vulgar gaze of the populace, but those inside could see
+out, and as soon as they entered the room Evan discovered the youth in
+the grey suit hanging about the door of the bank, unaware of the
+nearness of his victims.
+
+Deaves introduced Evan to the manager as "My father's secretary."  "I'm
+coming up in the world," thought Evan.  Five crisp one-thousand-dollar
+bills were produced, and Evan perceived strong curiosity in the bank
+manager's eye.  It had been agreed between Evan and Deaves that this
+man was to be taken partly into their confidence, but Deaves now seemed
+disposed to balk at it, and Evan ventured to take matters into his own
+hands.
+
+"You were going to tell this gentleman what the money was for."
+
+"Yes, yes, of course," said Deaves nervously.  "You will of course
+appreciate the necessity of absolute secrecy, sir."
+
+"That is part of my business," said the manager.
+
+But Deaves still boggled at the horrid word, and it was Evan who said:
+"Somebody is trying to blackmail Mr. Deaves."
+
+"Good gracious!" cried the horrified manager.  "Mr. Simeon Deaves or
+Mr. George Deaves?"
+
+"Either," said Evan dryly.  "They don't care as long as they get the
+money."
+
+"Have you notified the police?"
+
+"Not yet.  We're going to take a try first at catching them ourselves.
+There is one of them outside, the thin youth in the grey suit."
+
+The manager half arose from his chair.  "What!  So close!  Perhaps he's
+armed!"
+
+"He can't see us."
+
+The manager sank back only partly reassured.  "Can I be of any
+assistance?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," said Evan.  "I want to mark these bills in your presence."
+Deaves handed them over, and the manager supplied a blue pencil.  "See!
+A tiny dot following the serial number in each case.  In case they get
+the money, and get away in spite of me, will you please see that all
+the banks in town are supplied with the numbers of these bills, and are
+instructed to have anyone arrested who presents them to be changed?"
+
+"I certainly will," said the manager, making a note of the numbers.
+
+They left a much startled banker peering through his window-screen.
+
+The public library was but a few blocks from the bank.  George Deaves
+wished to take a taxicab, but Evan advised against it.  Their little
+grey shadow followed them to the door of the great building but did not
+enter.  Having satisfied themselves of this, they got in touch with one
+of the assistant librarians, and put their case up to him.
+
+The magic name of Deaves acted like a talisman.  The plan was carefully
+laid.  George Deaves proceeded to the reading-room and, calling for
+Lockhart's "History of the Crimean War," retired to a corner and placed
+the bills between the leaves as specified.  The books were then
+returned to the desk, and Deaves with the connivance of the librarian
+was spirited out of the building by the delivery entrance.  This was to
+prevent the watcher outside from remarking that, whereas two entered,
+only one came out.  When neither returned he would naturally suppose
+that both had slipped past him.
+
+Meanwhile Evan waited in the librarian's private office, arrangements
+having been made to notify him by phone when the books were called for
+again.  They would hold up the books at the delivery desk long enough
+to allow Evan to reach the reading-room.  It was a long wait.  The
+librarian offered him books, but he could not apply his mind.
+
+"You're sure there's no chance of a slip-up among so many clerks?" he
+said anxiously.  "One may forget."
+
+"We're not trusting to their memories.  The librarian in charge of
+delivery is a friend of mine.  Lockhart's History is in his desk, and
+in its place on the shelf is pinned a ticket, 'apply to the librarian.'"
+
+At last the message came over the phone: "Lockhart's 'History of the
+Crimean War' called for from seat 433."
+
+Evan's heart accelerated its pace a little.  "Whereabouts in the room
+is that seat?"
+
+"The last table in the south end on the right-hand side."
+
+"Ha!  He wants to get in the corner!  Can I get there without marching
+down the whole length of the room?"
+
+"Yes, you can approach from the other side through the American History
+room."
+
+Hastening through various corridors of the vast building, they found
+themselves among the American History collections gathered in the
+smaller room adjoining the great hall on the south.  This room was
+completely lined with books, and lighted by a skylight.  It
+communicated with the main reading-room by an arched opening.
+
+Taking care not to show themselves in this opening, the librarian
+described to Evan the exact location of seat 433 outside, and pointed
+out a spot where Evan could command a view of seat 433 through the
+archway.  Evan proceeded to the spot, and, taking down a book at
+random, affected to be lost in studying its pages.  Then, half turning
+and letting his eyes rise carelessly, he glanced into the great room.
+
+It took him an instant or two to focus his eyes.  The line of tables
+seemed endless, the hundreds of figures reading, scribbling or snoozing
+seemed indistinguishable from one another.  Then Evan remembered the
+librarian had said: "433 is the fourth seat from the passageway between
+the tables; the person sitting there will have his back to you."
+Evan's eyes found the spot: he saw a familiar pair of thin, high
+shoulders under a grey coat.
+
+His first feeling was one of surprise.  Somehow he had not expected one
+so young and insignificant to be given so important a part in the game.
+For a moment he wondered if the strange-eyed, wary little youth could
+be their sole antagonist.  That would indeed be a humorous situation.
+But he did not believe it possible.  Certainly the letter had been
+written by one older and more experienced.
+
+Evan remained where he was, making believe to be absorbed in his book,
+and letting his eyes rise from time to time as if in contemplation.  He
+was about sixty feet from the youth in an oblique line.  Once the
+little fellow looked around, but Evan saw the beginning of the movement
+and was deep in study in plenty of time.  The sober background of
+filled bookshelves afforded Evan good protective colouring.  Across the
+smaller room the librarian was likewise affecting to be reading, while
+he nervously watched Evan and awaited the outcome.
+
+Finally Evan perceived the library attendant coming down the long room
+bearing the two big volumes in their faded purple calf binding.  He
+speculated whimsically on what a sensation would be caused should he
+drop one and a thousand-dollar bill flutter out.  But library
+attendants know better than to drop books.
+
+He laid the books on the table beside the youth, and went back.  The
+grey-clad one, with another casual, sharp glance around him, took up
+volume one, the thicker of the two, and, slouching down in his chair,
+stood the tall, open book on his lap in such a way that no one either
+in front or behind him could see exactly what he was doing.  "Not badly
+managed," thought Evan.  Evan could only guess that he was turning to
+the specified pages and slipping out the bills.  There was one action
+that Evan recognised from the movement of the shoulders.  He had
+slipped his hand in his inner breast pocket.
+
+"He's got them now," thought Evan.
+
+Sure enough the youth presently let the book fall on the table and
+wiped his face with his handkerchief.
+
+"I bet his little heart is beating," thought Evan.  Evan's was.
+
+The youth wasted no further time in making believe to read his books.
+Letting them lie on the table he got up and started to walk out at a
+leisurely pace.  Evan followed him, knowing of course that the first
+time the youth turned his head he must discover him, but it did not
+matter much now.  Their footsteps fell noiselessly on the thick rubber
+matting of the reading-room.
+
+Half-way down the great room the youth did turn, and saw Evan behind
+him.  A spasm passed over the thin little face and his teeth showed
+momentarily.  One could fancy how sharply he caught his breath.  He
+increased his pace a little, but by no means ran out of the room.  He
+had his nerves under pretty good control.  Evan made no effort to
+overtake him in the reading-room.  He hated to make an uproar there.
+
+The youth went soberly down the two flights of the great stairway with
+Evan as soberly at his heels.  He did not look around again.  To have
+refrained from doing so indicated no little strength of will.  Crossing
+the entrance hall, they passed out the main entrance and down the
+sweeping steps to Fifth Avenue.
+
+"He'll make a break to escape in the crowd," thought Evan.
+
+On the little esplanade between the two flights of steps Evan sprang
+across the space that separated them and laid a heavy hand on the
+youth's shoulder.
+
+He shrank away with a terrified gasp.  "What do you want?" he demanded.
+
+"You come with me," said Evan, sternly.
+
+"I won't!  You've no right to lay hands on me!"
+
+"You come along," said Evan, "or I'll call the policeman yonder."
+
+He marched him down the remaining steps.  The boy offered no
+resistance.  For that matter he would have stood but a small chance
+against the muscular Evan.  The passers-by began to stop and stare and
+shove and ask what was the matter.
+
+Evan greatly desired to avoid a street disturbance.  Steering his
+captive across the pavement to the curb, he hailed the first passing
+taxicab and bundled the unresisting youth inside.  In low tones he
+ordered the chauffeur to drive to the nearest police station.  It was
+all over in half a minute.  They left the curiosity seekers goggling
+from the pavement.
+
+During the drive the two exchanged no word.  The youth shrank back in
+his corner, staring straight ahead of him out of his pale and
+impenetrable mask.  Occasionally he moistened his lips.  Clearly he was
+terrified, but a determined spirit held him to the line he had chosen.
+
+Evan made no attempt to search him for the money, for he wished to have
+a witness present when the marked bills were taken from him.  But he
+watched him throughout with lynx eyes, prepared to forestall any
+attempt to make away with the bills.
+
+Arriving at the station house the chauffeur, full of curiosity, was for
+helping Evan take his prisoner in.  But Evan paid him off and told him
+he needn't wait.  The man lingered, joining the little crowd that
+always hangs around the station house steps when a prisoner is brought
+in.
+
+By this time the youth seemed to have recovered from the worst of his
+fears.  He went up the steps quite willingly in front of Evan.  Within,
+a bored and lordly police lieutenant sat enthroned at his high desk.
+Evan, who had been holding himself in all this time, burst out:
+
+"This man is a blackmailer.  I want you to search him.  You'll find the
+money he extorted in the inside breast pocket of his coat.  The bills
+are marked."
+
+The Lieutenant declined to become excited.  Such dramatic entrances
+were part of his daily routine.  "Hold on a minute," he said, opening
+his book.  "Proceed in order."  He addressed the prisoner: "What is
+your name?"
+
+"I decline to give it," said the youth--his voice was breathless but
+determined still.  "I have done nothing wrong.  This man suddenly
+seized me on the street.  I think he's crazy.  Search me.  If you find
+anything, then let him make a charge."
+
+The Lieutenant spoke to a patrolman across the room: "Ratigan, search
+him."
+
+The youth spread his arms wide to facilitate the search.  Evan, taken
+aback by his assurance, waited the result anxiously.  The patrolman
+thrust his hand in his breast pocket.
+
+"Nothing here," he said indifferently.
+
+Evan's heart sank.  "Are you sure?" he said.
+
+"Look for yourself if you want."
+
+"Search him thoroughly," commanded the Lieutenant.
+
+But Evan already guessed that he had been tricked.
+
+No money was found except a dollar bill and some change.
+
+"Is this it?" asked the patrolman solemnly.
+
+The youth smiled.
+
+Evan waved it away.
+
+"Well, what are the circumstances?" asked the Lieutenant.  "Will you
+make a charge?"
+
+"I've been fooled!" Evan said bitterly.  Suddenly a light broke on him;
+he struck his forehead.  "I see it now!  This man's job was simply to
+lead me away while another came and got the money!"
+
+"Well, will you make a charge?"
+
+Evan quickly reflected.  There was not much use airing the case in
+court if the principal evidence was gone.  "Let him go," he said.
+"He's not the one I want."
+
+Without more ado Evan hastened out.  The youth presumably was allowed
+to follow.  The taxicab was at the curb.  Evan flung himself in.
+
+"Back to the library!" he ordered.
+
+He sought out his friend the librarian.  A hasty investigation showed
+that Lockhart's History had been collected in due course from the table
+and returned to the shelves.  It had not been called for since.  The
+money was gone, of course.
+
+"His confederate was waiting there in the reading-room, perhaps at the
+same table," Evan said gloomily.  "As soon as I was out of the way he
+got the money.  What a fool I was!"
+
+"But how could you have foreseen that?" said the librarian.
+
+Evan then had the pleasant task of returning to the Deaves house and
+telling them what had happened.  Father and son were waiting for him in
+the library.  They instantly saw by his face that things had not gone
+well, and each snarled according to his nature.  When he heard that the
+money was gone the old man broke into piteous lamentations.
+
+"Five thousand dollars!  Five thousand dollars!  All that money!  Flung
+to the rats of the city to gnaw!"
+
+"What's the matter with you?" snapped his son.  "It was my money."
+
+"I earned it, didn't I?  You have nothing but what I gave you!"
+
+"We may get them yet through the banks," suggested Evan.
+
+"Yah!  We'll never get them now!"
+
+But however they might quarrel with each other, father and son united
+in blaming Evan.
+
+"Look at him!" cried the old man, beside himself.  "He knows where the
+money's gone!  Of course he didn't catch them.  I believe he engineered
+the whole thing!"
+
+"Be quiet, Papa," said George Deaves in a panic.  He turned to Evan
+with an anxiety almost obsequious.  "Don't mind him," he said.  "He's
+excited.  You'd better go now.  But I'll see you later."
+
+Evan was not deceived.  It was clear that George no less than his
+father believed that he was a party to the crime, but was afraid to say
+so outright.
+
+"I live at 45A South Washington Square," he said curtly.  "You'll find
+me there any time you want me."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP
+
+Charley Straiker came in to dinner that night in a highly effervescent
+state.  This was not at all unusual.
+
+"Listen, Ev!" he cried.  "I've seen her!  Oh, a peach! a little queen!
+Her name is Corinna Playfair.  Isn't that mellifluous?  Corinna
+Playfair!  Corinna Playfair!  Like honey on the tongue!  Listen, when I
+came in a while ago I heard a woman's voice talking to Carmen in her
+room on the ground floor.  So I went back, making out I wanted to see
+Carmen.  And there she was!  Bowled me over completely.  Red hair, you
+old misogynist!  Piles and piles of it like autumn foliage.  It's the
+colour of a horse chestnut fresh out of the bur--and her skin's like
+the inside of the bur--you know--creamy!  Oh, ye gods!
+
+"Well, she was telling old Carmen this and that; her blinds wouldn't
+work, and the gas-jet in the dressing-room was out of order, and your
+Uncle Dudley sees his chance and speaks up.  'I'll fix the gas-jet and
+the blinds,' says I.  There was nothing free and easy about her,
+though.  Made her eyebrows go up like two little crescent moons.
+Looked at me as much as to say: 'What is this that the cat has brought
+in?'  'Oh, thank you very much,' says she in a voice as friendly as a
+marble headstone.  'I couldn't think of troubling you.  Miss Sisson
+will attend to it.'
+
+"But of course old Carmen wasn't going to miss the chance of getting
+her odd jobs done for nothing.  She took my part.  'Mr. Straiker, Miss
+Playfair,' says she, grinning like the cat who's turned over the
+goldfish bowl.  'He will fix you up, I'm sure.  I wouldn't be able to
+get a man in before next week.'
+
+"Well, to make a long story short, I fixed the blinds so's they'd roll
+up, and cleaned out the gas burners.  She didn't unbend any.
+Discouraged all my efforts to make conversation.  Thanked me all over
+the place, and gave me to understand that I needn't build on it, you
+know.  But I swear I'll make her thaw out.  I've thought of a scheme.
+I tried all her burners--to gain time, you understand--and the one she
+mostly uses whistles like a peanut stand.  So I'm going out to get her
+a swell gas mantle to-night, and say Carmen sent it, see?  Trust l'il
+Charley to find a way!"
+
+Evan, of course, had his own ideas as to entertaining Miss Playfair
+this evening.  "How about the life class at the League?" he suggested
+casually--too casually.
+
+This was a sore subject with Charley.  Evan had him there.  "Oh, blow
+the class!" he said, scowling.  "A fellow doesn't get a chance like
+this once in a lifetime."  He boiled over again.  "I say, I didn't
+mention her eyes, did I?  Lord!  They're like immense brown stars!--Oh,
+that's rotten!  I mean velvety, glowing--oh, words fail me!  You'll
+have to take her eyes on trust!"
+
+Evan refused to be diverted.  "You cut the class last time," he said.
+"What do you expect to get out of it?"
+
+"Lord!  One would think you wanted to get me out of the way so you
+could make up to her yourself!" said Charley, frowning.
+
+Evan glanced at him sharply.  This, however, was a random hit.  Charley
+was quite unsuspicious.
+
+"Only I know you're a hermit-crab, a woman-hater!" he went on.
+
+"It's only last week you were chasing after a blonde," Evan persisted
+remorselessly.  "When she threw you down you swore you'd go to work."
+
+"Oh, well, I'll go to the old class," muttered Charley.  "I'll get the
+gas mantle to-morrow."
+
+Evan breathed freely again.
+
+When Charley was safely out of the way Evan made haste to array himself
+in the best that their joint wardrobes afforded.  They shared
+everything.  His conscience troubled him a little over his treatment of
+Charley, but he salved it with the thought: "Well, anyway, I saw her
+first.  I quarrelled with her before he even laid eyes on her."  Evan
+gave anxious thought to the matching of ties and socks, and spent many
+minutes in vigorously brushing out a slight tendency to curl in his
+hair.  He despised curly hair in a man.
+
+But when he was all ready a sudden fit of indecision attacked him, and
+he flung himself into the old chair, glooming.  She had all but driven
+him out of her room the night before.  Well, if he presented himself at
+her door now, it would be simply inviting her to insult him.  Even
+though she didn't mean it, even though she might want him to come (Evan
+had that possibility in mind, though his ideas as to the psychology of
+girls were chaotic), how could he give her the chance to put it all
+over him?  Surely she would despise him.  On the other hand, he could
+hardly expect her to make the first overtures.  Evan sighed in
+perplexity.
+
+It was not that he liked her any the worse for being so difficult; on
+the contrary.  But he had to think out the best thing to do under the
+circumstances, and the trouble was he wanted to go down so badly he
+couldn't think at all.
+
+He made up his mind he wouldn't go down--not that night anyway.  He
+lighted his pipe in defiance of the whole sex.  But somehow he couldn't
+keep it going.  He only smoked matches.  Nor keep his legs from
+twitching; nor his brain from suggesting vain pretexts to knock at her
+door.  He might go out and buy her a gas mantle--but that _would_ be a
+low trick on Charley.  He flung down the pipe, he walked up and down,
+he looked out of the window; a score of times he swore to himself that
+he would not go down, yet his perambulations left him ever nearer the
+door.
+
+Finally with a great effort of the will he closed it.  But almost
+instantly he flew to open it again, bent his head to listen, then threw
+it back with a note of deep laughter.  He commenced to run downstairs.
+She was singing, the witch!  She _had_ made the first overture.  Let
+her make believe as much as she liked, she must have calculated that
+the song would bring him.  Outside her door--it was closed to-night--he
+pulled himself up short.  "Easy!  Easy!" he said to himself.  "If
+you're in such a rush to come when you're called she'll have the laugh
+on you anyhow.  Let her sing for a while, the darling!  You won't miss
+anything here."
+
+It was a jolly little song, full of enchanting runs and changes; old
+English, he guessed:
+
+  "Oh, the pretty, pretty creature;
+  When I next do meet her,
+  No more like a clown will I face her frown
+  But gallantly will I treat her."
+
+
+"A hint for me," thought Evan, smiling delightedly.
+
+When she came to the end of the song, Evan, fearful that she might open
+the door and find him there, hastened on downstairs.  Miss Sisson was
+in her room at the back with the door open, and Evan stepped in for a
+chat, flattering the lady not a little thereby, for Mr. Weir was the
+most stand-offish of her gentleman roomers--and the comeliest.
+
+But it is to be feared she didn't get much profit out of this
+conversation, for Mr. Weir was strangely absent-minded.  His thoughts
+were in the room overhead where the heart-disquieting mezzo-soprano was
+now singing a wistfuller song and no less sweet:
+
+  "Phyllis has such charming graces
+  I must love her or I die."
+
+
+Miss Sisson remarked in her most elegant and acid tones: "It's such an
+annoyance to have a singer in the house.  I already regret that I
+yielded to her importunities."
+
+"You fool!" thought Evan.  "She makes a paradise of your old rookery!"
+
+At the end of the second song he was sure he heard the singer's light
+footsteps travel to the door overhead, linger there, then return more
+slowly.  The heart in his breast waxed big with gladness.  "You blessed
+little darling!" he thought.  "If it's true you want me, God knows you
+can have me for a gift!"
+
+Yet he let her sing another song before he stirred.  He bade Miss
+Sisson good-night and went deliberately upstairs.  She had stopped
+singing now.  He knocked on the door.
+
+She took her time about opening it.  "Oh, it's you!" she said.
+
+"Good evening," said Evan.
+
+"Good evening," she returned with a rising inflection that suggested:
+"Well, what do you want?"
+
+Evan was a bit dashed.  His instinct told him, though, that he must put
+his fate to the test.  In other words, he must find out for sure
+whether she detested him, or was simply being maidenly.  She had not
+thrown the door open to its fullest extent, but Evan, gauging the
+space, figured that he could just slip in without actually pushing her
+out of the way.  He did so.
+
+She faced about in high indignation.  "Well!  You might at least wait
+until you are invited!" she said.
+
+Evan had no wish to anger her too far.  "Oh, I'm sorry," he said
+innocently.  "I thought you meant me to come in."  He turned towards
+the door again.
+
+"Oh, well, as long as you're here I'm not going to turn you out," she
+said casually.  "But your manners aren't much."  She closed the door.
+
+"It's all right!" thought Evan happily.
+
+"I heard you singing," he said, by way of opening the conversation.
+
+"Yes, I have to sing every night for practice," she said quickly.  She
+wished him to understand clearly that she had not been singing to bring
+him.
+
+She sat on the piano bench, but with her back to the piano and her
+hands in her lap.  Her expression was not encouraging.  Evan sat on the
+sofa.
+
+"Please go on," he said.  "Don't mind me."
+
+"No," she said, with her funny little downright way.  "I shan't sing
+any more."
+
+"But why?"
+
+"You have provoked me.  I can't sing when I am provoked."
+
+"What have I done?"
+
+"The mere sight of you provokes me," she said with more frankness,
+probably, than she intended.
+
+"I'm sorry," said Evan.  "You're so different, so unusual, I don't know
+how to handle you."
+
+The first part of this pleased her, the last outraged her afresh.
+"Handle me!" she cried.  "I like that!"
+
+Evan saw his mistake.  "That's not the word," he said quickly.  "I mean
+I study how to please you, and only seem to get in wrong."
+
+"Don't 'study'," she said with a superior air.  "Just be yourself."
+
+"But I am myself, and it only provokes you."
+
+The brown eyes flashed.  "Oh, you're too conceited for words!"
+
+This was a new thought to Evan.  He considered it.  "No," he said at
+last, "I don't think I am.  At least not offensively conceited.  But it
+seems to me you are so accustomed to having men bow down before you
+that the mildest independence in a man strikes you as something
+outrageous."
+
+This was near enough the truth to be an added cause for offense.  She
+received it in an ultra-dignified silence.
+
+"I'd like to bow down before you too," Evan went on smiling.  "But
+something tells me if I did it would be the end of me.  You would
+despise me."
+
+Her mood changed abruptly.  "I feel better now," she said.  "One really
+cannot take you seriously.  I'll sing."
+
+Her hands drifted over the keys, and she dropped into "Mighty lak' a
+Rose."  The air was admirably suited to the deeper notes of her voice.
+The listener's heart was drawn right out of his breast; he forgot at
+once his fear of being mastered, and his great desire to master her.
+
+When she came to the end he murmured, deeply moved: "I can't say
+anything."
+
+She could have asked no finer tribute.  "You needn't," she murmured.
+
+The pleasure she took in his applause was evidenced in the warmth she
+imparted to the next song.  She made it intolerably plaintive: "Just a
+Wearyin' for You."
+
+Evan held his breath in delight.  "If the words were true!" he thought.
+But though she sang with abandon, she never looked at him.  He was
+artist enough to know better than to take an artistic performance
+literally.
+
+Nothing more was said for a long time.  She passed from one song to
+another, singing from memory; dreamily improvising on the piano
+between.  She chose only simple songs in English which pleased Evan
+well--could she read his heart?--the "Shoogy-Shoo"; "Little Boy Blue";
+the "Sands o' Dee."
+
+Evan was incapable of criticising her voice.  Some might have objected
+that it lacked that bell-like clearness so much to be desired; that it
+had a dusky quality, but Evan was not quarrelling because it was the
+voice of a woman instead of an angel.  One thing she had beyond
+peradventure, temperament; her heart was in her singing, and so it
+played on his heartstrings as she willed.
+
+While he listened enraptured, he saw the moon peek over the buildings
+in the next street.  He softly got up and turned off the impertinent
+gas.  Beyond a startled glance over her shoulder she made no objection.
+He was utterly fascinated by the movements of the bright head, now
+raised, now lowered, now turned towards the window in the changing
+moods of the songs.
+
+Moonlight completed the working of the spell that was laid upon him.
+For the moment he ceased to be a rational being.  He was exalted by
+emotion far out of himself.  He experienced the sweetness of losing his
+own identity.  It was as if a great wind had snatched him up into the
+universal ether, a region of warmth of colour and perfume.  But he was
+conscious of a pull on him like that of the magnet for the iron, a pull
+that was neither to be questioned nor resisted.
+
+At the last she turned around on the bench again, and her hands dropped
+in her lap.  "That is all.  I'm tired," she said like a child.
+
+With a single movement the rapt youth was at her feet, weaving his arms
+about her waist.  Unpremeditated words poured from him; words out of
+deeps in him of which up to that moment he was unconscious.
+
+"Oh, you woman!  You are the first in the world for me!  I know you
+now!  I feel your power!  It's too much for me.  And I'm glad of it!  I
+have waited for you.  I looked for you in so many girls' faces only to
+find emptiness.  I began to doubt.  Love was just a poetic fancy, I
+thought.  But I have found it.  Let me love you."
+
+She was not surprised, nor angry.  She gently tried to detach his arms.
+"Oh, hush! hush!" she murmured.  "It is not me!  It is just the music!"
+
+"It is you!  It is you!" he protested.  "I knew it when I first saw
+you.  You or none!"
+
+"But how silly!" she said in a warm, low voice.  "You have seen me
+twice."
+
+"What difference does that make?" he said impatiently.  "One cannot be
+mistaken about a thing like this.  I love you with all my heart.  It
+only takes a second to happen, but it can never be undone while I live.
+You have entered into me and taken possession.  If you left me I should
+be no more than a shell of a man!"
+
+"Ah, but be sensible!" she begged him.  He thought he felt her
+fingertips brush his hair.  "Try to be sensible.  Think of me."
+
+"I wish to think only of you.  What do you want me to do?"
+
+"Get up and sit beside me.  Let us talk."
+
+He sat beside her on the bench.  He did not offer to touch her again.
+The moonlight was in her face; the lifted, shadowy oval seemed angelic
+to him, he was full of awe.
+
+"You're so beautiful!" he groaned, "so beautiful it hurts me!"
+
+"Hush!" she said, "you mustn't talk like that."
+
+"Is it wrong?"
+
+"Yes--no!  I don't know.  I can't bear it!"
+
+"You can do what you like with me."
+
+"You don't mean that really."
+
+"I do.  I have longed to be able to give myself up wholly."
+
+"Then be my brother, my dear brother."
+
+Evan frowned.  "You mean----?"
+
+"Be my brother," she repeated.  "I need your help."
+
+"But--but how can I?" said Evan.  "I am only a man."
+
+"The other thing only frightens me," she said quickly.  "I like
+you--but I cannot return that.  This is not just the feeling of a
+moment.  It will never change.  I know myself.  But be my friend.  Take
+what I can give you.  Do not force me to be on my guard.  I wish to let
+myself go with you."
+
+"That is what I wish," he said quickly.  Poor Evan felt hollow inside:
+hollow and a little dazed.  The cloud-piercing tower of his happiness
+had collapsed.  A sure instinct told him that what she proposed was
+impossible, and what was more, absurd.  But he clutched at straws.  The
+idea of giving her up altogether was unthinkable.  Moreover he was
+incapable of resisting her at that moment.  It was easy enough to
+silence that inner voice.  He said nothing, but merely raised her hand
+to his lips.
+
+"Swear it," she murmured.
+
+"You dictate the oath."
+
+"Swear that you will be my friend, and nothing but my friend."
+
+"I swear it."
+
+Suddenly leaning forward she kissed his cheek as a sister might have
+done--but the spot glowed long afterwards.  Then she jumped up.
+
+"You must go now."
+
+"Not quite yet," he pleaded, "Corinna."
+
+"Oh!" she rebuked him.
+
+"But you're my sister now."
+
+"Very well, you may call me Corinna, but you must go.  What will the
+landlady say?"
+
+"But you said you needed my help.  How can I rest not knowing----"
+
+"But that's too long a story to begin now.  There's no immediate danger
+threatening me.  There will be other nights."
+
+"How can I wait twenty-four hours?"
+
+"How would you like to get up early and go walking in the country
+before the day's work?"
+
+"I'd like it above all things."
+
+"Then call for me at eight.  We'll have breakfast at the French pastry
+shop.  My first lesson's at eleven."
+
+"Great!"
+
+"Now go."
+
+"Say good-night, Evan."
+
+"I will when I am more accustomed to you."
+
+"But try it just for an experiment."
+
+"Well--good-night, Evan."
+
+His name was so sweet on her tongue it required all his self-control to
+remember his oath.  He turned away with a groan.
+
+"Good-night, Corinna."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+EVAN IS RE-ENGAGED
+
+He dreamed of her all night--but not as a sister it is to be feared.
+In his dream she was running through the springtime woods with the
+glorious hair flying, and he was running after her, an endless race
+without his ever drawing nearer, while the sun shone and the little
+young leaves twinkled as if in laughter.
+
+He was awake at six and sprang out of bed to see what kind of day it
+was.  The sun was already high over the tops of the buildings to the
+east, the sky was fleckless, and the empty Park was beaming.  His
+anxiety was relieved.  He dressed as slowly as possible in order to
+kill time, taking care to make no sound that might awaken Charley in
+the next room.
+
+He was not prepared to make explanations just then.
+
+Notwithstanding all his care he was ready a whole hour too soon, an
+hour that promised to be endless, for he was completely at a loss what
+to do with himself; couldn't apply his mind to anything; couldn't sit
+still.  Finally he stole down-stairs, sending his love silently through
+her door as he passed, and started circumnavigating the Park.
+
+He was subconsciously aware of the splendour of the morning, but saw
+little of what actually met his eyes.  He was too busy with the
+happenings of the night before.  A nasty little doubt tormented him.
+He knew he was slightly insane; it was not that; he gloried in his
+state and pitied the dull clods who had not fire in their breasts to
+drive them mad.  But here was the rub; would not these same clods have
+laughed at him had they known of the oath he had taken--would not he
+have laughed himself yesterday?
+
+It was carried on inside him like an argument; on the one hand the
+enamoured young man who insisted that the relationship between brother
+and sister was a holy and beautiful one, on the other hand the
+matter-of-fact one who said it was all damn nonsense; that a man and
+woman, free, unattached and not bound by the ties of consanguinity were
+not intended to be brother and sister.  Such arguments have no end.
+The thought of Charley troubled him most; he had always taken a
+slightly superior attitude towards Charley's sentimentality.  What a
+chance for Charley to get back at him if he learned of this!
+
+At five minutes to eight, having looked at his watch fifty times or so,
+he ventured back into the house, and tapped at Corinna's door.  "She's
+bound to be late anyhow," he thought, "no harm to hurry her up a
+little."
+
+But no, she was hatted, gloved and waiting just inside the door.  This
+little fact won his gratitude surprisingly; a man does not expect it of
+a woman.  In the sunlight they took in each other anew.  What Corinna
+thought did not appear, but Evan was freshly delighted.  She was an
+out-of-doors girl it appeared; the morning became her like a shining
+garment.  He forgot the argument; it was sufficient to be with her, to
+laugh with her, to be ravished by the dusky, velvety tones of her voice.
+
+Of the hours that followed it is unnecessary to speak in detail.  It
+was one long rhapsody, and rhapsodies are apt to be a little tiresome
+to those other than the rhapsodists.  Everybody has known such hours
+for themselves--or if they have not they are unfortunate.  They
+breakfasted frugally--there is a delicious intimacy in breakfast no
+other meal knows, and then decided on Staten Island.  Half an hour
+later they were voyaging down the bay, and in an hour were in the woods.
+
+Corinna was inexorable on the question of eleven o'clock, and to Evan
+it seemed as if they had no sooner got there than they had to turn back
+again.  Evan got sore, and the pleasure of the return journey was a
+little dimmed, though there is a kind of sweetness in these little
+tiffs too.  Anybody seeing their eyes on each other, Corinna's as well
+as Evan's, would have known they were no brother and sister, but they
+still kept up the fiction.
+
+As they neared home she said: "Do you mind if I go in alone?"
+
+"Are you ashamed to be seen with me?" demanded Evan scowling.
+
+"Silly!  Didn't I propose this trip?  The reason is very simple.  Your
+ridiculous landlady looks on every man in the house as her property.  I
+don't want to excite her ill-will, that's all."
+
+Evan could not deny the truth of this characterisation of Carmen.  "Go
+on ahead," he said.  "I'll hang around in the Park for a while.  See
+you to-night."
+
+She stopped, and gave him an inscrutable look.  "Oh, I'm sorry, I
+shan't be home to-night."
+
+With this the ugly head of Corinna's mystery popped up again.  It had
+been tormenting Evan all morning, but with a lover's pride he would not
+question her, and she volunteered no information.
+
+"Oh!" said Evan flatly, and waited for her to say more.
+
+But she seemed not to be aware that anything more was required and his
+brow darkened.  "If it was me," he thought, "how eager I would be to
+explain what was taking me away from her, but she is mum!"
+
+"Come to-morrow night," she said.
+
+He bowed stiffly.
+
+She hesitated a moment as if about to explain, then thought better of
+it, and hurried away, leaving Evan inwardly fuming.
+
+He plumped down on a bench across the square from 45A, and thrusting
+his hands deep in his pockets, stretched out his legs and scowled at
+the pavement.  A "platonic friendship" had no charms for him then.
+"I'm a fool!" he said to himself.  "Her brother!"--a bitter note of
+laughter escaped him, "when I'm out of my mind with wanting her!  What
+a fool I was to stand for it!  She's just playing the regular girl's
+game--no blame to her of course, it's their instinct to keep a man at
+arm's length as long as they can.  It pleases them to have us on the
+grill.  And I fell for it!  I'm on my way to make a precious fool of
+myself.  If I can't find out where she's going to-night, I'll be clean
+off my nut before morning.  But I wouldn't ask her!  And if she's going
+out with another man--!  Lord! which is worse, to know or not to know?"
+
+When he let himself in the door of 45A, Miss Sisson, according to her
+custom, poked her head out into the hall to see who it was.  She came
+out.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Weir," she said importantly, "where have you been?"
+
+"Out," said Evan stiffly.
+
+She was too much excited to perceive the snub.  "There's been a man
+here for you half a dozen times I guess."
+
+"What did he want?"
+
+"I don't know.  Says it's most important."
+
+"Who was he?"
+
+"Wouldn't give his name.  Acted most mysterious."
+
+"What sort of looking man?"
+
+"A young fellow about your age, but scarcely a friend of yours I should
+say.  A mean-like face."
+
+This meant nothing to Evan.  He looked blank.
+
+"The last time he was here he said he'd wait," Miss Sisson went on,
+"but I said there was no place inside, because I didn't like his looks,
+so he said he'd wait in the Square and----"
+
+The sound of the door-bell interrupted her.
+
+"Here he is now!"
+
+Evan opened the door and discovered Alfred, the Deaves' second man, on
+the step.  Alfred smiled insinuatingly, but with a difference from
+their first meeting, more warily.  Miss Sisson pressed forward to hear
+what he had to say.
+
+"Can I see you a moment?" he said to Evan meaningly.
+
+Evan looked at Miss Sisson, who forthwith retired with a chagrined
+flirt of her skirts.
+
+"They sent me for you," said Alfred.
+
+Evan's eyebrows went up.  "What do they want?" he asked coolly.
+
+"Search me!" said Alfred shrugging.  "They're in a way about something."
+
+"Anything new?"
+
+"Uh-huh.  Hilton says they got another letter from the blackmailers."
+
+Evan being human, could not but feel certain stirrings of curiosity.
+"Very well, I'll come with you," he said.
+
+They left a furiously unsatisfied Miss Sisson behind them.
+
+Evan and Alfred rode up-town together on the bus.  Alfred was no less
+silky and insinuating than in the beginning, but whereas at first he
+had been genuinely candid, he now only made believe to be.
+
+"He's been warned off me," thought Evan.
+
+The conversation on Alfred's side consisted of a subtle attempt to
+elicit from Evan what had happened the day before, and on Evan's side a
+determination to balk his curiosity without appearing to be aware of
+what he was after.
+
+The Deaveses, father and son, were in the library.  Before he was well
+inside the room the latter flung out at him:
+
+"Where have you been all morning?"
+
+Evan instantly felt his collar tighten.  His jaw stuck out.  "I don't
+know as that is anybody's business but my own," he said.
+
+They both opened up on him then.  Evan could not make out what it was
+all about.  But his conscience was easy.  He could afford to smile at
+the racket.  Finally George Deaves got the floor.
+
+"Will you or will you not describe your movements this morning?" he
+demanded.
+
+"I will not," said Evan coolly.
+
+"What did I tell you?  What did I tell you?" burst out the old man.
+"Send for the police!"
+
+Evan's temper had already been put to a strain that morning.  It gave
+way now.  "Yes, send for the police!" he cried.  "I'm sick of these
+silly accusations.  I owe you nothing, neither of you.  My life is as
+open as a book.  I make a few dollars a week by honest work, and that's
+every cent I possess in the world.  Satisfy yourselves of that, and
+then let me alone!"
+
+"Papa, be quiet!" said George Deaves severely.  "I will handle this."
+To Evan he said soothingly: "There's no need for you to excite
+yourself.  I've no intention of sending for the police--yet."
+
+"Well, if you don't, I will!" said Evan.  "I'll tell them the whole
+story and insist on an investigation!"
+
+George Deaves wilted at the threat of publicity.  Evan, in the midst of
+his anger thought: "Lord, if I _were_ guilty this is exactly the way I
+would talk!  How easy it would be to bluff them!"
+
+George Deaves said: "I hope you won't do anything so foolish as that."
+
+"Well, it's a bit too much to be dragged all the way up-town just to
+listen to a re-hash of yesterday's row," said Evan.
+
+"The situation is entirely changed," said George Deaves mysteriously.
+
+"Well, I don't know anything about that!"
+
+Deaves shoved a letter across his desk towards Evan.  Evan read:
+
+
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Madam:
+
+I beg to return herewith the $5,000 in marked bills that your husband
+left for us yesterday.  We are too old birds to be caught with such
+chaff.  The story, a copy of which I sent Mr. Deaves yesterday, goes to
+the _Clarion_ at eleven A.M. to-day for publication in this evening's
+edition.  If you wish to stop it you must persuade Mr. Deaves to find a
+similar sum in clean straight money before that hour.  These bills must
+be put in an envelope and addressed to Mr. Carlton Hassell at the
+Barbizon Club, Fifth avenue near Ninth street.  Your messenger must
+simply hand it in at the door and leave.  If there is any departure
+from these instructions the money will not be touched, and the story
+goes through.
+
+With best wishes,
+
+Yours most sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"Good Heavens!" cried Evan amazed.  "Do you mean to say the money was
+returned?"
+
+George Deaves nodded.
+
+"And addressed to your wife?  What a colossal nerve!  What have you
+done?  You haven't sent fresh bills?"
+
+Another nod answered him, a somewhat sheepish nod.
+
+"Maud made him," snarled the old man.  "Insisted on taking the money
+down herself and sent it in by the chauffeur."
+
+"But you've communicated with Mr. Hassell?"
+
+"Do you know him?" demanded George Deaves sharply.
+
+"Why of course, as everybody knows him.  The most famous landscape
+painter in America--or at least the most popular.  His pictures bring
+thousands!"
+
+"What good to communicate with him?" said Deaves sullenly.  "I might
+better have him arrested."
+
+"But don't you see," urged Evan, "Hassell couldn't have had anything to
+do with this, not with the money he makes and his reputation?  Not
+unless he were crazy, and he's the sanest of men!  It's as clear as
+day.  They're just using his name.  Easy enough for somebody else to
+get the letter at the club."
+
+"Is this a trick?" muttered George Deaves scowling.
+
+Evan laughed in exasperation.  "Why sure! if you want it that way.
+It's nothing to me one way or the other."  He turned to go.
+
+"Wait a minute," said Deaves.  "Why wouldn't it be better to call up
+the club?"
+
+Evan shook his head.  "A man's club is his castle.  Club servants are
+always instructed not to give out information, particularly not over
+the telephone.  Telephone Hassell.  You should have telephoned him
+before sending the money.  Or better still go to him.  It's his
+interest to get to the bottom of this."
