8
“ Peril and the P ric e ”
( Continued from page 7 )
some unexpected tricks, and the next
thing I knew I was lying wide awake with
the sunlight shining through the window.
There was the natural start of surprise
at my unaccustomed surroundings, and
then I arose and began very deliberately
to make my toilet, keeping back, so far as
possible, my.natural inclination to try to
anticipate coming events.
I could hear somewhere a clock striking
the hour of nine, and then there was a
knock and, through what appeared to be
the opening of a speaking tube, I heard
the woman’s voice bidding me prepare
for breakfast, which would appear in a
few’ minutes. It came, tenderloin, eggs,
rolls, toast, fried potatoes, everything the
best possible, together with a great,
steaming pot of coffee. .
“ Seems you liked the sandwiches,” she
said, grinning as she removed the empty
plate. “ Mebbe you’l like the breakfast,
too. There’s lots worse places to stay
than here.”
“ No doubt.” I satd briefly, as I sat down
to the breakfast with an appetite which,
thanks to youth and health, nothing could
long keep away.
‘‘An’ there’s a better dinner cornin’,”
she grinned. “ The boss told me to go the
limit in fixin’ up a Thanksgivin’ dinner
for you, an’ what he says goes.”
“ When will I see the boss?” I asked as
amiably as I could.
“ Well, now !” the woman said. ‘T'll
be when he is good an’ ready an’ not be
fore. He never allows any questions.
What I told you last night he told me to
tell an’ that’s all. But he’s a powerful
nice man when you do what he tells you,
an’ when you don’t, w ell! You’d just bet
ter look out, that’s all I”
She "left me, and in due time returned
for the dishes. About four o’clock the
dinner came, an elaborate affair with the
inevitable roast turkey and a bottle of
champagne. With it came several morn
ing papers and a handful of cigars, the
latter of which were of no use to me. I
finished the dinner and retired to the sofa
to rea(f the day’s news. But the paper
soon feU from my hand as I sat staring,
staring at the face of Lucy Dean. It
showfed her a few years older than I had
known her, but there was no mistaking
the face which had been in my dreams,
sleeping or waking for seven long years.
The mystery of that portrait in that house
of crime was no les^than that of my de
tention there.
I rose and paced about the room in
„wild excitement. Not only was there mys
tery upon mystery, but the floodgates were
open after all those years and. for the first
time in my life. I was in Jo v e ! No longer
was it a vague and soothing sentiment,
but a burning passion, an absolute devo
tion, an unutterable longing, an overmas
tering desire. I would hunt for her until
I found her, and I would make her mine.
Unless----- ! The thought came to me and
for a moment clutched my heart in a grasp
of ice. Then I flung it fiercely away. She
was living, she was unwed, she would be,
should be mine!
The door opened softly and closed.
A gigantic person, whose purple face
indicated many years of luxurious living,
stood before n*.
“ I hope you* enjoyed your dinner,” he
said, in soft, well modulated tones.
"I am your prisoner. Why do you waste
courtesy upon me?” I answered, with
anger almost choking me.
“ You are my guest,” he suavely an
swered. “ May I take.a chair? Thank you!
I will admit that my invitation for you
to spend Thanksgiving Day at my home
was a trifle informal, but it was suffi
ciently pressing, as you must admit.”
“ I am helpless and must submit to your
insults, as I did to your criminal attack
upon my liberty.”
“ Insults? Not the least in the world.
You are my guest because I chose to have
you come. Have you had reason to com
plain of your treatment? Would any ho
tel in New York have given you better
food? Have you ever slept in a better
room or in one with more interesting
pictures ?”
He shot a glance at me as he asked the
last question, which came very near its
evident intention of surprising me into a
confusion which would tell that I had
recognized the portrait.
“ Other than being unwarrantably and
unlawfully deprived of my freedom, I
have no complaint to make,” I answered,
coldly.
“ For that deprivation o f liberty I mean
to compensate you,” lie said. “ Just be
reasonable and you will regard your com
ing here as one of the luckiest things of
your life. Try another of the cigars.
“ I don’t smoke,” I answered shortly.
“ You miss one of the greatest blessings
of life,” he said, reaching for a cigar.