+
+"Will you go with me?" asked Deaves stabbing his blotter.
+
+Evan smiled.  "A minute ago you implied that I was behind the scheme."
+
+"I might have been mistaken.  Anyway, if you had nothing to do with it,
+you ought to be glad to help me clear the matter up."
+
+"I'll go with you," said Evan, "not because I'll feel any necessity for
+clearing myself, but because it's the most interesting game I've ever
+been up against!"
+
+"Interesting!" shrilled the old man indignantly, "_Interesting_!  If
+you were being bled white, you wouldn't find it so interesting!  I'll
+go too."
+
+"You'll stay right here, Papa," commanded George Deaves.  "And don't
+you go out until I come back!  You've brought trouble enough on me!"
+
+"Well, you needn't bite off my head!" grumbled the old man.
+
+The Deaves limousine was available, and a few minutes later George
+Deaves and Evan were being shown into the reception room of a
+magnificent studio apartment on Art's most fashionable street.  George
+Deaves was visibly impressed by the magnificence.  It was rather an
+unusual hour to pay a call perhaps, but the Deaves name was an open
+sesame.  A millionaire and a potential picture-buyer! the great man
+himself came hurrying to greet them.  He was a handsome man of middle
+age with a lion-like head, and the affable, assured manner of a citizen
+of the world.
+
+He showed them into the studio, a superb room, but severe and
+workmanlike according to the modern usage.  Before they were
+well-seated, an attendant, knowing his duty well, began to pull out
+canvases.
+
+"I--I didn't come to talk to you about pictures," stammered George
+Deaves.
+
+At a sign from his master the man left the room.  Mr. Hassell waited
+politely to be enlightened.
+
+Poor George Deaves floundered about.  "It's such a delicate matter--I'm
+sure I don't know what you will think--I scarcely know how to tell
+you----"
+
+Hassell began to look alarmed.  He said: "Mr. Deaves, I beg you will be
+plain with me."
+
+Deaves turned hopelessly to Evan.  "You tell him."
+
+"Better show him the letter," said Evan.
+
+"The letter?" said Deaves in a panic, "what letter?  I don't understand
+you."
+
+"We came to tell him," said Evan.  "We've either got to tell him or go."
+
+Deaves wiped his face.  "Mr. Hassell, I hope I can rely on your
+discretion.  You will receive what I am about to tell you in absolute
+confidence?"
+
+"My dear sir," returned the painter a little testily, "you come to me
+in this state of agitation about I don't know what.  Whatever it is, I
+hope I will comport myself like a man of honour!"
+
+George Deaves handed over the letter in a hand that trembled.
+Hassell's face was a study as he read it.
+
+"This is blackmail!" he cried.  "And in my name!"
+
+"That's why we came to you," said Deaves--a little unnecessarily it
+might be thought.
+
+"You surely don't suspect----"
+
+"Certainly not," said Evan quickly--there was no knowing what break
+Deaves might have made.  "But you can help us."
+
+"Of course!  This letter names eleven o'clock as the hour."  Hassell
+glanced at his watch.  "It's nearly twelve now.  Why didn't you come to
+me earlier--or phone?"
+
+"Well, I didn't know--it didn't occur to me," began Deaves, and stopped
+with an appealing glance at Evan.
+
+Evan said bluntly: "Mr. Deaves was not acquainted with your name and
+your work until I told him."
+
+The great painter looked a little astonished at such ignorance.  "Has
+the money been sent to the club?" he asked.
+
+Deaves nodded shamefacedly.
+
+Mr. Hassell immediately got busy.  "I'll taxi down there at once.  I
+rarely use the Barbizon club nowadays.  Haven't been there in a month."
+
+"Shall we go with you?" asked Deaves.
+
+"No.  They may have spies posted who would see you even if you remained
+in the cab.  If you'll be good enough to wait here, I'll be back inside
+half an hour."
+
+Even in his bustle he did not neglect business.  As soon as he had gone
+the servant appeared again, and began to show his pictures.  Deaves
+goggled at them indifferently, but Evan was keenly interested.  He
+studied them with the mixture of scorn and envy that is characteristic
+of the attitude of poor young artists towards rich old ones.
+
+Within a few minutes of his half hour Hassell was back again.  "Not
+much to report," he said deprecatingly.  "The envelope addressed to me
+was delivered just before eleven o'clock, and put in the H box of the
+letter rack.  It was gone when I looked, of course, but who took it
+remains to be discovered.  About thirty members had gone in and out.
+Practically everybody stops at the letter rack.  I have a list of those
+who passed in and out as well as the doorkeeper could make it out from
+memory."
+
+"How about the door-keeper?" asked Deaves.
+
+"Above suspicion, I should say.  Has been with the club for twenty
+years.  A simple soul hardly capable of acting a part.  He would hardly
+have told me that he put my letter in the rack himself."
+
+"Other servants then?"
+
+"There were several boys on duty in the hall, but they are not supposed
+to go to the letter-rack without orders.  If one of them had looked
+over the letters it could scarcely have escaped notice.  No, unpleasant
+as it is to think so, I am afraid it was one of the members--someone
+who was counting on the fact that I never appear at the club except for
+an important meeting or a dinner.  I looked over the members in the
+clubhouse, honest-looking men--but who can tell?"
+
+"No doubt the one who got the money left immediately," suggested Evan.
+
+Hassell said to Deaves: "With your permission I should like to take the
+matter up with the Board of Governors."
+
+"No, no, if you please," said Deaves nervously.  "No publicity."
+
+"Then allow me to put this list in the hands of a first-class detective
+agency.  Those fellows are secret enough."
+
+"Let me attend to it if you please."
+
+Hassell handed over the list with manifest reluctance; "If anyone uses
+my name again I trust you will let me know promptly."
+
+"You may depend on it," said Deaves, making for the door.
+
+"By the way, how did you like my pictures?"
+
+"Very pretty, very pretty," said Deaves uneasily.  "I don't know
+anything about such things.  My wife buys everything for the home."
+
+"Ah!" said Hassell with ironical eyebrows.
+
+"I will tell her about them."
+
+"Thank you," said Hassell, bowing them out.
+
+George Deaves didn't say much on the way home, but Evan was aware that
+his attitude had changed.  There were no more accusations.  Clearly
+Deaves had been impressed by the fact that the interview with Hassell
+had turned out exactly as Evan had foretold.
+
+Simeon Deaves was still shuffling around the library in his slippers.
+"Well?" he demanded.
+
+His son briefly told him what had occurred.
+
+The old man was in a very bad temper.  "Yah! let him pull wool over
+your eyes!" he cried.  "All a pack of thieves together!  Artists never
+have any money!  And this one knows more than he lets on.  He's too
+smart by half!  You mark my words!"
+
+"Please go outside," the much-tried George said to Evan.  "Wait in the
+hall."
+
+Evan obeyed with a shrug.  Outside the softly-stepping Alfred was
+loitering suspiciously.  He approached Evan.
+
+"Something doing to-day, eh?" he said with his obsequious-impudent
+leer.  "Where did you two go?"
+
+Evan's gorge rose at the man.  He saw nothing to be gained now by
+hiding his feelings.  "You damn sneak!" he said quietly.  "Keep away
+from me, or I'll hurt you!"
+
+Alfred, with a scared and venomous look, slunk down-stairs.  Evan felt
+better.
+
+Presently George Deaves called him back into the library.  At what had
+taken place between father and son he could only guess.  The old man's
+attitude had changed; he was disposed to be friendly.  Divided between
+their fears and their suspicions father and son were continually making
+these face-abouts.
+
+George Deaves said in his pompous way: "My father has re-considered his
+decision not to employ you further.  He will be glad to have you stay
+according to the original arrangement."
+
+"That's right," added the old man.  "I just spoke a little hasty.  I
+always said you were a good boy."
+
+Evan's face hardened.  "I'm not sure that I want the job," he said.
+
+"Forty dollars a week's a fine salary," said Simeon Deaves.
+
+"I'll stay for fifty," said Evan coolly.
+
+They both gasped.  "Are you trying to hold us up?" cried George Deaves.
+
+"If that's what you want to call it," said Evan.  "You force me to.  If
+I appear anxious for the job, you will soon be accusing me again of
+being in the gang.  As a matter of fact I don't care whether I stay or
+not."
+
+"Well, I'll pay it," said George Deaves with a sour face, "provided
+you'll agree to investigate the list Hassell gave us in your spare
+time."
+
+"I'll do it," said Evan.  "I'm interested.  You'd better discharge
+Alfred who is certainly a spy, and get a detective in his place to keep
+a watch on the other servants."
+
+"Those fellows cost ten dollars a day!" cried Simeon Deaves.
+
+"The blackmailers are getting five thousand out of you every
+fortnight," retorted Evan.
+
+"I do not see the necessity for a detective," said George Deaves
+loftily.  "As long as I'm paying you all this money.  You can look out
+for that side of the case as well."
+
+"Just as you like," said Evan smiling.  It was hopeless to try to argue
+with these people.
+
+Alfred entered, and giving Evan a wide berth laid a long envelope on
+George Deaves' desk.  "Brought by messenger," he said.  "No answer."
+He left the room.
+
+Deaves paled as his eyes fell on the superscription.
+
+"The same handwriting!" he murmured.
+
+He nervously tore open the envelope.  It contained some typewritten
+sheets, and a slip with writing upon it.  George Deaves read the letter
+with a perplexed expression, and handed it over to Evan.
+
+"What do you make of that?" he asked.
+
+Evan read: "Received of George Deaves the sum of five thousand dollars
+in full payment of the story entitled: 'Simeon Deaves Goes Shopping,'
+including all rights.  All existing copies of the manuscript enclosed.
+Many thanks.  The Ikunahkatsi."
+
+"Same old impudence!" said Evan smiling grimly.  "This crook is
+something of a character it seems.  Affects a kind of honesty in his
+dealings."
+
+"Oh, he's kept a copy of the story," said George Deaves.
+
+"Possibly.  But why should he go to the trouble of making believe that
+he has not?--and send a receipt?  Criminal psychology is queer.  This
+is something out of the common that we are up against!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+THE COMPACT IS SMASHED
+
+Evan spent the afternoon walking about with Simeon Deaves.  The old man
+was an indefatigable pedestrian.  He had no object in his wanderings,
+but loved to poke into the oddest and most out-of-the-way corners of
+the town.  They were not followed to-day so far as Evan could tell.  At
+first Simeon Deaves was uneasy and suspicious of his body-guard, but
+finding that Evan took everything calmly for granted, he unbent and
+became loquacious.  All his talk was on the same subject: how to get
+along in the world, i.e. how to make money.
+
+Evan having taken him home at last, sank into the seat of a bus with
+relief.  "Anyhow it will be good for my health," he thought.
+
+Before going home he called at the studio of a friend, a member of the
+Barbizon Club, and without taking him entirely into his confidence,
+enlisted his aid in investigating the actions and habits of the men on
+Hassell's list.  It may be said here, that nothing came of this.
+
+Evan and Charley met for the evening meal.  The irrepressible Charley
+was still singing about the red-haired girl.  In spite of his boasts it
+appeared that his advances had consistently been turned down.  Evan
+took a little comfort from this.  Sullenness was unknown to the gay
+Charley and he was not a whit less optimistic because of his set-backs.
+
+"You don't want a girl to be too come-on-ish," he said.  "A
+highty-tighty manner adds zest to the game.  They don't expect to be
+taken seriously when they turn you down, bless your heart, no.  Why, if
+I let that girl drop now, she'd despise me for my faintheartedness.
+Sure, and be as disappointed as anything!"
+
+Evan was not in much of a humour to laugh at him.  Indeed he foresaw
+that an impossible situation would presently develop between Charley
+and him unless he said something.  With an elaborately casual manner he
+began at last:
+
+"I say, Charl, you and I have always played fair with each other."
+
+"Well I should rather fahncy, as Lord Percy said.  What's on your
+chest, boy?  Unload!  Unload!"
+
+"It's only fair to tell you that I have become acquainted with the
+young lady in question."
+
+Charley stared.  "The Deuce you say!  You, the scorner of the sex!
+Since when?"
+
+"Two nights ago."
+
+"And you never said a word about it.  You let me shoot off my mouth all
+this time and never----"
+
+"What was there to say?"
+
+"You packed me off to the life class last night so you could--"
+
+"That was for your own good!"
+
+"Come off!  Come off!  Have I such a trusting eye?  On the level why
+didn't you tell me before?"
+
+What was Evan to say.  He began an explanation that was no explanation.
+Charley's sharp eyes bored him through and through.
+
+"By the Lord!" cried the latter at last, "Old Stony-heart has melted!
+St. Anthony has fallen for the caloric tresses.  Touched where he
+lives, by Gad!  Brought low and humbled in the dust!"
+
+Evan grinned painfully.  "Don't be a fool!" he muttered.
+
+"How does it feel?" asked Charley with mock solicitude, "a dull ache in
+the epigastrium or a fluttering sensation in the pericardium; some lay
+stress on the characteristic feeling of heaviness behind the occiput."
+
+"You wheeze like a vaudeville performer on small time," growled Evan.
+
+Charley roared.  He did not often get his partner on the grill like
+this.  It was generally the other way about.  But in the midst of his
+outrageous joshing it suddenly struck the warm-hearted Charley that
+under his game grin Evan was suffering very pretty torments.  Charley
+jumped up and for the briefest of seconds laid his hand on his
+partner's shoulder.
+
+"Look here," he said abruptly, "you know what I think of you really, or
+if you don't you'll have to take it for granted, for I'll never tell
+you.  I haven't the words, but only a line of cheap cackle as you say.
+Understand, from this time on it's a clear field for you, see?  Me for
+the Movies, to-night."
+
+Evan was touched, but of course he couldn't show Charley his feelings,
+for that matter Charley did not require it.  "You needn't go out on my
+account," he grumbled.  "I don't expect to see her to-night.  She has a
+date."
+
+Such was the bitterness with which he said it, that Charley could not
+help but laugh again.  "Cheer up!" he cried.  "It has been known to
+happen.  Fellows like you take it too hard.  Hard wood is slow to
+catch, eh, but Lor' what a heat she throws out!"
+
+"Don't jolly me," muttered Evan.  "I can't take it!"
+
+Charley's face softened again for an instant.  "C'mon with me," he
+said.  "Mildred Macy in the Spawn of Infamy's at the Nonpareil.  Milly
+is some vamp I hear."
+
+"Couldn't sit through a picture," said Evan.  "You go."
+
+Nevertheless when the dishes were washed up the prospect of spending
+the evening alone in the little room was too ghastly.  As Charley got
+up Evan said sheepishly:
+
+"Believe I will go."
+
+"Bully!" said Charley.  "Get your hat."
+
+As they passed her door Evan's ears were long.  No sounds came from
+within, no crack of light showed beneath.  He had been hoping against
+hope that she might be there.  Where was she?  The picture of a little
+restaurant rushed before his mind's eye, Corinna and a man on opposite
+sides of the table, their smiling faces drawing close over the cloth.
+He suffered as much as if he had actually beheld them.  That's the
+worst of having a vivid imagination.
+
+"Spawn of Infamy" proved to be what Charley termed "High-life for
+low-lifers" and they were home shortly after nine.  As they mounted the
+first flight Evan perceived a crack of light under Corinna's door and
+his heart rose.  She was home early, she had not had a good time then.
+But as they rounded the landing he heard her voice inside.  She had a
+visitor--alone in there with her!  A horrible spasm of pain contracted
+his breast.  He had much ado to restrain himself from beating with his
+fists on the door.  He followed Charley up-stairs grinding his teeth.
+He had never suspected that such raging devils lay dormant in his blood.
+
+When they got up-stairs it was quite impossible for Evan to remain
+there.  For a moment or two he walked up and down like something caged;
+he could not pretend to hide the feelings that were tearing him.
+Charley glancing at him wonderingly out of the tail of his eye, bustled
+about talking foolishly.
+
+Finally Evan said thickly: "It's stuffy up here.  I'm going down to
+walk around the Park awhile."
+
+Charley's eyes followed him compassionately.  Charley's time to
+experience this sort of thing had not arrived.
+
+When he started Evan honestly intended to go down in the Park and calm
+himself with the exercise of walking.  But unfortunately he had to pass
+her door.  In spite of himself he stopped there, and despising himself,
+listened.  He heard her say: "I won't sing to-night.  I'm not in the
+humour."  Then he heard a man's voice low and urgent, and he saw red.
+He knocked.
+
+She came promptly and opened the door, opened it wide.  She did not
+quail when she saw his lowering face.
+
+"Good evening," she said with the upward inflection meaning: "What do
+you want?"
+
+Her tone flatly denied their intimacy of the night before.  This aspect
+of a woman's nature was new to Evan; he was astonished and hotly
+indignant.
+
+"May I come in?" he asked stiffly.
+
+"Certainly," she said promptly and indifferently, and threw the door
+open wide.
+
+Evan stepped in, and his eyes flew to find his rival.  The latter was
+sitting between the piano and the window.  He was younger than Evan,
+not much more than a lad in fact, but a resolute, comely lad; one of
+whom Evan could be jealous.
+
+"Mr. Weir, Mr. Anway," said Corinna impassively.
+
+They nodded, eyeing each other like strange dogs.  A factitious calm
+descended on Evan.  He could even smile, but there were ugly lines
+around his mouth.  His voice was harsh.
+
+"Aren't we going to have some music?" he said.
+
+By this he meant to convey to the other man that he was accustomed to
+be entertained in that room.  The point was not lost.  The younger man
+whitened about the lips.  The girl gave no sign at all.  Even in his
+anger Evan commended her pluck.  She kept her chin up; her eyes were
+scornful.
+
+"I'll play," she said going towards the piano.
+
+"I like your singing better," said Evan.
+
+"I am not in the humour," she said in a tone that finally disposed of
+the question.
+
+She played--what she played Evan never knew.  It is doubtful if any of
+them heard a note.  Evan sat affecting to listen with a smile like a
+grimace.  The other man kept his eyes down.  Whatever Corinna may have
+been feeling, it did not interfere with the technical excellence of her
+performance; her fingers danced like fairies over the keys, but
+to-night there was no magic in the sounds they evoked.
+
+Corinna's part was the easiest because she had something to do and
+somewhere to look.  She went from one piece to another without a word
+being spoken.  Evan went on smiling until his face was cracking; the
+other never looked up.
+
+Finally the sounds began to get on Evan's nerves.  "Don't tire
+yourself!" he said with bitter politeness.
+
+She stopped, and turning around on the bench waited for him to say
+something more.  Her attitude said plainer than words: "You provoked
+this situation; very well, it's up to you to save it."  This cool
+defiance in a mere girl, a little one at that, angered Evan past all
+bearing.  He smiled the more, and addressed the other man:
+
+"Fond of music, Mr. Anway?"
+
+"Very," said the other without looking at him.
+
+"What is your favourite piece in Miss Playfair's repertoire--I mean
+among the songs."
+
+"I have no favourite."
+
+"But don't you think she sings 'Just a Wearyin' for You' and 'Love
+Unexpressed' with wonderful expression?"
+
+Anway did not answer.  Corinna yawned delicately.  "You'll have to
+excuse me," she said.  "I have to go to Ridgewood early to-morrow to
+give lessons."
+
+Anway, better-mannered than Evan--or better-trained, immediately rose.
+Evan sat tight, smiling mockingly at Corinna.  "No, you don't!" the
+smile said.  His conduct was inexcusable of course, but he was beyond
+caring for that.  She had denied him and defied him to his face; let
+her take the consequences.  Anway seeing that Evan wasn't going, sat
+down again flushing.
+
+"Don't wait for me," said Evan.  "I only have to go up-stairs."
+
+Anway bit his lip.  He was not deficient in pluck, but he lacked Evan's
+self-possession.  The two or three years' difference in age put him at
+a cruel disadvantage.  Finally he looked at the girl.
+
+"May I stay a little longer, Corinna?" he asked.
+
+The Christian name stabbed Evan.  He sneered.  "Nice, well-mannered
+little boy!" his expression said.
+
+"You must both go," said Corinna calmly.
+
+Evan smiled at her again, but she refused to meet his glance.  However
+he stood up now, for he wished to start the other man on his way.
+Anway picked up his hat and gloves.  Then all three stood there
+avoiding each other's glances.  Neither man would be the first to say
+good-night, nor would Corinna address one before the other.  It was a
+sufficiently absurd situation, but it had all the potentialities of a
+violent one.  Finally Corinna cut the knot by saying:
+
+"Good-night, both of you."  She opened the door.
+
+The two young men glared at each other.  Anway was the weaker spirit
+and he had to go first.  But he lingered just outside the door to make
+sure that Evan was coming too.
+
+Evan whispered to Corinna: "I'm coming back."
+
+"Indeed you're not!" she retorted, glancing significantly at the key in
+the door.
+
+"Then I won't go," said Evan coolly turning back into the room.
+
+Corinna bit her lip.  Clearly, Evan offered her a new set of problems
+in the management of men.  Anway sought to enter again, but she stopped
+him.
+
+"Please go, Leonard," she murmured.  "This is too absurd!"
+
+The whispered colloquy was perfectly audible to Evan.
+
+Anway said: "But I don't like to leave you alone with----"
+
+She laughed slightly.  "Nonsense!  I can take care of myself!"
+
+"But, Corinna, if I go he'll think I----"
+
+"I will put him straight as to that."
+
+"Corinna," this low and thick, "what is this man to you?"
+
+"No more than you--or any of my friends."
+
+"But, Corinna----"
+
+"Go!"
+
+He went step by step with heavy feet on the stairs.
+
+Corinna came into the room leaving the door open.  Her eyes were bright
+with anger.  "Well, you won your pitiful little victory over the boy,"
+she said scornfully.  "I hope you're pleased with yourself!"
+
+The blood began to pound in Evan's temples.  "Don't speak to me like
+that!" he said thickly.  "I am no tame thing!"
+
+"You may go," she said.
+
+He smiled.  "Not so easily!"
+
+"Then I will."
+
+"Where will you go?"
+
+"To Miss Sisson's room."
+
+Evan laughed.  He had not much fear of that.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" she demanded.
+
+For a brief instant he seemed to catch a glimpse inside himself and was
+aghast at what was stewing there.  "God knows!" he said helplessly.
+
+Corinna took heart at this evidence of weakness.  "Then go away until
+you come to your senses," she said imperiously.
+
+Evan flushed darkly.  "I will not go!" he said.
+
+They stared at each other.
+
+Finally words began to come to Evan, at first haltingly: "Last
+night--you sang to me.  Love songs--that drew the very heart out of
+me----"
+
+She made an indignant movement.
+
+"Oh, I know what you're going to say, they were just songs that you
+might sing to anybody.  But you sung them to me--in a warm and tender
+voice, knowing that my ears were hungry for the sounds.  You sang down
+all my defenses.  You sang to me until I was soft and helpless.  You
+sang me to your feet.  I offered you myself--all there is of me body
+and soul.  And you took me!--Oh, I know you made conditions, what did I
+care?  I scarcely heard them.  What do words matter at such moments?  I
+offered you my love, and you took it.  I felt from that moment that I
+was yours, and you mine.
+
+"To-night when I came I found another man here--another man you were
+accustomed to sing to--how many of them are there?--the same songs, Oh
+God!  Another man who looked at you with sick eyes of longing!  And you
+denied me when I came!  You looked at me with the eyes of a stranger
+because he was here!  And now you ask me what is the matter with me.
+Am I a toy spaniel to be petted and turned out of the room by turn?"
+
+She found her voice at last.  "You have no right to speak to me like
+that!  You promised me----"
+
+"Oh, damn such promises!  That's all nonsense!  You're a woman and I'm
+a man!  Have all the little brothers you want, but count me out.  I
+will be your lover or nothing!"
+
+"How dare you!" she gasped.  "You brute!"
+
+"Yes, I'm a brute!" he said.  "I'm glad of it!  Brutal things need to
+be said to clear the air.  There's been too much sickly nonsense.  You
+despise men, don't you?  You like to see them crawling?  You need a
+lesson!  You shall be mine, and mine only and you shall respect me!"
+
+Corinna was well-nigh speechless now.  "I hate you!  I hate you!" she
+gasped.  "Leave my room!"
+
+"Not till we come to an understanding."
+
+She darted for the door.  It was a mistake in tactics.  A joyous flame
+leaped up in his eyes and he seized her.  She fought him like a little
+tigress, but he only laughed deep inside of him, and drawing her close
+kissed her pulsing throat.
+
+She ceased to struggle.  The hands that had been beating his face stole
+around his neck.  Her lips sought his of their own accord.
+
+"I love you!" she murmured.  "I can't help myself!  I love you!  What
+will happen to me now!"
+
+
+At breakfast next morning Evan was in the highest spirits.  His
+piercing inaccurate whistling of "Mighty Lak' a Rose" got Charley out
+of bed a good half hour before his time.  Charley looked at him rather
+sourly, not too well pleased to have his role of little sunshine
+usurped by another.  A scratch decorated one of Evan's cheeks which
+Charley did not overlook.
+
+"What have you been in?" he asked sarcastically.
+
+"Cut myself shaving," replied Evan with a casual air.
+
+"You must have shaved early.  It's dry."
+
+Evan's only reply was another cadenza.
+
+"Here's a change of tune!" commented Charley.  "Last night it was the
+Dead March from Saul."
+
+"Come on, slug!  Breakfast's on the table."
+
+It was impossible for Charley to be ill-tempered for long.  Presently
+he began to grin.  "Pleasant walking in the Square last night?" he
+asked dryly.
+
+Evan couldn't quite confide in him, but he was not unwilling that
+Charley should guess how matters stood.  "Out-o'-sight!" he cried.
+
+"Want to borrow some money?" said Charley carelessly.  "I'm flush."
+
+Evan stared.  "How did you guess that?"
+
+"They generally do," said Charley airily.
+
+"I'll be paid by the old man at the end of the week."
+
+"That's all right.  Here's five, son.  I can recommend the one on the
+Avenue just below Fourteenth."
+
+"The one what?" asked Evan innocently.
+
+"Florist."
+
+Evan blushed.
+
+On his way down-stairs Evan tapped on her door with beating heart.
+There was no answer.  With a sigh he went on.  Carmen, who missed
+little, had heard him stop and coming out, volunteered the information
+that Miss Playfair had gone out real early.  Evan thanked her, and
+hurried on, dreading to face the sharp-eyed spinster.
+
+All morning he walked the streets with Simeon Deaves in a dream.  In
+the middle of the day he made an excuse to avoid luncheon at the
+Deaves' and rushed home, stopping en route to buy a small-sized
+cartwheel of violets.
+
+He let himself in softly and managed to get on the stairs without
+attracting Carmen's attention.  The violets were hidden under his coat.
+Corinna's door stood open now, and his heart began to beat.  "Will she
+recognise my step?" he thought.  "I would know hers on my flight."
+
+He stood in her doorway and the heart slowly froze in his breast.  The
+room was empty, dreadfully empty.  She was gone.  The empty mantel, the
+empty floor, the empty place where the piano had stood seemed to mock
+at him.  He turned a little sick, and put his hand out behind him on
+the door frame for support.  "There is some mistake," he told himself,
+but he knew in his heart there was no mistake.  This was the natural
+outcome of the tormenting mystery in which Corinna enveloped herself.
+
+He looked stupidly down at the violets in his hand.  In a spasm of pain
+he threw them on the floor and ground them under his heel.  Their
+fragrance filled the room.  Then the violence passed and he felt dead
+inside.  He looked inside the little dressing-room--not that he
+expected to find her there, but it was a place to look.  It was empty
+of course.
+
+When he issued out again the sight of the bruised flowers caused him a
+fresh wrench.  Lying there they were like a public advertisement of his
+betrayed heart.  He picked them up and thrust them as far as he could
+reach up the chimney flue.
+
+In the midst of Evan's pain a voice seemed to whisper to him: "You
+might have expected it.  It was too much happiness!"
+
+Later he thought: "There will be a letter for me up-stairs," and ran up
+the two flights, knowing there would be no letter.  Yet he searched
+even in the unlikeliest places.  There was no letter.  To his relief
+Charley was out.
+
+He thought of Carmen.  Dreadful as it was to face her prying eyes, it
+was still more dreadful not to know what had happened.  He went
+down-stairs again.  On the final flight the unhappy wretch started to
+whistle, hoping by that to attract her to her door that he might not
+have to ask for information.
+
+The ruse was successful.  She came out into the hall.  Evan found
+himself curiously studying the odd bumps that the curling pins made
+under her frowsy boudoir cap.  She required no lead to make her talk.
+
+"Miss Playfair has gone!" she cried.
+
+"So I see," said Evan.  He listened carefully to the sound of his own
+voice.  It did not shake.  He kept his back to the light from the front
+door.
+
+"What do you know about that!  I never did like her.  One of them
+flibbertigibbets!  You never can trust a red-haired woman!  And such a
+display of her hair, as if it was beautiful indeed!  That showed her
+character.  But I should worry!  Paid me a month's rent in advance when
+she came.  Wanted part of it back this morning.  But I said, 'Oh, no,
+my dear!  That's the landlady's propensity--I mean perquisite.'"
+
+Evan wondered if the sick disgust he felt of the woman showed in his
+face.  As a matter of fact his face was simply wooden.  Carmen rattled
+on unsuspiciously:
+
+"That's enough for me.  I don't care if I never rent the rooms.  No
+more women in my house.  They lower the tone.  A man of course can do
+anything and it doesn't matter, but a woman in the house is a cause for
+suspicion even if she doesn't do anything."
+
+Evan was not interested in Miss Sisson's ideas.  He wanted information.
+"What reason did she give for leaving?" he asked carelessly.
+
+"Said she had an important musical offer from out of town.  But do you
+believe that?  I don't."
+
+"She didn't lose much time in moving her things," suggested Evan.
+
+"No indeed.  Looks very suspicious if you ask me."
+
+Evan was obliged to put his question in more direct form.  "Who moved
+her things?"
+
+"Just an ordinary truck without any name on it.  I looked particularly.
+The piano people came for the piano.  Rented.  It was a Stannering."
+
+Fearing that the next question could not but betray him, Evan was
+nevertheless obliged to ask it: "Did she leave any forwarding address?"
+
+Miss Sisson's gimlet eyes bored him through before she replied.  "Yes,
+I asked her.  She said she didn't expect anything to come here, but if
+it did I could forward it care of her friend Miss Evans, 133 West Ninth
+street.  Did she owe you any money?"
+
+This was too much.  "No, indeed," said Evan, and hurried away.
+
+He walked blindly across the Square, conscious only that Carmen was
+probably watching him through the narrow pane beside the door.  How
+well he knew her expression of mean inquisitiveness.  He was marching
+into blackness.  He was incapable of thinking consecutively.  What was
+left of his faculties was concentrated to the sole end of concealing
+his hurt.
+
+But he still had two clues.  He automatically turned down Ninth street
+looking for 133 only to find what everybody knows that West Ninth
+street ends at Sixth avenue and there are consequently no numbers
+beyond 100.  He went to the Stannering piano warerooms to ask if they
+had the new address of Miss Corinna Playfair on their books.  He was
+told that Miss Playfair had returned her piano that morning saying that
+she was leaving town and would require it no longer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+MAUD'S INTEREST
+
+Meanwhile Evan's association with Simeon Deaves was not without its
+humorous side.  By the exercise of patience and diplomacy he gradually
+learned how to manage the old man like a child, though like a child
+there were times when he was perfectly unmanageable.  Evan in a way
+became quite attached to him simply because he was a responsibility.
+
+Avarice was a kind of disease that afflicted him.  Apart from that he
+was a harmless, even a likable old fellow.  He suffered from acute
+attacks, so to speak: these were his unmanageable times.  He became sly
+and furtive, and sought for pretexts to sneak out of the house without
+Evan, or to give him the slip in the street.  Evan had to watch sharp
+to keep him out of trouble.  He had little doubt but that they were
+generally followed, but by more experienced trackers than the youth in
+grey for he could never be sure of it.
+
+Simeon Deaves had a thousand foibles, some of which Evan found sadly
+trying.  For instance it was his delight to walk up and down the aisles
+of department stores asking to be shown goods, and haggling over the
+price without the slightest intention of purchasing anything.  The
+audible remarks of the salesgirls made Evan's cheeks burn.
+
+When he remonstrated with the old man, the latter would not rest
+thereafter until he had given Evan the slip.  Under cover of the crowds
+he would slip out of a side door, or dart into an elevator just as the
+door was closing.  After a search Evan would find him perhaps entering
+a second-hand shop to trade the decent clothes that Maud made him wear
+for something out of stock with a little cash to boot.  At other times
+Evan would track him by the crowd that gathered to hear his argument
+with a shoe-string peddler or a push-cart man.  A favourite trick of
+his to evade Evan was to suddenly dart behind a moving trolley car.
+More than once this almost ended his career on the spot.  At other
+times he was quite tractable and seemed almost fond of Evan.
+
+Bargaining was his ruling passion.  Consequently they haunted such
+places as the sidewalk market in Grand street, and the fish market
+under the Queensboro Bridge.  Notwithstanding his avarice the old man
+not seldom bought things for which he had no possible use, simply
+because he thought they were cheap.  He would bring home a doubtful
+fish in a bit of newspaper or a bag of pickled apples which promptly
+found their way into the Deaves' garbage cans.
+
+His pet aversion was beggars.  Woe to the beggar who tackled Simeon
+Deaves unwittingly.  He would receive a lecture on Thrift on the spot.
+This likewise furnished amusement to the street crowds.
+
+Evan's grand object, of course, was to keep the old man from doing
+anything which would give the blackmailers a further hold on him.  One
+of his narrowest escapes took place under the very roof of the Deaves
+house.  The old man was considered safe in his own little junk room in
+the basement, and was allowed to potter there unwatched.  One rainy
+morning while he was supposedly so engaged Evan was enjoying a respite
+with a book in the little office adjoining the library, when through
+the open door into the hall he saw one of the maids whisper to another,
+then both tittered and scampered down stairs.  Evan always on the alert
+for mischief, quietly followed.
+
+He found most of the servants of that disorderly establishment gathered
+in a basement passage with heads bent, listening to sounds that issued
+through the door of Simeon Deaves' room.  Among them was Hilton the
+butler, an oily, obese rascal whom Evan thoroughly distrusted.  All
+vanished the other way down the passage at Evan's approach.
+
+Evan knocked peremptorily, and the door being opened, he saw that the
+multi-millionaire was closeted with a typical specimen of old clo' man,
+bearded, dirty and cringing.  It was their dispute over sundry articles
+in Simeon Deaves' weird collection that had drawn the giggling
+servants.  It appeared that the old man was the seller.  Evan bounced
+the old clo' man in spite of his protests.
+
+"I come by appoindmend, mister.  I come by appoindmend!"
+
+"All right" said Evan.  "Call it a disappoindmend, and get!"
+
+The old man was indignant too.  "A very honest man," he protested.  "He
+was willing to pay me twenty-five cents for my alarm clock.  I could
+have got him up to thirty.  It isn't worth more than fifteen!"
+
+"You can be sure then that he was taking a chance of picking up
+something for nothing," said Evan.  "When will you learn sense!  All
+the servants listening and giggling in the passage.  Nice story the
+alarm clock would make in the papers!"
+
+But it was impossible to make the old man realize his own absurdity.
+"Well, you needn't bite my head off," he said pettishly.  "Come on,
+let's go out.  A little rain won't hurt us."
+
+From which it will be seen that their relative positions had undergone
+a considerable change since the beginning.  Evan had become the mentor
+and guide.
+
+In the past the demands for money had come pretty regularly about once
+a fortnight, Evan learned.  As the end of the two weeks drew near a
+certain apprehension was evident in the house.  George Deaves was
+wretchedly anxious, Evan somewhat less so, while the old man went his
+ways undisturbed.
+
+And then the letter came.  One morning on his arrival Evan was directed
+to the library where he found George Deaves in a state of prostration.
+He waved a letter at Evan in a kind of weak indignation.  Evan took it
+and read:
+
+
+"Dear Mr. Deaves:
+
+Another story has been written to add to the blithe biography of your
+parent.  It is the most humorous chapter so far.  We do not enclose it,
+as we desire to stimulate your curiosity.  You can read it in the
+_Clarion_ to-morrow evening--unless you wish to reserve that pleasure
+exclusively to yourself.  In that case you may send a picture to the
+rummage sale of the Red Cross at -- Fifth avenue.  Mrs. Follett Drayton
+is in charge.  Send any framed picture and between the picture and the
+backing insert five of Uncle Sam's promissory notes of the usual
+denomination.  Put your name on the picture for purposes of
+identification.
+
+Yours as ever,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"This is the return I get for the money I have paid you!" said George
+Deaves reproachfully.
+
+"It's a bluff!" said Evan.
+
+"Can you assure me of that?"
+
+"I can't swear to it of course.  Mr. Deaves gives me the slip once in a
+while.  And there was one day I was not with him.  But he says he
+didn't go out that day.  I'm sure it's a bluff.  If they had a new
+story on him they'd send it fast enough."
+
+"Maybe they're going to print the last one."
+
+"Maybe.  But in that case why not say so?  They have shown a queer
+sense of honour heretofore in suggesting that when you paid for a story
+that was done with.  Have you got the envelope this came in?"
+
+George Deaves handed it over.  It was of medium size and made of cheap
+"Irish linen" paper.  The post-mark was Hamilton Grange.  A small
+peculiarity that Evan marked was that though it had been sent from a
+New York post-office the words "New York City" were written in full.
+
+"What do you think about this Mrs. Drayton?" asked Deaves.
+
+"A woman above suspicion.  They're using her as they used Hassell.
+Easy enough to plant somebody in the Red Cross shop to watch the
+packages received.  Someone to buy the picture you send."
+
+"You advise me to ignore this then?"
+
+"No, if it was me I'd call their bluff.  Have a better moral effect.
+Get an old picture from somewhere and stick a piece of paper in the
+back.  The fellow who wrote this letter fancies himself as a humorist.
+Answer him in kind.  Write on the paper: 'Show me first your wares.'"
+
+"What does that mean?" asked George Deaves innocently.
+
+"A quotation from Simple Simon," answered Evan grinning.
+
+The other man hung in a painful state of indecision, biting his nails.
+At last he said breathlessly with a tremendous effort of resolution:
+"Very well, I'll do it."
+
+
+But the gang proved to have another shot in its locker.  Next morning
+Evan was sent for again to the library where he found a family conclave
+in session.  The gorgeous Maud in purple velvet and pearls ("How does
+she get the money out of them?" thought Evan) was detonating like a
+thunderstorm in the hills.  George Deaves sat crushed at his desk, and
+the old man sputtered and snarled when he could get a word in.  Maud
+(it was impossible for Evan to think of her by a more respectful name)
+promptly turned to discharge her lightnings at Evan's head.
+
+"What are you good for?" she demanded.  "Aren't you paid a good salary
+to keep my husband's father from disgracing us all?  Why don't you do
+it then?  Why don't you do it?"
+
+Evan bit his lip to keep from smiling in her face.  To an outsider
+these family rows smacked of burlesque.  One could always depend on the
+actors to play their regular parts.
+
+"If you would please explain," said Evan mildly.
+
+"Read that!" She thrust a letter at him.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Madam:
+
+Your husband has declined to purchase the latest anecdote of Mr. Simeon
+Deaves, and has bidden us to let the general public enjoy the laugh.
+This we will very gladly do, but knowing you to be a lady of sensitive
+nature, it seemed too bad not to give you a chance to act in the matter
+first.  The story will be published in the _Clarion_ this evening
+unless we hear from you or from Mr. Deaves.  In case you wish to stop
+it please see our letter of yesterday for instructions how to reach us
+and what to send.
+
+In the meantime pray accept, dear Madam, the assurances of our
+distinguished consideration, and believe us,
+
+Yours most respectfully,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"Why wasn't it sent?" she cried.
+
+"Mr. Deaves decided that they were bluffing this time," said Evan.
+
+"You advised me!" said Deaves.
+
+"Certainly" said Evan.  "That's all I can do.  The decision rests with
+you."
+
+"Why wasn't I consulted?" cried Maud.
+
+And so the storm raged up and down.  Evan devoutly wished himself some
+place else.
+
+"Knowing your father's propensity for disgracing us I don't believe
+it's a bluff!" cried Maud.
+
+"Disgracing you!" retorted the old man.  "Whose money paid for those
+gew-gaws?"
+
+"Must I stand here to be insulted in the presence of my husband!"
+
+"Papa, be quiet!"
+
+"Disgracing you?  Where would you all be, but for this disgraceful old
+man I'd like to know!"
+
+But neither of the men was any match for Maud.  Within a quarter of an
+hour she had driven the old man from the room and reduced her husband
+to a palpitating jelly.
+
+In the end the latter said hopelessly: "Very well, I'll send the money."
+
+Maud swept triumphantly out of the room.  Evan looked after her with a
+new eye.  During the last few minutes an extraordinary suspicion had
+come into his mind, an incredible suspicion, but it would not down.
+
+The wretched George Deaves played with the objects on his desk.  "All
+very well to say I'll send it," he muttered.  "But where am I going to
+get it?  Useless to ask Papa."
+
+Evan was silent.  There was nothing for him to say.
+
+George Deaves looked at him aggrievedly.  "You think I'm wrong to send
+it."
+
+"I should think it would be hard enough to send it when they had
+something on you, let alone when they were only bluffing."
+
+"It is hard," whimpered the other.  "I think it's a bluff myself.  But
+suppose it isn't and the story is printed.  What would I say to Maud?
+How could I face her?"
+
+"It's for you to decide," said Evan.
+
+George Deaves rapped on his desk, bit his fingers, looked out of the
+window, got up and sat down again.  Finally he said tremulously: "Very
+well, I'll take a chance."
+
+
+With what anxiety they awaited the appearance of the _Clarion_ may be
+guessed.  Simeon Deaves and Evan started out immediately after lunch to
+get a copy.  The old man wanted to go direct to the publishing office
+to get it damp from the press, but Evan persuaded him it would never do
+to betray so much anxiety in the matter.  The _Clarion_ office might be
+watched.  Indeed it was not unlikely the gang had an agent there.
+
+They found that none of the newsstands in the vicinity of the plaza
+carried the _Clarion_: "a socialistic rag" it was called in that
+neighbourhood.  They had to walk all the way to Third avenue to find a
+dealer who would confess to handling it.  It would be up at four he
+said, so that they had an hour to kill, which old Simeon spent very
+happily in the fish-market.
+
+For the last fifteen minutes they hung around outside the newsstand
+while the proprietor watched them suspiciously from inside his window.
+When the newswagon drove up Simeon Deaves snatched a _Clarion_ from the
+top of the pile.  The newsdealer held out his hand for the two cents,
+but it was ignored.
+
+Evan got a copy for himself.  Skimming over the headlines he failed to
+find the name of Deaves and breathed more freely.  A more careful
+search column by column revealed not so much as a stick of type devoted
+to Simeon Deaves.  Evan and his employer looked at each other and
+grinned.
+
+The newsdealer demanded his two cents.
+
+"Shan't need the paper now," said Simeon, calmly putting it down.
+
+Evan averted an explosion by hastily paying for both copies.
+
+On the way home the old man was in such an extraordinary good humour
+that he actually bought Evan a five-cent cigar.  Evan keeps it to this
+day as a curiosity.
+
+At home they found an ashy and shaken George Deaves waiting for them in
+the library.
+
+"It's all right!" said Evan.
+
+A look of beatific relief overspread the other's face.  He immediately
+began to swell.  "That is most gratifying! most gratifying!" he said
+pompously.  "I am really under obligations to you, Weir.  We both are,
+aren't we, Papa?"
+
+"Sure, Evan's a good boy.  I always said so.  I bought him a cigar."
+
+"Tcha!  A cigar!  I should really like to do something for you, Weir."
+
+"You can raise my salary if you want," said Evan slyly.
+
+A comical transformation took place in both faces.  "What!  Raise your
+salary!  Again!  Impossible!" both cried.
+
+Evan laughed.  "Well, you proposed doing something for me."
+
+Someone else in that house had bought a copy of the _Clarion_.  Mrs.
+George Deaves entered in what was for her a high good humour with a
+copy of the sheet under her arm.
+
+"Well, I see you sent the money," she said.
+
+George Deaves looked self-conscious.  He greatly desired to lie, but
+lacked the effrontery to do so before the other men.  His father saved
+him the trouble of doing so.  Eager to get back at Maud he said:
+
+"No, he didn't!"
+
+Mrs. Deaves' face fell.  The black eyes began to snap.  Another storm
+portended.  "You promised me----" she began.
+
+"But you see we were right," interrupted her husband.  "It was a bluff.
+There's nothing in the paper."
+
+"You don't know it's a bluff!" she cried.  "Perhaps they were too late
+for the paper.  It will be in to-morrow.  You have got to send the
+money at once as you promised!"
+
+But George Deaves' momentary relief had put a little backbone into him.
+"I still think it a bluff!" he said doggedly.  "I'm willing to take a
+chance."
+
+The storm broke.  "Oh, you're willing, are you?  How about me?  How
+about me?  Here you sit all day.  What do you know about how people
+talk?  I have to go about.  I have to see people smile when they think
+I'm not looking and whisper behind their hands.  Do you think I don't
+know what they're saying?  Oh, I know!  'That's Mrs. George Deaves, my
+dear.  Wife of the son of the notorious miser.  You've heard how he
+squabbles in the street with newsboys and fruit vendors over pennies!'
+Well, I've had enough of it!  Enough, I say!  I won't stand it!"
+
+In the full course of her tirade she happened to look at Evan.  Evan's
+suspicion had become almost a certainty.  His eyes were bent steadily
+upon her.  He was not smiling, but there was an ironical lift to the
+corners of his mouth.
+
+She pulled herself up.  "Well, if there's anything published to-morrow
+you know what to expect," she said, and swept out of the room.
+
+Evan glanced at father and son.  Nothing showed in their faces but
+simple relief at her going.  Evan marvelled at their blindness.  He had
+yet to learn that habitually suspicious people never see what goes on
+under their noses.
+
+Evan had plenty of food for thought.  An extraordinary situation was
+suggested; one in which it behooved him to move with exceeding caution.
+For the moment his best plan appeared to be to continue to keep the old
+man out of trouble, while he watched and waited and found proof of what
+he was already morally sure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE STEAMBOAT _ERNESTINA_
+
+On a shining morning when the Northeast wind had swept the sky as clean
+as a Dutch kitchen, Evan was on his way to work, trying to make out to
+himself with but poor success that all was right with him and with the
+world.  As a matter of fact the loveliness of the morning only put a
+keener edge on his dissatisfaction.  He could not but remember other
+lovely mornings when the heart had been light in his breast.
+
+Every pretty woman that he met put him in a rage.  "All alike!  All
+alike!" he said to himself.  "God help the man that takes them at face
+value!  Well, they'll never get their hooks in me again!  I know them
+now!"  It did not occur to him that there was rather an inconsistency
+in raging at something so perfectly unimportant; nor did he enquire too
+closely into the motives that led him to search ceaselessly among the
+feminine passers-by and to turn his head to look down every side
+street.  His search for a certain red-haired individual of the despised
+sex had become involuntary.
+
+At Thirteenth street he suddenly perceived Anway coming towards him
+down the avenue, and his heart bounded.  Never was a man gladder to
+stumble on his rival.  Luckily Evan saw him first.  Hastily turning his
+back, he stared in a shop window until he judged the other had passed
+behind him.  Then he took up the trail, forgetting his job, and indeed
+everything else save that Anway must possess the clue to Corinna's
+whereabouts.
+
+He was led to the corner of Broadway and Twenty-third street, where
+Anway stopped, evidently to wait for an eastbound car.  This was a
+little awkward, for the cars bound in that direction were but sparsely
+filled at this hour.  Evan bought a newspaper.  Anyway boarded a
+cross-town car and sat down inside.  Evan swung himself on as the car
+got in motion, and remained out on the back platform, using his paper
+as a screen.
+
+As the car progressed to the far East side it gradually emptied until
+only Anway and Evan remained on board.  Evan became rather nervous.
+"Well, if he spots me I'll follow him anyhow," he said.  "What on earth
+is he doing on this ragged edge of the town?"
+
+At the end of the line Anway got off the front end of the car without
+having discovered Evan, and headed down the water-front street to the
+South.  A number of groups of people, having the gala look of those
+bound on an excursion, were going the same way; and Evan concealed
+himself among them.
+
+On the river side the new city piers stretched out into the water.  Not
+having been leased yet, all kinds of craft were tied there;
+canal-boats, lighters, schooners, launches.  All the people, including
+Anway, were heading towards a pier where a queer little old-fashioned
+steamboat was lying.  She had a tall, thin smoke-stack and immense
+paddle-boxes.  She looked like one of those insects with a tiny body
+and a wholly disproportionate outfit of legs, antennas, etc., spreading
+around.  Her name was painted in fancy letters on the paddle-boxes:
+_Ernestina_.
+
+From the rear Evan saw Anway pass on board.  He wondered what the
+elegant Anway had in common with all the poor and humble people who
+were bound on the excursion.  Many of them obviously did not even
+possess any Sunday clothes to put on for the trip.  There is, surely,
+no greater degree of poverty.  Children were very largely in the
+majority, pale, great-eyed, little spindle-shanks.  All had red tickets
+in their hands.  If, as it seemed, this was a charitable excursion,
+Anway must be one of those in charge.
+
+As he drew closer Evan saw that the tickets were being collected by a
+man at the shore end of the gangway.  Here was a proper source of
+information.  This man had the pale and earnest look of the
+professional philanthropist, a worthy soul, some half a dozen years
+older than Evan, with a wife and four children undoubtedly.  Evan took
+up a place near him and watched the procession wending aboard with
+brightening faces.
+
+"You couldn't have a better day for the trip," he hazarded.
+
+The ticket-taker responded amiably: "Great, isn't it?  We'll bring 'em
+back with rosy cheeks."
+
+"Is this the outfit Anway told me about?" asked Evan, feeling his way.
+
+"Yes, the Ozone Association trips.  Are you a friend of Anway's?  He's
+just gone aboard."
+
+"He told me so much about it I thought I'd stroll down and take a look."
+
+"Go aboard if you'd like to.  We won't be leaving for ten minutes yet."
+
+Evan desired a little further information before trusting himself
+aboard.  "You must need quite a crowd of helpers to look after the
+kids."
+
+"Miss Playfair takes care of that for me.  She's a host in herself."
+
+All the blood seemed to leave Evan's heart for a moment, and then came
+surging back until it seemed as if that much-tried organ would burst.
+He heard his informant saying:
+
+"But if you know Anway, no doubt you're acquainted with Miss Playfair?"
+
+"I've met her," said Evan, carefully schooling his voice.
+
+"A wonderful little woman!"
+
+"Quite so," said Evan dryly.  "Look here," he went on, "I'd like to go
+with you to-day if I wouldn't be in the way.  I mean, work my passage,
+of course; help take care of the kids, or amuse them, or feed them, or
+whatever may be necessary.  My name's Evan Weir."
+
+The other man looked Evan over and was pleased with what he saw.
+
+"I'd be delighted to have you," he said.  "We can always use more help.
+My name's Denton."
+
+"Well, then, give me a job," said Evan.
+
+"First of all, take my place for a moment," said Denton.  "The
+ice-cream hasn't come.  I must go and telephone."
+
+"Sure thing!"
+
+"You needn't be too strict about tickets," Denton added in an
+undertone.  "I mean in respect to women and children.  The main thing
+is to keep the bad and healthy little boys off."
+
+"I get you," said Evan.
+
+Denton hurried away.  Evan took his place and the procession passed
+before him deprecatingly presenting its squares of red pasteboard.  At
+first Evan scarcely took note of them, he was so busy with his private
+exultation.  He had found her!  And once they got away from the pier he
+would have her all day on the boat where she couldn't escape him.  His
+luck had changed.  For the present he kept his back turned to the
+_Ernestina_ that he might not be unduly conspicuous to anyone happening
+to glance out of the cabin windows.
+
+He was recalled to the business in hand by a plea: "Say, Mister!  Let
+me and me brutter go, will yeh please?  We had our tickets all right,
+but a big lad pasted us and took 'em offen us."
+
+Evan looked down into a little angel face and clear shining eyes.  The
+"brutter" waited warily in the background.  Evan knew boys, and had no
+doubt but that this was a pair of incorrigibles, but he couldn't refuse
+anybody just then.
+
+"What's your name, boy?"
+
+"Ikey O'Toole."
+
+"Well, you are out of the melting-pot for sure!"
+
+"No, sir; I live in Hester street."
+
+"That's all a stall about losing your tickets," Evan said, trying to
+look stern.  "But I'll let you go.  I'm going too, see?  And if there's
+any rough-housing you'll have me to deal with."
+
+The surprised and jubilant urchins hurried aboard.
+
+This incident was witnessed with visible indignation by two pale and
+solemn little girls who stood apart.  They knew the bad little boys
+told a story if the gentleman didn't.  Lost their tickets, indeed!
+During a lull Evan beckoned them.  They came sidling over, each
+twisting a corner of her pinafore.
+
+"Are you waiting for somebody?" he asked.
+
+A shake of the head.
+
+"Haven't you got any tickets?"
+
+Another shake.
+
+"Do you want to go anyway?"
+
+An energetic pair of nods.
+
+"What will your mother say?"
+
+"Ain't got no mutter.  Sister, she don't care.  She works all day."
+
+"All right.  Skip on board."
+
+Denton and the ice-cream arrived simultaneously.  Shortly afterwards a
+warning whistle was blown.  A small pandemonium of singing and
+delighted squealing was heard from the upper deck.  Evan stuck close to
+Denton.  They remained on the lower deck while the gangplank was drawn
+in and the ropes cast off.  Meanwhile Evan was gathering what further
+information he could.
+
+"How often do you make these trips?"
+
+"Twice a week--Tuesdays and Saturdays."
+
+"What is the Ozone Association?  I never heard of it."
+
+"I can't tell you much, though I work for them.  I've always understood
+it was some rich man who wished to keep his name out of the thing.  I
+was hired by a law firm to manage the trips, and the money comes to me
+through them."
+
+"How did you get hold of all your helpers?"
+
+"Oh, one way and another.  Miss Playfair gets her friends to help."
+
+When the _Ernestina_ finally moved out into the stream, Denton remained
+below, attending to the stowage of the ice-cream and to other matters,
+and Evan stayed with him.  To tell the truth, he dreaded a little to
+put his fortunes to the touch by venturing up above.  They were
+unpacking sandwiches when Denton suddenly said:
+
+"Here's Anway.  Anway, here's a friend of yours."
+
+Evan looked up with a wary smile.  As it chanced, the busy Denton was
+called from another direction at that moment, and he did not see the
+actual meeting between the two.  Evan had his back to the light and
+Anway did not instantly recognise him.  Anway's expression graduated
+from expectancy at the sound of the word friend to blankness as he
+failed to recognise Evan, and to something like consternation when he
+did.
+
+"What are you doing here?" he blurted out.
+
+"The same as yourself," replied Evan.  "Only a volunteer."
+
+Without another word Anway turned.  Evan went with him.  He had no
+intention of letting him warn Corinna.  They mounted the main stairway
+side by side, Anway gazing stiffly ahead, Evan watching him with a grin.
+
+As soon as they rounded into the saloon Evan saw Corinna, and his head
+swam a little.  She was so very dear and desirable he forgot how badly
+she had used him.  She was kneeling on the carpet, feeding a hungry
+baby with cup and spoon.  The baby sat in the lap of a woman so spent
+and done, she could do no more than keep the infant from slipping off.
+It was an appealing sight.  In such an attitude Corinna was all woman,
+her face as tender as a saint's.  Evan laid a restraining hand on
+Anway's arm.
+
+"Let the kid have his meal anyway," he whispered.
+
+But some current of electricity warned Corinna.  Looking up, she saw
+Evan at a dozen paces' distance.  Evan trembled for the cup.  It was
+not dropped.  Corinna had herself better in hand than Anway.  No muscle
+of her face changed; only the light of her eyes hardened.
+
+"She thinks you brought me aboard," murmured Evan wickedly.
+
+Anway flushed.
+
+Corinna resumed her feeding of the baby.
+
+Evan was divided between admiration and chagrin.  Secretly he had
+counted on his appearance creating a more dramatic effect than this.
+
+Anway hung around in a miserable state of indecision.  If Evan had only
+given him an excuse to punch him he would have been glad no doubt.
+Finally he said:
+
+"You see what she's doing.  Come away and let her be."
+
+Evan good-humouredly shook his head.  "The sight gives me too much
+pleasure," he said.  "But don't let me keep you."
+
+But Anway lingered unhappily, walking away a little and coming back.
+
+Corinna did not look at Evan again.  Her self-control was too
+provoking.  "By Heaven, I'll make her show some feeling before the
+day's out!" he vowed to himself.  When the cup was empty she came
+straight toward him with her chin up.
+
+"How do you do, Corinna?" said Evan.
+
+She looked at him with the faint air of surprise she knew so well how
+to assume.  Then, as if suddenly placing him: "Oh!  You must excuse me
+now.  I have a dozen hungry babies to feed."
+
+Evan, with a smile, allowed her to pass downstairs.  It required no
+small amount of self-control.  "Patience, son!" he said to himself.
+"You have all day before you.  If you lose your temper, she'll have you
+exactly where she wants you.  However she bedevils you, you must be
+little Bright-eyes still!"
+
+Corinna presently returned with more food and proceeded to the next
+baby in line.  In the meantime Anway, finding himself both unnecessary
+and helpless in this situation, had drifted away--to confer with his
+"brothers," perhaps.  The second baby's mother was perfectly capable of
+feeding her own offspring, and Evan saw that Corinna was merely using
+the infant as a shield against him.  But he could not seem to interfere
+between a helpless baby and its food.
+
+When she passed him again bound down below he said: "Let me help you."
+
+"Thanks, this is hardly in your line," she said coldly.
+
+Nevertheless he followed her down and saw that she went to the galley
+for a soft-boiled egg for the next child.
+
+"You're wasting your time running up and down," he said with obstinate
+good nature.  "Let me be your waiter and fetch the different orders
+while you feed."
+
+"Thanks; I don't need your assistance," she said.
+
+But he saw that her temper was beginning to rise, and took heart.  If
+he could only put her in the wrong!  He blandly followed her back
+again, and as she started to feed he found out for himself what the
+next baby required.  This was a small one and its order was for six
+ounces of milk with two ounces of barley water and a teaspoonful of
+sugar added, the whole in a bottle well-warmed.
+
+He procured it from the galley in due course.  Corinna received it of
+him with a very ill grace.  "She'd make a face at me if she didn't have
+her dignity to keep up," thought Evan.  After that he had her.  They
+worked their way down one side of the saloon and back on the other, to
+all outward appearance at least like two pals.  Evan was careful to
+confine his remarks to milk, oatmeal gruel, beef broth and orange
+juice.  Corinna could not find matter in this to quarrel over.  She was
+as acidly sweet as one of the oranges.
+
+Only the little ones and the sick were specially fed in the saloon.
+The others were taken down in relays to the dining-room on the main
+deck aft.  Corinna's and Evan's task came to an end at last.  As he
+carried the last cup back to the galley Evan said to himself: "Now's my
+chance!"
+
+But when he returned he saw that Corinna, for the sake of the
+convalescent children not allowed out on deck, had started to tell a
+story.  They were pressing around her in close ranks that presented a
+triple line of defence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+EVAN LOSES A ROUND
+
+Evan, somewhat crestfallen, went out on deck and lit a cigarette.  "Oh,
+well, it can't last forever," he told himself.  He found a seat near an
+open window where he could overhear the story.  To his mind Corinna had
+not much of a talent for it.  He thought he could have told a better
+one himself.  It was the chronicle of an unpleasantly good little girl,
+and when Corinna was gravelled for matter to continue with, she filled
+in by lengthily describing the heroine's clothes.  "Just filibustering
+like the U. S. Senate," thought Evan disgustedly.
+
+Corinna, suspecting perhaps that she had too critical a listener,
+changed her seat on the pretext of a draught and he could hear no more.
+
+Meanwhile the good ship _Ernestina_ was industriously wig-wagging her
+walking-beam down the upper Bay.  She was a quaint, crablike little
+craft.  Her tall and skinny smokestack was like a perpetual exclamation
+point.  Her gait resembled that of a sprightly old horse who makes a
+great to-do with his feet on the road but somehow gets nowhere.  At the
+end of each stroke of her piston she seemed to stop for an instant and
+then with a wheeze and a clank from below, and a violent tremor from
+stem to stern, started all over.  Her paddle-wheels kicked up alarming
+looking rollers behind, but with it all she travelled no faster than a
+steam canal-boat.  Not that it mattered; the children got just as much
+ozone as on the deck of the _Aquitania_.
+
+Evan's patience was not inexhaustible.  By the time they reached
+Norton's Point he was obliged to go in to see how the story was
+progressing.  It was no nearer its end, as far as he could judge.
+Corinna's Dorothy Dolores was donning a party dress of pink messaline
+with a panne velvet girdle.  The children's interest flagged and they
+drifted away, but there were always others to take their places.
+
+Ikey O'Toole and his pal happened to pass through the saloon bound on
+some errand of their own, and Evan had a wicked idea.  "Come here,
+boys," said he, "and I'll tell you a story about robbers."
+
+Their eyes brightened.  Evan took a seat opposite Corinna's and began:
+
+"There was a band of train-robbers and cattle-rustlers who lived in a
+cave out in Arizona, and they had for a leader a guy named
+Three-fingered Pete.  Pete could draw a gun quicker with his three
+fingers than any other man with five."
+
+And so on.  There was magic in it.  Let it not be supposed that little
+girls are proof against a story of robbers however they may make
+believe.  They came drifting across the saloon.  In ten minutes there
+were twenty children surrounding Evan, while Corinna's audience had
+dwindled to four and they were restive.  Corinna kept on.  Her pale,
+calm profile revealed nothing to Evan, but he doubted if she were pale
+and calm within.  Corinna was not red-headed for nothing.
+
+When her hearers were reduced to two she abruptly rose.  Evan wondered
+if sweet Dorothy Dolores had been brought to a violent end.  He got up
+too.
+
+"To be continued in our next," he said.
+
+"Aw, Mister!  Aw, Mister!" they protested, clinging to his coat.
+
+"After lunch," he promised, freeing himself, and hastening down the
+saloon after Corinna.
+
+He thought he had her cornered in the bow, but she dropped into a seat
+beside a woman with a sick baby and enquired how it was getting on.
+The two women embarked on what promised to be an endless discussion of
+the infant's symptoms.  Evan felt decidedly foolish, but stubbornly
+stood his ground.
+
+Denton unexpectedly came to his assistance.  "Miss Playfair," he said,
+"I've got a seat for you in the dining-room, and one for Mr. Weir.
+Won't you come down now?"
+
+Two seats!  Together, naturally.  Evan's heart went up with a bound.
+But Corinna was not going to be led into any such trap.  She asked the
+woman beside her if she had had her lunch.  The answer was a shake of
+the head.
+
+"Then I'll hold the baby, and you go with these gentlemen," said
+Corinna blandly.
+
+"Let me hold the baby," said Evan.
+
+"Oh, thank you, sir; but he don't like men."
+
+Evan went down with Denton and the woman, but he did not mean to be put
+off so easily.  Seeing the crowd in the dining-saloon, he said:
+
+"They're rushed here.  Let me help serve for a while.  Save two seats
+when Miss Playfair comes down."
+
+"Sure," said Denton amiably.
+
+Down the length of the lower saloon there was a double row of tables,
+each with an end to the side wall.  Every seat was taken.  In addition
+to Denton the waiters were Anway and a black-haired youth with a hot
+eye who greeted Evan with a frank scowl.  Denton introduced him as
+Tenterden.  "Another of Corinna's 'brothers'," thought Evan.  "The boat
+is manned with her family!"  He turned in to help with a will.
+
+Nearly an hour passed before Corinna appeared for her lunch, and the
+dining-saloon was beginning to empty.  Seeing Evan there, she naturally
+supposed he had finished eating and had remained to help.  She took a
+seat next the window at one of the tables, and thus protected herself
+on one hand.  Indicating the chair on the other side of her she said to
+Denton:
+
+"Sit here.  You can be spared now."
+
+"Thanks, but I promised this seat to Weir," said Denton innocently.
+
+Corinna bit her lip.  The said Weir made haste to slip into the seat,
+before anything further could be said.  Corinna quickly started a
+conversation with a youth across the table, another helper, and
+supposedly a "brother"--at least he looked at Corinna with sheep's eyes.
+
+Evan, determined not to allow himself to be eliminated, said firmly: "I
+have not met this gentleman."
+
+Corinna said coldly: "Mr. Domville, Mr. Weir."
+
+Next to Domville sat another helper, an older man with a queer, clever,
+bitter face, Mr. Dordess.  Some belated mothers made up the tableful.
+Anway waited on them.  As he placed a plate of soup before Evan with
+set face, Evan suspected he would rather have poured it down the back
+of his neck.  Evan thanked him ironically.
+
+Corinna did her best to keep the conversation of the whole tableful in
+her hands, but of course it was bound to escape her sometimes.  And
+there were lulls.  At such moments Evan could speak to her without
+anybody overhearing.
+
+"Corinna, what's the use?"
+
+Affecting not to hear him, she asked a question across the table.  Evan
+patiently bided his time.
+
+"'What's the use?' I said."
+
+"I don't understand you."
+
+"What's the use of trying to evade something that's got to be faced in
+the end."
+
+"What's got to be faced?"
+
+"Me."
+
+"Is that a threat?"
+
+"No.  You know, yourself, after what happened you owe me an
+explanation."
+
+"The explanation is obvious."
+
+"Then I must be very dense."
+
+"If you were the least bit sorry, I could talk to you; but to glory in
+it, to try to trade on it----"
+
+"Sorry for what?"
+
+"Oh, of course you have nothing to be sorry for."
+
+"You're talking in riddles.  You know I love you."
+
+She laughed three notes.  He frowned at the sound.
+
+"It's a funny way you have of showing it," she said.  "To try to humble
+me further!"
+
+"But you ask for it, Corinna--with your high and mighty way.  I told
+you that before."
+
+Silence from Corinna.
+
+"I don't know what cause you have to be sore at me," he resumed when he
+got another opportunity.  "It seems to me I'm the one----"
+
+"Oh, you'll get over it, I suspect."
+
+"Corinna, why did you run away?"
+
+She rolled a bread ball.  "Because I was ashamed."
+
+He looked at her in honest surprise.  "Ashamed!  Of what?"
+
+"You know very well what I mean."
+
+"I swear I do not!"
+
+"I will hate you if you force me to say it."
+
+"I'll take my chance of that," he said grimly.
+
+"Very well.  Don't you understand that a person may be carried away for
+the moment, and do things and say things that they bitterly regret
+afterwards.  Of course if you have no standards of right and wrong you
+wouldn't understand."
+
+"Thanks for the compliment."
+
+"What happened that night," she went on, "that sort of thing is
+horrible to me!"
+
+At last he understood--and frowned, for it was his deepest feelings
+that she slandered.  But he was not fully convinced that she was
+sincere.  "Then you lied when you said you loved me?"
+
+"I was carried away.  That sort of thing isn't love."
+
+This angered Evan--but he held his tongue.  He sought to find out from
+her face what she really thought.  She looked out of the window.
+
+"Now I hope you understand," she said loftily.
+
+"You have a lot to learn," said Evan, "about love and other things."
+
+"At any rate I hope I have made you see how useless it is to follow
+me," she said sharply.
+
+"It is useless," said Evan--"to talk to you," he added to himself.
+"When I get you off this confounded steamboat we'll see what we'll see."
+
+"Don't stare at me like that," said Corinna.  "It's attracting
+attention."
+
+Evan thought: "If there was only another girl on board that I could
+rush!  That might fetch her!"
+
+Evan saw indeed that Dordess was regarding him quizzically.  Of all the
+men (saving Denton) Dordess was the only one who did not scowl at Evan.
+Evan was not deceived thereby into thinking that he had inspired any
+friendliness in this one.  It was simply that Dordess was more
+sophisticated, and had his features under better control.  To create a
+diversion, Evan asked him:
+
+"What has your particular job been to-day?"
+
+"Serving at the water-cooler," was the response, with a wry smile, "to
+keep down the mortality from colic."
+
+Thereafter Evan took part in the general conversation, and when the
+time came to rise from the table, he let Corinna go her way unhindered.
+He pitched in with a good will to help wash dishes, and to pack up the
+Ozone Association's property in the galley.  But let him work and joke
+as he might, he won no smiles from the "brothers."
+
+"Lord, if it was me, I'd put up a better bluff to hide my feelings," he
+thought.
+
+Later he took over part of the deck to watch and keep the children from
+climbing the rails and precipitating themselves overboard.  Later
+still, as they neared home and the small passengers became weary and
+obstreperous, he resumed the tale of the bandits in the saloon to an
+immense audience.  Evan, perhaps because of his casual air towards the
+children, became the most popular man on the boat.  He did not try to
+win them, and so they were his.
+
+Corinna could not quite fathom his changed attitude towards her.
+During the whole afternoon he let her be.  More than once he caught her
+glancing at him, and laughed to himself.  He was taking the right line.
+
+On one occasion the sardonic Dordess joined him on deck.  Dordess had
+excited more than a passing interest in Evan.  He was different and
+inexplicable.  He had eyebrows that turned up at the ends like a
+faun's, giving him a devilishly mocking look.  The essence of
+bitterness was in his smile.  He had the look of a man of distinction,
+yet his clothes were a thought shabby.  "Clever journalist gone to
+seed," was Evan's verdict.
+
+Dordess said very offhand: "How do you like your job of nursemaid?"
+
+"First-rate!" said Evan.
+
+"How did you happen to stumble on our deep-sea perambulator?"
+
+Evan was wary.  "I just happened to be passing, and saw the kids
+crowding aboard.  I stopped to look, and Denton asked me if I wanted a
+job."
+
+Dordess cocked one of his crooked eyebrows in a way that suggested he
+didn't believe a word of it.  Evan didn't much care whether he did or
+not.
+
+Dordess said dryly: "Denton said you were a friend of Anway's."
+
+"He misunderstood," said Evan carelessly.
+
+"Are you going to be with us regularly?" asked Dordess with a meaning
+smile.
+
+"I only volunteered for to-day."  Evan's tone implied that the future
+could take care of itself.
+
+Dordess said deprecatingly: "I hope the boys haven't made you feel like
+an outsider."
+
+"Not at all," said Evan cheerfully.  "I wouldn't mind if they did," he
+added.  "The main thing is for the kids to have a good time."
+
+"Sure," said Dordess dryly.  "You see, the boys get the idea that these
+excursions are a sort of family affair, and they're apt to resent the
+help of strangers."
+
+"I see," said Evan.  "Are you one of Miss Playfair's 'brothers' too?"
+
+"No; I'm an uncle," said Dordess with his bitter smile.
+
+He walked away.  There had been nothing in his words to which Evan
+could take offence, nevertheless as plainly as one man could to another
+he had conveyed the intimation that Evan was not wanted on board, and
+that if he ventured on board again it would be at his peril.
+
+"The brotherhood evidently fears that I'm going to break up the
+organization," thought Evan.
+
+As they approached the end of their journey Evan began to consider what
+measures he should take upon landing.  His part was a difficult one to
+play with good humour; that is, to force himself on a young lady who
+said she detested him, and who had half a dozen brothers and an uncle
+to take her part.
+
+"She'll do her best to give me the slip," he said to himself.  "When we
+tie up I'll stand by the gangway on the pretext of keeping the kids
+from falling overboard.  Some of them or all of them will take her
+home, no doubt.  I'll tag along, too.  They can't very well openly
+order me away, and I don't give a damn for their black looks and
+meaning hints.  The main thing is to find out where she lives.  I can
+choose my own time to call.  Perhaps she won't open the door to me.
+Well, my patience is good."
+
+As they approached the pier Evan went down to the main deck.  Corinna
+was not visible at the moment.  Only the forward gangway of the
+_Ernestina_ was used.  Her shape was so tubby that she couldn't bring
+any two points alongside a straight pier simultaneously.  While they
+were making a landing all the children were kept roped off in the stern
+and up in the saloon.  The only persons in the bow space beside Evan
+were Denton, Anway, Domville, Tenterden, two other "brothers" and two
+deckhands to stand by the lines.
+
+Up forward there was an additional stairway from the saloon.  This was
+enclosed and had a door at the bottom, locked at the moment to keep the
+children out of the way.  In the centre of the deck was a hatch for
+freight, used presumably when the _Ernestina_ served as a carrier.
+
+As the steamboat sidled up to her pier Evan heard Corinna's voice call
+down the stairway: "Oh, Mr. Denton; will you come up here for a moment?"
+
+Denton unlocked the door and disappeared upstairs.  The door was locked
+after him.  At the same moment Domville and one of the unidentified
+young men threw back the hatch cover.  The latter said: "Let's get the
+cargo ashore first."
+
+Evan wondering what cargo the excursion boat could be carrying, stepped
+forward in idle curiosity to look down the hatch.  Suddenly he became
+aware that the young men were circling behind him.  Before he could so
+much as turn around, he was seized from each side and a hand clapped
+over his mouth.  With a concerted rush they swept him into the hole in
+the deck, falling on their knees at the edge, and letting him drop in.
+He fell on a mattress and was not in the least hurt.  From above he
+heard a loud guffaw from the deckhands.  Then the hatch cover was
+clapped down, and he heard heavy objects being piled upon it.
+
+Evan raged silently in his prison.  Pride restrained him from making
+any outcry.  He had no fear that his murder was contemplated.  They'd
+have to let him out again.  In the meantime they'd get no change out of
+him.  And the future could take care of his revenge.
+
+He was in a small cargo space between two transverse bulkheads.  He
+could touch the beams over his head.  The place was perfectly empty
+except for the mattress.  The mattress suggested that this had been
+carefully planned.  It was not dark, being lighted by a fixed porthole
+on either side, not much bigger than an orange.  These lights were only
+a foot or two above the waterline, and when the _Ernestina_ reversed
+her engine in making the pier, the water washed up over the glass.
+
+Evan could hear all the sounds attendant upon making a landing; the
+casting lines thrown ashore, the hawsers pulled over the deck, the
+jingle to the engine room signalling that all was fast.  Then the
+gangway was run out and the feet poured over it.
+
+Evan found that through the porthole on the pier side he was able to
+catch a brief glimpse of the passengers as they stepped ashore.  He saw
+the children scurry away, never dreaming that the admired story-teller
+was immured below.  The big girls followed more sedately, and after
+them the mothers with backs sagging under the weight of babies.  Last
+of all he had the unspeakable chagrin of seeing Corinna pass with
+Denton grasping her arm.
+
+"That's why I was put down here," he thought.  "To allow her to make
+her getaway."
+
+In the fraction of a second that she was visible to him, her head was
+turned back towards the boat.  When a woman glances over her shoulder
+her true feelings come out; she cannot help herself.  There was anguish
+in Corinna's backward look.  Evan marked it, but he did not love her
+then.  Not that he meant to give over the pursuit; on the contrary he
+swore that she should pay.
+
+Five minutes later the hatch cover was lifted, a short ladder was let
+down, and Evan was bidden to come up.  He mounted smiling.  What that
+smile cost him none but he knew.  But he also knew that with six or
+more against him to show truculence would only have been to make
+himself ridiculous.  He paused on the deck, and coolly looking around
+him, tapped a cigarette on the back of his hand.
+
+Dordess was now with the others.  He had the grace to look away, as
+Evan's glance swept around.  The younger men betrayed in their faces
+their hope that Evan would show fight, and thus give them a chance to
+justify themselves.  Evan saw it, and had no idea of gratifying them.
+
+Tenterden, he of the hot black eyes, who seemed to be leader in this
+part of the affair demanded aggressively: "Well, what are you going to
+do about it?"
+
+"Much obliged for the mattress," said Evan, coolly meeting his gaze.
+"Very thoughtful of you." He counted them ostentatiously.  "Six of
+you--and a couple of deckhands in reserve.  You flatter me, gentlemen!"
+
+He strolled over the gangway.  How they took it he did not know, for he
+would not look back.  At least none of them found a rejoinder.  He had
+the last word.
+
+"They think they have me scared off," he said to himself.  "Just let
+them wait till the _Ernestina_ sails again, that's all!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A LITTLE DETECTIVE WORK
+
+At first Evan had some doubts as to what ought to be his course of
+action in respect to Mrs. George Deaves.  While it was true that her
+husband had definitely given him to understand that he was hired for
+the purpose of running down the blackmailers, he did not suppose that
+George Deaves would thank him for proof that his own wife was
+implicated.  But that didn't alter his duty.
+
+"I'm being paid to deliver them from the gang," he said to himself.
+"As long as I take their money I've got to do what I can to earn it.
+It's none of my affair where the trail leads.  If they want to kick me
+out for my pains, why that's up to them."
+
+It promised to be no easy matter to watch Mrs. Deaves.  Evan rarely saw
+her.  During the few hours that he spent in the house she was
+presumably either in her own rooms, or out in the motor.  One
+suspicious circumstance he did not have to look for, because everybody
+in the house was aware of it.  Maud Deaves was continually in money
+difficulties.  Her creditors camped on her trail.
+
+Two lines were open to Evan: to bribe her maid and to watch her
+letters.  The maid, Josefa, was a light-headed creature perfectly
+willing to plot or counterplot with anybody.  Unfortunately she was of
+very little use to Evan, because her mistress did not trust her in the
+least.  As for the letters, it was scarcely likely that if Maud Deaves
+were carrying on a dangerous correspondence she would have the letters
+come openly to the house.  Nevertheless Evan determined to get to the
+house early enough in the mornings to look over the first mail before
+it was distributed.
+
+On the morning following his trip on the _Ernestina_ he found a letter
+addressed to her that gave him food for reflection.  The address was
+typewritten.  The envelope was of medium size "Irish linen" of the kind
+that never saw either Ireland or flax; in other words, just such an
+envelope as those which had brought the blackmailing letters.  In
+itself this was nothing for many thousands of such envelopes are sold.
+But it was postmarked "Hamilton Grange" and it was addressed "New York
+City."  The three little facts taken together were significant.  Evan
+slipped it in his pocket.
+
+But though it had the look of a mere business letter or a bill, he
+still had qualms about opening it.  Useless to tell himself that it was
+his duty to do so.  To tell the truth Evan was not cut out by nature to
+be a detective.  He finally decided to put his problem to George Deaves.
+
+"Mr. Deaves," he said, "am I employed to accompany your father on his
+walks or to discover the blackmailers?"
+
+"Primarily to run down the blackmailers," was the prompt reply.
+"Merely to go with my father is not worth all the money I'm paying you."
+
+"Very good.  Then I'm supposed to follow the trail wherever it may
+lead?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Even in this house?"
+
+"Of course.  I told you particularly to watch the servants.  Whom do
+you suspect?"
+
+"I have no evidence yet.  I merely wanted to know where I stood.  Would
+I be justified in opening letters that looked suspicious to me?"
+
+"Why, yes.  The guilty person wouldn't tell you of his own accord."
+
+"Thanks; that's what I wanted to know."
+
+"Have you found out anything?" Deaves asked eagerly.
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"Mind, you are to find out everything you can, but you are not to take
+any action without consulting me."
+
+"I understand."
+
+While the servants were at breakfast Evan went to the water heater in
+the basement and, opening the valve, steamed the envelope open.  He
+took the contents to the little room off the library to read.  This is
+what met his eyes:
+
+"Madagascar Hotel
+  August--
+
+"Mrs. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Madam:
+
+I am exceedingly sorry to be obliged to inform you that my customary
+fortnightly contribution to your charity must be omitted on this
+occasion, the reason being that the activity of a certain agitator has
+resulted in shutting off the income from my business, and I am without
+funds.  I am sure you will agree with me that these agitators ought to
+be discouraged in every possible way.  Let us make a stand against
+them.  You can reach me at this hotel at any time.
+
+Yours faithfully,
+  RODERICK FRELINGHUYSEN.
+
+
+This had an innocent sound, and for a moment Evan supposed he had made
+a mistake in opening it.  But he read it again, and began to grin as
+the various implications of the note became clear to him.  "Damn
+clever!" he thought.  "If this was found lying about no one could
+suspect anything from it.  Not even George Deaves.  Why, it almost took
+me in and I was forewarned!"
+
+Evan thoughtfully considered all that the letter meant.  "First of all
+it shows that Maud is not a regular member of the gang, but that they
+have been whacking up with her just to gain her good will.  That's why
+she supplies the pressure from this end.  It all fits in!  Of course I
+am the agitator that he refers to, and he's suggesting to her that she
+get me fired.  But why does he give her an address so that she can
+write to him?  By George!  I have it!  He's giving her a chance to send
+him a story that can be used against the old man!"
+
+He took a copy of the letter, sealed it up again and slipped it back
+among the rest of the mail matter in the hall.
+
+During the morning he was obliged to accompany Simeon Deaves on one of
+his peregrinations.  When they returned for lunch Evan sought out
+Josefa, the lady's-maid.