“ You don’t mind if I smoke? Thank
you 1”
He lit a cigar and leaned back with his
eyes upon the ceiling.
“ Pardon me if I seem personal,” he
said, “ but I presume that your salary is
somewhere between one and two thousand
dollars a year?”
“ That is a matter concerning myself and
my employers.”
“ To be sure! To be sure! And, par
don me, it concerns me also, for I have a
mind to offer you- double your present
salary, whatever it may be.”
“ You have taken extraordinary means to
bring your offer to my attention.”
“ Necessity, my boy, necessity! I did
not wish, by any chance, to have any one
else hear of nry offer. And I did not de
sire to take any chance of having my offer
refused.”
“ But I do refuse it!” I said, emphat
ically.
The man smiled.
“ I expected to hear you say that,” life
said. “ Of course you refuse, and that
proves the wisdom and necessity of bring
ing you here. If I had made the offer at
your lodgings you might have refused and
persisted in your refusal. Now you will
have time to reflect.”
“ Your talk is useless,” I said. “ Restore
nty liberty and then, if you have any prop
osition to make, I will hear you.”
“ Really.” said the other, T thought • I
had just this moment made it clear to you
why that course J s impossible. If L did
that you might rouse. As it is,” he added
with-a meaning look, “ you will accept.”
“ And why,” I asked, “ do you think I
would be useful to you in your business?
I airTvery sure that I should not”
“ I have my reasons,” he said. “ What
do you think my business is?”
“ I think,” I said, very deliberately, but
shaking a little at my own hardihood
“ that you are some kind of a thief.”
The man flushed a deeper purple.
“ That is a pretty rude word.” he said.
“ And sometimes, I may say—sometimes
•and under some circumstances—a dis
tinctly dangerous word.”
“ No doubt,” I said, “ but I stand by my
belief. If you were an honest man I
would not be here. And a man who is
not honest* is a thief, according to his
necessity and opportunity. Not all thieves
are pickpockets or porch-climbers.’
“ To be sure,” he said, suppressing the
anger which had started at the word,
“ there are gentry and vulgarians among—
among----- ”
“ Thieves.” I suggested.
“ I don’t like the word,” he said, knock
ing the ashes off his tigar. “ But I will
say that among the class you have in
mind, as well as among others.”
THIS DOLLAR BOOK SENT FREE
TO READERS OF THIS PAPER
SEND N O M O N E Y -N O S T A M P S « , » • < ?
write tie a postal, if you prefer. W e w ill then mall yon this irreat book, now fresh
from the presses, picturing m ore than 3,000 new-sty!e things fo r tbe home. A part o f the
pictures are in actual colors. T h is book shows a greater va riety o f Furniture, Carpets
and Housefum ishlngs than Is shown in any retail store in Chicago. On each article it
uotes a price lo w c t ihnn yon ever saw. It shows the newest creations in furniture.
raperies, etc. A nd it offers you credit on everything. H a v e w hatever you want, at our
low est cash prices, and p a y ua a little eagh month.
S
WE TRUST YOU FOR ANYTHING
USED IN THE HOME
W« »*11 settata rm credit at lower price« than
cr w ^ r* ouoted fo r *a»h. Yon «-an Nave these
m e com fort* now. and l<e«in a t once to enjoy
C
th a n . N o aeed -------------------- ----------S im p ly *
pay aa yon can. W e ch a re * no fn tere -t and auk
-------arlty. Ò u r d ealing* are a a l ll t _______
confidential.
A ny poreoa w ho w an t« to m ake home B f f i V
attractive Is th e rtoht sort o f Demon, a w l hia
credit ia good w ith ns.
OVER A Y EAS T O CAY
Pay a few cents down o n each d ollar. T hen
take the anode, use and enioy them, and pay ns
• little each moi.th. On th e arprage. we allo w
• year to pay. On piano«, tw o year*. I f mis
fortune cornee. OT to -« o f work, w e do w hat we
can to help oat. O n r w hole effort, from the
tim e yea K M d eal with am is to make you a
perm an ent customer. And yow w ill he. You
W ill never hoy h n n w fn rn ¡«b in # * elsewfcer**. and
pay others' prices, a ft e r you once deal w ith a*.