+
+"What's your mistress been doing all morning?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, Maud's got a new bug!" was the scornful answer.  "Been practising
+on the typewriter for hours."
+
+Evan pricked up his ears.  "The typewriter?"
+
+"She went out right after breakfast and brought home a second-hand
+machine.  Been beating the Dickens out of it ever since."
+
+"What is she writing?"
+
+"Search me.  Won't let me come near her.  Looks like a story or
+something."
+
+"Get a glimpse of it if you can."
+
+"No chance.  She's got eyes all round her head."
+
+"Can you work a typewriter?"
+
+"A little bit."
+
+"Well, when she goes out stick a piece of paper in the machine and
+strike every key once, see?  I want an impression of every character."
+
+"I get you."
+
+After lunch Evan had to waste more precious hours walking around with
+the old man.  When they returned Josefa reported that Mrs. Deaves had
+finished her typewriting about three, and had then done up the sheets
+in a large envelope, and after carefully destroying the spoiled sheets,
+had carried the envelope out, presumably to post it.  Josefa gave Evan
+the paper he had asked for, with a print of each character of the
+typewriter.
+
+It was then five o'clock.  City letters require two hours or more for
+delivery, and supposing this package of Mrs. Deaves' to be an answer to
+"Mr. Frelinghuysen's" note, it would soon be due at the Hotel
+Madagascar.  Evan determined to go and ask for it himself.  He did not
+suppose that Mr. Frelinghuysen was stopping at the Madagascar.  That
+would be too simple.  He knew, as everybody knows, what an easy means
+the "call" letters at a great hotel offers for the exchange of illicit
+correspondence.
+
+The Madagascar, as all the world knows, is one of our biggest and
+busiest hotels.  Evan went boldly to the desk and asked if there were
+any letters for Mr. Roderick Frelinghuysen.  The name sounded imposing.
+The busy clerk skimmed over the letters in the F box, and, tossing him
+a bulky envelope, thought no more about it.
+
+Evan, in high satisfaction, wended his way to another hotel in the
+neighbourhood, and there at his leisure tore the envelope open and
+read--well, very much what he expected: a story designed to be used for
+blackmailing purposes against Simeon Deaves.  No letter accompanied it;
+none was necessary.
+
+This story dealt with ancient history, and contained uglier matter than
+mere ridicule of the old man's avarice.  It had to do with the
+circumstances of the marriage of George Deaves to Maud Warrender and
+what followed thereupon.  In other words, Maud had been engaged in the
+amiable occupation of fouling her own nest.  According to this account
+Simeon Deaves had instigated his weak and complaisant son to woo Miss
+Warrender because her father was President of a railroad that Simeon
+Deaves coveted.  As a result of the marriage Deaves, who up to that
+time had only been a money-lender, had succeeded in entering the realms
+of high finance.  No sooner was his own position secure, so the story
+went, than Simeon Deaves set himself to work to undermine Warrender,
+and in the end ousted him from his railway and ruined him.
+
+This tale had none of the finesse and humour of that written by the
+blackmailers; it was simply abusive.  Yet Maud had not so far forgotten
+herself as to show her hand.  The facts were such as many persons
+beside herself might have been aware of.
+
+Evan painstakingly compared the sheets of the story with the paper
+Josefa had given him.  Every typewriter, save it is just from the
+factory, has its peculiarities.  There was enough here to make out a
+case: "e" was badly worn and had a microscopic piece knocked off its
+tail; "a," "w," "s" and "p" were out of alignment; there was something
+the matter with "g," so that the following letter generally piled up on
+top of it.
+
+In short, Evan held in his hands positive evidence of Maud Deaves'
+treachery.  But upon consideration he decided not to put it before her
+husband at least for the present.  In the first place, he didn't relish
+taking the responsibility of breaking up the Deaves family, and in the
+second place it was clear that the woman was only a tool in the hands
+of a rascal far cleverer than she.  To deprive him of his tool would
+not break up the rascal's game; he could get another.  Therefore Evan
+decided to keep his discovery to himself, and use it if possible to
+land the principal in the affair.
+
+He considered whether he should have the desk at the Madagascar watched
+with a view to apprehending "Mr. Frelinghuysen" when he asked for his
+letter, but decided against that also.  So clever a fox would hardly be
+likely to walk into so open a trap.  He would send an innocent agent
+for the letter, while he watched in safety.  On the whole it seemed
+best to do nothing that might put him on his guard, but to wait until
+he attempted to use his story, for a chance to land him.
+
+He procured another envelope, had the hotel stenographer address it,
+and, sealing up the manuscript, carried it back to the Madagascar and
+handed it in at the desk "for Mr. Frelinghuysen," careful to choose a
+different clerk from the one who had given it to him.
+
+It must have been called for shortly afterwards and acted upon at once.
+Next morning, when Evan arrived at the Deaves house, the story was
+already back there.  The customary violent family conference was in
+progress in the library.  Evan guessed from their expressions that his
+name had entered into this quarrel.  Indeed, Mrs. Deaves was for
+ordering him out of the room again, but the old man was too quick for
+her.  He placed the latest letter in Evan's hands.  Mrs. Deaves turned
+away with a shrug.
+
+"Well, you know what I think of it," she said.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Sir:
+
+You thought we were bluffing, didn't you, when we said we had a chapter
+to add to your father's biography?  Well, here it is.  Your rejection
+of our proposal was received during the absence from town of our chief.
+That accounts for the delay.  Upon his return our chief instructed that
+you were to be given a chance to read the matter before it was
+published.  So we enclose it.  In the absence of any further
+communication from you before noon, it will appear in this evening's
+edition of the _Clarion_.
+
+To-day your procedure for communicating with us must be as follows:
+Bring the specified sum in cash to the house at 11 Van Dorn street.  It
+must be enclosed in an envelope or package.  You must approach on foot.
+Ring the bell; hand it to the woman who opens the door with the words:
+'For the gentleman up-stairs' and leave at once.  You may bring a
+single attendant with you if you choose--you would probably be afraid
+to come without one.  But neither you nor he must linger, nor question
+the woman, nor seek to penetrate beyond the front door.  If you do so,
+or bring any other persons with you or after you, let the consequences
+be or your own head.
+
+Yours as ever,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Evan of George Deaves.
+
+Maud snatched the answer from her husband's lips.  "He's going to pay!"
+she cried.  "He can take you with him if he wants, as there's no one
+else available.  I've no objection to that.  But if you go you're to do
+exactly what the letter tells you and no more!"
+
+As Evan continued to look to George Deaves, the latter was obliged to
+nod a feeble assent.
+
+"He hasn't got the money," put in Simeon Deaves.
+
+"Then let him get it from you!"
+
+"Not if I know it!"
+
+"Well, I don't care where he gets it from.  This story is
+ruinous--ruinous!  This story hits directly at me!  If this is
+published it would be impossible for me to go on living with George!"
+
+"Bravo, Maud!" thought Evan.  "You're some actress!  What a bombshell I
+could explode in this room if I wanted to!"
+
+Maud's parting shot was: "At ten o'clock when the bank opens I will
+take you there myself in the car."
+
+When she had gone the wretched George mumbled to his father: "No use my
+going to the bank.  I'm overdrawn there.  I can't ask for another loan
+unless you'll guarantee it."
+
+"Not another cent!  Not another cent!  Let 'em publish and be damned!"
+He shuffled out of the room.
+
+Evan could not but feel sorry for the unfortunate George, though his
+pity was mixed with contempt.  George's first impulse was to apologise
+for his wife.
+
+"You must make allowances," he said.  "Mrs. Deaves is so dreadfully
+upset by this matter."
+
+"So I see," said Evan dryly.
+
+"I don't know what I'm going to do!"
+
+"You don't need any money," said Evan quietly.
+
+"Eh?" said Deaves dully.
+
+"You've got a real chance to catch them now!"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Trap them in this house in Van Dorn street!  I was sure they'd get
+careless in the end."
+
+Deaves began to tremble.  "But how can we?  How do we know how many
+there are?"
+
+"You'll have to call in the police and have the house surrounded."
+
+"Oh, no!  No!" Deaves cried in a panic.
+
+"But that's what they're counting on: that you're afraid to call on the
+police!"
+
+"The whole story would come out in the papers!"
+
+"Not necessarily.  Those matters can be arranged.  And if they should
+slip through our fingers, we can buy up the story at the _Clarion_
+office later.  We'd be no worse off."
+
+"What could I say to Mrs. Deaves?"
+
+"Don't tell her anything.  She couldn't help but approve after we land
+them behind the bars."  Evan said this with an inward smile.
+
+"But she'll insist on my going to the bank."
+
+"Let her take us there.  She won't come in."
+
+"I can't!  I can't!" he quavered.  "The risk is too great!"
+
+"But if this payment is hard to meet, how about the next, and the next
+after that?"
+
+"Oh, they'll ruin me!" he groaned.
+
+"Then strike for your freedom while there's time!"
+
+George Deaves would not positively consent, but he was so spineless
+that Evan was able to rush him along the path that he wished him to
+follow.  Evan telephoned to police headquarters and made an appointment
+with the inspector in charge of the detective bureau to meet them at
+the bank.
+
+Therefore, when Mrs. Deaves dropped them at the bank, and drove away,
+satisfied that things were going as she wished, instead of obtaining
+the money they went into consultation with the Inspector in plain
+clothes in the manager's office.  Evan did the talking.
+
+"Mr. Deaves is being hounded by a gang of blackmailers," he began.
+
+The Inspector bowed as if blackmailing was a mere bagatelle to him.  He
+had the mannerisms of the army.  Evan was not so sure, though, of his
+capacity.  But one must take an inspector as one finds him.
+
+"He received this letter this morning."  Evan handed it over.
+
+It was read and handed back with a military nod.
+
+"The opportunity seemed a good one to land the crooks."
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"We asked you to meet us here, because if we were seen going to
+headquarters the news would soon reach them.  They were counting, you
+see, on Mr. Deaves not being willing to consult the police.  But of
+course Mr. Deaves has nothing to hide.
+
+"Of course not!"
+
+George Deaves began to look anxious at this, but Evan did not intend to
+be taken too literally, as his employer soon saw.
+
+The Inspector was not so stiff and correct but that he could feel an
+unregenerate curiosity.  "May I see the enclosure the letter speaks
+of?" he asked.
+
+"It has been destroyed," said Evan coolly.  "It was merely scurrilous,
+and Mr. Deaves saw nothing to be gained in keeping it.  The criminal
+intent is shown in the letter."
+
+The Inspector looked disappointed, but bowed as usual.  "Nevertheless I
+should be informed as to their previous activities," said he.
+
+"Certainly," said Evan.  "But if you will excuse me, the time is so
+short!  I thought we should immediately take our measures.  All the
+facts will come out at the hearing, of course."
+
+Their plan was soon made.  It was arranged that in the first place a
+man in plain clothes should be sent through Van Dorn street to locate
+the position of number eleven.  Being an odd number, it would be on the
+north side of the street.  He would then spot the corresponding house
+in the next street to the north, Carlton street, and four men would be
+sent to that house to be in readiness to take the Van Dorn street house
+in the rear.  Six other men would be in readiness to follow George
+Deaves and Evan to the front door.  In order to avoid warning the
+inmates of the house these six would be sent through the block in a
+covered van to leap out as the door was opened.
+
+"What signal will there be for the concerted attack?" asked Evan.
+
+"No signal," said the Inspector.  "The double approach will be timed at
+a fixed moment, military style.  You will ring the door bell at eleven
+o'clock precisely.  Let me see, we'll give them forty-five seconds to
+open the door.  Zero for us will be forty-five seconds past eleven.
+You can depend on us.  Are you armed?"
+
+Evan shook his head.
+
+"As you are to be the first to enter the house it would be as well.
+Take this."
+
+"This" was a neat and businesslike automatic.  George Deaves shuddered
+at the sight of it.
+
+The Inspector compared watches with Evan and departed in his automobile
+to make his arrangements.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+NUMBER 11 VAN DORN STREET
+
+Evan borrowed a newspaper at the bank and cut from it five pieces of
+the size and shape of bills.  These he enclosed in an envelope and gave
+it to George Deaves.  The latter was already longing to turn back from
+this expedition, but Evan gave him no opening to do so.
+
+It was about half-past ten when they left the bank.  In case they
+should be under observation Evan had to find some plausible reason for
+delay.  They taxied back to the Deaves house as if they had forgotten
+something, and then down-town again.  They dismissed their cab in
+MacDougall street, and proceeded on foot according to instructions.
+
+Few people in New York could lead you to Van Dorn street, but Evan
+happened to have marked it during his wanderings with Simeon Deaves.
+It is only three blocks long, from MacDougall street to the river; one
+of the forgotten streets of the real Greenwich Village, not the
+spurious.  Down the first block extends a double row of little old red
+brick dwellings; number eleven was presumably one of these.  The
+remaining blocks are given up to great storehouses.
+
+It was not any too easy to time their arrival to a second without
+rousing the suspicions of anyone who might be watching them.  Evan
+dared not consult his watch too often.  He made careful calculations of
+the time they took to walk a block.  As it was he arrived in sight of
+the corner some seconds too soon.  He used up this time by asking the
+way of an Italian grocer who had no English.
+
+It was ten seconds to eleven when Evan guided the shaking George Deaves
+into Van Dorn street, and they mounted the steps of number eleven
+precisely on the hour.  A great bell was tolling as Evan pulled the
+old-fashioned knob.  In the depths of the house a bell jangled.  Evan's
+heart was beating hard in his throat; George Deaves was as livid as a
+corpse--nothing strange in that, though, if anybody was watching.
+
+The little brick house with its beautiful old doorway and wrought iron
+railings was the very epitome of respectability--they had left the
+swarming Italian quarter around the corner.  With its shining brass
+knobs, neat window curtains and scrubbed steps one would have sworn
+that good, church-going people lived there--but you never can tell!
+
+There was no wagon or van in the block that might have contained the
+police, but it was only a hundred feet or so to the corner.  Evan had
+faith in the inspector.  As a matter of fact, the van was about half a
+minute late in arriving; not a very long time, but long enough to make
+a fatal difference in modern tactics.
+
+They heard steps approaching the door from within--still no sign of the
+police.
+
+"Fumble for the envelope," Evan swiftly whispered.  "It'll gain time."
+
+The door was opened by a woman as respectable in appearance as her
+house, in short a hard-working, middle-aged American woman with an
+expression slightly embittered perhaps as a result of the influx of
+"dagoes" in her neighbourhood.  She looked at them enquiringly.  George
+Deaves fumbled assiduously in his inside breast pocket.
+
+"What is it?" she asked sharply.
+
+"I have something for the gentleman up-stairs," he muttered.
+
+"Oh!"  She waited five seconds more.  "What's the matter?"
+
+"I can't seem to find it."
+
+Still no sign of the police.  Evan was on tenterhooks.  To create a
+diversion he asked:
+
+"Has the gentleman lived here long?"
+
+"Only took the rooms yesterday.  Hasn't moved in yet."
+
+Evan's heart went down.  "Oh, then he isn't in?"
+
+"Yes, he and his friend are up there waiting for the furniture."
+
+She was evidently a victim rather than an accomplice.  Still no sign of
+the police!  George Deaves had not the assurance to keep up his
+pretended search.  Evan signalled to him with a look to hand over the
+envelope.  He did so with trembling hands.
+
+At the same moment Evan, whose ears were stretched for sounds from
+within the house, heard a voice say, not loud: "They're coming over the
+back fence!"  And another voice answered: "Beat it, then."
+
+To Evan it was like the view halloo of the huntsman.  He could not
+resist it.  Never thinking of danger, he pushed past the astonished
+landlady and sprang for the stairs, pulling his pistol as he ran.  As
+he left the stoop he had an impression of a motor van turning the
+corner from MacDougall.
+
+The woman screamed, and George Deaves yelled to Evan to come back.  The
+woman slammed the door in Deaves' face with the impulse of keeping out
+at least one intruder.  This was unfortunate for Evan, for it delayed
+the entrance of the police.
+
+As Evan went up the first flight he heard flying feet on the stairs
+overhead, and he made no pause on the second floor.  He heard a door on
+the third floor slam.  It was in the front.  Houses of this type have a
+window on the stair landing and Evan had no difficulty in seeing what
+he was about.
+
+On the third floor there were four doors on the hall, all closed.  Evan
+went directly to the door he had heard close, the door of the principal
+front room, and throwing it open, stepped back, half expecting a
+fusillade from within.  But none came.  After a moment he stepped to
+the door and looked in.  The room was empty.  But there was a door
+communicating with the rear.
+
+That was as far as his observations carried him.  Suddenly a
+suffocating cloud was thrown over his head from behind and drawn close
+about him.
+
+A voice said: "Give him one; he's heeled!"
+
+A sickening blow descended on his skull.  His strength became as water.
+Still he did not lose consciousness.
+
+A different voice said: "Let him lie!  Come on!"
+
+The first and more determined voice replied:
+
+"Bring him, I tell you!  It's too good a chance to miss!"
+
+A rope was hastily wound around Evan's body, and he was partly dragged,
+partly boosted up a ladder and through a scuttle to the roof.  The last
+sound he heard from the house was the trampling of heavy feet in the
+entry below.  He was put down on the roof.  He was still incapable of
+helping himself, but he heard all that went on as in a dream.
+
+He heard them cover the scuttle.  He heard the more resolute voice say:
+"Help me lift this slab from the parapet."  The other replied
+agitatedly: "Oh, what's the use!  Come on!  Come on!"  The first said:
+"Do what I tell you!  Only one man can stand on the ladder at a time:
+he'll have all he can do to push this up."
+
+A heavy object was dropped on the scuttle.  Evan was then picked up
+between the two and carried over the roofs.  They laid him down on the
+low parapet that separated each house from its neighbour, and jumping
+over, picked him up again.  In this manner they crossed the roofs of
+six houses.  Evan heard vague sounds of excitement from the street
+below.
+
+He was put down again.  One of his captors climbed above him: he heard
+his voice come down.  With one pulling from above, and one boosting
+from below, with strenuous efforts Evan was hoisted to a higher roof.
+The second man climbed after.  As he did so he said:
+
+"They're out."
+
+The other replied: "Bolt the door as you come through."
+
+A door slammed to behind them and was bolted.  Evan was jolted down
+many stairs.  Someone began to pound violently on the door above.
+Other doors on the way were opened.  Women exclaimed in astonished
+Italian.  "Out of the way!  Out of the way!" commanded the resolute
+voice, and none sought to interfere.
+
+They ran down a long passage and down a few steps to the open street
+again.  Evan was carried across the pavement and flung into an
+automobile.  The door slammed.  Running feet were heard from another
+direction.  The resolute voice said:
+
+"Beat it!"
+
+The car jerked into motion.  A hoarse voice ordered them to stop.  A
+pistol was fired.  The bold voice said:
+
+"Step on her hard!"
+
+The car roared down the street with wide open exhaust, turned a corner
+on two wheels, and another corner, and soon outdistanced all sounds of
+pursuit.
+
+The power of movement was coming back to Evan, but he still lay still;
+he was at too great a disadvantage to put up a struggle.  That which
+enveloped him was a thick cotton comforter; it clove to his tongue, and
+the stuffy smell of it filled his nostrils.  Moreover, he had a lively
+recollection of the blackjack or whatever it was that had laid him out
+in the beginning.  It was useless to cry out; even if he should be
+heard above the noise of the engine, who could stop the flying car?
+
+As his wits cleared he set them to work to try to puzzle out the
+direction in which he was being carried.  He could tell from the lurch
+of the car whether they turned to the right or the left.  In the
+beginning they turned so many corners that all sense of direction was
+lost, but after a while they struck a car-line and held to it for a
+long time.  He knew they were running in car-tracks by the smoothness
+of their passage, broken by occasional bumpings as they slipped out of
+the rails.  It was a street with little traffic, for their progress was
+rapid and uninterrupted.
+
+Presently he heard an elevated train roar overhead, and he knew where
+he was.  "Greenwich street or Ninth avenue," he said to himself.  As
+they still held to their car-line he knew they were bound up-town;
+headed the other way, they would have reached the end of the island
+before this.  Bye and bye they coasted down a long hill and puffed up
+the other side.  He guessed this to be the valley between Ninety-third
+street and One Hundred and Fourth, and presently knew he was right,
+when he heard the wheels of the elevated trains grinding on a curve
+high overhead.  The Hundred and Tenth street curve, of course; there is
+no other such curve on the island.
+
+The car turned to the right and then to the left again, still running
+in the rails.  "Eighth avenue now," he said to himself, "and still
+heading north."
+
+Later he heard a car-gong of a different timbre and the unmistakable
+hiss of a trolley wheel on its wire.  There are no overhead wires on
+Manhattan Island except at the several points where the off-island
+railways terminate.  "Union railway," Evan said to himself.  "We've
+reached the Harlem river."  Sure enough, they passed over a
+draw-bridge; the double clank-clank of the draw could not be mistaken.
+"Central Bridge," thought Evan.
+
+But in the smoothly paved streets of the Bronx he lost every clue to
+his whereabouts.  They ran in the car tracks for a while, then left
+them; they made several right and left turns and crossed other tracks.
+Evan guessed they were in a well-travelled motor highway for he heard
+other cars, but that told him nothing; there are a dozen such highways
+radiating from Central Bridge.
+
+He lay against the feet and legs of his two captors.  He listened
+eagerly for any talk between them that might furnish him with a clue.
+But if they conversed it must have been in whispers.  On one occasion,
+though, he heard him of the milder voice say:
+
+"He's so quiet!  Do you suppose he's all right?"
+
+"Search me!" was the indifferent response.  "His body is hot enough on
+my feet, I know."
+
+"Hadn't I better look at him?"
+
+"Sure!  And print your face on his memory forever!"
+
+"I believe that comforter is half suffocating him."
+
+"What of it?  You can't make a cake without breaking eggs."
+
+Gradually the noises of the street lessened, and Evan gathered that
+they were getting out into the sparsely settled districts.  They were
+bowling along rapidly and smoothly.  About twenty minutes after they
+had crossed Central Bridge (if Central Bridge it was) the more
+determined voice suddenly said to the chauffeur:
+
+"Don't turn in now.  There's a car behind.  Run slow and let it pass.
+Then come back."
+
+This was evidently done.  They turned in the road.  As they came back
+the voice said:
+
+"All clear.  Go ahead in."
+
+The car turned to the right and jolted over what seemed to be a shallow
+ditch.  The road that followed was of the roughest character.  If it
+was a road at all it was a wood-track; Evan heard the twigs crackle
+under the tires.  They lurched and bumped alarmingly.  Once they had to
+stop to allow the chauffeur to drag some obstruction out of the way.
+Evidently they had not had the car that way before, for the chauffeur
+said anxiously:
+
+"Are you sure we can get through?"
+
+The resolute voice answered: "We've got to."
+
+The chauffeur said: "I couldn't turn around here."
+
+The other voice replied: "There's a clear space in front of the house."
+
+This way was not very long; a quarter of a mile, Evan guessed.  They
+came to a stop, and the two men climbed out over Evan.  He was
+unceremoniously dragged out feet foremost.  They carried him a short
+distance--Evan heard grass or verdure swishing around their legs.  They
+entered a house and laid him down on a floor, a rough worn floor.
+
+Here Evan heard a new voice, a woman's voice with slurred accents and a
+fat woman's laugh.  The strong-voiced man said:
+
+"Here's a guest for you, Aunt Liza."
+
+"Lawsy!  Lawsy!  What divelment you been up to now!"
+
+A general laugh went round.  To the bound Evan it had a blackguardedly
+and infamous sound.
+
+He was abruptly turned over on his face.  While one man held the folds
+of the comforter tightly round his head, the other two knelt on his
+back and, pulling his arms behind him, tied his wrists together.  Evan
+put up the best struggle he could against such heavy odds.  The man who
+had taken the principal part against him laughed.
+
+"You see, there's life in him yet," he said.
+
+After his wrists they tied his ankles, and got up from him.  The
+comforter was still over Evan's head, and he was powerless to throw it
+off.  The same voice said:
+
+"After we're out of the room you can uncover his head, and give him
+air.  And feed him when dinner's ready."
+
+A door closed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE CLUB HOUSE
+
+The coverlet was thrown back from Evan's head, and breathing deep with
+relief, he saw bending over him a grinning, fat negress, not
+evil-looking, but merely simple in expression.
+
+She exclaimed like a child: "Laws! it's a pretty man!"
+
+"Where am I?" asked Evan.
+
+"Deed, I do' know, chile!"
+
+"I'll pay you well if you'll help me out of here."
+
+"Deed, I cain't help you, honey.  I'm here, but I don' know where it is
+no more than you do.  White folks brung me here, and white folks will
+take me away again I reckon."
+
+Evan looked around him.  He seemed to be in a room of an ancient
+abandoned farm-house.  There was no furniture.  The ceiling was low;
+the great fireplace was certainly more than a century old.  The smell
+of rotting wood was in the air; the plaster was coming down, revealing
+the wrought hand-split laths beneath; the floor was full of holes.
+There were two windows with many missing panes.  The sun was streaming
+in.  From Evan's position flat on his back on the floor he could only
+see the sky through the upper sashes.
+
+In contrast with the wreckage that surrounded them the old negress was
+neat and clean.  She wore a black cotton dress and a gingham apron and
+on her head was a quaint, flat-topped cap made from a folded newspaper.
+She seemed neither ill-disposed nor well-disposed towards Evan but
+regarded him simply as an amusing curiosity.
+
+It ought not to be difficult to bend one so simple to his will, Evan
+thought, and set to work to conciliate her.
+
+"Aunt Liza, you seem like a decent woman.  What are you doing in a den
+like this?"
+
+She affected not to understand him.  "Excuse me, suh, I don' understand
+No'the'ners' talk very good."
+
+"I say this is a funny looking place."
+
+"Well, I reckon they's gwine fix it up some.  Ain't had time yet.  The
+other rooms is better than this."
+
+"Who lives here?"
+
+"Nobody lives here.  It's a club."
+
+"What club?"
+
+"Ain't got no name as I knows.  It's a private club."
+
+"Well, who comes here?"
+
+"Jes, my boss and his friends."
+
+"What's your boss's name?"
+
+"Mistah Henry."
+
+"What's his other name?"
+
+"Henry."
+
+"What's his first name, then?"
+
+"Henry too.  Mistah Henry Henry."
+
+Evan looked at her sharply, but her face was black and bland.
+
+"What do they do here?" he asked.
+
+"Same as gemmen allways does in a club I reckon; smokes and talks and
+plays cards and mixes juleps."
+
+"Well, do they generally bring their guests here tied hand and foot?"
+
+Aunt Liza dissolved into noiseless fat laughter.  "No suh!  No suh!
+That's somepin new, that is!"
+
+"Well, what do you think of it?"
+
+"Laws!  I never thinks, suh.  I leaves that to the white folks.  I jus'
+looks on and 'preciates things!"
+
+Evan was sure now that she was simply using her simplicity as a cover.
+In such a contest he could only come off second best, so he fell
+silent.  He was anxious to get her out of the room now that he might
+get a glimpse out of the window.
+
+"Somebody said something about dinner," he said.  "How about it?"
+
+"Ready d'rectly, suh.  I'll go look at it."
+
+She went out.  The room had but the one door which she locked after
+her.  After a series of struggles Evan succeeded in getting to his
+knees.  If this sounds easy let the doubter have his hands tied behind
+him, and his ankles tied together, and try it.  This brought his head
+above the level of the window-sill, but the view out the window
+scarcely repaid him for his trouble.  It was much what one might have
+expected from the condition of the house, a door-yard grown high with
+grass and weeds, a clump of tiger-lilies, some aged lilac bushes, a few
+rotten palings marking the line where a fence had run.
+
+Beyond the fence was the road, only a slight depression now in the
+expanse of weeds.  The automobile that had brought Evan was standing
+there.  It was a shabby little landaulet with the top up.  It looked
+like a taxi-cab but carried no meter.  Beyond the line of the road the
+view was shut off by second-growth woods, with a larger tree rising
+here and there.
+
+It looked like a spot long forgotten of man, yet Evan doubted if it
+were more than eight miles from Harlem river, and the chances were that
+it was actually within the New York city limits.  Indeed while he
+looked he heard the faint-far-off chorus of the noon whistles in town.
+
+Hearing the old darkey's shuffling step in the hall, he hastily lay
+down again.  But her sharp eyes instantly marked the change in his
+position and detected the dust on his knees.
+
+"Ah reckon the sun's too strong for yo' eyes," she said dryly.  There
+were stout, old-fashioned wooden shutters folded back into the
+window-frames.  These she closed and hooked, and Evan was left in gloom.
+
+There was nothing the matter with the dinner she presently brought him;
+corn soup, fried chicken and hominy.  She fed him with the anxious
+solicitude of a nurse.  Indeed Aunt Liza throughout evinced the
+greatest willingness to make friends; she was so fat and comfortable
+she just couldn't help it.  It was only when Evan started to question
+her that she showed what a tricksy spirit inhabited the solid frame.
+
+After dinner Evan heard the automobile leave.  He guessed that he and
+Aunt Liza were now alone in the tumbledown house.  During the long hot
+afternoon she left him pretty much to his own devices.  He could hear
+the bees humming outside, and the twitter of birds.
+
+In stories Evan had read when the hero was captured and tied up he
+always succeeded in "working himself free" at the critical moment.
+Well Evan patiently set to work to free his hands, but after hours of
+effort, as it seemed, he had only chafed his wrists and his temper and
+drawn the knots tighter.
+
+The extreme stillness of the house suggested that Aunt Liza might be
+indulging in a siesta, and he determined to reach the window if he
+could.  Patiently rolling and hunching himself in the desired
+direction, he finally made it.  He then by a course of gymnastics
+finally succeeded in getting to his feet.  With his chin he knocked up
+the hook that fastened the shutter, and after many attempts succeeded
+in pulling the shutter open with his teeth.  Even then he was no nearer
+freedom, for the sash was down, though most of the panes were missing.
+And Aunt Liza came in and caught him in the act.
+
+"Sho!  honey what yo' tryin' to do!" she said reproachfully.  "Turn
+around and sit down."
+
+There was nothing for Evan to do but obey, whereupon she coolly seized
+his heels, and pulled him across the floor.  She fastened up the
+shutter again.  After that she visited him more frequently, and as long
+as he was a "good boy" was disposed to be quite friendly and sociable.
+
+Towards the end of the afternoon the "club-members" began to arrive.
+Evidently they came on foot for there was no sound of automobile.
+Evan, whose only useful sense was hearing, thought he could distinguish
+eight or nine individuals at different times.  None opened his door.
+The principal gathering place seemed to be the room over his head.  A
+low-voiced hum of conversation came down to him but he could
+distinguish no words.  Frequently there was laughter, which had a
+particularly devilish and unfeeling ring to Evan.
+
+Aunt Liza served another meal.
+
+Later she entered his room carrying a bandana handkerchief.
+
+"What's that for?" demanded Evan.
+
+"To blind yo' eyes, honey."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"The gemmen wants to see yo' upstairs."
+
+Any prospect seemed better than lying bound alone in the semi-dark, and
+Evan submitted.  Aunt Liza made very sure that he could not see under
+the bandage over his eyes.  Then untying the knots that bound his
+ankles, she helped him to his feet, and steered him out through the
+door.  Placing his foot on the bottom step she bade him mount the
+stairs.  At the top she led him towards the front of the building and
+through a doorway into the middle of a room.  Here she left him.  He
+heard her steps recede, and heard her close the door behind her.
+
+There he stood bound and blind facing--he knew not what.  A thick
+excitement choked him.  Nobody spoke, but his sharpened senses told him
+that he was surrounded by people.  He heard them breathe.  The
+continued silence was cruel on his nerves.  He imagined them moving
+cat-footed about him, smiling meaningly at each other as they prepared
+to attack.  If he only had a wall at his back!
+
+"Keep cool!  Keep cool!" he told himself.  "They're trying to break
+your nerve.  Stand fast!  Make them speak first!"
+
+Finally one spoke.  It was he of the resolute, cynical voice.  "Well,
+Weir, here we are!  What have you got to say for yourself?"
+
+"It's not up to me to say anything," coolly retorted Evan.
+
+There were several chuckles in the room.  Their laughter was hateful to
+Evan.  He gathered from the sounds that the room was of considerable
+size.  Evidently this house was a more pretentious building than he had
+supposed.  The voices echoed as they do in a bare room.
+
+"You are in the presence of the Ikunahkatsi," the voice went on, "that
+is to say of some of them.  We're not at all ill-disposed towards you
+personally.  On the contrary we admire the pluck you've shown.  It's
+been some fun to get the best of you.  Confess, we fooled you neatly in
+the library that day."
+
+Evan thought: "This is the humorous guy that writes the letters."
+Aloud he said: "Say your say and have done with it."
+
+The voice resumed: "As I say, it's been a good game.  We'd be willing
+to go on indefinitely matching our wits against yours, but the dice are
+loaded against us, you see.  We're outside the law.  With that
+advantage on your side you'd be bound to get us in the end."
+
+"It's not all fun with us, you see.  We have a serious purpose in view.
+You are in the way of that purpose and so, regretfully, we've got to
+remove you.  You're much too good a lad to be in the pay of an old
+rascal like Deaves.  You ought to be on our side, with the free
+spirits.  But there you are.  I know you wouldn't switch now."
+
+"To a gang of blackmailers?  No thank you," said Evan.
+
+"It would be just as well for you to speak civilly," the voice warned
+him mildly.  "All the gentlemen present are not as patient as I am."
+
+"What do you want of me?" demanded Evan.  "Say it."
+
+"You are absolutely in our power here, yet we are willing to release
+you on a certain condition."
+
+"What's your proposition?"
+
+"Give me your word of honour that you will leave Simeon Deaves' employ,
+and have no further relations with him or his son."
+
+Evan considered what trap might be concealed behind this seemingly fair
+offer.
+
+"What will the old miser ever do for you?" the voice went on, "or his
+slack-twisted son for that matter?  Let them stew in their own juice.
+Give me your word, and you'll be taken home to-night."
+
+"And if I won't?" said Evan.
+
+"Oh, we'll have to keep you prisoner until we have pulled off our big
+coup.  I can't say how long that will be."
+
+Evan said coolly: "Well, I'll see you all damned first."
+
+There was a stir in the room.  "Ah!" said the voice that fronted him,
+coolly.  "As a young man of spirit I suppose you feel that is the only
+possible answer.  It's too bad.  You may go down-stairs."  He called
+for Aunt Liza.
+
+Evan was returned to his prison on the ground floor.
+
+Aunt Liza said: "Sit down, honey.  Be a good boy and let me tie yo'
+feet together.  If you acks ugly I'll have to call the gemmen."
+
+Evan submitted.  His ankles were bound, the bandage over his eyes
+removed, and he was left to his own devices.
+
+The leaden minutes slowly added themselves up to hours.  For a long
+time in his rage he could not think clearly.  He was all for defiance,
+defiance though his life paid the forfeit.  But in the end he was bound
+to cool off and a craftier voice began to advise him.
+
+"I owe this gang neither truth nor loyalty," he thought.  "They struck
+me from behind.  They carried me off.  They trussed me up like a fowl
+for roasting.  They're about a dozen to one against me.  By fair means
+I haven't a ghost of a show against them.  Very well, I'll use foul.
+If they are simple enough to let me lie myself out of their hands, I'll
+do it."
+
+Late in the evening he was sent for again.  He was eager now to face
+his jailors.  As before his eyes were blindfolded, and his ankles
+freed.  Aunt Liza took him up-stairs and retired.
+
+The mocking voice said: "Well, Weir, I didn't want to leave you in that
+rat-infested room all night without giving you a chance to change your
+mind.  Wouldn't you rather sleep between your own sheets?"
+
+"I would," said Evan coolly.  "I have changed my mind.  As you say,
+Simeon Deaves and his son are nothing to me.  I will let them alone
+hereafter."
+
+"Good man," said the other.  "You promise to have nothing further to do
+with them?"
+
+"I promise to have nothing further to do with them."
+
+A new voice spoke up, a voice that vibrated with anger and hate:
+"That's too thin!  He's trying to fool us!  Can't you hear the lie in
+his voice?"
+
+"Wait a minute," said the other, "I'll put him under oath."  Addressing
+Evan he said mockingly: "I don't know what your attitude towards the
+bible is, but I'll take a chance.  Will you swear it on the bible?"
+
+It suddenly came to Evan that they were just playing with him, that
+they had no intention of letting him go.  Moreover that hateful voice
+had roused a fury in him that was incapable of making further pretences.
+
+"I'll swear nothing," he said sullenly.
+
+"That's too bad!" said the man who faced him, with hypocritical regret.
+Evan was sure now that they were grinning among themselves.  "I'll have
+to return you to your luxurious chamber."
+
+The harsh voice broke in again: "We're taking too big a chance, leaving
+him here.  We can't stay here ourselves, and the woman is no match for
+him.  He'll break out."
+
+"What do you propose then?" asked the other man.
+
+"He'll never let up against us.  Look at that stubborn jaw.  It's us or
+him!"
+
+"What do you want me to do?"
+
+"Put him out of the way!"
+
+Evan thought: "They're bluffing!"
+
+But he heard the gentlest voice among them murmur: "Oh, no! no!"  And
+that was more convincing than the other man's abuse.  A chill struck to
+his breast.
+
+The angry man turned on him who had protested.  "You be quiet!  Your
+chickenheartedness has spoiled our game more than once!  What's the use
+of half measures?  We're all good for prison sentences if we're caught.
+Mark my words this man will put us all behind the bars if we don't put
+him where he can do no harm."
+
+He whom Evan had taken to be the leader said: "This is not a question
+for us to decide.  Put it up to the chief."
+
+So he was not the chief then.  One of them left the room.  Evan
+wondered about this leader who held himself so far above his men that
+he disdained to take part in their meetings.  Meanwhile he waited for
+the return of the messenger as an accused murderer waits for his jury.
+Silence filled the room.  Through the windows came the voices of the
+cheerful katydids and the shrill tree-toads.  A sudden sense of the
+sweetness of life stabbed Evan like a poniard.
+
+The man was not gone long, nor did he keep Evan waiting for the
+verdict.  "Chief says I am right," he blurted out--it was the
+harsh-voiced one.  "Orders are let him pass out before we go home
+to-night."
+
+A pent breath escaped from all those in the room.  A rush of
+conflicting emotions made Evan dizzy; fear, the determination not to
+show fear, and that unmanning sense of the terrible sweetness of life.
+Oh, for a wall behind his back!
+
+"So be it!" said the man in front of him soberly.
+
+The other went on: "The arrangements are left to you.  How are you
+going to do it?"
+
+"I have the pistol that I took from him."
+
+"What will we do with the body?"
+
+"Let it lie.  We're ready to flit from here anyway.  It will be
+unrecognisable before it's discovered."
+
+Evan visualised his own body putrefying, and the heart shrivelled in
+his breast.  He clenched his teeth.  All he had left was pride.  "I
+will show nothing," he repeated to himself.
+
+With too much suffering, the whole scene became slightly unreal to him.
+He heard their talk as from a little distance:
+
+"We will draw lots.  Who's got a sheet of paper?  Anything will do....
+This will do.  Tear it in eight pieces....  No, seven.  Leave C. D.
+out.  He couldn't pull the trigger if his own life depended on it....
+I mark a cross on one piece, see?  Now fold each piece in four....
+Call Aunt Liza up-stairs....  A hat?  All right.  Drop them in.  Shake
+it up....  Don't let on anything to Aunt Liza....  Be quiet; here she
+is....  Aunt Liza hold this hat above your head, so....  Now come up to
+her one at a time and draw a paper.  Do not open it until the last one
+is drawn."
+
+A dreadful silence succeeded.  The hard breathing of many men was
+audible in the room.  Little cold drops sprang out in front of Evan's
+ears.  A horrible constriction fastened on his breast, so that he could
+scarcely draw breath.
+
+"Am I a coward?" he asked himself--and that caused him the sharpest
+pang of all.  "Other men have died without flinching.  Why do I suffer
+so?"
+
+The resolute voice said: "Leave the room, Aunt Liza."
+
+Evan heard the old negress shuffle out.  She was the nearest thing to a
+friend that he had there.
+
+"Now," cried the man, with a sharp catch of excitement.
+
+Evan heard the crackling of the little bits of paper, and heard their
+breath escape them variously.
+
+"Who has it?"
+
+"I have!"  It was the harsh voice.  "It's no more than fair, since I
+proposed it."
+
+"Oh, it's too horrible!  It's too horrible!" sobbed the gentler voice.
+He ran out of the room.
+
+"Let him go," said the harsh one.  "This is no sight for kids."
+
+"Here's the gun," said the other.
+
+Evan thought: "Well, I won't take it standing still!"
+
+Somewhere behind him the door was open.  Putting his head down he
+charged for it.  Instantly half a dozen pairs of hands seized him.  He
+was borne back until he crashed against a wall.  He felt of it
+gratefully.  A deep instinctive need was supplied by the feeling of
+something solid at his back.
+
+"Take your hands off him," said the principal voice.
+
+Evan was freed, but he knew they still stood close beside him.  The
+voice went on peremptorily.  "Stand still if you don't want to be
+pinned against the wall like an insect."
+
+"Unbind my eyes!" cried Evan.  "Let me see what's coming to me."
+
+The voice replied in its grim drawl: "Sorry, but we can't let you take
+mental pictures of us even to the other side."
+
+"You're afraid to face me, you cowards!"
+
+"Maybe.  If you want to send any messages I'll transmit them."
+
+Evan snatched at the chance.  "I'd like to send a letter."
+
+"All right."  There was a pause while the speaker presumably found
+pencil and paper.  "Go ahead."
+
+Evan dictated Charley Straiker's address.  "Dear Charl: I have cut
+loose.  I have taken to the trail.  You will not see me again.  I leave
+everything I have in my room to you.  It will not make you rich.  With
+one exception.  I want to send my least-bad picture to a friend.  It's
+the one I call 'Green and Gold,' the view of the Square from my window
+in the morning light.  There's a little frame that fits it.  Write on
+the back of it--write--Oh, don't write anything.  Wrap it up and
+address it to Miss Corinna Playfair.  Take it to the steamboat
+_Ernestina_ which will be lying at the pier foot of East Twentieth
+street on Saturday morning up to Nine-Thirty.  Be good, old son.
+Here's how.  Evan."
+
+"Are you ready?" demanded the harsh voice unexpectedly close.
+
+"Shoot and be damned to you!" said Evan.
+
+He felt a little rim of cold steel pressed against his temple.  With
+that touch all Evan's agony rolled away.  After all, what was life but
+a jest?  Thank God! he was not a coward!
+
+The other man was still speaking--Good God would he never have
+done!--"I will give you the word."  Then he began to count: "One, two,
+three----!"
+
+Evan cried gaily: "So long, all!"
+
+"Fire!"
+
+There was a deafening crash.  Everything went from him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+BACK TO EARTH
+
+Like a thin, torn wrack of cloud scurrying across the night sky; like
+music so far away that the instrument and the air were alike
+unrecognisable; like an underexposed photograph; like the kiss of
+wind--such were Evan's vague impressions.  "What existence is this?" he
+asked himself.  Consciousness was sweet and he was afraid to question
+it for fear of slipping back into nothingness.  He lay exulting in his
+sensations.
+
+As these sensations became stronger the questioning spirit would not be
+denied.  "I breathe," he thought.  "I feel my breast rise.  Therefore I
+have a body.  I hear a sound like the stirring of a breeze among
+leaves, and another sound, a strange, faint hum.  And I see, though I
+am surrounded by darkness.  It is night and out-of-doors."
+
+The feeling of having awakened in a new existence wore off.  He
+accepted that which surrounded him as the same old world.  He found
+that he was lying on a soft bed of leaves in a wood.  He was wrapped in
+a bed covering, a cotton coverlet in fact.  He did not recognise it.
+He instinctively felt about for his hat and found it near.  He stood
+erect, and found that his legs were able to perform their office.  He
+started to walk blindly through the wood.  There were no stars.
+
+A certain part of his brain had stopped working.  It was that part
+which reasoned from memory.  He remembered nothing.  He did things
+without knowing why he did them.  He came to a road; he knew it was a
+road, and knew what roads were for.  He followed it.  He was dimly
+conscious that he was not in a normal condition, but the fact did not
+distress him: on the contrary he experienced a fine lightness of
+spirit; it was enough for him that the blood was stirring in his veins,
+and the night air was cool and sweet.
+
+Presently he heard a whirring sound familiar to his senses, and saw the
+oscillating reflection of a bright light around a bend in the road; an
+automobile.  He hastily dived into the underbrush at the side.  He had
+no reason to be afraid, but he felt a shivering repugnance to showing
+himself to his fellow-creatures in his present state.
+
+When the car had passed he returned to the road.  A few paces further
+on the trees at his right hand opened up, and a wonderful panorama was
+spread before him; a great, dark, gleaming river far below, and on the
+other side myriads upon myriads of fairy-like white lights like
+fireflies arrested in mid-flight.  From this direction came the faint
+hum he had remarked.
+
+Evan knew instinctively that this was the city, and that he must get
+there.  He saw further that he was bound in the wrong direction.  The
+way he was heading the lights were thinning out; the thickest clusters
+were behind him.  His instinct further told him that where the lights
+were thick he would find a means of crossing the river.  So he retraced
+his steps.
+
+Bye and bye houses began to rise alongside the road, all dark-windowed
+and still.  "It is very late," thought Evan.  Finally the road came to
+an end at the gates of a ferry-house.  Evan automatically produced a
+coin to pay his fare, and passed on board the boat.  There were but few
+passengers.  He gave them a wide berth.
+
+Reaching the other shore he started walking towards the centre of the
+city.  Coming to a place where trains of cars passed to and fro on a
+trestle overhead, he climbed a flight of steps to a station, and
+producing another coin, took a seat in the first train that came.  He
+was perfectly able to see, to hear, to read the advertising cards in
+the train, but it was all new and inexplicable to him.  Some power
+outside of his consciousness was directing his steps.  In the
+brightly-lighted car he shivered under the gaze of his
+fellow-passengers, but nobody paid him any special regard.
+
+At a certain station something stirred his feet, and they bore him off
+the train, down the steps and through certain streets to a certain door
+facing upon a little Park.  Fronted by this door his hand dived into
+his pocket and brought forth a key which opened it.  Like a
+sleep-walker he mounted to the top of the house and entered a room
+there.  Something in the aspect of this room caused a deep sigh of
+satisfaction to escape him; he knew where everything was without
+lighting the gas.  Undressing and climbing into bed he fell into a
+dreamless sleep.
+
+He was awakened by a pillow flung at his head.  He beheld a grinning,
+sharp-featured face under a shock of lank, molasses-candy-coloured
+hair, a face as dear and familiar to him as the room, and he knew that
+the owner of it was called Charley.
+
+"Aren't you going to get up to-day?"
+
+"Go to Hell!" said Evan, grinning back.  Oh but the sight of his friend
+was good to his eyes!  Something real, something familiar, something
+that identified this poor wandering soul and gave it a locus.
+
+"You must have made a night of it," remarked Charley.
+
+Some deep instinct still bade Evan to conceal his condition.  "What's
+for breakfast?" he cried, jumping up.
+
+"Same old stunt!  Beggs and acon."
+
+"Gee!  I'm as hungry as a hunter.  Break me three Humpty-dumpties and
+fry them sunny side up."
+
+Charley perceived nothing amiss.  Breakfast was partaken of to the
+accompaniment of the usual airy persiflage.  Evan knew very well that
+Charley could supply the clues to his lost identity, but he couldn't
+bring himself to ask him directly.  He kept his ears open for any
+chance remarks that might throw light on the matter, but Charley's
+style was so flowery he didn't get much.  Charley finally departed on
+some errand of his own.
+
+Left alone, Evan went about his room, touching the familiar objects,
+looking into everything, trying to fill in that blank space in his
+mind.  As soon as he saw the paraphernalia he knew he was a painter.
+His pictures interested him greatly.  He knew they were his own
+pictures, but he had lost all sense of kinship with them.  In a way it
+was a great advantage; he brought a fresh point of view to bear.
+
+"I see what's the matter with them," he said to himself.  "You have
+been trying to convey the inner spirit of things without being
+sufficiently sure of their outward form.  What you've got to do is to
+study the outsides of things further, and invite the spirit to express
+itself."
+
+So interested was he that he put a fresh canvas on his easel on the
+spot, and started to paint.  Any object would serve to prove his new
+theory; their brown pitcher with a broken spout and a green bowl beside
+it on the table.  An hour passed without his noticing its flight.
+
+Charley returned.
+
+"Hello!" he said.  "Had another row with your old man?"
+
+"Old man!" thought Evan.  "Oh, nothing much," he said aloud.
+
+"Well, I must say you take your job pretty lightly," said Charley.
+
+Evan thought: "So I have a job."
+
+Charley went on: "There was a story in the paper this morning about one
+of your lot.  I brought it in.  Sounds fishy."
+
+Evan pricked up his ears.
+
+Charley read: "A reporter assigned to police headquarters happened to
+see Inspector Durdan, chief of the Detective Bureau, and five plain
+clothes men climbing into a covered motor van on Mulberry street
+yesterday, and scenting a good story, followed in a taxi-cab.
+Naturally the Inspector does not personally take part except in raids
+of some importance.  The chase led to No. 11 Van Dorn street.  Van Dorn
+is an obscure little street on the far West side.  An agitated
+individual was discovered on the steps of this house whom the reporter
+recognised as Mr. George Deaves, son of the multi-millionaire.  He
+cried out to the police: 'He's gone in!  He's gone in!'  The police
+forced their way into the house.  One was left at the door, and the
+reporter was not allowed to enter.  Through the open door he saw other
+police inside, who must have entered from the back.  They were
+searching the house.  One called down-stairs: 'They've gone over the
+roofs towards MacDougall street,' whereupon several of the police
+started to run down the block to the corner of MacDougall and the
+reporter followed.  He was just in time to see two men issue from a
+tenement house carrying what looked like the corpse of a third between
+them.  The body was wrapped in an old cotton comforter.  They threw it
+in a waiting taxi and made a getaway though the police fired in the
+air, and ordered them to stop.  At police headquarters all information
+was refused.  At Mr. Deaves' residence word was sent out that Mr.
+Deaves had not been out that morning.  The woman who keeps the Van Dorn
+street house, a Mrs. Patten, either would not or could not tell what
+had happened."
+
+At this point in the story Charley looked up to see how Evan was taking
+it.  Seeing Evan's expression he forgot to read the rest.  Evan was
+staring into vacancy as if he saw a ghost.  As a matter of fact
+complete recollection had returned in a great flash, and the reaction
+was dizzying.  His first conscious act was to feel of his temple.  It
+was whole.
+
+"What's the matter with you?" cried Charley.
+
+"I--I was that corpse," stammered Evan.
+
+"Have you gone crazy?"
+
+"Here, I've got to see about this!" cried Evan, and seizing his hat he
+ran out.
+
+Evan took a taxi-cab to the Deaves house.  He took out his pocket book
+to pay the driver.  It was the first time he had used it.  The money in
+it was intact, but something had been added, a little note.  Evan read
+it while the driver made change.
+
+"You've got good pluck.  When the pistol missed fire we decided to let
+you off.  Take warning.  Keep away from the Deaves outfit or next time
+you'll get a ball."
+
+Evan thought: "The pistol did not miss fire.  It was loaded with a
+blank.  The whole scene was staged just to break my nerve.  I passed
+out temporarily just as a result of self-suggestion.  Lord! what a
+weak-minded fool I was!  But by God!  I'll get square with them!  This
+is how I answer their threat!"
+
+He glared around him defiantly, hoping he was watched, and rang the
+bell of the Deaves house.
+
+The servant who opened the door looked at him queerly.  This successor
+to Alfred was more respectful, but Evan did not trust him much further.
+"Where is Mr. George Deaves?" asked Evan.
+
+"I don't think you can see him just now, sir," was the answer.  "He's
+up-stairs."
+
+"And Mr. Simeon Deaves?"
+
+"He's in the library, I believe."
+
+"I'll go up there."
+
+As they got further into the house shrill cries, muffled by several
+doors, reached Evan's ears.
+
+"What's that?" he asked startled.
+
+"Mrs. Deaves, sir," said the man demurely.
+
+"What's the matter with her?"
+
+"Hysterics, I believe, sir."
+
+"Ah!" said Evan.
+
+He found Simeon Deaves in the library.  The old man greeted him with
+the unvarying sly grin.  There was something inhuman about that grin.
+Nothing could move the old man much--save the threatened loss of money.
+
+"So you got here," he said with cheerful indifference.  "George told me
+they carried you off.  How did you get clear?"
+
+Evan told him briefly what had happened--keeping certain details to
+himself.
+
+"Pooh!  Sounds like a melodrama!" said the old man.  "Don't believe a
+word of it!"
+
+Evan, well-used to his ways by now, simply shrugged.
+
+"There's the devil to pay here this morning," the old man went on,
+grinning like a mischievous boy at others' misfortunes.  "Maud got a
+letter from them, and went into hysterics."  He pointed up-stairs and
+laughed his noiseless laugh.  "Hear her?  George is up there slapping
+her hands and begging her to come to, and he'll pay the money.  That's
+no way to treat hysterics.  George is a fool."
+
+Evan heard a heavy step on the stairs.  "Here he comes," he said.
+
+The old man notwithstanding his expressed contempt for his son was not
+anxious to face him.  "Well, well, I've got to go down-stairs," he
+said, shuffling rapidly out by the small door.
+
+George Deaves entered.  Evan could not but feel sorry for him, absurd
+figure though he was.  He looked as if his backbone had lost its pith;
+he sagged.  His necktie was awry, and his hair hung dankly over his
+forehead, his mouth hung open; he looked like a man nauseated with
+perplexity.
+
+"So you're here," he said to Evan, not any more concerned about his
+fate than his father had been.
+
+Evan repeated his brief tale.  George Deaves made no comment; scarcely
+seemed to listen to it in fact.
+
+Evan said: "I suppose the police are looking for me?"
+
+Deaves nodded.
+
+"Then I had better report to them?"
+
+This partly roused Deaves from his apathy.  "Leave that to me," he
+said.  "I will see that they are told what is necessary.  I don't want
+any more fuss."
+
+"Mr. Simeon Deaves tells me another letter has been received this
+morning."
+
+"I can't discuss that with you," said George Deaves stiffly.
+
+Evan's eyebrows went up.  "Indeed!" he said.
+
+The weak man could not face out Evan's indignant stare.  "Oh, I don't
+blame you," he mumbled.  "But I'm sorry I listened to you yesterday.
+Mrs. Deaves is heartbroken at what she considers my deception."
+
+Evan reflected grimly that a broken heart does not customarily take
+itself out in hysterics, but he kept the reflection to himself.
+
+"You will have to go," said George Deaves.
+
+Suddenly a hurricane blew into the room in the person of Maud Deaves
+with her hair and kimono flying.  The innocent Evan stood aghast at the
+terrible secrets of the boudoir that were revealed.  The magnificent
+Mrs. Deaves was reduced by rage to the level of a furious fish-wife,
+but lower, for no fish-wife ever so far neglects self-interest in her
+rage.  Mrs. Deaves' face was splotched and livid; unbridled passion had
+added fifteen years.  She addressed her husband with a ridiculous
+assumption of calmness.
+
+"They told me this person was here.  I came down to see that you did
+your duty!  This clever rascal has twisted you about his finger once
+too often for me!"
+
+Evan flushed up.  "Are you referring to me?"
+
+"Yes I am!" she cried.  "You've been a nuisance in the house from the
+first with your officious meddling!  You take too much on yourself!
+You forget your place!"
+
+"Good Heavens, madam, _I_ didn't write the story about your marriage!"
+said Evan with meaning.
+
+It never reached her.  In the fury she had worked up, she had
+conveniently forgotten that she had written it herself.  "Don't answer
+me back!" she cried, beside herself.  "I don't know whether you did or
+not.  I don't know whether you're more a rascal or a fool!  But I know
+we're done with you.  You're discharged, do you understand?  You can
+go!"
+
+Evan stared at her in frank amazement.  Then he laughed.  He was sorely
+tempted to tell what he knew, but when he looked at the crushed figure
+at the desk, he hadn't the heart.  He wasn't going to take his
+dismissal from her, though.
+
+"Mr. Deaves, do you wish me to go?" he asked.
+
+George Deaves nodded.
+
+"Very well," said Evan.  "It suits me!"  He bowed ironically to each of
+them, and left the room.
+
+In the lower hall on his way out he was arrested by a cautious "Sst!
+Sst!"  The old man appeared from around a corner.  With many a furtive
+look over his shoulder, he pulled Evan into the small reception room
+off the hall.
+
+"Did they fire you?" he asked.
+
+"They did," said Evan grimly.
+
+"Well, well, well!" said the old man with that unalterable grin.
+"You're a good boy too!  I always said so!  But what can anybody do
+with a wilful woman!  So we've had our last walk together, eh?"
+
+He really seemed to be sorry.  So was Evan.  In spite of all, Simeon
+Deaves was a funny old cuss.  "Our last walk!" said Evan.
+
+"But of course you're not worth what George pays you," he added,
+quickly.  "Nothing like!  Nothing like!"
+
+The old fellow was incorrigible.  Evan laughed.  "Well, good-bye," he
+said without any hard feeling.
+
+"Wait a minute.  Say, I hate to think of those blackguards getting away
+with the money after all."
+
+"So do I," said Evan quickly.
+
+"Why don't you go after them yourself?"
+
+"Where is the money to be sent to-day?"
+
+"To the library."
+
+"Do you remember what book was mentioned?"
+
+"Yes.  'Carlyle's Essays,' Riverside edition."
+
+"Well, maybe I will," said Evan.  "I owe them something on my own
+account."
+
+"That's right!  That's right.  If you land those rascals behind the
+bars, I'll mention you in my will."
+
+"That's kind of you," said Evan dryly.
+
+Evan didn't care to show his eagerness to the old man, but as a matter
+of fact his heart jumped at the suggested chance of getting back at the
+gang.  He could hardly hope to do anything at the library in his own
+person, but Charley's assistance might be enlisted.  Evan hastened home
+to get him.
+
+An hour later Evan and Charley called upon the librarian who had
+assisted Evan and George Deaves on the former occasion.  In the
+meantime Charley had been told the story of the previous night's
+happenings, and he was eager to take a hand in the game.
+
+Evan said to the librarian: "Mr. Deaves received another demand for
+money this morning."
+
+The librarian naturally assumed that Evan was still in his employ, and
+it was not necessary for Evan to lie in that connection.
+
+A similar arrangement to the previous one was made.  An inquiry
+revealed the fact that "Carlyle's Essays" had just been returned to the
+shelves.  They were brought to the librarian's office, and Evan found
+that the bills were indeed in volume one.  He marked them and the books
+were returned with instructions that they were to be notified when they
+were again called for.  Evan and Charley waited.
+
+They were called for in an hour, and from the same seat in the
+reading-room as on the former occasion, number 433.  Charley and the
+librarian departed for the reading-room.  Charley's instructions were
+to make very sure that the bills were actually abstracted from the
+book, and then to apprehend the man who took them without waiting for
+him to get out of the building, and to call on any of the library
+attendants for assistance if need be.  Meanwhile Evan waited in the
+librarian's office, prepared to take a hand when the alarm was raised.
+
+But no alarm was raised.  Evan waited half an hour in the keenest
+impatience and then the librarian returned alone.
+
+"What happened?" demanded Evan.
+
+"Nothing--as yet," was the answer.  "I took your friend around through
+the American History room, just as I took you that day, and explained
+to him the location of seat 433.  Since there was no danger of his
+being recognised he went right into the reading-room and took a seat at
+the same table.  I scarcely liked to show myself, so I waited in the
+adjoining room.  I had an attendant there in case he needed help.
+
+"But we heard no sound, and when I finally looked into the reading-room
+I saw that your friend had gone, and that seat number 433 was also
+empty.  The Carlyle books were lying on the table.  The money had been
+taken.  So I came back here to tell you."
+
+Evan was anxious and perplexed.  "I don't understand what could have
+happened," he said.  "If the crook got away in spite of Charley, why
+didn't he come back here to report?"
+
+"Perhaps he's still on his trail."
+
+"But he was told not to let him get out of the building.  There's
+nothing for me to do I suppose, but wait here."
+
+Evan waited in the librarian's office until after lunch, but Charley
+neither came back nor sent any word.  By the end of that time Evan,
+divided between anger and anxiety, was in a fever.  He decided to make
+a trip home.
+
+By the time he reached Washington Square anxiety had the upper hand.
+The gang must have got the better of Charley he told himself, or he
+would have had some word.  Evan had had experience of the desperate
+lengths to which they were prepared to go.  Would they now put their
+final threat into execution upon his hapless friend?  Evan blamed
+himself bitterly for having sent Charley into danger.  "If I do not
+hear from him during the afternoon, I'll send out a general alarm at
+police headquarters," he thought.
+
+When Evan opened the door of 45A, Miss Sisson, according to her custom,
+stuck her head out into the hall.
+
+"I suppose you haven't seen Mr. Straiker," said Evan.
+
+"Yes, I have," she answered.  "He came in about lunch time."
+
+"What!" said Evan staring.
+
+"He came in and packed his trunk and took it away in a taxi-cab.  Said
+he was going away for a few days.  Wouldn't tell me where he was going.
+Seemed funny to me he wanted his trunk if it was only a few days, but
+of course I couldn't object for his rent is paid up and he left his
+furniture anyway, though that wouldn't bring much.  I will say he acted
+funny though, to an old friend like me.  Wouldn't give me any
+information."
+
+Evan stared at the woman as if he thought she had suddenly lost her
+mind.  Then without a word he ran up the three flights of stairs.  A
+glance in Charley's room confirmed what she had told him.  Things were
+thrown about in the wildest confusion.  But all Charley's clothes were
+gone, as well as all the personal belongings that he treasured.
+
+Evan never gave a thought to the five thousand dollars; what cut him to
+the quick was the suggestion that his friend had betrayed him.  There
+is nothing bitterer.
+
+"I needn't have been so anxious about him," thought grimly.  "This is
+more like treachery!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE _ERNESTINA_ AGAIN
+
+The next day was Saturday, and whatever had happened to Evan, he did
+not forget that this was the day of the _Ernestina's_ excursion, nor
+would he relinquish his determination to take it.  In his present sore
+and bitter state of mind the prospect of a row was rather welcome than
+otherwise.
+
+He timed himself to arrive at the East Twentieth street pier at
+nine-twenty, that is to say ten minutes before the steamboat was due to
+leave.  He found Denton taking tickets at the gangway as before, but it
+was a very different face that Denton turned to him this morning;
+censure, reproach and apprehension all had a part in his expression.
+"He's been filled up with great stories about me," thought Evan.  There
+was a policeman standing near Denton.  Evan's eyes glittered at the
+sight of him.
+
+Evan made believe not to notice any change in Denton's manner.  "Good
+morning," he said cheerfully.
+
+Denton made no reply.
+
+"What can I do to-day?" asked Evan.
+
+Denton shook his head.
+
+Evan affected to be greatly surprised.  "Why, what's the matter?"
+
+"I guess you know," the other said sorely.
+
+The policeman stepped up.  "Is this the guy as made trouble for you
+last trip?" he asked hoarsely.
+
+Denton nodded.
+
+The policeman turned self-righteously on Evan.  "Say, fella, you'd
+ought to be ashamed of yourself!  Don't you know no better than to make
+trouble for a charity!"
+
+"You've got me wrong, officer," said Evan sweetly.  "I didn't make any
+trouble.  It was the other fellows made trouble for me!"
+
+"Yes, they did!" was the scornful rejoinder.  "That's what they all
+say!  Well, they're running this show, see?  And they don't want you.
+So beat it!"
+
+Evan did not suppose that any charge would be pressed against him, but
+even if he were arrested and allowed to go, it would end the trip as
+far as he was concerned.  He decided upon a strategic retreat.  A new
+idea had occurred to him.
+
+"That's all right, old fellow," he said indulgently.  "Don't
+apologise."  He turned to go.
+
+The policeman turned a shade pinker than his wont.  "Don't you get gay,
+young fella!  I ain't apologising to the likes of you!"
+
+"My mistake," said Evan, laughing over his shoulder.  "Keep the change!"
+
+As he passed out of hearing the blue-coat was saying sagely to Denton:
+"He's a bad one, all right.  You can see it."
+
+When Evan reached the shore end of the pier, he was cut off from the
+view of Denton and the policeman by a pile of freight which rose
+between.  Unobserved by them, he made his way out on the next pier.
+This pier like its neighbour was occupied by craft of all kinds,
+canal-boats, lighters, scows, etc.  Evan came to a stop opposite the
+_Ernestina_, and looked about him.
+
+At his feet lay a large power-boat.  She had a skiff tied to her rail.
+A burly harbourman, the skipper evidently, sat on the forward deck with
+his chair tipped back against the pilot-house and his hat pulled over
+his nose.
+
+"How are you?" said Evan affably.
+
+"How's yourself?" was the non-committal reply.
+
+"I see you've got a skiff tied alongside," said Evan.
+
+"Remarkable fine eyesight!" said the skipper ironically.
+
+"I'll give you a dollar if you'll put me aboard that steamboat yonder."
+
+"Why the Hell don't you walk aboard by the gangway?"
+
+"Well, you see it's a kind of joke I want to put up on them.  I want
+them to think they've gone off and left me, and then I'll show myself,
+see?"
+
+"I never see nothing as don't concern me."
+
+"I'll make it two dollars."
+
+"I ain't running my head into no noose."
+
+"Oh, I assure you it isn't a hanging matter."
+
+"Nothin' doin', fella."
+
+"Well, look here; you be looking the other way, and I'll take the
+skiff, see?  Then you won't know anything about it.  You can recover it
+with one of the other skiffs in the slip here."
+
+"How do I know you won't make off down the river in my skiff?"
+
+"All you've got to do is start your engine."
+
+"Nothin' doin'!"
+
+"You get the two dollars first of course."
+
+The skipper let his chair fall forward and slowly rose.  He looked past
+Evan.  "Hey, Jake!" he cried to one on the pier.  "Wait a minute!  I
+got somepin' t' say to yeh."  He stepped to the stringpiece.
+
+Evan thought he had failed--until he saw a hand poked suggestively
+behind the skipper.  Into it he hastily thrust two dollars.  The
+skipper nonchalantly went his ways.  Evan stepped aboard the power
+boat, skinned over the rail, and untied the skiff.
+
+A few strokes of the oars brought him alongside the _Ernestina_.  A
+steamboat of this type has a wide overhang bounded by a stout timber
+called the "guard."  When Evan stood up in his skiff his shoulders were
+at the level of the guard.  But as the ledge it made was only three
+inches wide and the gunwale rising above it provided no hand hold, it
+was a problem how to draw himself up.
+
+He finally drew the skiff down to the paddle-box where the interstices
+of the gingerbread work enabled him to get a grip.  As he pulled
+himself up he thrust the skiff away with his foot.  He climbed back
+along the ledge to her stern gangway and vaulting over the rail found
+himself on the narrow deck encircling the stern, which is in marine
+parlance the "quarter."
+
+All the business of the vessel was on the pier side, and this part was
+deserted.  The sliding door leading to the entrance hall was closed and
+Evan took care to keep out of the range of vision of anyone who might
+look out through the panes.  He determined to stay where he was until
+she got under way.  A warning whistle had already been sounded.  He
+made himself comfortable on a camp stool.
+
+He chuckled to think of the sensation his appearance would cause.
+True, they might seize him and put him down in the hold again; they
+were strong enough.  But at least this time they would not take him by
+surprise, and he doubted anyway if they would attack him before the
+children.  Evan was strong with the children.  It might precipitate a
+riot on board.
+
+The _Ernestina_ began to back out of the slip without anybody having
+stumbled on Evan's hiding-place.  By this time the skipper of the power
+boat had recovered his skiff, and was watching Evan stolidly.  Evan
+waved him a farewell.
+
+Evan had no notion of risking all he had gained by venturing out too
+soon.  He sat tight, entertaining himself as best he could with the
+unbeautiful panorama of Long Island City, Greenpoint (which is anything
+but green nowadays) and Williamsburgh.  They had passed under the
+far-flung spans of the three bridges, rounded Governor's Island and
+headed down the Bay before he ventured to open the sliding door into
+the entrance hall.
+
+At the moment there was no one in the hall who knew him, nor upon the
+stairway.  He mounted unhindered.  At the top he almost collided with
+Domville, the meekest of Corinna's brethren.
+
+"How are you?" said Evan affably.
+
+Little Domville stood as if rooted to the deck, his face a study in
+blank dismay.  Then he turned without a sound, and scurried like a
+rabbit down the saloon and out on the after deck, presumably to spread
+the dreadful news.  Evan chuckled.
+
+Others in the saloon had recognised Evan.  "Mister!  Mister!  Tell us a
+story!  You know.  About the robbers in the cave.  They was just going
+to shoot Three-Fingered Pete for treachery!"
+
+Evan reflected that he could hardly do better than take a leaf out of
+Corinna's book, and protect himself with a rampart of children.  So he
+sat himself down and began, while they pressed close around:
+
+"Well, Three-Fingered Pete was just about ready to give up when a shot
+was heard at the mouth of the cave, and a clear young voice cried,
+'Hold! in the name of the U. S. cavalry!'"
+
+The door to the after deck opened and Domville returned with Corinna
+and Dordess, the cynical one.  Evan watched them without appearing to,
+and laughed inwardly at their amazed expressions.  His heart beat fast
+at the sight of the red-haired girl.  He told himself he hated her
+now--but perhaps hate can accelerate the pace of a heart too.
+
+For a moment the three remained by the door in consultation, then
+Corinna and Domville went out on deck again, while Dordess came down
+the saloon, not towards Evan but on the other side.  Evan was not going
+to let him pass in silence.
+
+"How are you?" he called cheerfully.
+
+Dordess sent him an ironical and courteous greeting.  He had more
+_savoir faire_ than the younger males of Corinna's family.  He passed
+out of sight behind the engine trunk.
+
+"Gone to get the others," thought Evan.
+
+But Dordess presently returned alone, and nothing happened.  He went
+back to the after deck.  As the minutes passed, Evan grew anxious, not
+knowing what they had in store for him, but he kept the story going.
+
+Suddenly he saw the hump of Staten Island sweep around into view
+through the stern windows, and the Statue of Liberty passed by on the
+port side.  A few minutes before they had left it to starboard.  Wails
+began to be raised in the cabin.  "Oh!  We're going back again!  What's
+the matter?  I don't want to go back!"  No need for Evan to ask himself
+then what they were going to do.
+
+He saw his opportunity when Corinna appearing in the saloon, stopped to
+pacify a crying child near the door.  Dordess was on the other side of
+the saloon.  Going to Corinna's side Evan said softly:
+
+"I suppose you're going back to put me ashore."
+
+She did not answer.
+
+He said in the same tone: "Corinna, I will not submit to such a
+humiliation a second time."
+
+"You have brought it on yourself," she answered without looking at him.
+
+"Just the same I will not submit to it."
+
+"What are you going to do about it?" she asked scornfully.
+
+"I'll go down to the little deck outside the entrance hall on the port,
+that is the left-hand side.  I will wait for you there.  If you do not
+come to me before we pass under Brooklyn Bridge, I'll jump overboard."
+
+She looked at him startled and searchingly.  "You can't frighten me
+that way," she said proudly.
+
+"I'm not trying to frighten you.  I'm making a simple statement.  You
+know what it is to have a strong will.  Very well, others may have as
+strong a will as your own.  When I say a thing I'd die rather than go
+back on it."
+
+Corinna paled, but would not weaken.  "I am not your keeper," she said.
+"You must do as you will."
+
+"Give me five minutes talk alone with you, and I'll go ashore
+willingly.  That's all I came for."
+
+"I will not come.  You will only make a fool of yourself."
+
+"Very well, you have your choice," said Evan.  He turned and went down
+the stairway.
+
+Back on his camp-stool on the narrow deck, he felt as a man must feel
+after burning his bridges, a little shaky.  He knew the lengths to
+which a stubborn will may carry a person, and he was not at all sure of
+her coming.  Not that he meant to draw back; he spoke truth in saying
+he would have died first; he was a good swimmer, and he had no serious
+doubt of his ability to reach the shore, but he did not fancy being
+dragged out on a pier drenched and shoeless, and having to give an
+account of himself.  And in that case Corinna would win out anyway.
+The only way he could really get the better of her would be by
+committing suicide, and he was not prepared to go as far as that.
+
+To save time the _Ernestina_ passed through Buttermilk channel between
+Brooklyn and Governor's Island.  On the New York side the slips of
+South Ferry and Hamilton Ferry passed before Evan's eyes, and a little
+later Wall street ferry.  The bridge was not visible to him where he
+sat, but he knew it was looming close ahead; the next ferry-house,
+Fulton Ferry, was almost directly under it.  Finally he got an oblique
+view of the approach to the bridge with the trolley cars and trucks
+crawling upon it, and he stooped over to untie his shoes.
+
+Suddenly the _Ernestina_ gave a little lurch, and he looked up to see
+what was the matter.  She was swinging around again!  She turned her
+tail to Brooklyn Bridge and started out to sea again.  Certainly if
+anybody had been following her course that morning they would have been
+justified in supposing the Captain to be slightly demented.
+
+Evan laced up his shoes.  He grinned to himself in mixed satisfaction
+and chagrin.  Corinna had found a way to evade the choice he had given
+her!  True, she had prevented him from jumping overboard, but she had
+not come to him.  Clearly she preferred to endure his presence on the
+boat all day rather than give him five minutes alone with her.
+
+The only thing he could think of to bring her was the power of
+curiosity.  Perhaps if he stayed where he was she would be forced in
+the end to come see what had happened to him.  He determined to try it
+anyhow.
+
+"But as soon as she looks out of the door and sees me safe, she'll fly
+back," he thought.  He moved his stool around to the very stern of the
+_Ernestina_.  Here he was invisible unless one came all the way round
+to see.
+
+Here his patience was indeed put to a test.  He had nothing to read--he
+could not have applied his mind to it, if he had had, and he dared not
+smoke for fear of betraying himself.  All he could do was to sit and
+study the scenery.  The _Ernestina_ went back through Buttermilk
+channel, and rounded Red Hook.  She passed the Erie basin where upon
+the boundary fence Evan had the edification of reading a sign half a
+mile long extolling the virtues of a certain English condiment.  And
+they say the English are not enterprising!  She crossed the mouth of
+Gowanus bay and passed the villas of Bay Ridge, and still nothing
+happened.
+
+But as she approached the Narrows, Evan thought he heard one of the
+sliding doors squeak, and his heart leaped.  Jumping up he flattened
+himself against the deck house.  There was an agonising pause.  If only
+he dared peep around the side.  Then Corinna came plump into view.
+
+At sight of him a sharp exclamation escaped her.  She hung motionless
+for a moment, her face fixed in a comical mask of surprise and
+indignation, like a child's, then she turned to run.
+
+"Wait!" cried Evan peremptorily.
+
+She saw that he could seize her before she gained the door.  She had
+learned the folly of running from him.  So she stood still.  Drawing
+herself up she said:
+
+"I have nothing to say to you.  I only wished to make sure that you had
+not done anything foolish."
+
+Evan glanced at the shores.  Staten Island was the nearer--less than
+half a mile.  "It is not too late," he said.
+
+"Overboard I go," said Evan, "unless you stop here and talk to me as if
+I were a Christian."
+
+She smiled scornfully.
+
+"I shall not be fooled a second time," she said.
+
+"You were not fooled the first time," he said quietly.  He bent down
+and started to unlace his shoes.
+
+"What are you doing?" she demanded.
+
+"Can't swim with my shoes on," Evan said without looking up.
+
+He heard her catch her breath, but her voice was still inflexible.  "Do
+you think me so simple!"
+
+"I don't think at all," said Evan with his hand on the rail.  "I give
+you your choice.  Will you stop and talk to me like a reasonable being
+for five minutes."
+
+Their hard eyes battled furiously, and neither pair would down.  "No!"
+she said, though her lips were white.
+
+He glanced down at the water boiling from under the _Ernestina's_
+counter, and gathered himself for the spring.
+
+The glance was too much for Corinna.  "Evan!  Evan!" she cried sharply,
+and put her hands out.
+
+In a trice he had her in his arms.
+
+"Ah, don't kiss me!" she begged, even while her lips surrendered to his.
+
+"Ah, you nearly let me go!" murmured Evan.
+
+"I would have gone too!"
+
+"Then we'd both have drowned.  I couldn't carry you all that way."
+
+"I wouldn't have cared."
+
+"I'd rather live with you, you beautiful thing!  Why do you want to
+kill us both?"
+
+She tore herself from his arms.  "I can't help myself.  This is only
+torment."
+
+"But why? why?  I'm of age.  I have a right to know, to judge for
+myself.  What comes between us?"
+
+"I cannot tell you."
+
+"And do you expect me to let you go on your mere say-so?  No, by God!
+Not while I live!"
+
+"You must let me go!"
+
+"Is it a sin for you to love me?"
+
+"It is impossible."
+
+"That's not answering my question.  Have you a husband?"
+
+"Certainly not!" she said indignantly.
+
+He laughed at her tone.  "Is there any other man who has a better claim
+on you than I have?"
+
+She shook her head.
+
+"Well, then!" he cried in great relief.  "What's the matter?  There's
+no other reason that I would recognise."
+
+"Have mercy on me," she murmured.  "Let me go.  Help me to be strong!"
+
+"In other words help you not to love me," he said tenderly.  "Not on
+your life!  I will never let you go without a good reason."
+
+"I will tell you everything as soon as I can."
+
+"What does that mean, 'soon as you can'?"
+
+"In a few days, a week maybe."
+
+"Why not now?"
+
+"Something must happen first."
+
+"Corinna, don't you understand how this mystery tortures one who
+loves!" he cried.
+
+"I know.  I cannot help myself."
+
+"But you promise to tell me?"
+
+"Yes, if you will let me entirely alone until I do tell you."
+
+"I'll do my best," he groaned.  "One can't promise miracles."
+
+"And you must not let yourself love me, until you know."
+
+"Oh, that's clearly impossible.  I would have to love you just the same
+if you had two or three husbands and were the wickedest woman in the
+world beside."
+
+"I'm not a wicked woman!" she passionately cried.
+
+"Why, I didn't suppose you were," he said surprised.  "But it wouldn't
+make any difference."
+
+"Let me go now," she begged.  "This only makes it harder."
+
+"Tell me you love me, and I'll let you go.  You owe me that after
+having had me assaulted on the last trip."
+
+"I didn't know what they were going to do."
+
+"Well, tell me you love me, anyhow."
+
+"I do not love you."
+
+"You do!  It's in your eyes, your lips, I know you do!"
+
+"If I told you it would be impossible to manage you!"
+
+Evan laughed a peal.  "Darling stubborn child!  Then kiss me of your
+own free will and I'll let you go."
+
+"No!  No!  No!"
+
+"Then I must kiss you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE ACCIDENT
+
+Evan's talk with Corinna did not help him at all with the brotherhood.
+Whether they knew or not that he had had his five minutes with her, the
+fact that Corinna had ordered him put ashore and had then countermanded
+the order, was enough to rouse their jealous suspicions.  One and all
+they sent Evan to Coventry.  Let him work as willingly and cheerfully
+as he might, they ignored him: when they met they looked straight
+through him or over his head.  Evan told himself he didn't care--and
+devoted his time to the children; but he was a man, and the heart in
+his breast was hot against them.  With the children his popularity grew
+apace.
+
+To-day the _Ernestina_ was bound for Sandy Hook to give the small
+passengers a sight of the real ocean.  They saw the ocean, and were not
+much impressed.  Apparently they had expected the waves to come rolling
+in mountains high, whereas the ocean was as flat as Central Park lake.
+To be sure there was a slow swell that mysteriously heaved the
+_Ernestina_ and troubled squeamish tummies, but it was not at all
+spectacular.
+
+Later they lay in calm water inside the Hook while everybody ate.  As
+the day wore on the weather began to thicken.  The wind veered to the
+East and blew chill, and banks of white fog gathered on the horizon.
+Evan wondered why no one gave the word to return.  It was hardly his
+place to interfere, but in the end he felt obliged to.
+
+Tenterden happened to be the one that he spoke to.  "We're going to
+have some dirty weather," Evan said lightly, "and we're a long way from
+the Bowery."
+
+Tenterden looked him up and down.  "Say, are you going to tell us how
+to run this show?" he asked.  "That's good."
+
+Evan shrugged and left him.  "I owe you one for that, old man," he
+thought.  "All right, my time will come."
+
+It came sooner than he expected.
+
+Someone did give the word, and the little _Ernestina_ started back up
+the lower Bay at her customary head-long rate of eight miles an hour.
+And none too soon; the white wall of fog was creeping fast on her trail.
+
+Evan was doing duty on the forward deck where the largest crowd of
+children was gathered.  These were the healthiest and most obstreperous
+of their passengers.  With his back in the point of the bow he could
+survey all his charges at once.  No other helper was in that part of
+the boat at the moment.  All was serene; the children for the most part
+swinging their legs in camp chairs and amiably disputing.
+
+Suddenly from the very bowels of the vessel there came a horrifying
+report.  The _Ernestina_ staggered sickeningly, listed to port, and
+commenced to limp around in a circle like a wounded bird.  Terrible
+smashing and rending sounds succeeded the first crash.  It seemed as if
+the frail little vessel must fly asunder under such blows.
+
+After a second's frozen silence on deck a dreadful chorus broke forth.
+Only those who have witnessed a panic at sea will know.  On land one
+may always run from a horror; at sea there is nothing between horror
+and horror.  When the majority of passengers are helpless children the
+scene surpasses horror.  With sharp animal cries of fright, they ran
+around in blind circles, or charged in a body from side to side of the
+deck.
+
+An icy hand was laid on Evan's breast.  He expected to see little
+bodies with flying skirts drop into the water.  How could he be
+everywhere at once?  He sprang on a seat.
+
+"Sit down, children!" he cried.  "She's broken her engine, that's all.
+The danger's over now."
+
+They were deaf to his voice.  The most frantic of them all was not a
+child but a woman, who half lay on a bench with limbs stiffened out,
+screaming continuously like a maniac.  Evan's voice was powerless
+against those cries.  He was obliged to silence her.  She fell over on
+the bench limply.  Evan sprang up into sight of all again.
+
+"Sit still!" he cried.  "The danger's over.  Sing with me!"
+
+He raised his voice in Suwanee River, the song every child knew.  A few
+joined in, some of the mothers helped.  The frantic cries were stilled
+a little.  The crashing sounds had ceased, but presently the roar of
+escaping steam renewed the confusion.  Panic broke out afresh.  Evan
+sang louder.
+
+They looked in his steady face and ceased their aimless running about.
+Many joined in.  The chorus swelled louder and louder.  It was
+extraordinary what reassurance there was in the sound.  The children
+sat down again, and presently like children, many of them were laughing
+at their late terrors.
+
+The situation was saved on the forward deck, but Evan sang on with a
+sick anxiety in his breast.  He looked up at the pilot-house.  It was
+empty.  Under the chorus he could hear ominous sounds from below, and
+from the saloon.  And Corinna, what of her?
+
+In a moment Corinna herself came out on deck, deathly pale but mistress
+of herself.  Her eyes sought Evan's eyes.  His heart swelled that she
+had thought of him in her extremity.  Amazement filled her eyes at the
+sight of the laughing, singing children, amazement and a passion of
+relief.  She closed her eyes, and swayed, clinging to the door-handle.
+
+"Sing!" cried Evan quickly.  "That's _your_ job!"
+
+She quickly pulled herself together, and throwing back her head let her
+full voice go out.  It gathered up the ragged chorus, and gave the song
+a fresh start.  Fog began to creep around the vessel.
+
+"Inside with you!" cried Evan.  "Show those crazy kids in there how to
+sing!"
+
+He and Corinna herded them in by the two doors.  The singing procession
+streaming into the cabin had an effect little short of magical on the
+bedlam within.  Corinna changed the tune to Annie Laurie.  The cabin
+roof rang with it.
+
+Little Domville was rushing to and fro in well-meant but futile efforts
+to reassure the children.  Evan seized him and planted him at one of
+the doors.
+
+"Let no one go out!" he commanded.  "And sing!"
+
+Another youth rushed up.  "Corinna, are you all right?"
+
+"Sure, she's all right!  Everybody's all right!" cried Evan.  He put
+him at the other door.  "Stand there and sing!"
+
+The young man yielded instinctive obedience to the commanding voice.
+
+Evan and Corinna passed down the saloon, Corinna singing and Evan
+beating time with extravagant gestures like an Italian bandmaster.
+Even the children who were still weeping had to laugh.  They met
+Dordess on the way.  Denton and Anway were bringing in the children
+from the after deck.  As far as the passengers were concerned the
+crisis was passed--but ominous sounds still rose from below.
+
+Evan whispered to Dordess: "Put a man at each door and at the stairway
+and keep the kids together.  I'll go below and see what's the matter."
+
+Dordess nodded.  There was that in Evan's eye which caused all the men
+to look to him.  Their late animosity was forgotten.  He was avenged.
+
+Evan hastened down the stairway.  Below there was nobody in the after
+part of the vessel.  Up forward he found a scene of dire confusion.
+Alongside the engine room the engineer lay prone on the deck with his
+second bending over him.  Up in the nose of the vessel the remainder of
+the ship's company it appeared was engaged in a free-for-all fist fight
+with oaths and stamping.
+
+At first Evan could not make head or tail of the fracas.  Then he saw
+that it was the mate, a manly, up-standing young fellow and Tenterden
+against the four deckhands and the two firemen.  But the two were more
+than holding their own; the six cringed and sought to escape their
+blows.  Evan rushed between them.
+
+"Leave off!  Leave off!" he cried.  "You'll start the kids off again."
+
+"These ---- ---- cowards won't work!" cried the mate.
+
+"Let them be.  We've enough without them."
+
+The mate and Tenterden reluctantly drew off.
+
+"First of all is there any immediate danger?" asked Evan.
+
+"No, she's not taking water," said the mate.
+
+"Go up to the pilot-house.  There's nobody there."
+
+"I left the Captain there," the mate said, surprised.
+
+"He's gone.  Sound a distress signal on the whistle.  Tenterden, you go
+with him to help keep a look-out."
+
+The two hastened up the forward hatch.  Even the truculent Tenterden
+made no bones about taking orders from Evan now.
+
+Evan returned to the second engineer, leaving the sulky crew to their
+own devices.
+
+"What's the damage?" he asked.
+
+The second waved a tragic hand towards the engine, and Evan saw for
+himself what had happened.  The main shaft on the port side had broken
+clean through.  The sudden shifting of the strain had thrown the
+walking-beam out of plumb, and the connecting rods had snapped off and
+threshed wildly about.  The ruin was complete, but fortunately, all
+above the water-line.
+
+"Is the chief badly hurt?" asked Evan.
+
+"I don't think so.  Got a side swipe from the connecting rod.  I can't
+find any fracture."
+
+"Leave him to me.  Get the fires banked so you can shut off that
+infernal steam.  Just keep steam enough to blow the whistle."
+
+"Come on, boys," said the Second to his firemen.
+
+They did not budge.
+
+"Come on, boys!" said Evan.  "Don't let the kids shame you!  Listen to
+the little beggars singing up there."
+
+The two firemen slunk aft and disappeared down their ladder.
+
+Evan presently had the satisfaction of seeing the engineer open his
+eyes.  He was apparently not seriously injured.  Two of the deckhands
+carried him to his berth which was on the same deck.
+
+Evan returned to the saloon.  "All straightened out below," he said
+cheerfully.  "The old flivver has made a complete job of her engine.
+We'll have to get a horse."
+
+The children laughed.  Evan said aside to Dordess: "When they're tired
+of singing, get up a show."
+
+He went on up to the pilot-house.  The mate and Tenterden were
+anxiously straining their eyes through the fog.  At minute intervals
+the mate sounded the distress signal of five short blasts on the
+_Ernestina's_ whistle.
+
+"Where's the Captain?" asked Evan.
+
+"In his room," was the curt reply.
+
+"What's the matter with him?"
+
+The mate made a significant gesture of turning his hand up at his mouth.
+
+Evan whistled noiselessly.  "Has he been that way all day?"
+
+"No, he took a dram when the crash came to steady his nerves."
+
+"Well, let him be," said Evan.  "What chance have we of being picked up
+here?"
+
+"Not very good," said the mate.  "We're on the flats inside the Hook.
+Few small vessels come down here, and a big vessel couldn't come to us
+even if she heard us.  I'm afraid it's a case of wait till the fog
+lifts."
+
+"We can't keep this gang out all night," said Evan.  "That's flat."
+
+"What do you propose?"
+
+"Somebody must go ashore in a boat to telephone for a tug."
+
+"No easy matter to take a boat ashore in this fog."
+
+"It can be done.  Just before the fog came down on us I marked that
+Atlantic Highlands was due south of us, and not above a mile distant.
+The wind has just come in from the east, and she'll hold there a while.
+By keeping the wind abeam on the port side you'd hit the shore
+somewhere near the pier."
+
+"Well, I'll try it."
+
+"No; you're our only qualified seaman.  You must stand by the vessel.
+I'll go."
+
+"How will you get back?"
+
+"I'll borrow or beg a compass ashore.  You keep the whistle going, and
+if the steam gives out, ring your bell."
+
+"I doubt if you'll get the deckhands to bring you back.  They'll go
+quick enough."
+
+"I'll get boatmen from the shore if they desert."
+
+The deckhands were brought up through the forward hatch, and one of the
+_Ernestina's_ boats was lowered away.  As Evan stepped in he said:
+
+"Don't tell them below that I've gone ashore unless you have to."
+
+It was a ghostly trip.  At a hundred yards' distance the _Ernestina_
+was swallowed up entire in the fog, and thereafter they proceeded
+blindly in a grey void.  Only a little circle of leaden water was
+visible around them, which travelled with them as they went.  At minute
+intervals the sound of her whistle reached them, but it was only
+confusing for it seemed to come now from this side, now from that.  Fog
+plays strange tricks with acoustics.  Evan steered, keeping the wake of
+his boat straight and the wind in his left ear.
+
+Finally to his relief the shapes of trees swam out ahead, and he had
+the comfortable sensation of touching reality again.  It is a thickly
+settled shore, and he was quickly directed to the pier and the village.
+Here Evan's story quickly won him help from the water-farers.  To be
+sure, two of his men incontinently walked off, but a dozen volunteers
+offered to replace them.  After patient telephoning he succeeded in
+getting the promise of a tug from Perth Amboy, and stopping only to buy
+out the greater part of a grocer's stock, he started back.
+
+Within an hour of leaving the _Ernestina_ he was back on board.  The
+mate and Tenterden were still on deck.  For a single moment the latter
+looked at Evan with friendly eyes.  No vessel had come within hail,
+they reported.
+
+Evan hastened down to the saloon.  Corinna and her aides had the
+children pretty well in hand--but a cry of welcome went up at the sight
+of Evan.  Somehow the smallest toddler on board had gathered that Evan
+was the man of the hour.
+
+"A tug will be along in half an hour to pick us up," Evan announced.
+
+Cheers from the crowd.
+
+"Why, how do you know that?" Corinna demanded of him privately.
+
+"Oh, I just stepped ashore to telephone," said Evan airily.
+
+Corinna sat down suddenly.  "You went ashore, and left us!"
+
+Within the promised time they heard a deep-toned whistle searching for
+them in the fog.
+
+"Wh-e-e-re?"
+
+To which the _Ernestina_ agitatedly responded: "Here!  Here!  Here!
+Here!  Here!"
+
+This duet was carried on for upwards of ten minutes.  The tug appeared
+to be travelling around them in a circle.  It was like a game of Blind
+Man's Buff with both sides blinded.  All of a sudden she came charging
+out of the fog, as if a magician had evoked her.  The children swarmed
+out on the deck with cheers.  Their elders let themselves relax with
+thankful hearts.  A furtive tear or two stole down Corinna's cheeks.
+
+Ropes were passed to and fro, and with the tug alongside, the slow
+homeward journey began.
+
+As soon as all danger was over Evan received another lesson in the
+curious workings of human nature.  Once more the brotherhood drew away
+from Evan as if the latter had the plague.  Evan had them in an
+uncomfortable hole now, for all were conscious of being under an
+obligation to him.  That only made matters worse, for when a person is
+resolved to hate you, to put him under an obligation only obliges him
+to be more hateful.  As for Corinna, she retired into herself and was
+inscrutable.
+
+It was a weary journey.  The supper, materials for which Evan had
+brought from shore, created a welcome diversion; but supper over, they
+were still miles from home, and the helpers were hard put to it to keep
+the small passengers even moderately contented.  Fortunately during the
+last hour the greater part fell asleep where they were, on the sofas,
+on the floor, on a couple of camp-stools placed together.
+
+Evan and Corinna happened to meet beside one child draped over the arm
+of a chair in an excruciating attitude.  They straightened her out
+together.  Corinna did not look at Evan nor speak, but from her to him
+he thought he felt a warm current pass--or perhaps it was only because
+he wished to believe it.  None of the other helpers were near.  The
+child was sleeping soundly.
+
+"Corinna, I love you," whispered Evan.
+
+"_Please!_" she murmured distressfully.  "You make it so hard for me!"
+
+He would not remind her of what he had done for her, but he felt that
+it would be only decent of her to show some recognition of it.  "Is
+nothing changed?" he asked.
+
+"Nothing can be changed."
+
+"After all we've been through?"
+
+"I'm deeply grateful to you, but I suppose that's another story, isn't
+it?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Well--would you be satisfied with my gratitude?"
+
+"No!" he said promptly.
+
+"It's all I can give you."
+
+"Corinna, you drive me mad!"
+
+"Ah, don't begin that again.  Think of my position.  Be generous!"
+
+"You're always appealing to my better feelings," he grumbled.  "I tell
+you, they won't stand the strain."
+
+So absorbed were they in this little exchange that they did not hear
+footsteps approaching down the carpeted saloon.  Looking up, they
+beheld Dordess approaching with the whole brotherhood at his heels:
+Anway, Tenterden, Domville, Burgess, and the blonde youth whose name
+Evan never knew.
+
+Corinna flushed up at the sight of them, but it was impossible to say
+for sure what her feelings were--mixed, probably.  She looked guilty at
+being surprised in talk with Evan, and she was certainly angry; angry
+at the men, or angry at herself for betraying the blush.  Evan, on the
+alert for trouble, smiled grimly.
+
+Dordess was no less cynical and bland than usual, but he could not
+conceal the angry glitter in his eye.  As for the others, they betrayed
+their feelings more or less according to their natures; Anway was hard
+and composed; Tenterden vicious and truculent; little Domville
+apologetic and reproachful, and the other two, youths of no particular
+character, merely self-conscious and inclined to bluster.
+
+"May we have a few words with you?" said Dordess to Corinna.
+
+"Certainly," she said stiffly.  "What's the matter?"
+
+"I speak for all of us," said Dordess, "to save time.  We wish to
+convey to Mr. Weir our appreciation of the fine way he acted at the
+time of the accident."
+
+Evan was not deceived by these honeyed words.  He saw that there was
+more to follow.  He spoke up.  "Not at all.  Every one of us did his
+darnedest, I'm sure."
+
+Dordess went on: "We willingly grant that he's a fine fellow.
+Unfortunately we don't like him any better than we did before.  And his
+fine conduct does not make it any more possible for us to work with him
+in future."
+
+An involuntary exclamation of indignant reproach broke from Corinna:
+"Oh!"  Evan was not displeased at the turn things were taking.
+"They're pushing her too far," he thought.  "They'll drive her into my
+arms."
+
+Dordess resumed: "You got us on board this boat.  We look to you as our
+head.  So we felt we ought to tell you at once how we felt, and leave
+it to you to act as you thought best."
+
+Evan was conscious that there was a good deal more in this than
+appeared on the surface.  He watched them keenly.  Dordess' eyes held
+Corinna's unflinchingly, and Corinna's were the first to fall.  Evan,
+seeing this, felt a sinking in his breast.  "What hold has he over
+her?" he asked himself.
+
+"What do you wish me to do?" asked Corinna in a muffled voice.
+
+Evan was amazed.  He had thought these men were Corinna's slaves, and
+here was Dordess visibly wielding the whip hand over her.
+
+"Tell him," said Dordess, "that we very much regret it will be
+impossible for us to have him with us on future trips of our
+Association."
+
+"You are ungenerous!" cried Corinna.  "After he has saved us all!"
+
+The six faces changed.  Evan imagined that he could feel their hate
+like a wave.
+
+Dordess' voice was still smooth.  "I can't tell you how sorry we are.
+He has put us in a difficult position.  But there is no help for it."
+
+"Suppose you address me directly instead of through Miss Playfair,"
+said Evan, careful to keep his voice as smooth as the other man's.
+"Don't let the trifling service that I am supposed to have done you
+trouble you, but tell me what's the nature of your objection to me."
+
+"I think you know that," said Dordess.  "You have been pleased to refer
+to us jokingly as the 'brotherhood.'  All right, we accept that word.
+We are a brotherhood working under a certain understood rule.  Well,
+you've had your chance, and you refuse to be governed by our rule.  You
+insist on playing your own hand.  That's all right.  But if every one
+of us was working for himself it would make these trips impossible.
+Surely you can see that."
+
+"And if I refuse to tell him what you ask me to?" Corinna burst out
+angrily.
+
+"Then the rest of us will go," said Dordess instantly.  "Our minds are
+made up as to that."
+
+"A strike of the brotherhood!" cried Evan mockingly.
+
+Corinna kept her head down, and traced a pattern with the toe of her
+slipper.
+
+Evan became anxious at her silence.  "Let them go!" he cried.  "I'll
+undertake to fill their places before the next trip."
+
+To his astonishment all six men laughed scornfully.  Surely there was
+something going on here that he did not know.  He scowled.
+
+Finally Corinna raised her head.  She ignored Evan's offer.  She
+appeared to be looking at him, but her eyes did not quite meet his.  "I
+am sorry to appear ungenerous and ungrateful," she said like a child
+repeating a lesson, "but it is true, as Mr. Dordess says,
+notwithstanding your brave conduct to-day, it will be impossible for us
+to have you with us in future."
+
+"Corinna!" cried Evan in dismay.
+
+The six men triumphed.  In the faces of the weaker ones it showed
+offensively; the stronger hid it, but Evan was none the less conscious
+of it.  His self-love suffered a ghastly wound.
+
+Dordess relentlessly resumed: "We wish to be courteous, but there must
+be no misunderstanding.  Please tell him that if in spite of this
+friendly warning he persists in forcing himself on board, you will
+authorise us to put him ashore."
+
+A flash from under Corinna's lowered lids suggested that Dordess would
+have to pay for this later on; nevertheless she repeated tonelessly:
+"If in spite of this friendly warning you persist in forcing yourself
+on board I will have to authorize them to put you ashore."
+
+Evan stared at her in angry incredulity.  He simply could not take in
+the fact that she was putting so public an affront on him.
+
+Dordess could no longer make believe to hide his real feelings.  He
+went on, sneering: "Tell him further that if he continues to force his
+unwelcome attentions on you, you will feel justified in appealing to us
+to protect you."
+
+Corinna repeated: "If you continue to force your attentions on me, I
+shall be obliged to appeal to these gentlemen to protect me."
+
+Evan suddenly went cold.  His lip curled.  He told himself she had
+killed his love dead, and he didn't give a damn anyhow.  He bowed to
+her.
+
+"Oh, I assure you that won't be necessary," he said ironically.
+
+Corinna walked away down the saloon.  The brotherhood straggled after,
+victors perhaps, but secretly uneasy in the moment of victory.  Evan
+was left standing alone, looking after them scornfully.  The
+_Ernestina_ blew for the pier.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+FOUR VISITS FROM GEORGE DEAVES
+
+As long as he was under the observation of his enemies it was possible
+for Evan to maintain his scornful and indifferent air, but at home and
+alone, his defenses collapsed.  Useless for him to tell himself that
+the girl was not worth troubling about, that it was impossible he
+should love her after having received such an injury at her hands.
+Perhaps it was true he no longer loved her, but the wrenching out of
+his love had left a ghastly gaping wound in his breast.  The only thing
+that kept him going at all was a passionate desire for revenge.  Oh, to
+get square!
+
+At home he had an additional cause for pain in the empty room adjoining
+his, though Charley's defection was somewhat overshadowed by the
+greater misfortune.  But to be betrayed on succeeding days by his best
+friend and by his girl was enough to shatter any man's faith in
+humanity.
+
+Next morning after breakfast he sat at his table with his head between
+his hands, when he was aroused by the sound of an apologetic cough in
+the hall outside his door.  The door was open.  A voice spoke his name
+deprecatingly.
+
+"Here!" said Evan.  "Come in."
+
+George Deaves appeared in the doorway, and Evan was sufficiently
+astonished.  Deaves was neatly dressed in black as for a funeral,
+carrying a highly-polished silk hat over his thumb.  He was pale and
+moist with agitation, and looked not at all sure of his reception.
+
+"I--I didn't know which door was yours," he stammered.  "The woman told
+me to come right up."
+
+Evan could hardly be said to be overjoyed to see his visitor, though
+his curiosity was somewhat aroused.  "Come in," he said.  "Sit down.
+This is an unexpected visit."
+
+"Yes.  Thank you."  Deaves looked around him vaguely.  "So this is
+where you live?"
+
+"Not a very palatial abode, eh?" said Evan, following the other's
+thought.
+
+"Not at all!  Not at all!" said Deaves hastily.  "I mean, very nice.
+Very suitable.  One understands of course that a young artist has his
+way to make."
+
+It was clear from his agonised and distraught eye that he had not come
+merely to exchange civilities.  "What can I do for you?" asked Evan
+bluntly.
+
+Deaves trailed off into explanations that explained nothing.  "I
+intended to come anyway--to tell you--to express how it was--my
+position is very difficult--you can understand I am sure--to tell
+you--to tell you how sorry I was to be obliged to let you go."
+
+"Oh, that's all right," said Evan indifferently.
+
+"And then something happened which obliged me to come at once.  I was
+here yesterday, but you were out."
+
+"Yes, I was out all day," said Evan bitterly.  "What has happened?"
+
+Deaves wiped his face.  "I have had another letter from those
+blackguards, a--a most dreadful letter!"
+
+"Already?" said Evan.
+
+"And so I came to you at once."
+
+"You will pardon me," said Evan coolly, "but I do not yet see why you
+should come to me about it--after the manner of our parting."
+
+"I had no one else to go to," said Deaves helplessly.
+
+In spite of himself Evan was a little touched.  "Let me see the
+letter," he said, holding out his hand.
+
+Deaves passed it over and Evan read:
+
+
+"Mr. George Deaves:
+
+Dear Mr. Deaves:
+
+Our enterprise has had its exciting side.  We'd be willing to keep it
+up indefinitely for the pure fun of the thing were it not that it is so
+expensive.  I mean, a large part of our takings is swallowed up in the
+inevitable charges.  This leads us to offer you an alternative plan.
+
+Under the present scheme we will assess you this season about forty
+thousand dollars, and an equal amount, or more, next year.  Now we
+propose to save you money and ourselves trouble by asking you to endow
+the Ikunahkatsi once and for all.  Four hundred thousand dollars is the
+sum required.  At five per cent this is only twenty thousand a year, so
+you see you would save a clear half.  On our part we would bind
+ourselves not to ask you to advance us any further sums of money on any
+pretext whatsoever.  You will concede that heretofore we have
+scrupulously kept all our engagements with you.  To put it humorously,
+it will cost you four hundred thousand dollars to get rid of us for
+good.  Isn't it worth it?  Especially now that the old gentleman has
+lost his efficient guardian.
+
+We will give you until Sunday morning to think it over.  If you agree
+to our proposal hang a flag from the pole that juts from the second
+story of your house, and we will send you instructions how to proceed.
+We are sure you will agree, but if you do not, we have further
+arguments to offer you.
+
+Yours very sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"Same old humourist!" said Evan grimly.
+
+"And only the day before I sent them five thousand!" groaned Deaves.
+
+"Just the same this is a confession of weakness," said Evan.  "I see
+that clearly.  The game is getting too difficult for them."
+
+"What would you advise me to do?"
+
+"Ignore that letter."
+
+"But--but what do you suppose they mean by 'further arguments'?"
+
+"I don't know.  Make them show their hand."
+
+"Do you suppose they contemplate--er--personal violence?"
+
+"They may intend to threaten it."
+
+Deaves shuddered.  "Suppose they took me into custody as they did you?"
+
+"Well, they didn't do me any harm, really."
+
+"I am not so sure--the second time----"
+
+"They wouldn't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," said Evan
+grimly.
+
+Deaves saw nothing humorous in the illustration.
+
+"Have you shown the letter to Mrs. Deaves?" asked Evan.
+
+Deaves shook his head.  "I suppose they will be writing to her next,"
+he moaned.
+
+"Your father?"
+
+"What's the use?"  Deaves struck his forehead.  "My position is
+becoming unbearable!" he cried.
+
+"I'm sorry for you," Evan said, thinking: "If you only had a little
+more backbone!"
+
+Deaves arose lugubriously.  "After all there is nothing for me to do
+but to ignore this letter," he said.  "I suppose you do not feel
+inclined to help me any further in the matter."
+
+"On the contrary, I'll be glad to," said Evan quickly.  "But on my own
+terms.  I have my own score to settle with this gang."
+
+Deaves looked heartened.  "Then if I hear from them again what is your
+telephone number?"
+
+"There is no telephone in this house."
+
+"But I may send to you?"
+
+"By all means."
+
+"--Er--would you mind coming down-stairs with me?" said Deaves.  "The
+halls are so dark.  And this letter has made me wretchedly nervous."
+
+Evan went with him, concealing his smile.
+
+In the lower hall Deaves said: "Of course I shall not venture out on
+foot after this.  I shall always use the car."  A new and dreadful
+thought struck him.  "But then in a car one offers such a conspicuous
+mark to a bullet!"
+
+"You needn't fear bullets," said Evan.  "A dead man can't pay
+blackmail."
+
+Deaves seemed to take little comfort from this.  "What do you think
+about my chauffeur?" he asked anxiously.  "Take a look at him.  Does he
+look honest?"
+
+Evan glanced through the narrow pane beside the door.  "There's nothing
+remarkable about him," he said.  "He looks like--like a chauffeur.  How
+can one tell from a man's looks what he's thinking about?"
+
+"Suppose they were to bribe him, and he drove me off to their lair?"
+stuttered Deaves.  "I--I think I'd better stay home altogether
+hereafter."
+
+
+But he was back again at nine o'clock that night in a still greater
+state of agitation.  "Father has not come home!" he cried.  "Where is
+he?"
+
+"How should I know?" said Evan.
+
+"But you accompanied him on all his walks!  You know his haunts!"
+
+"His haunts!" exclaimed Evan.  "His haunts comprised the whole five
+boroughs of Greater New York with occasional excursions into Jersey!"
+
+"But you must go in search of him!  I cannot let the night pass and do
+nothing!"
+
+"My dear sir, I wouldn't have the faintest notion where to begin.  The
+only thing to do is to send out a general alarm through the police."
+
+Deaves wrung his hands.  "I can't do that!  I can't risk another
+horrible newspaper sensation on top of everything else!"
+
+"Then there's nothing to do but wait to see what happens," said Evan
+patiently.  "If he's had an accident in the street, you will be
+notified."
+
+"You think I'd be glad if something happened to him," said Deaves.
+"Everybody thinks so.  But after all he's my father.  It's the suspense
+that drives me out of my mind!"
+
+"It cannot be for long.  If the blackmailers have kidnapped him----"
+
+"That is what I fear!"
+
+"They will open negotiations in the morning.  And you need not fear
+that anything will happen to him during the course of negotiations."
+
+"But what good will it do to negotiate?" cried poor Deaves.  "I cannot
+possibly meet their demands."
+
+"Tell them so," said Evan.  "Put it up to them."
+
+"Then they'll make him suffer."
+
+"In that case he can pay them."
+
+"Ah, you don't know my father!  Four hundred thousand dollars!  He'd
+die rather!"
+
+"Well, that's up to him, isn't it?" said Evan coolly.
+
+"Ah, you have no heart!" cried George Deaves.
+
+"My dear sir," said Evan patiently, "it is your 'heart' as you call it
+that these fellows are working on.  They would not dare to harm Mr.
+Deaves, really.  If they did, it would arouse public opinion to that
+extent we could catch and hang every man jack of them!"
+
+"Your cold words cannot ease the heart of a son!" cried Deaves.
+
+Evan ushered him gently towards the staircase.  "Take it easy!" he said
+soothingly.  "Wait until to-morrow.  Perhaps in opening negotiations
+they will give us a good chance to trip them up."
+
+
+Deaves returned next morning before Evan had finished his breakfast.
+He extended a letter in a trembling hand.
+
+"In the first mail," he said.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"One of our members happened to meet Mr. Simeon Deaves on the street
+yesterday, and invited him to spend a few days as our guest at the
+clubhouse.  He is with us now, and appears to be enjoying himself
+pretty well, but unfortunately the climate of the vicinity is very bad
+for him.  At his age one cannot be too careful.  We think he should be
+returned home at once.  A single day's delay might be fatal.  If you
+agree, hang out the flag at eleven, Monday.  We realize that you feel
+you must be extra careful in regard to the old gentleman's health,
+because you would profit so greatly by his death.  You are so
+conscientious!  Personally we would be very glad to see you come in for
+a great fortune; it would enable you to put so much more into the
+enterprise in which we are jointly associated."
+
+
+Said Evan: "Stripped of its humorous verbiage this means: 'Come across
+or we'll croak the old man.  And you needn't think you would profit by
+his death because we'd come down on you harder than ever then!'"
+
+"Isn't it awful!  Isn't it awful!" gasped Deaves.  "Was ever a man put
+in so frightful a position?  What am I to do?"
+
+"Three courses are open to you," said Evan patiently; "the first, and
+in my opinion the wisest, course is--to do nothing.  Put it up to them."
+
+"But my father!  He will suffer for it!  A rotting old house overrun
+with rats, you said.  And such an ordeal as you went through!  It might
+very well kill him.  How can I risk it?"
+
+"He will always have the option of freeing himself," said Evan.
+
+"He would die rather than submit!"
+
+Evan shrugged.  "Well, we went over all that last night.  Your second
+course would be to take that letter to the police and put the whole
+matter in their hands.  A force of ten thousand men with the
+information I can give them ought to be able to locate the clubhouse
+before night."
+
+"And find papa's body!"
+
+"Well, your third course is to hang out the flag and open negotiations."
+
+"I have nothing to negotiate with!  I cannot raise a cent more!"
+
+"Never mind; bluff them.  Spin them along as far as you can, on the
+chance of outwitting them in the end."
+
+"What chance would I have of outwitting them?" cried Deaves mournfully.
+
+Evan looked at the poor distraught figure and thought: "Not much, I
+guess."  Aloud he said: "Well, that's the best I can do for you."
+
+"All three courses are equally impossible!" cried Deaves desperately.
+
+"Yet you must follow one of them."
+
+"You are no help at all!" cried Deaves.  He turned like a demented
+person, and ran down-stairs.
+
+Evan thought he had seen the last of him.
+
+
+But on the afternoon of the following day he returned once more.  He
+was still perturbed, but his desperate agitation had passed; there was
+even a certain smugness about him.  Clearly something had happened to
+ease his mind.
+
+"Well, what did you do?" asked Evan.
+
+Deaves looked confused.  "Well--I couldn't make up my mind what to do,"
+he confessed.  "I--I didn't do anything."
+
+"Just what I advised," said Evan.  "Then what happened?"
+
+Deaves evaded a direct answer.  "I came to ask you if you would
+accompany me on a little expedition to-night?"
+
+"What for?" demanded Evan.
+
+"Is it necessary for me to tell you?  I would pay you well."
+
+"It's not a question of pay," said Evan.  "I must know what I'm doing."
+
+"You wouldn't approve of my course of action."
+
+"All the more reason for telling me."
+
+Deaves still hesitated.
+
+"Let me see the latest letter," said Evan at a venture.
+
+Deaves stared.  "How did you know there was a letter?"
+
+"Well there always is another when the first doesn't work, isn't there?"
+
+Deaves looking a little foolish produced a letter and handed it over.
+Evan read:
+
+
+"The enclosed speaks for itself.  You will please proceed as
+follows:--bearing in mind that the slightest departure from our
+instructions in the past has invariably been followed by disaster:
+
+You will leave home in your car at eight P.M. Tuesday.  You may bring a
+companion with you in addition to your chauffeur, as we realize you
+have not the constitution to carry this through alone and we do not
+wish to ask the impossible.  Therefore you may bring the huskiest
+body-guard obtainable--but neither you nor he must bear weapons of any
+description.
+
+You will proceed over the Queensboro Bridge and wait on the North side
+of the Plaza at the corner of Stonewall avenue until eight-thirty
+precisely.  You will not get out of your car during this wait.  You
+will be under observation the whole way, and we will instantly be
+apprised of any departure from our instructions.  In that case you will
+have your trip for nothing and the consequences will be on your head.
+
+At eight-thirty you will proceed out Stonewall avenue to the corner of
+Beechurst, an insignificant street in the village of Regina.  It is
+about ten minutes' drive from the Plaza.  You will know Beechurst
+street by the large and ugly stone church with twin towers on your left
+hand.  You get out on the right-hand side and send your chauffeur back.
+Tell him to return to the bridge Plaza and wait for you.
+
+When he is out of sight you proceed up Beechurst street to the right.
+It climbs a hill and seems to come to an end in less than a block among
+a waste of vacant lots.  You will find, however, that it is continued
+by a rough road which you are to follow.  It crosses waste lands and
+passes through a patch of woods.  You will be held up on the way, but
+do not be alarmed.  This is merely for the purpose of searching you for
+weapons.
+
+In the patch of woods further along, you will find two men waiting for
+you.  To them you will deliver the securities.  They will examine them
+and if they are all right you will be allowed to proceed.  Do not
+return the way you came, but continue to follow the rough road.  A
+short way further along it will bring you to a highway with a trolley
+line by which you may return to the Bridge Plaza.
+
+If you do your part Mr. Simeon Deaves will be home before morning.
+
+THE IKUNAHKATSI."
+
+
+"What was the enclosure they speak of?" asked Evan.
+
+"A note from my father."
+
+"Ah!  May I see it?"
+
+"I haven't it.  It was addressed to Culberson, President of the
+Mid-City Bank."
+
+"An order?"
+
+"Yes, for Culberson to buy $400,000. of non-registered Liberty bonds
+and deliver them to me!"
+
+"So he gave in!" cried Evan in strong amazement.  "Even Simeon Deaves
+values his skin more than his money!" he added to himself.  "You have
+already secured the bonds?" he asked Deaves.
+
+The latter nodded.  "They're at home."
+
+"By God!  I hate to let those rascals get away with it!" cried Evan.
+"Four hundred thousand!  Think of the good you could do with such a
+sum!"
+
+"But they have promised to let us alone for good," said Deaves eagerly.
+
+"They can afford to!" said Evan dryly.  "It fairly drives me wild to
+think of them triumphing!"
+
+"But you'll come with me?" said Deaves anxiously.
+
+"Sure, I'll go with you.  I may get a chance at them yet!"
+
+"No!  No!" cried Deaves in a panic.  "That would ruin everything!  You
+must promise me you will make no attempt against them!"
+
+"I must be free to act as I see fit!" said Evan stubbornly.
+
+"Then I cannot take you!"
+
+"That's up to you," said Evan with an indifferent shrug.  He turned
+away.
+
+Deaves lingered in a state of pitiable indecision.  "I have no one else
+I can ask," he said appealingly.  "I beg of you to be reasonable, Weir.
+You must see that we are helpless against them.  Promise me you will do
+nothing against them, and you may ask me what you like."
+
+"I want nothing from you," said Evan coldly.  "I won't promise."
+
+"Then I must take a servant," said Deaves helplessly--"and perhaps lay
+myself open to fresh demands from another quarter!"  He turned to go.
+
+Evan of course was keen on going.  When he saw that Deaves was actually
+prepared to stick to what he said, Evan gave in.
+
+"I'll compromise with you," he said.  "I promise to carry out
+instructions exactly as given in the letter until after the securities
+are handed over.  After that I must be free to act as I see fit."
+
+"What do you mean to do?" asked Deaves anxiously.
+
+"I don't know.  How can I tell?  I'm hoping that something may happen
+to give me a clue that I may follow up later."
+
+"Oh well, that's all right," said Deaves.  "You'll be at my house
+before eight then?"
+
+"I'll be there."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT
+
+George Deaves and Evan sat in the Deaves limousine with the package of
+bonds between them.  Deaves was perspiring and fidgetty, Evan the
+picture of imperturbability--not but what Evan was excited too, but the
+display of agitation the other was making put Evan on his mettle to
+show nothing.  The car was lying against the curb on the North side of
+the Queensboro Bridge Plaza, and they were watching the hands of a
+clock in a bank building creep to half-past eight.
+
+"Why do you suppose they insisted on our waiting here?" said Deaves
+querulously.
+
+"Can't say," answered Evan.  "I have fancied that some of their orders
+were just thrown in to mystify us, to undermine our morale.  Possibly
+they stipulated we must leave this point at eight-thirty so they would
+know exactly when to expect us."
+
+"That man who just passed us, how he stared!  Do you suppose he could
+have been one of them?"
+
+"There must be a lot of them then.  Everybody stares.  Like ourselves,
+they wonder what we're waiting here for."
+
+On the stroke of the half hour they gave the chauffeur word to proceed
+out Stonewall avenue.  The village of Regina is not a beautiful hamlet.
+Its founders had large ideas; they laid off the principal street a
+hundred feet wide, but the city has its own ideas about the proper
+width of streets, and when in the course of time the municipality took
+over Regina it paved but two-thirds of Stonewall avenue, leaving a
+muddy morass at each side.  The buildings that lined this thoroughfare
+were something between those of a city slum and those of a Western boom
+town.  They had no difficulty in picking out Beechurst street; the big
+stone church in its muddy yard was a horror.
+
+They alighted in the middle of the street, for the chauffeur opined
+that if he fell off the hard pavement he'd never be able to climb back
+on it.  They dismissed him, and watched him turn and roll out of sight.
+
+Deaves shuddered.  "I wish I was safe inside!" he murmured.
+
+Evan took careful note of their surroundings.  On the corner where they
+stood was a stationery store, and across Beechurst street was a saloon.
+"Someone watching us from in there I'll be bound," thought Evan.  If he
+had been alone he would have gone in.  Across Stonewall avenue from the
+saloon was the church aforementioned, and the fourth corner was vacant.
+
+They turned up Beechurst street, which was swallowed up in unrelieved
+blackness a few yards ahead.
+
+"I feel as if there were watching eyes on every side of us," said
+Deaves tremulously.
+
+"They're welcome to look at me if it does them any good," said Evan
+lightly.
+
+"You carry the package," said Deaves.
+
+"Aren't you afraid I might skip with it?" said Evan teasingly.
+
+Deaves had no humour.  He hastily took the package back.  Evan chuckled.
+
+The sidewalk ended abruptly, and they took to the centre of the street.
+Here they found a rough and stony road grown high with weeds on either
+hand.  Mounds of ashes and tin cans obstructed the way; an automobile
+would have found it well-nigh impassable.  It wound across that ugly
+no-man's land between the pavements and the cultivated land.  What with
+his terrors and the tenderness of his feet, Deaves made heavy going
+over the stones.
+
+To complete his demoralisation, a shrill whistle presently rang out of
+the dark behind them.  Deaves gasped and clutched Evan.
+
+"That's only their signal that all's well," said Evan.
+
+"This is no place for me!" moaned Deaves.
+
+The road became a little smoother, and alongside they saw the neat rows
+of a market garden.  Evan sniffed that curious odor compounded of
+growing vegetables and fertilizer.  Then the road dipped into a hollow
+and thick bushes rose on either side.  The air was sweet of the open
+countryside here.  It was very dark under the bushes.  Deaves clung to
+Evan's arm.
+
+Suddenly they found themselves surrounded by several figures with
+masked faces.  A crisp voice commanded:
+
+"Hands up, gentlemen!"
+
+Deaves obeyed so quickly that the package rolled on the ground.
+Somebody sniggered.  The first voice sternly bade him to be quiet.
+Deaves stooped to pick up the precious package.  He was ordered to let
+it lie.  Evan and Deaves, their hands aloft, were rapidly and
+thoroughly frisked for weapons.  Deaves gasped with terror when they
+touched him.  The spot was so dark, Evan could make but few
+observations.  He did see though that the men--he counted four of
+them--were roughly dressed, and from this he deduced that they were
+from the higher walks of life.  Clever and successful crooks nowadays
+are invariably well-dressed.  The rough clothes were in line with the
+gruff voices the men assumed.  Gruffness could not hide the educated
+forms of speech that they used.
+
+The search was over in a minute.  "Pick up the package, gentlemen, and
+proceed," ordered the voice.  The figures melted away in the darkness.
+Evan and Deaves went on.  The road rose out of the hollow, and they had
+more light to pick their tracks.  Again a whistle sounded behind them.
+
+"The word is being passed along to those in front of us," said Evan.
+
+After the market gardens came a patch of woods.  Deaves halted at the
+edge and peered into the shadows.
+
+"I cannot trust myself in there," he muttered.  "I simply cannot!"
+
+"Just as you say," said Evan.  "I don't suppose they'll let us back
+now."
+
+With a groan Deaves started ahead.  Evan sniffed the trees gratefully.
+
+In the thick of the woods two figures faced them.  White cotton masks
+over their faces gave them an unearthly look.  Deaves tremulously held
+out the package, and it was taken from his hands.  No word was spoken.
+One man snapped on an electric flash, and in the disk of light that it
+threw the other hastily unwrapped the package and examined the bonds.
+
+Now from the white papers a certain amount of light was reflected back
+on the man who was holding the flash, and Evan studied him attentively.
+He was holding a pistol in his other hand.  Something familiar in the
+creases of the suit he wore first arrested Evan's attention.  That is
+to say, these creases suggested the lines of a figure that Evan had
+often drawn and painted.  When in addition he perceived a certain
+well-remembered involuntary twitching in the figure, amazement and
+incredulity gave place to certainty.
+
+"Charl!" he cried.
+
+The two masked figures started back.  He who held the light took his
+breath sharply, and Evan knew he was not mistaken.  The man with the
+bonds quickly recovered himself.
+
+"Be quiet!" he sharply commanded.
+
+But Evan in his anger had forgotten prudence.  "Charl!" he cried.
+"What does this mean?  Have you turned crook!"
+
+The other man whispered in a passion: "Shoot him if he doesn't shut his
+mouth!"
+
+"Yes, shoot your partner," cried Evan.
+
+Charley shrunk back.
+
+"Give me the gun and I'll do it," said the other man.
+
+"Weir, for God's sake, for God's sake, for God's sake!"  Deaves was
+gabbling in an ecstasy of terror.
+
+With an effort Evan commanded himself.  Nothing was to be gained by
+making a row there in the woods.  Indeed he already saw how foolish he
+had been to betray his discovery.
+
+The examination of the bonds was concluded.  The man who had them spoke
+to his partner: "These are all right.  Hold them here while I start the
+engine."
+
+Evan, more accustomed now to the darkness of the woods, made out that
+at the point where they stood the road forked.  In the left fork he
+dimly perceived the form of a car at a few paces distance.  The top was
+down.  Presently the engine started, and Evan recognised that it was
+the same car that had carried him off.  The engine had its own rattle.
+
+Charley said in a disguised voice: "Keep straight ahead to the right."
+
+He started to back away from them, keeping the light playing on the
+agonised, fascinated face of Deaves, who stood rooted to the ground.
+The hand that held the light trembled a little.  Suddenly it was
+switched off and Charley ran the last few steps that separated him from
+the car.
+
+Evan involuntarily sprang forward, leaving a speechless and gasping
+Deaves in the road.  But Evan was not thinking of Deaves then.  He saw
+Charley take the driver's seat in the car.  The noise of the engine
+drowned what sounds Evan's feet made.  He laid hands on the back of the
+car as it started to move, and swung himself off the ground.  His knees
+found the gasoline tank.  He cautiously turned around and let himself
+down upon it in a sitting position, his hands still clinging to the
+folds of the lowered top above his head.  As they got under way the man
+beside Charley blew a blast on a whistle similar to those they had
+heard before.
+
+They went but slowly for the way was rough.  Evan prayed that the tank
+beneath him might be stoutly swung to the frame.  As well as he could
+he distributed his weight between the tank and the top.  After passing
+over some spring-testing bumps in safety he felt somewhat reassured.
+If she stood that there would not be much danger on a smoother road
+when they hit up speed.
+
+Emerging from the woods they turned into a farm road not so bad, and by
+means of the farm road they gained a dirt highway, ever increasing
+speed as the way became smoother.  All this neighbourhood was quite
+unknown to Evan of course, and his point of view was somewhat
+restricted, being directed solely towards the rear.  He watched the
+stars and made out that the car was choosing roads that were gradually
+bringing it around in a great circle.  He supposed that it was bound
+back for town--for the "club-house," if he was lucky.
+
+Evan had no clear idea of what he meant to do.  His one purpose was to
+get Charley by himself.  He knew the ascendancy that he possessed over
+that mercurial youth.
+
+They finally struck a smooth macadam road upon which they travelled
+East at thirty-five miles an hour, the best, no doubt, the old car
+could do.  It was a well-travelled road.  They passed all cars bound in
+the same direction, and to the drivers of these cars Evan on his perch
+was brilliantly revealed in the rays of their headlights.  With the
+idea of suggesting that it was all a joke, Evan waved facetiously to
+them.  They accepted it as intended, or at any rate none of them sought
+to give him away.  They passed through several villages, but the people
+on the sidewalks rarely noticed Evan, or, if they did, they merely
+gaped at him.
+
+They crossed the long viaduct over the railway yards in Long Island
+City, and Evan began to grow anxious.  If they were going to traverse
+the whole length of town how could he hope to avoid having the
+attention of the two men on the front seat called to him by the
+sharp-eyed small boys?  They crossed the Plaza and swung out on
+Queensboro Bridge, keeping close to the speed limit, or edging over it
+a little.  The drivers they passed still obligingly accepted Evan's
+suggestion that he was paying an election bet, or was up to some other
+foolishness.
+
+They passed a limousine which looked familiar.  Evan looked twice and
+recognized the Deaves turnout.  George Deaves sat behind the glass
+windows, looking pale and shaken.  So he had got out of the woods all
+right!  The chauffeur stared at Evan, then grinned widely, and stepped
+on his accelerator.  The big car came up close.
+
+Evan saw Deaves lean forward to rebuke his chauffeur for the speed.
+The chauffeur called his attention to Evan.  Deaves' eyes nearly
+started out of his head.  Evan waved his hand.  Deaves, with emphatic
+adjurations to his chauffeur to slow up, fell back on his seat and
+closed his eyes.  "He wants to forget about me," thought Evan.  The
+limousine gradually dropped back out of sight.
+
+Evan's anxiety about the streets of town was presently relieved.  After
+crossing the Bridge Plaza, where, to be sure, a number of people
+laughed and pointed at him but without apparently attracting the
+attention of the two men in front, they turned into the darkest and
+quietest streets.  Evan soon saw that they were not bound for the
+club-house.  Their journey through town was not long; through
+Fifty-eighth to Lexington; down Lexington in the car tracks to
+Thirty-ninth, and East again.  In Thirty-ninth street the car slowed
+down and Evan held himself in readiness to drop off.
+
+At the moment of stopping Evan ducked under the side of the car
+opposite to the curb.  He heard the car-door slam and feet run across
+the pavement.  Cautiously peering around the back he saw Charley, fully
+revealed in the light of a street lamp, run up the steps of a house and
+let himself in with a latch-key.  Just before disappearing he glanced
+up and down the street; no other car was in sight.  Evan said to
+himself: "He is stopping here.  That is something to know."
+
+Evan peeped over the top.  To his surprise he found the car empty.  The
+second man had dropped off at some point en route without his seeing
+him.  Evidently he still had the securities for Charley's hands had
+been empty.  Evan was chagrined to think of this prize slipping through
+his fingers; however he still had a line on Charley.
+
+Unfortunately for Evan at this moment a gruff voice behind him said:
+"Hey, young man, what do you think you're doin'?"
+
+It was a policeman who, having observed Evan's maneuvres from across
+the street, had felt a perhaps not unnatural curiosity and had come
+over to satisfy it.
+
+Evan, silently cursing his luck, instantly said with a confiding air:
+"It's just a joke, officer.  Fellow I know hired this car to take his
+girl out, see?  I think they're going to run off and be married, and I
+want to give them the laugh, see?  All in fun."
+
+"Well, it may be so," was the heavily facetious reply, "and again it
+may not.  You better leave that guy be, see?"
+
+"Just as you say," said Evan with a shrug.
+
+He was not at all anxious to have Charley come out and find him in talk
+with the blue-coat, so he sauntered off down the street, the policeman
+following with a darkly suspicious eye.  Glancing over his shoulder,
+Evan, to his unspeakable chagrin, saw Charley come scampering down the
+steps, jump in the car and start off in the other direction.  In his
+heart Evan cursed the whole race of blue-coats.
+
+Evan walked around the block and approached the house from the other
+side.  The policeman was now out of sight.  It was still only half-past
+nine, not too late conceivably to pay a call.  Evan rang the bell.
+
+The door was opened by a handsome, bold-eyed girl who had a challenging
+glance for any personable young male.  Evan gave her look for look; she
+was a potential source of valuable information.
+
+"Charley Straiker live here?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, but he's out now."
+
+"Do you know when he'll be in?"
+
+"In half an hour.  He's gone to the garage to put the car away."
+
+"Sure he's coming back?"
+
+"He just told me.  In case anybody called up."
+
+The trail was not lost then; Evan took heart.  "Well, I'll wait for
+him," he said.  "Where's his room?"
+
+The girl gave him a provoking glance.  "I don't know if I ought to let
+you up.  I don't know you."
+
+"Well, I'll stop and talk to you and you soon will," retorted Evan.
+
+She tossed her head.  "I can't stand here all night talking."
+
+"What's your name?"
+
+"Ethel Barrymore.  What's yours?"
+
+"Leo Dietrichstein."
+
+"Some li'l jollier, aren't you?"
+
+"I'm just learning from you, Ethel."
+
+"Are you an artist like Mr. Straiker?"
+
+"No, I'm a Wall street broker."
+
+"Yes you are!"
+
+"Any rooms to rent, Ethel?  I'd like to hang out where you are."
+
+"All the hall rooms are taken."
+
+"They would be, around you.  How about a man's size room?"
+
+"Who do you want it for?"
+
+This sprightly exchange was cut short by a shrill voice from the
+basement calling: "Sa-a-d-e-e-e!"
+
+"Darn!" muttered the girl.  "I've got to go or she'll scream her lungs
+out!"
+
+"Which is Charley's room?" said Evan.  "I'll go up."
+
+"Second floor rear hall," she said as she disappeared.
+
+Her cryptic description was sufficient to anyone who knows New York
+rooming houses.  The room was typical.  Charley had not been in it long
+enough to give it any of his own character.  You squeezed past the bed
+to a tiny rectangular space at the foot where there was just room
+enough for a bureau, a wash-stand and one chair.  If the occupant had a
+visitor one of them must sit on the bed.
+
+Evan sat down in the chair and filled his pipe, thinking grimly of the
+surprise that Charley was due to receive when he opened the door.
+Suppose Charley flatly refused all information, how could he make him
+speak?  It occurred to him that it would be well to be supplied with
+evidence, and he began to look over Charley's things.  After the way
+Charley had acted he had no scruples in doing so; he would not have
+been at all put out of countenance had Charley come in.
+
+He scarcely expected to find anything of importance--still Charley was
+extraordinarily careless.  Seeing a book lying on the bureau (a novel
+by Jack London) Evan was reminded of an old habit of his friend's of
+putting any paper he wished to save between the leaves of a book.  He
+shook the book and several papers dropped out: to wit: a letter from
+his mother; ditto from a girl in his home town, and lastly a sheet of
+thin paper with typewriting upon it.  Evan put the first two back and
+studied the third.  As he grasped the purport of it, he pursed up his
+lips to whistle and his eyes grew round.  This was a prize indeed!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+LATER THAT NIGHT
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TUESDAY NIGHT
+
+Members P.D. and H.B. will be on the ground not later than five o'clock
+Tuesday afternoon to make sure that no surprise is planted on us
+beforehand.  P.D. will hang out in the little roadhouse marked A. on
+the map, where he can see anything that turns the corner, and H.B. will
+take up his station in the saloon B. at the other end of the road C.
+These two can communicate with each other by telephone if anything
+suspicious is observed.
+
+Members J.T., L.A., J.M. and C.C. will proceed in two couples
+separately by trolley to the saloon at B. where they should stop for a
+drink for the purpose of showing themselves to H.B. who is watching
+there, and to give H.B. a chance to warn them if he has observed
+anything suspicious.  All members must bear in mind that no chances
+must be taken.  There is too much at stake.  If anybody sees anything
+out of the way let him warn the others, and the operation be called off
+for the night.  Unless warned by H.B., J.T. and the three others will
+proceed from the saloon to their station at the clump of bushes marked
+D. on the road C.  They should not get there until eight-thirty as
+their continued presence in the neighbourhood might arouse suspicion.
+
+Meanwhile T.D. and C.S. are to proceed in the car to the fork E. of the
+road by the route they have already been over.  There is no need of
+watching the track through the woods to E. as it is not marked on any
+map, and could not be found except by one entering from A. or B. which
+will both be watched.  The car must be in place, turned around and
+ready to run back at eight-thirty.
+
+A most important duty devolves on H.B. who must satisfy himself that
+the man and his companion are not accompanied nor followed by the
+police.  When the two pass the corner B. let member H.B. if all is well
+blow one long blast on his whistle as a signal to J.T. But if they are
+followed let H.B. blow five short blasts and take to the fields.
+
+When J.T. gets the O.K. signal let him post his men in readiness to
+quietly surround the two and search them for weapons.  If he gets a
+warning signal let him pass on a warning to J.T. and all must scatter
+in the market gardens and make their way home separately.  After the
+two have been searched and sent on, J.T. will give the clear signal to
+T.D.
+
+When the two arrive at the fork of the road E. member C.S. will keep
+them covered while T.D. takes the package and examines the contents.
+It is supposed that the man will bring Evan Weir as his companion, and
+C.S. must therefore take especial care not to betray himself by his
+voice.
+
+When T.D. has satisfied himself the package is O.K. let him direct the
+two men to continue walking by the right-hand fork of the road, and
+when they have passed on, let T.D. and C.S. make their getaway in the
+car, signalling all clear as they start.  When T.D.'s clear signal is
+heard let all members make their way separately to their homes.  On the
+way back J.T. can give the word to H.B.  None of the members must meet
+together later that night.
+
+Meanwhile T.D. and C.S. make their way back to town by the same route
+they went out by, C.S. driving.  T.D. after distributing the contents
+of the package through his various pockets, will drop off the car at
+any suitable spot according to his judgment, taking care that he is not
+under observation at the moment.  He will return home, taking due
+precautions against being followed.
+
+C.S. will return to his home in the car.  If the car is required, a
+telephone message will be awaiting him there.  If there is no message
+let him put the car up.  If he is followed, it is no great matter,
+nothing can be brought home to him.  After putting the car up let him
+return to his home for an hour.  At the end of that time if no one has
+been there he can be pretty sure that he has not been traced.  At
+eleven o'clock then, let him proceed to the club-house and report to me
+on the night's happenings.  He can then take the old man home.  A
+pass-word for the night will be communicated to him verbally.
+
+Let every member commit the contents of this paper to memory and
+destroy his copy.
+
+THE CHIEF.
+
+
+Evan thought hard.  This communication put an entirely new complexion
+on affairs.  Far from wishing to confront Charley, Evan now desired at
+any cost to avoid him.  If he could only succeed in following Charley
+to the "club-house" and in trapping the elusive chief himself, what a
+triumph!  His heart beat fast at the very thought.
+
+He hastened down-stairs, dreading to hear Charley's key in the door.
+Nevertheless he had to linger long enough to square the girl, for if
+Charley encountered her and she told him of his visitor it would spoil
+all.  Evan looked up and down the street.  No sign of Charley yet.  He
+rang the bell to bring the girl.
+
+She appeared, saying scornfully: "Oh, it's you, is it?"--but not
+ill-pleased by the summons.
+
+"I hate waiting around," said Evan.
+
+"He'll be here any minute now."
+
+"I'm not so keen about seeing him anyhow.  I'd rather visit with you."
+
+"Quit your kidding, Leo."
+
+"Come on out and have a soda while I'm waiting."
+
+She hesitated, looked up and down--and succumbed.  "All right.  I'll
+have to hurry back.  I don't need a hat."
+
+Evan was careful to lead her towards Lexington, since it was from the
+other direction Charley would presumably appear.
+
+They had their soda, never ceasing to "con" each other in the style
+that has been suggested.  Sadie enjoyed it to the full; Evan on the
+other hand was rather hard put to it to keep up his end, for his
+thoughts were far away.  His fits of abstraction rather added to his
+attractiveness in the girl's eyes; she couldn't quite make him out.
+
+His problem was how to keep her from seeing Charley before Charley left
+the house for the last time, and yet be on time himself to follow
+Charley when he started out.
+
+Issuing from the drug-store, Evan suggested a short walk, to which
+Sadie was nothing loath.  He steered her through another street back to
+Third avenue, and managed to fetch up as if by accident before a
+moving-picture palace.
+
+"Let's go in," he said carelessly.  "The last show will just be
+beginning."
+
+Once more Sadie hesitated, made objections--and allowed him to brush
+them away.  Sadie was fascinated.  Evan took her by the arm and marched
+her in in masterful style.  For his own ends he chose seats in that
+part of the house where smoking was permitted.
+
+To Evan's relief the picture proved to be one of which Sadie could
+wholly approve, and she no longer required to be entertained.  She
+became absorbed in its unrolling.  The hard eyes softened a little;
+clearly she was lifted out of this mundane sphere of rooming-houses and
+attractive, fresh young men you had to be careful with, into a realm of
+peculiar magnificence.
+
+Meanwhile Evan watched the illuminated clock with which the proprietor
+thoughtfully provided his patrons, and made his calculations.  He had
+to figure closely.  He knew that all these picture houses let out at
+eleven, and they were only five minutes' walk from the rooming-house.
+If the show was over a little early to-night, or if Charley was a
+little late in starting, all his careful planning would go for nothing.
+
+At ten minutes to eleven the drama was still going strong, with
+everything as yet unexplained.  Evan whispered to his companion.
+
+"I'm out of smokes.  Excuse me while I get a pack at the stand."
+
+She nodded without taking her eyes from the screen.  She did not mark
+that he took his hat with him.  He stopped not at the cigar-stand, but
+made his way out of the theatre.  There was little chance of her
+following while any of the fascinating drama remained unrevealed.
+
+He stopped in a haberdasher's and bought three of the largest size
+handkerchiefs for a grim purpose.  Back in Thirty-ninth street he
+concealed himself in the area-way of a vacant house across the street
+from the rooming-house.  Now, if only Sadie did not come back before
+Charley went out, and if an inquisitive policeman did not put a crimp
+in his plans!
+
+A church clock struck eleven, and Charley appeared almost upon the last
+stroke.  He slammed the door after him, and his feet twittered down the
+steps in style peculiarly his own.  He stopped on the pavement to light
+a cigarette--and incidentally to look warily up and down the street.
+Reassured, he started quickly towards Lexington.  He was an easy man to
+trail, gait and appearance were both so marked.  Evan could hardly lose
+that cheap Panama hat cocked at a slightly rakish angle.
+
+Evan let him get around the corner before he ventured out of his
+hiding-place.  As Evan himself reached the corner of Lexington he
+looked back and saw Sadie turning into the block from Third.  "A close
+shave!" he thought.
+
+Charley was still visible hastening North with his loose-jointed
+stride, his "kangaroo lope" Evan had called it.  He turned West in
+Forty-second street.  This was an advantage to Evan, for Forty-second
+street is crowded at this hour.  Charley took the more crowded
+sidewalk, and Evan kept the Panama in view from across the street.
+
+They crossed the whole central part of town, breasting the current of
+pedestrians bound from the theatres to the terminal station.  At Sixth
+avenue Charley went up one stairway to the elevated, and Evan up the
+other.  The platform was crowded, obviating the greatest danger of an
+encounter.  When a train came along Evan lost Charley for a while, for
+he could not risk boarding the same car of the train.  But he had
+little doubt now where Charley was bound for: i.e., Central Bridge, the
+end of the line.
+
+Up-town, when the crowd began to thin out a little; Evan satisfied
+himself that Charley was still safe in the next car but one ahead.
+"Lucky for me," he thought, "they set the only hour at night when the
+cars are crowded."
+
+At the end of the line there were still many left to get off and Evan
+safely lost himself amongst them.  Most of these people (including the
+Panama hat) climbed to the viaduct above to take the red trolley cars
+of various lines.
+
+Charley boarded a Lafayette avenue car, but displayed an inclination to
+remain out on the back platform.  This was a poser for Evan, but he
+managed with several others to crowd on the front end, which is against
+the rules.  He found a little seat in the corner of the motorman's
+vestibule, where he sat down in the dark.  Looking back through the car
+he could make out a square of Charley's striped coat through one of the
+rear windows.  He kept his eye on that.
+
+Charley rode clear to the end of the line at Featherbed lane.  Evan, by
+lingering to ask the motorman a question as to his supposed direction,
+let him get away from the car.  Eight people got off at this point.
+Five waited at the transverse tracks for the Yonkers car, while three,
+of whom Evan and Charley were two, crossed the tracks and kept on
+heading North by the automobile highway.  They were at the extreme edge
+of the town in this direction.  The last electric lights were behind
+them; only a house or two remained alongside the road, then tall woods
+and darkness.
+
+There was no sidewalk; they proceeded up the middle of the road, first
+Charley, then the suburbanite, then Evan.  Charley frequently looked
+over his shoulder, the pale patch of his face revealed in the receding
+lights.  But Evan kept on boldly, confident that he could not be
+recognised with the lights at his back.  The suburbanite turned in at
+one of the houses; Charley was presently swallowed by the shadow of the
+woods.  Evan made believe to turn in at the last house, but dropped in
+the ditch, and crept along until he, too, gained the woods.
+
+Running in the soft stuff at the side, pausing to listen, and running
+ahead again, Evan continued to follow Charley by the sound of his
+nervous steps on the hard road.  The road turned slightly, and the
+lights behind them passed out of sight.  The tall trees pressed close
+on either hand, and it was as dark below as in a cavern.
+
+The steps ceased.  Evan paused, listening.  Had Charley stopped, or had
+he, too, taken to the soft stuff?  They re-commenced, grew louder, he
+was coming back!  Evan hastily withdrew close under the bushes at the
+side.  Charley passed him at five yards distance.  In the stillness
+Evan could even hear his agitated breathing.  In a queer way Evan felt
+for him.  It was no joke to fancy one's self followed on such a road at
+such an hour.  He showed pluck in thus boldly venturing back.
+
+Evan was obliged to take into account the possibility that this whole
+excursion up the dark road might be a feint.  He dared not let Charley
+out of sight and hearing.  He followed him back to the turn in the
+road, still creeping in the soft stuff.  From this point Charley's
+figure was outlined against the twinkling lights of the trolley
+terminus, and Evan waited to see what he would do.
+
+Charley went back to the edge of the woods: stopped, listened, walked
+back and forth a few times, then returned towards Evan, but now, like
+the other man, taking care to muffle his steps in the grass alongside.
+Evan could only see him at moments now.  He was on Evan's side of the
+road.  Evan drew back under a thick bush.
+
+Charley came creeping along, bent almost double with the primordial
+instinct of concealment.  He paused to listen so close to Evan that the
+latter, squatting under his bush, could have reached out and touched
+Charley's foot.  Evan breathed from the top of his lungs, wondering
+that the beating of his heart did not betray him.  He heard Charley's
+breath come in uneven little jerks.
+
+For seconds Charley stood there.  Was it possible he knew an enemy was
+near?  Evan could make out his head turning this way and that.  The
+tension was hard on nerves.  Though he lay as still as a snake it
+seemed incredible to Evan that Charley did not feel his nearness.
+
+Finally he went on, and a soft, blessed breath of relief escaped Evan.
+
+He gave him ten yards and started to follow.  Charley was on the alert
+now; very well, he must be twice as alert and beat him at his own game.
+Evan followed him by the swish of his feet in the grass, by the soft
+brushing of leaves against his clothes, by the crackle of an occasional
+twig under foot, at the same time taking care to betray no similar
+sounds himself.  The advantage was greatly with the one who followed,
+for he knew the other man was there, while the one in front only feared.
+
+Evan's patient stalking was interrupted by the passage of an
+automobile.  He was obliged to seek cover from the rays of its
+headlights.  It bowled up the road with a gay party, laughing and
+talking, all unsuspecting of the drama being enacted beside the road.
+Before it was well by Evan was out again.  For a second he had a
+glimpse of Charley running like a deer up the road.  Then he plunged
+into the bushes.  Whatever the automobile party thought of this
+apparition, they did not stop to investigate.
+
+Evan hastened to the vicinity of the spot where he had seen Charley
+disappear.  Lying low, he concentrated all the power of his will on the
+act of hearing.  He was rewarded by the faintest whisper of a sound
+from within the woods to the left of the road.  It was repeated.
+Someone was creeping away in that direction.  Charley had left the
+road.  A sharp anxiety attacked Evan, for his difficulties were now
+redoubled.
+
+But when he sought to feel a way into the woods, he discovered a place
+near by where it was comparatively open.  There was no underbrush.  In
+fact a road was suggested, a former road perhaps, for it was rough and
+tangled underfoot.  Evan's heart bounded.  Could this be the track that
+led direct to the abandoned house?  He lost all sound of Charley, but
+continued to press forward full of hope.
+
+At intervals he paused to listen, but no sound such as he wished to
+hear reached his ears; only the whisper of the night breeze among the
+leaves, and the faint far-off hum of the living world.  A hundred feet
+or so from the highway the wood-track made a turn, and the trees hemmed
+him all about.  The darkness of the road outside was as twilight to the
+blackness that surrounded him here.
+
+Suddenly a sixth sense warned Evan of danger from behind.  He whirled
+around only to receive the impact of a leaping figure which bore him to
+the earth.  Dazed by the fall, for a moment he was at a hopeless
+disadvantage.  The whole weight of the other man was on his chest.
+Evan struck up at him ineffectually.
+
+Charley's voice whispered hoarsely: "I'm armed.  Give up, or I'll shoot
+you like a dog!  Will you give up?"
+
+"Never!" muttered Evan.
+
+The effect was surprising.  "Evan!  You!  Oh, my God!" whispered
+Charley.  The tense body slackened for a moment.  Evan, gathering his
+strength, heaved up and threw him off.
+
+But Charley was quick too.  When Evan reached for him he was not there.
+Evan, grinding his teeth with rage, scrambled for him on hands and
+knees.  The other kept just beyond his reach.  Both were confused by
+the utter darkness.  Each time one succeeded in getting to his feet, he
+promptly crashed over a branch again.  Evan clutched at Charley's
+clothes, and Charley wrenched himself free.  Charley, seeking to escape
+Evan, collided with him and recoiled gasping.  Meanwhile he never
+ceased imploring him in a desperate whisper.  But it was something more
+than the note of personal fear that actuated his pleading.
+
+"Evan, hold up!  You don't know what you're doing!  Evan, listen!  Let
+me talk to you quietly!  I swear I'm on the square!  Evan, for God's
+sake hold up, or I swear I'll have to shoot you!"
+
+But Evan was past listening.  "Throw your gun away, and stand up to me
+like a man!" he said thickly.
+
+In the mad, blind scramble, Charley finally got his bearing and started
+to run back towards the highway.  Evan plunged after him.  Charley
+tripped and fell headlong, and Evan came down on top of him.
+
+Charley was helpless then, for in strength he was no match for Evan.
+Yet he still struggled desperately.  Not to escape though.  His hand
+was in his pocket.  Not for his gun, because that was already out.  He
+managed to get the hand to his lips, and then Evan understood.  The
+warning whistle!  As Charley drew breath to blow, Evan snatched it out
+of his hand and flung it into the bush.
+
+While Charley still implored him, Evan shook out a handkerchief in his
+teeth, and gagged him.  With the other handkerchiefs that he had
+brought against such a contingency, he tied his hands behind his back,
+and tied his ankles.  He then possessed himself of Charley's pocket
+searchlight, and with its aid found the revolver which had flown from
+Charley's hand upon his fall.
+
+With his antagonist bound and helpless at his feet, Evan cooled down.
+He rapidly considered what he must do next.  He had no means of knowing
+how well the old house might be barricaded, and it would be the height
+of foolhardiness to attempt to storm it single-handed.  On the other
+hand, if he took the time to go for the police, the chief of the gang,
+warned of danger by Charley's non-arrival, might make his getaway.
+Perhaps he could commandeer an automobile.  Late as it was, an
+occasional car still passed on the highway.  Evan hastened back.
+
+As he turned the bend in the road he saw the lights of a car standing
+in the main road with engine softly running.  Evan prudently slowed
+down.  The occupants could not possibly see him yet.  They were
+talking.  Evan listened.
+
+One said: "Well, it's all over now, anyway."
+
+Another replied.  "Come on in, and let's see what was the matter?"
+
+"Into that black hole?  Not on your life!"
+
+"We have flashlights."
+
+"Yes, and a nice mark they'd make for bullets!"
+
+This was sufficiently reassuring.  Evan showed himself.  He saw an
+expensive runabout with two young fellows in it.  They burst out
+simultaneously:
+
+"What's the matter?"
+
+"Oh, I had a fight with a crook in there," said Evan.  "They have a
+hang-out in an old abandoned house."
+
+"Do you want any help?"
+
+"No thanks.  I've got him tied up.  But I wish you'd go for the police
+if you don't mind."
+
+"Sure thing!  The nearest station's in Tremont, five miles over bad
+roads.  We'll bring 'em back in half an hour!"
+
+In his excitement the young fellow threw his clutch in, and the big car
+leaped down the road before Evan could give him any further particulars.
+
+On his way back Evan felt certain compunctions at the sight of Charley
+lying bound in the road.  After all, Charley had been his friend for
+many a year.  He wouldn't mind saving him from the consequences of his
+own folly if he could.  That the police might not discover him when
+they came, Evan dragged him out of the road, and under a thick leafy
+bush to one side.  Charley made imploring sounds through the gag.  Evan
+continued along the rough track.  He had the pocket flash to help him
+over the rough places now.  In a quarter of a mile or more from the
+highway he came upon the dark mass of the old house rising against the
+night sky.  It stood on a little rise in the midst of its clearing,
+which could scarcely be called a clearing now, for except in a small
+space immediately around the building the young trees were rising
+thickly.
+
+It was a square block of a design somewhat freakish for a country
+residence, since the principal storey was above the entrance floor.
+There was a row of tall windows here, and above these windows an attic
+in the style of the eighteenth century.  The tall windows evidently
+lighted the great room where Evan had suffered his ordeal at the hands
+of the Ikunahkatsi.  It was in one of the back rooms on the same floor
+that the chief had his sanctum, he told himself.  All the windows of
+the house were dark, but this did not prove that people were not within
+and awake, for Evan remembered the heavy shutters inside the windows.
+
+He waited for a minute or two, and then began to get restless.  In fact
+he itched for the glory of taking the chief single-handed.  The letter
+of instructions had suggested that the chief would be alone in the
+building to-night, except for the old negress and the prisoner.  And
+Evan was armed now.  If he could find some way to make an entrance
+without giving an alarm, he believed it could be done.
+
+He stole up to the front door on all fours.  It was locked of course.
+He went around to the back; there were two doors here, both locked.  He
+went from window to window.  All of them had panes missing, but within
+each window the heavy shutters were closed and barred.  He thought of
+cellar windows, sometimes they were forgotten.  In certain places thick
+clumps of sumach had sprung up close to the house.  Pushing behind one
+such clump, he stumbled on an old stone stair leading down.  Once it
+had been closed by inclined doors, but these had rotted and fallen in.
+The steps led him into the cellar.
+
+With the aid of his light he picked his way over the piles of rubbish
+and around the brick piers.  Immense brick arches supported the
+chimneys of the house.  They built more generously in those days.  The
+rats scuttled out of his way.  In the centre of the space there was a
+steep stair leading up.  It looked sound.  Pocketing his light, he
+crept up step by step and with infinite care tried the door at the top.
+It yielded!  He was in!
+
+All was dark and silent throughout the house.  He judged that he must
+be in the central hall.  He dared not use his light now, but felt his
+way towards the front.  The sensation was not unlike that when he had
+been led through the house blindfolded.  He touched the edge of the
+stairway, and guided himself to the foot.  As he turned to mount, a
+sound brought the heart into his throat.
+
+He identified it, and smiled grimly.  It was a human snore and it came
+through the door on his left.  This was the room where he had been
+confined, and it was more than likely old Simeon Deaves was sleeping
+there now.
+
+He went up, stepping on the sides of the stair-treads to avoid making
+them creak.  The stairway turned on itself in the middle, and at the
+top he was facing the front of the house again.  Here he had to flash
+his light for a second.  Immediately before him a pair of doors gave on
+the big room.  They stood open.  There were two more doors, one on each
+hand, both closed.  Evan put out his light.  As he did so a tiny ray of
+light became visible through the keyhole of the door on his left.
+
+Evan dropped the light in his pocket, and took out his gun.  Drawing a
+deep breath to steady himself, he smartly turned the handle and,
+flinging the door open, stepped back into the darkness.  He saw in the
+centre of the great, bare, ruinous room an old packing case with a
+common lamp upon it, and a smaller box to sit on.  He saw in the corner
+an army cot with a little figure lying upon it covered by a carriage
+robe, a figure which turned over and sat up at the sound of the door.
+He saw--Corinna!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+TOWARDS MORNING
+
+The shock of astonishment unmanned Evan.  His pistol arm dropped weakly
+at his side, his mouth hung open, he stared like an idiot.  To have
+crept into the house heart in mouth and pistol in hand, to have nerved
+himself to meet and overcome a desperate criminal--and then to find
+this!  The violence of the reaction threw all his machinery out of
+gear; he stalled.  He felt inclined to laugh weakly.
+
+Corinna could not see him clearly, though presumably she was aware of a
+figure standing in the hall.  She was very much affronted by the
+violence of the intrusion, and not in the least afraid.  She sat up
+with her glorious hair a little tousled, and her eyes flashing like a
+diminutive empress's.
+
+"Mr. Straiker, is it you?  What does this mean?" she demanded.
+
+Evan could not readily find his tongue.  Amazement broke over him in
+succeeding waves like a surf.  Corinna!  Corinna here!  Corinna a
+member of the blackmailing gang!  Corinna, the chief!  Oh, impossible!
+He was in a nightmare!
+
+"Mr. Straiker!" repeated Corinna more sharply.  "Come in at once!"  She
+was on her feet now.
+
+Evan's faculties began to work again.  In anticipation he tasted the
+sweets of perfect revenge.  This little creature had put an intolerable
+humiliation upon him.  Very well, here she was absolutely in his power!
+Dropping the gun in his pocket, he stepped into the room smiling.
+
+At sight of him Corinna did not cry out, but the shock she received was
+dreadfully evident in her eyes.  She went back a step, one hand went to
+her breast, her lips formed the syllable "You!"--but no sound came from
+them.  Every vestige of color faded from her face.
+
+Evan's gaze burned her up; she was so beautiful, and she had injured
+him so!  "So you're a member of the gang!" he said mockingly.
+
+Corinna quickly recovered her forces.  She shrugged disdainfully.
+
+"And even the chief, it seems!"
+
+"So it seems."
+
+Amazement overcame him afresh.  "You--you little thing!" he cried.  "I
+cannot believe it!"
+
+Corinna affected to look bored.
+
+"So this was the real work of the brotherhood!" Evan went on.
+"Blackmail.  This was why you couldn't fire them when they threatened
+you.  A new way to raise money for philanthropic purposes, I swear!  To
+hold up a usurer with one hand, and feed poor children with the other!"
+
+"A usurer, yes," said Corinna contemptuously.  "Your master!"
+
+"That doesn't get under my skin," retorted Evan coolly.  "No man is my
+master a day longer than I choose."  He dissolved in amazement again.
+"But you!  To think up such a scheme!  To carry it out!"
+
+"Oh, spare me your bleating!" said Corinna impatiently.  "What are you
+going to do about it?"
+
+"Turn you over to the police," he said promptly.
+
+"Three of my friends are sleeping across the hall," she said.
+
+So perfect was her aplomb that Evan was taken aback.  He half turned,
+uncertainly.  But as he did so, out of the tail of his eye he saw
+Corinna's hand go to her bosom.  He whirled back with the gun in his
+hand again.  A woman is at a serious disadvantage in drawing.
+
+"Put your gun on the box," commanded Evan.
+
+"I have no gun!" she cried.  "I will not be spoken to so."
+
+Evan took a step nearer her.  His eyes glittered.  "Put your gun on the
+box.  Don't oblige me to use force.  I should enjoy it far too well!"
+
+With a sob of rage, she drew a little pistol from her dress and threw
+it on the box.  Evan possessed himself of it.
+
+"Now we'll see about the three friends across the hall," he said
+mockingly.
+
+He backed out of the room.  Corinna followed to the door.  In her eye
+he read her purpose to make a dash for liberty down the stairs, and he
+took care to give her no opening.  He flung open the door opposite and
+flashed his light inside the room.  It was empty of course.  He
+returned across the hall, and Corinna backed into the lighted room
+before him.
+
+"They have stepped out, it seems," he said mockingly.
+
+Corinna disdained to reply.  Like a child, she was not in the least
+abashed when her bluff was called, but immediately set her wits to work
+to think of another.
+
+"How do you purpose taking me to the police?" she asked scornfully.
+
+"I'm not going to take you.  They're coming here."
+
+Corinna changed color.  She studied his face narrowly.  Evidently she
+decided that he was bluffing now, for she tossed her head.
+
+"Go and sit down on the cot," he said coolly, "so we can talk quietly."
+
+"I will not!" cried Corinna.  "How dare you speak to me so!"
+
+He was delighted with the spirit she showed.  "It's too bad no one did
+it long ago," he said provokingly.
+
+He approached her, and his eyes glittered again.  Corinna, seething
+with rage, retreated, and plumped herself down on the cot.
+
+"That's better," he said indulgently.  He took the small box and,
+placing it against the wall, sat down and leaned back.  Producing his
+pipe he filled it in leisurely style, affecting to be unconscious of
+her.  Corinna's eyes blazed on him.
+
+"Well, what have you to say for yourself?" he drawled at last.  "You
+pretty little blackmailer!"
+
+"You needn't insult me!" cried Corinna.  Her eyes filled with angry
+tears.
+
+But Evan's heart was hard.  "Insult you!" he cried.  "I like that!
+What have you been doing to me lately?"
+
+"If you were capable of thinking, you would see that I could not have
+acted otherwise!" she said.
+
+"You have me there," said Evan coolly.  "For I don't see the necessity
+of being a blackmailer."
+
+Corinna jumped up and stamped her foot.  Her face reddened, and two
+large tears rolled down her cheeks.  "Don't you dare to use that word
+to me again, you fool!"
+
+Evan laughed delightedly.  "Why shy at the word and commit the deed?"
+
+"You know nothing of the circumstances!" she stormed.  "You have
+neither sense nor feeling!  You take all your ideas ready made from
+others.  You are as empty as a drum!"
+
+"Bravo!" he cried.  "Keep it up if it makes you feel any better!"
+
+"If it is a crime to extort money from a foul old robber and give it to
+the poor, all right, I'm a criminal!  I glory in it!  I would do it all
+over again!"
+
+"I don't deny one has a sneaking sympathy with a life of crime," Evan
+said, affecting a judicial air.  "But after all, law is law.  You have
+to make your choice.  I chose to stay inside the law, and naturally I
+have to uphold it like everybody on my side."
+
+"You're a nice upholder of the law!" she cried.  "You're just trying to
+get back at me!"
+
+Evan grinned.  "You're so frank, Corinna.  But after all, being on the
+side of the law gives me an advantage now, doesn't it?"
+
+"Yes, if you want to take the pay of a scoundrel like Deaves."
+
+"Oh, I was fired some days ago.  I'm working on my own now."
+
+"You're just angry and jealous!"
+
+"I dare say.  I admit I don't mind your blackmailing operations half as
+much as the other thing."
+
+"What other thing?"
+
+"Those fellows on the _Ernestina_; to take advantage of their wanting
+you, and use them for your own ends."
+
+"Everything was understood between us.  Everything was open and
+aboveboard."
+
+"Of course.  But they were already enslaved, you see.  And you forced
+them to serve your pride and arrogance.  You queened it over them.
+That makes me more indignant than blackmailing a usurer, for the other
+thing's a crime against a man's best feelings, and I'm a man myself."
+
+"You're only jealous!"
+
+"Why should I be.  _I_ wouldn't stand for the brotherhood.  I know you
+gave me--or I took--more than you ever gave them."
+
+"You're a brute!"
+
+"Why sure!"
+
+There was a silence.  Corinna kept her eyes down.  It was impossible to
+say of what she was thinking.  But her passion of anger visibly
+subsided.  She murmured at last:
+
+"If, as you say, you sympathise with me for getting money out of Simeon
+Deaves----"
+
+"I didn't quite say that," interrupted Evan.  "But it's near enough, go
+on!"
+
+"Why do you want to hand me over to the police?"
+
+It was fun to torment Corinna, and it satisfied his deep need for
+vengeance.  But the sight of her quiet, with the curved lashes lying on
+her cheeks, and the soft lips drooping, went to his breast like a
+knife.  Vengeance was suddenly appeased.  Such a gallant little crook!
+He realised that not for a moment had he really intended to hand her
+over.  He jumped up.
+
+"I'm not going to send you to jail," he said.  "You're going to make
+restitution."
+
+Corinna stared.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Give me an order on Dordess for the bonds--if it is Dordess who has
+them, and give me your word that you will lead an honest life
+hereafter."  He was smiling.
+
+Corinna blazed up afresh.  "Never!" she cried.  "I'd die rather!"
+
+"You _must_ do it!"
+
+"Why must I?"
+
+"Because you're going to marry me, and naturally I want an honest woman
+to wife."
+
+Corinna laughed a peal.  "I'd die rather!  And you know it now!"
+
+Indeed in his heart he was not at all sure but that her Satanic pride
+might break her before she would give in, but he bluffed it out.
+
+"Come on!" he said.  "There's no time to lose.  I have sent for the
+police though you make out not to believe it.  I see you've been
+writing on the table.  Sit down and write me an order for the bonds."
+
+"Break up our organisation on your say-so?  Never!"
+
+"If you don't the police will.  Come now, whatever happens you can't go
+on using those infatuated boys to further your own ends.  That's low,
+Corinna; that's like offering a starving man husks."
+
+"You have your gun in your pocket," she cried passionately.  "Use it,
+for you'll never break my will!"
+
+"It's not a bullet that waits you, but jail," said Evan grimly.  "No
+grand-stand finish, but endless dragging days in a four-by-ten cell!
+Come on, give up the loot.  You'll have to anyhow, and go to jail in
+the bargain!"
+
+"It's not loot!" she cried.  "It's mine!  By every rule of justice and
+right, it's mine.  Simeon Deaves robbed my father.  Beggared him and
+brought him to his grave!"
+
+"Ha!" cried Evan, "I might have guessed there was something personal
+here!  But someone has to lose in the warfare of business."
+
+"This was not the chance of warfare.  This was malice, cold and
+calculated.  I'll tell you.  It spoiled my childhood.  Deaves and my
+father were workers in the same church.  You didn't know, did you, that
+Deaves was a religious man.  Oh, yes, always a pillar of some church
+until his avarice grew so upon him that he could no longer bring
+himself to subscribe.  My father learned that he was using his position
+in our church to lend money to other members at usurious interest, and
+to collect it under threats of exposure.  My father showed him up, and
+Deaves was put out of the church.  He set about a cold and patient
+scheme of revenge, but we didn't learn this until the crash came a
+couple of years afterwards.  He bought up,--what do you call it?--all
+my father's paper, the notes every merchant has to give to carry on his
+business.  At last he presented all my father's outstanding
+indebtedness at once with a demand for instant payment, and when my
+father couldn't meet it, Deaves sold him out, and we were ruined.  It
+killed my father and embittered my mother's few remaining years.
+
+"That was what I grew up with.  I don't know when it started, but the
+determination to punish him grew and grew in my mind until it crowded
+out every other thought.  I planned for years before I did anything.  I
+followed him.  I learned all about him.  His avarice went to such
+lengths at last that I began to see my chance to show him up.  I met
+Dordess and the others, and the idea of the Avengers slowly took shape.
+There was something fine to us in the idea of making him pay to bring
+pleasure and health to the poor.  None of us would spend a cent of his
+filthy money on ourselves.  What have I done to Deaves to repay the
+crushing blows he dealt to me and mine?--a few pin-pricks, that's all.
+Well, it is my life.  I cannot change it now."
+
+Evan was more softened than he cared to show.  "I understand," he said.
+"It excuses your heart, but not your head.  It was so foolish to try to
+buck the law!"
+
+"I can't help it," she said.  "I would rather die than return what I
+have made that old robber disgorge.  I have worked too long for this!"
+
+Evan inwardly groaned.  To reason with her seemed so hopeless.  "You
+can't live outside the pale of the law," he said.  "No man can, let
+alone a woman.  Only wretchedness can come of it!"
+
+"I'll take my chance," she said with curling lip.  "Thank God, I have
+friends who are not so timid."
+
+Evan changed his tone.  "Well, never mind the right and the wrong of
+it," he said earnestly.  "Do it because I love you.  I love you with
+all my heart.  We quarrel, but my heart speaks to yours.  You must hear
+it.  I have endured from you what I believe no man ever forgave a
+woman.  But I forgive you.  If you go to jail my life will be a desert.
+But go to jail you shall, unless you make restitution!"
+
+Corinna laughed mirthlessly.  "Funny kind of love!" she said.
+
+"It is the best kind of love.  I have sense enough left to realise that
+if I give in to you on a clear question of right it would ruin us both.
+We would despise each other."
+
+"I have promised to trouble the Deaves no further," she said.  "They're
+satisfied."
+
+"The bonds must go back."
+
+"I had already decided to break up the Avengers, too.  Isn't that
+enough?"
+
+He shook his head.
+
+She turned away.  "You ask the impossible," she said.  "I'd rather die!"
+
+"But to go to jail," he said relentlessly, "to have your beautiful hair
+cut off" (he was not at all sure of this, but he supposed she was not
+either), "to wear the hideous prison dress, to have the sickly prison
+pallor in your clear cheeks, and your eyes dimmed.  Your best years,
+Corinna!"
+
+This went home.  She paled; her breath came unevenly.  "You say you
+love me," she murmured, "and you'd hand me over to that."
+
+"I must!"
+
+Corinna said very low: "I love you.  Isn't that enough?  Costs me
+something to say it.  Costs me my pride.  It would have been more
+merciful to beat me with a club.  I cannot entreat you.  I never
+learned how.  But--but I am entreating you.  Love me, Evan.  Let us
+begin from now.  Let the past be past."
+
+Evan was tempted then.  His senses reeled.  But something held fast.
+"I can't!" he said.
+
+She shrank sharply.  "It is useless, then," she muttered.  "I will not
+be a repentant sinner!"
+
+"For the sake of our love, Corinna!"
+
+"You do not love me.  You want to master me."
+
+He groaned in his helplessness.
+
+Suddenly an ominous peremptory knock on the front door rang through the
+empty house.
+
+"The police!" gasped Evan.
+
+"Then it's over!" said Corinna, desperately calm.
+
+"No!" he cried.  "Quick!  Write!  I'll get you out!"
+
+She dragged him towards the door.  "Ah, come! come!" she beseeched him.
+
+The very heart was dragged out of his breast, but he resisted her.
+"Choose!" he whispered.  "A living death or happiness!"
+
+For an instant their desperate eyes contended.  Corinna read in his
+that he would never give in.  She ran to the box and scribbled three
+lines.  The knock was repeated below.
+
+She handed him the sheet with averted head.  Evan blew out the lamp.
+Hand in hand they ran softly down-stairs.  The knock was repeated for
+the third time and a gruff voice commanded:
+
+"Open the door or we'll break it down!"
+
+Aunt Liza was in the lower hall whimpering: "Lawsy!  What you gwine do,
+Miss?"  And behind her they heard Simeon Deaves muttering confusedly:
+"What's the matter?  What's the matter?"
+
+Evan breathed in Corinna's ear.  "The cellar door under the stairs.
+You lead the woman."
+
+He felt for Simeon Deaves, and got his hand.  "Follow me," he
+whispered.  "I'll save you."
+
+Deaves came unresistingly, his old wits in a daze.  As Evan got the
+cellar door open the blows were falling on the front door.  He flashed
+his light to show his little party the way down.  He came last and
+closed the door.  As he did so the front door went in with a crash.
+Joining the others, Evan whispered:
+
+"Take it easy.  They'll search the rooms first."
+
+The old man whispered tremulously: "What's the matter?  I don't
+understand."
+
+"Be very quiet," returned Evan.  "We're taking you home now.  Be quiet
+and there will be no publicity."
+
+It was a magical suggestion.  They heard no more from Deaves.
+
+Meanwhile heavy feet were tramping overhead.  Doors were flung open.
+One man ran up-stairs.  There were at least three men.  Evan did not
+think it possible they had come in sufficient force to completely
+surround the house.  It was safe enough to flash his light in the
+depths of the cellar.  He led the way to the foot of the stone steps.
+The stars showed through the broken door overhead.
+
+Making them wait behind him, he cautiously parted the thick screen of
+bushes and looked out.  Nothing was stirring on this side of the house.
+The grass and weeds were waist high down to the edge of the woods.  It
+was less than fifty yards to shelter.  Evan whispered to his little
+party:
+
+"Hands and knees through the grass.  Take it slow.  Each one keep a
+hand on the ankle of the one in front.  Corinna, you go first."
+
+It was done as he ordered.  Surely a more oddly-assorted party of
+fugitives never acted in concert to escape the law: girl, negress,
+multi-millionaire, and artist.  Like a snake with four articulations,
+they wound through the grass.  In the most sophisticated man lingers a
+wild strain; the stiff-jointed millionaire took to this means of
+locomotion as naturally as the negress.
+
+As they left the house behind them they came more within the range of
+vision of those who were presumably watching the front and back.  At
+any rate, while they were still fifty feet from the trees, a hoarse
+voice was raised from the front: "There they go!"  And an answering
+shout came from the rear.
+
+The four fugitives of one accord rose to their feet and dashed for the
+trees.  Gaining the shadows, Corinna whispered:
+
+"We must separate.  You take Deaves."
+
+Evan pressed her own revolver back in her hand, whispering: "Fire it
+off if you are in danger."
+
+Seizing Deaves' hand, Evan pulled him away to the right.  Corinna and
+Aunt Liza melted in the other direction.  The old man came through the
+underbrush like a reaping machine, and of course the police took after
+them.  For a moment Evan considered abandoning him.  He would come to
+no harm, of course.  But on the other hand, Evan now ardently desired
+to have the whole affair hushed up.  He got Deaves across the rough
+road in safety, and on the other side, coming to an immense spruce tree
+with drooping branches, he dragged him under it, and they sank down on
+a fragrant bed of needles.
+
+The pursuing policemen, coming to the road, instinctively turned off
+upon it, and Evan knew they were safe for the moment.  Presently they
+came back, aimlessly threshing the woods and flashing their lights, but
+they had lost the trail now.  They were looking for a needle in a
+hay-stack.  Evan's only fear was that they might stumble on Charley,
+but he heard no sounds from that direction that indicated they had done
+so.  The sounds of searching moved off to the other side of the road,
+and Evan determined to go to Charley himself.
+
+Leaving the old man with a whispered admonition to silence, Evan set
+off.  He found Charley where he had left him under the leafy bush.
+Evan whispered in his ear:
+
+"I found her.  I am on your side now.  The police are all around us.
+Make no sound!"
+
+He unbound Charley.  The latter sat up and rubbed his ankles.  Whatever
+he thought of the new turn of affairs, he said nothing.
+
+Evan said: "I have Deaves back here.  Follow me."
+
+Foot by foot they crept back in a course parallel to the rough road.
+Hearing footsteps approach, they hugged the earth.  Two men passed in
+the road.  One was saying:
+
+"Send Wilson back in the car to the road house to telephone for enough
+men to surround this patch of woods.  You patrol the road outside."
+
+Evan and Charley crept away through the underbrush like foxes at the
+sight of the hunter.
+
+They reached the big spruce tree without further accident.  The old man
+greeted them with a moan of relief.  Evan and Charley drew away from
+him a little while they consulted.
+
+Evan said: "Corinna and Aunt Liza are somewhere in the woods across the
+road.  We had to separate.  How can we get in touch with them?"
+
+"They'll be all right," muttered Charley.  "Corinna knows this place.
+They're safer than we are."
+
+"I can't leave here until I am more sure," said Evan.  "Will you take
+the old man and put him on the way home?"
+
+"All right."
+
+"How will you go?  I'll have to follow you later."
+
+"The Lafayette trolley line will be watched, and the Yonkers line stops
+at one o'clock.  We'll have to walk to Yonkers.  Follow the road
+through the woods in the other direction, and it will put you on a
+regular road.  Keep going in a westerly direction."
+
+"I get you," said Evan.  "Where does Corinna live?"
+
+"What do you want to know for?" growled Charley.
+
+"If I hear nothing from her here, I want to go to make sure she got
+home all right."
+
+"Well, I won't tell you."
+
+"Everything is changed now.  I am on your side and hers."
+
+"I hear you say it," Charley said sullenly.
+
+Evan's sense of justice forced him to admit that Charley was justified.
+"Well, will you do this?" he said.  "When you've got the old man off
+your hands, go to her place yourself, and then come to me and tell me
+if she's all right."
+
+"I'll do it if she wants me to," Charley said.
+
+"Here's your flashlight," said Evan.  "I'll keep the gun a little
+while, in case Corinna calls for my help."
+
+Charley pocketed the light in silence and led the old man forth from
+under the tree.  Simeon Deaves that night was like a pet dog on a
+leader, passed impatiently from hand to hand.
+
+Evan, fancying that the thick branches hindered him from hearing, crept
+out and lay down on the grass.  The woods were not so thick in this
+place.  This had evidently been part of the grounds surrounding the old
+house in its palmy days, and the spruce was a relic of those times.  He
+heard an automobile approach in the highway, and stop at the end of the
+woods track.  This would be the man returning from having telephoned.
+All sounds of the search through the woods had ceased.  Evidently they
+had decided that the better way was to watch all outlets.
+
+No sound from any quarter betrayed the whereabouts of Corinna and the
+old negress.  They were swallowed up as completely as if they had taken
+to their burrows like rabbits.  Evan's heart was with her, wherever she
+was.  He had not the same anxious solicitude for her that one would
+have for an ordinary woman hunted in the dark woods, for he was well
+assured that Corinna was not a prey to imaginary terrors.  She would be
+no less at home in the woods at night than he was.  Still no sound came
+from her.  He was not at all sure that she would summon him if hard
+pressed, but they could not take her without his hearing it.
+
+In the end the greying sky in the East bade him consider his own
+retreat if he wished to avoid capture.  He had committed no crime, of
+course, but he was very sensible of the awkwardness of trying to
+explain his own share in the night's doings, should he be taken.  He
+had good hopes that Corinna had escaped by now.  He started to make his
+way westward.
+
+He made a wide detour around the house and struck into the rough track
+on the other side, travelling softly, and keeping his ears open.  He
+had heard no searchers on this side.  After a half mile or so he saw
+light through the trees ahead.  He saw a road bounding the woods on
+this side, and open fields beyond.
+
+He struck into the woods again, and took a cautious reconnaisance of
+the road from the underbrush before venturing upon it--the world was
+filled with ghostly light now.  It was well that he did so, for he saw
+a burly individual loafing in the highway, with his eye on the end of
+the wood track.  He wore civilian clothes, but "policeman" was written
+all over him.
+
+Evan had to get across that road somehow, but it was so straight the
+watcher could see half a mile in either direction.  And on the other
+side there was no cover, only cultivated fields.  There was one spot
+some hundreds of yards north where the road dipped into a hollow and
+was lost to view for a short space.  Evan, keeping well within the
+woods, made for that.
+
+There was a stream with a bridge over it.  By hugging the edge of the
+stream and ducking under the bridge he made the other side of the road.
+A field of growing corn received him.
+
+That was his last serious hazard.  In the sweet coolness of the dawn he
+made his way over field after field, keeping the sunrise at his back.
+He crossed the roads circumspectly and gave the villages a wide berth.
+Finally he climbed a wooded hill, and from the other side looked down
+into the city of Yonkers.  Here he ventured to show himself openly,
+took a car for town, and an hour and a half later was climbing the
+stairs to his own room.  His heart was heavy with anxiety.
+
+When he entered he saw Charley sitting at his table with his head on
+his arms, asleep.  Evan's heart leaped.  He shook the sleeper.
+
+"Is she all right?" he cried.
+
+Charley lifted a sullen and resentful face.  "She got home all right,"
+he muttered, and immediately started for the door, still swaying with
+sleep.
+
+"Wait a minute," said Evan.  "Here's your gun."
+
+Charley held out his hand for it without looking at the other.
+
+Evan no longer blamed Charley for what had seemed like treachery.
+Indeed, his heart was warm now towards his old friend.  "Don't you want
+to stop and talk things over?" he said.
+
+"I have nothing to say to you," Charley said sorely, and went on out.
+
+Evan, with a sigh, turned bedwards.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+SIMEON DEAVES TURNS PHILANTHROPIST
+
+During his long vigil beside the spruce tree a scheme for dealing out
+poetic justice all around had occurred to Evan.  Of course one can
+never tell in advance how people are going to take things, but he had
+chuckled and resolved to try it anyhow.  So full was he of his scheme,
+even in sleep, that he awoke in an hour, and bathed, dressed and
+breakfasted at his usual time.
+
+On the slip of paper that Corinna had given Evan was written:
+
+    Thomas Dordess,
+     -- Broadway,
+  Give Weir the bonds.
+
+        C. PLAYFAIR.
+
+
+Evan presented himself at this address at a few minutes past nine, when
+offices were just opening.  Dordess, it appeared, was not a journalist,
+as Evan had once guessed, but an architect; that is to say, an elderly
+architectural draughtsman, one of the race of slaves who help build
+other men's reputations.
+
+Early as it was, Dordess had already been apprised of Evan's coming.
+Evan had only to look at him to know that.  The ironic smile of the man
+of the world was on his lips, in his eyes the resentful hatred of a
+youth for his successful rival.  The package of bonds was already done
+up and waiting, it appeared.  With scarcely a glance at Corinna's note,
+which Evan offered him, Dordess handed it over.
+
+"Better open it and look them over," he said bitterly.
+
+"Time enough for that," said Evan.  "I want to talk to you."
+
+Dordess' eyebrows went up.
+
+"Oh, I know you hate me like the devil," said Evan.  "But I'm hoping
+you'll know me better some day.  Anyhow, I want to talk to you
+privately for a few minutes.  Is it safe here?  I want to put up a
+scheme to you."
+
+Dordess indicated the package.  "What more is there to say?" he asked
+with his bitter smile.
+
+"Better hear it," said Evan.  "It may make it easier all around.  Won't
+hurt you to listen, anyway."
+
+"All right," said Dordess.  "Can't talk here.  Too many going in and
+out.  I'll come out with you."
+
+They ensconced themselves in an alcove of the cafe across the street.
+
+"What's your scheme?" said Dordess.  "Shoot!"
+
+"Well, I gather from your generally humorous style," said Evan, "that
+it was you who wrote the letters for the Ikunahkatsi.  By the way, what
+does Ikunahkatsi mean?"
+
+"An Indian word for avengers.  Yes, I wrote the letters.  What of it?"
+
+"I want you to write one more.  Also another article for the _Clarion_."
+
+"I would have to consult Miss Playfair."
+
+"No.  She mustn't know anything about it until later."
+
+"Nothing doing, then."
+
+"But listen----!"
+
+Their heads drew close over the table, and for five minutes Evan talked
+uninterruptedly.  As Dordess listened his expression changed oddly; a
+conflict of feelings was visible in his face; incredulity, chagrin, an
+unwilling admiration, and laughter.
+
+"Damn you!" he cried at last.  "It's true I hate you!  I wish to God
+you were an out and out bad one so I could hate you right.  But now
+you're trying to bluff me that you're a decent head!  I don't believe
+you!"
+
+Evan laughed.  "Call my bluff," he said.  "I'd do the writing myself,
+only it would lose all its effect in another handwriting.  And I never
+could imitate your style."
+
+"Very well, I'll do it," said Dordess.  "Come back to my office in an
+hour and a half and they'll be ready."
+
+He was as good as his word.  He and Evan laughed grimly together over
+the result of his labours.
+
+"Send it up by messenger," said Evan.  "It will save time.  I'll be on
+hand when it arrives."
+
+It was past eleven when Evan rang the bell of the Deaves house.  He was
+not without anxiety as to the reception he would receive.  It was
+possible that the old man, when he had quieted down, might begin to
+remember things, and to put two and two together.  However, he had to
+take that chance.
+
+He learned that Simeon Deaves was not yet up, that Mrs. George Deaves
+was out, and her husband in the library.  The latter received him with
+no friendly face.
+
+"You shouldn't have come here," he said.
+
+Evan excused himself on the score of his anxiety about the old man.
+
+"Papa got home all right," said George Deaves.  "What happened to you
+last night?"
+
+Evan led him to suppose that his chase had ended in nothing.  He asked
+a cautious question.
+
+"Oh," said the other.  "Papa told a confused story about the house
+where he was confined being raided by the police, and a chase through
+the woods.  I thought maybe you were mixed up in it."
+
+The old man had not recognized him, then.  Evan was relieved.  He
+affected to be greatly astonished.
+
+"The police!" he said.  "Who could have put them on to it?  There was
+nothing in the paper this morning."
+
+"No, thank Heaven!" said Deaves fervently.  "Maybe his mind was
+wandering.  I couldn't make sense of his story.  I hope and pray the
+thing is done with now."
+
+But poor George Deaves was due to receive a shock when the second man
+presently entered.
+
+"Letter by messenger, sir.  No answer."
+
+At the sight of the superscription Deaves turned livid and fell back in
+his chair.  He stared at the envelope like a man bewitched.  He
+moistened his lips and essayed to speak, but no sound came out.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Evan when the servant had left.
+
+"Another letter--already!" whispered Deaves huskily.  "And only
+yesterday--four hundred thousand!  What a fool I was to believe in
+their promises!"
+
+"But open it!" said Evan.
+
+"I can't--I can't face any more!"
+
+"Let me."
+
+Deaves feebly shoved it towards him.
+
+Evan tore open the envelope.  His cue was to express surprise, and he
+did not neglect it.
+
+"Listen!" he cried.  "This is extraordinary!  This is not what you
+expect!"  He read:
+
+
+"Dear Mr. Deaves:
+
+The securities came safely to hand.  Many thanks for your promptness
+and courtesy in the matter.  To be sure, your employee did not obey
+instructions, but as it happened, no harm came of it.  We trust your
+father got home all right.  We so much enjoyed having him with us.
+
+Well, Mr. Deaves, this terminates our very pleasant business relations;
+that is to say it will terminate them, unless you are disposed to fall
+in with the new proposition we are about to put up to you----"
+
+
+George Deaves groaned at this point.
+
+"Wait!" said Evan.  "It is not what you think!" He resumed:
+
+
+"As a testimonial of our gratitude for your favours, we purpose with
+your approval, to apply your father's great contribution to a worthy
+charitable cause in his name.  Let Mr. Deaves write a letter to Mr.
+Cornelius Verplanck, president of the Amsterdam Trust Company,
+according to the form marked enclosure No. 1.  This to be mailed him at
+once.  If this is done in time, the enclosure marked No. 2 will appear
+in all the New York evening papers.
+
+Very sincerely,
+  THE IKUNAHKATSI.
+
+P. S. It is scarcely necessary to state that Mr. Verplanck does not
+know the writer or any of his associates.  We have chosen him simply
+because of his national reputation for philanthropy."
+
+
+"I don't understand," murmured Deaves in a daze.  "What are the
+enclosures?"
+
+Evan read: "Enclosure No. 1: form of letter to be sent to Mr.
+Verplanck."
+
+
+"Dear Mr. Verplanck:
+
+In the course of the day you will receive from me the sum of four
+hundred thousand dollars in U. S. Government bonds.  My wish is that
+you establish with this sum a fund to be known as the Simeon Deaves
+Trust, the income of which is to be applied to providing outings on the
+water for the convalescent poor children of the city.  Draw the deed of
+trust in such a way that the donor cannot at any time later withdraw
+his gift.  Let there be three trustees yourself (if you will be so good
+as to serve) myself, and a third to be selected by the other two."
+
+
+Deaves stared.  "And the newspaper story?" he murmured.
+
+Evan read:
+
+
+"It appears that Simeon Deaves has been the victim of an undeserved
+unpopularity.  Instead of being the soulless money-changer, as the
+popular view had it, an individual without a thought or desire in life
+except to heap up riches, he has placed himself in the ranks of our
+most splendid philanthropists by the creation of the Deaves Trust, the
+facts of which became known to-day.  A sum approximating half a million
+dollars has been set aside for the purpose of providing fresh air
+excursions for the convalescent children of the poor.  In the
+administration of the fund Mr. Deaves has associated with himself Mr.
+Cornelius Verplanck whose name is synonymous with good works.  There is
+to be a third trustee not yet named.
+
+"The convalescent children of the poor!  It would be difficult to think
+of a more praiseworthy object.  To bring roses back to little pale
+cheeks, and the sparkle to dull eyes!  Those who have thought harshly
+of Simeon Deaves owe him a silent apology.  Perhaps while people
+reviled him, he has been carrying out many a good work in secret.
+Perhaps that was his way of enjoying a joke at the expense of his
+detractors.
+
+"When approached to-day Mr. Deaves with characteristic modesty, refused
+to say a word on the subject, referring all inquiries to his associate
+Mr. Verplanck.  Mr. Verplanck said: (_Add interview Verplanck._)"
+
+
+Deaves rose out of his chair.  His gaze was a little wild.  "Do you
+suppose--they would really print that--about my father?" he gasped.
+
+"They say they will," said Evan with a disinterested air.
+
+"I--I can't believe it!  It's a joke of some kind!"
+
+"It's worth trying.  They don't ask for anything."
+
+"What am I to do?" cried Deaves distractedly.
+
+"Put it up to your father."
+
+"He would never consent!"
+
+"Why not?  The money's gone anyway.  He might as well have the
+reputation of a philanthropist.  Won't cost any more."
+
+"He _would_ consent!  That's the worst of it.  He'd write that letter
+to Verplanck.  Then as soon as Verplanck got the bonds he'd go to him
+and demand them back.  There'd be a horrible scandal then!"
+
+This was a possibility that had not occurred to Evan.  His spirits went
+down.  At the moment no way of getting around the difficulty occurred
+to him.
+
+But George Deaves visibly nerved himself to make a resolution.  "I'll
+write the letter myself!" he said.  "I'll create the trust in Papa's
+name.  I won't tell him anything about it until it's too late for him
+to withdraw.  He couldn't get the money back anyhow, if I sent it to
+Verplanck as from myself."
+
+Evan was quick to see the advantages of this arrangement, but he took
+care not to show too much eagerness.  "Very good," he said, "if you are
+willing to take the responsibility."
+
+A round pink spot showed in either of Deaves' waxy cheeks.  "Willing!"
+he said, with more spirit than Evan had ever seen him display.  "I'd do
+anything, _anything_, to get such a story in the papers!  It will make
+the family!  And how pleased Mrs. Deaves will be!"
+
+Evan had his own ideas as to that, but he did not voice them.
+
+Deaves wrote the letter.
+
+"Would you mind posting it on your way out?" he said.
+
+"I'll take it directly to Mr. Verplanck's office, since time is an
+object," said Evan casually.
+
+"If you will be so good," said Deaves.  A sudden terrified thought
+arrested him in the act of turning over the letter.  "But suppose the
+bonds are not forthcoming?" he said.  "Could Verplanck come down on me
+for them?"
+
+"Certainly not," said Evan.  "His concern in the matter doesn't begin
+until he gets the securities."
+
+"Well, I'll take a chance," said Deaves, handing over the letter.
+
+
+It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Verplanck received both the
+letter and the bonds in short order.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+The Simeon Deaves story began to appear in the editions that came out
+at four o'clock that afternoon.  Every paper in New York featured it.
+The clever re-write men did their best on it, and the accounts varied,
+though the main facts remained the same.  Many of the papers ran a
+two-column cut.  Evan bought them all and retired to his room to await
+developments.
+
+The first came in the shape of a note from George Deaves, reading:
+
+
+"The bonds were delivered to Mr. Verplanck shortly after my note.  He
+telephoned me, and I have just returned from seeing him.  I suggested
+you as the third member of the trust, to which he was agreeable.  You
+will be in charge of the administration, and a proper salary will be
+paid you out of the fund.  If you are agreeable please see Mr.
+Verplanck to-morrow at eleven.  Papa has been out since lunch.  I shall
+not mention to him that you had any foreknowledge of the affair, so he
+won't suspect any collusion between us.
+
+G. D."
+
+
+Evan answered:
+
+
+"I accept with pleasure."
+
+
+Shortly after this, Simeon Deaves turned up at Evan's room.  It was
+evident as soon as he spoke that he had not yet read the afternoon
+papers.  He had been drawn to Evan's room on his wanderings by his
+insatiable curiosity.  Nothing in the room escaped his sharp, furtive
+glances.  The newspapers were lying about.  Evan made no attempt to put
+them away.  The old man had to learn soon anyhow.
+
+His glance was caught by his photograph in one of the sheets.  He
+pounced on it.  Evan watched him slyly.  The old man's face was a study
+in astonishment.
+
+"What's this!" he cried.  "Do you know about it?  Half a million for
+charity!  Who got up this lie!"  He was as indignant as if he had been
+accused of stealing the money.
+
+"One of the papers mentioned the exact sum as four hundred thousand,"
+said Evan innocently.
+
+"It's a hoax."
+
+"And they said U.S. government bonds, so I supposed the blackmailers
+must have turned over what they got from you."
+
+"Why should they go to all that trouble just to give it to charity?"
+
+Evan was careful to maintain his detached air.  "Well, I thought maybe
+they were not common crooks, but socialists or anarchists or something
+like that, who believed in dividing things up, you know."
+
+"The scoundrels!" cried the old man.  "I'll put a stop to their game.
+I'll see Verplanck and get the bonds back."
+
+"You can't see him to-day," said Evan carelessly.  "It's after five.
+He lives in the country."
+
+"I'll see him in the morning, then."
+
+"You'll have a chance to talk it over with your son in the meantime."
+
+"What's George got to do with it?  The money's mine!"
+
+"Of course," said Evan carelessly.
+
+He let the old man rage on without interruption.  When he saw his
+opportunity he said offhand: "Too bad to spoil this elegant publicity,
+though."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"It's in all the papers.  Every man in the country will read it before
+to-morrow morning.  It will make over your reputation in a night."
+
+"What do I care about my reputation?"
+
+"If you call the scheme off, think how they'll get after you!  Not only
+an obscure sheet like the _Clarion_, but the entire press of the
+country.  Like a pack of hounds.  They'll never let the story drop."
+
+This thought gave the old man pause.  He scowled at Evan.
+
+Evan was making a pretence of cleaning a palette.  "You'd hardly care
+to venture out in the street after that.  You'd be hooted; stoned,
+perhaps.  It's bad enough already.  The reason you hired me was to
+prevent unpleasant experiences.  But if every paper in town got after
+you--well, you couldn't go out except in a closed car."
+
+The old man made a queer noise in his throat, and pulled at his seamy
+cheek.
+
+Evan went on without appearing to notice him: "It's a swindle, of
+course, to try to make you out a philanthropist in spite of yourself.
+They must have a funny sense of humour.  But I couldn't help but be
+struck by the opportunities for the right kind of publicity.  You could
+turn it so easily to your own advantage."
+
+"How do you mean?" he asked.
+
+"Take this philanthropic trust, or whatever they call it; excursions
+for poor children!  Good Lord!  Every sob sister on the press would be
+good for a column once a week.  It's up to you to see that the
+publicity is properly organised.  Every time they give an excursion
+have the stuff sent out.  It's cheap at the price, if you ask me.  You
+couldn't buy it at any price.  You'll be received with cheers on the
+street then.  No need to hire a body-guard.  And you still do more or
+less business.  Think how it would help you in your business!"
+
+The old man was greatly impressed.  "Well, I'll think it over," he
+said.  "It's too much money.  I'll offer to compromise with Verplanck
+on half."
+
+Evan saw that even this was an immense concession.  "Talk it over with
+Mr. George," he said.
+
+"Oh, George is a fool!"
+
+Evan, fearful of overdoing it, let the matter drop.  Everything
+depended on George now.  The old man presently departed.
+
+It may be mentioned here, out of its proper place chronologically, that
+later that night Evan got another note from George Deaves:
+
+
+"I have had it out with Papa.  It took me two hours.  But I won.  There
+will be no interference with the Deaves Trust.  In the future I mean to
+be firmer with Papa.  I have given in to him too much.
+
+G. D."
+
+
+At six o'clock Evan heard a quick light step on the stairs and the
+heart began to thump in his breast.  He had been longing for this--and
+dreading it.  Corinna presented herself at his open door.  She had
+newspapers in her hand, and there was no doubt but that she had read
+them.  But if Evan had expected her to be pleased, he was sadly
+disappointed.  Her eyes were flashing.
+
+"What does this mean?" she demanded, waving the papers.
+
+"Dordess wrote the story," said Evan, sparring for time.
+
+"I know he did.  I have seen him.  He referred me to you."
+
+"Well, the story tells all," said Evan.  "I didn't return the bonds,
+but created a philanthropist out of Simeon Deaves."
+
+"And rehabilitated him in the eyes of the public!" she cried bitterly.
+"The unrepentant old scoundrel!"
+
+"He'll find popularity so sweet he'll have to live up to it."
+
+"He doesn't deserve it!"
+
+Evan was moved to protest.  "Look here, Corinna, you've nourished your
+grudge against him for so long that you've positively fallen in love
+with it.  You're just sore now because it has been removed!"
+
+"I might have expected you to say that!"
+
+"Be fair, Corinna.  I threshed my brains to find a way out that would
+do everybody good.  And this is all the thanks I get!"
+
+"Much obliged, but I don't care to have anybody play Providence to me.
+I expect to be consulted in matters that concern me.  Good for
+everybody, you say.  How is the Deaves Trust good for me?"
+
+"Why, the sum for supporting the excursions remains intact; the very
+sum you asked for."
+
+"But you've ousted me!"
+
+"Not at all.  What the papers do not state is that I have been
+appointed the third trustee with power to administer the fund."
+
+"What good will that do me?"
+
+Evan said very off-hand: "Well, I thought you were going to administer
+me."
+
+He did not look at her as he said it.  She gave him no sign.  She was
+silent for so long that a great anxiety arose within him.  Yet he felt
+that to speak again would only be to weaken his plea.  He looked at
+her.  The shining head was studiously averted, the long lashes down.
+
+Finally she said, low and firmly: "It is impossible."
+
+"Why?" he demanded.
+
+"You want a clinging vine," she said scornfully.  "A tame woman who
+will look up to you as the source of all wisdom!"
+
+"If I did would I be asking you?" he said dryly.
+
+"You hope to tame me."
+
+"Never!  The shoe is on the other foot.  You want a husband whose neck
+you can tread on."
+
+"What difference does it make whose fault it is?" she said wearily.
+"The fact remains we would quarrel endlessly and hatefully.  It would
+be degrading!"
+
+"People who love each other always quarrel," said Evan cheerfully.
+"There's no harm in it."
+
+She stared at him.
+
+"Let us quarrel--and continue to respect each other!"
+
+She shook her head.  "You speak about it too coldly."
+
+"Cold--I?" he said.  "You silence me when you say that!  You know I am
+not cold!"
+
+"It is better for us to part," she said, moving towards the door.
+
+He hastened to get between her and the door.  "Corinna, the reason I am
+obliged to fight you is because you wield such a dreadful power!  In
+reality I am terrified of you!  If you married me I would have no
+defences at all!  I would be at your mercy because I love you so!"
+
+"You're always laughing at me," she murmured.
+
+"I swear I am not!  People who love do not make bargains, Corinna.  All
+that I am or ever will be is yours.  Take me and make what you can of
+it!"
+
+Corinna, who had not looked at him all this while, now turned a comical
+face of remonstrance.  "But you mustn't!" she said.  "You mustn't give
+in to me like that!  You must oppose my temper and my wilfulness,
+whatever I say!"
+
+It was Evan's turn to stare.  Then he understood that this was
+surrender--Corinna's way.  He laughed in pure delight and opened his
+arms.  "Come here, you wretch!"
+
+She sidled towards him, blushing deeply, intolerably confused.
+
+
+
+
+POSTSCRIPT
+
+Two weeks later.  The Executive Committee of the Deaves Trust was
+holding an informal meeting.  Said Evan:
+
+"The _Ernestina_ is in commission again, but of course we don't want
+her as long as the present skipper is in charge.  I have found a new
+boat, the _Thomas Higgins_, safe and comfortable.  The only thing
+against her is her name, and I propose to change that to _Corinna_."
+
+"Silly!" said the other member of the committee.
+
+"The owners have made me a fair price, and the other trustees have
+authorized me to purchase her outright."
+
+"Won't that take all our money?"
+
+"No, indeed.  I have arranged to run her three days a week to the town
+of Redport, which wants a steam-boat service with the city.  The
+merchants of the town have guaranteed an amount of business sufficient
+to pay operating expenses and interest on the investment.  In addition,
+on Thursdays and Sundays she will be available for charter.  On Sundays
+we can always get a big price for her.  So you see, we'll not only have
+our own steamboat, but our income, too."
+
+"How clever you are!" said Corinna.
+
+"After I arranged about that I went to see Dordess----"
+
+"Was he friendly?"--this anxiously.
+
+"Yes, indeed.  We understand each other.  I always was attracted to
+him, and he is resigned to the inevitable now.  He says he's content to
+be an uncle to our children."
+
+"_Evan!_"
+
+"He was to sound the other fellows, you know, and find out how they
+were disposed towards the new trips.  Well, Anway and Tenterden decline
+with thanks.  That was to be expected.  But the others, Domville,
+Burgess, Minturn, and that odd little chap in the grey suit with the
+big eyes----"
+
+"Paul Roman."
+
+"Yes, they're all crazy to come.  They have accepted me as a necessary
+evil.  The little fellow, Roman, came into Dordess's office while I was
+there.  Shook hands with me like a little man.  He has pluck, that kid.
+I will never forget the dogged way he trailed me.  By the way, why did
+you never take him on the _Ernestina_?"
+
+"We did sometimes, and sometimes he remained on shore to trail Simeon
+Deaves.  He made up as a girl, and you never spotted him.  When you
+came aboard the _Ernestina_ we had to hide him."
+
+"The deuce you did!"
+
+"What about Charley Straiker, Evan?"
+
+"He's coming, too.  Dear old Charl!  We have had a heart-to-heart talk.
+Everything is fixed up between us.  You have never told me how you got
+hold of him that day.  I didn't like to ask him.  Too sore a subject."
+
+"There's nothing much to tell.  I was in the library reading-room that
+morning, not to get the money but just to watch out for danger.  Paul
+Roman got the books out.  I saw Charley come in and sit down beside
+him, and I knew what was up.  I immediately went and sat down on the
+other side of Charley.  He was glad to see me.  I was quite frank with
+him.  I introduced Paul Roman to him.  I told him my story.  It won his
+heart, that's all."
+
+"It wasn't the story, but your eyes, confound them!"
+
+"Oh, you never will believe that anybody can be influenced by
+disinterested motives!"
+
+"How did you find out that other time that the bills were marked?"
+
+"Tenterden has a brother in a bank.  He told us about the warning sent
+out by the Mid-City Bank."
+
+"Corinna, how did you ever come to chum up with a woman like Maud
+Deaves?"
+
+"I didn't chum up with her.  I never laid eyes on the woman.  It came
+about gradually.  I found out early in the game that when we sent
+letters to her it had the effect of exerting a tremendous pressure on
+her husband to pay.  Later, through the servants, whom Paul Roman had
+bribed for me, I found out that she was in money difficulties.  After
+that every time we got the money I sent her part, and she worked for us
+like one of ourselves.  We never failed to get the money one way or
+another, as you know."
+
+"I know," said Evan ruefully.
+
+"But don't let us talk of those times any more.  It's a sore subject
+with me, too."
+
+"One more question, and I'll drop it forever.  Confess that you came
+and took a room at 45A Washington Square for the especial purpose of
+seducing me."
+
+"Evan!  What a word to use!"
+
+"I used it merely in a figurative sense, my child.  Confess!"
+
+"Well, of course when Paul Roman reported all that had happened that
+day, and where you lived, and later when I learned through the Deaves'
+servants that you had been engaged to go around with the old man, my
+first thought was to win you to our side.  Paul reported that you were
+a gentleman, and seemed like a good sort of fellow."
+
+"Oh, he did, did he?"
+
+"In such a position, of course, if you were against us you could ruin
+everything; while if you were on our side you would be invaluable.  So
+I went to that house and took a room, hoping to become acquainted with
+you."
+
+"You didn't stay long."
+
+She looked at him through her lashes.  "No, I fell in love with you,
+confound you!  It spoiled everything!"
+
+"Corinna!" he cried delightedly.  "I am beginning to think I shall yet
+succeed in grafting a sense of humour on you!"
+
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Deaves Affair, by Hulbert Footner
+
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