3 0 PAYS* FREE TRIAL
CUT OUT THIS COUPON
■ ataloav > on want.
L e t ns prove a t onoe th at
P )e « « e do it now — b efo re you forget it.
credit costs yew lesa than cash.
f S P IE G E L . M A T , ST E R N CO ., MM 35tk Street. C U c u tfe l
•
’
.
Please n a il m e tht catalogs marked.
---- General Catalog.
— Piano Catalog.
— Stove Catalog.
— Graphophone Book.
I
I
I
* I N a
;
I P o r i o ffice
1
I
S ta te_
* . p. n._
-------------- 1
__________ j
W h ate ver y OO select cam Ila need fo r one month
b efo re you decide to hoy it.
Rvfiey article is
Sent on approval. Yon not only see It, hot ose it.
Too com pare it with oth e r s im ila r articles, and
com pare o o r prices w ith cth.-rs. I f the article.
____ y reason, is un-**t1«faetory. simply send it
n*k.
You are un der no o b lie n tU n .
The
o a th ’s use w ill not cost you m * penny.
FACTORY CASH PRICES
c * »h m ali o rd er hou-ea w ill try to convince
von that cred it costs m ore than cash, flee fo r
' r*«nw If If It does, f i r t o n r catalog and com-
_________
re the , prices.
_______ Hew who sells th e lowest. T h «
fact i«, w e sell on ci afiit exactly as low as fo r
cash. O n r cash c n V i ^ t u * get n o t a Penny o f
discount. T o a ll we « M i a * facto ry price«, plus
m r o n « sm all piv fit. N o m iddlem en o f any
kind get profit on o u r goods. W e defy any oth er
m all o rd er house to shew o n « p ric e as low as we
offer ou a s im ila r piece.
BT
-
•
SAVINO OF IS TO SO%
fo r they are enorm on* 1 v h i«h . W e re fe r to cat-
-
7 honeee, s pilin g fo r r » « h . and ria l
eraell
G e t o n r goods on trial
n’ t find th at
u ........
n d e rw
it everyone
everyone else.
sell
siraoly send
o r goods
_
_ ______
nd o n
hack.
Ask others ‘ to w ____
as
(mods
------
- on
— ap
approval,
p ro v al, r aa we do, and keep th us«
w hich cost th e least.
•lo»
'»miei !
%r'°
CAPITAL »7,000,000
T h is la the latgesg p on cera o f its kind in e*-
»«tenc* O u r coi,» hi ned cap ital Is ri.WO.OPO W o
h aru m , < m customers. O n r m ail o rd er »mild
inns cover s i* s e n 's o f «ro u n d . Ift addition, we
own » mammoth vetnil starre, in th e heart e f
th e )«Tgp*t <;»t»en, w h ere w e m eet th e fiercest
com petition in A m enen . T h e only way in w hich
w e have grow n to th is s ire ia by nadersel ling all
com petition. N ow we dom inate th e field. W e
control the natpnt o f scores o f fneforiee, and
m ir enormous hny in « p ow er en a b le « ns to prec.
t »eal Ip fi» o u r ow n costs. I t would ban k ru pt any
lesser concern to attem pt to m eet on r prl.-e*
*5« W
P »» — » 'I *
w » n t u>, h o , . . h.TO
n o d iscou nt fo r cash ,
yo u tnav aa w e ll i.n- rm
! £ £ £ « * b?*plsfyiigt Î i s t r,,J
rouw F R E I
d0i" * -
Y°” ***"
CATALO GS
O u r G e n e ra l C a ta lo g
•n d description« o f ever
o f J.08B things Ulte these:
_ Fu rniture. Chinawnre,
M nchli
Ç nr pet«. Ruga. Silverware, W a s h in g M m
L>mperic*. Lam P*. C lo ck s. B a b y C a i» , * ,« .
O u r « t u r e C a t a l o g shows 70 styles o f £ m etre
M ÌirJ
* * np. An-, one
'»Ìf«h
^l a
i r L r p ay in g na.
» * t m m i savin «
b e fo J
re 7 T
you
finish
:
'¡ Z S * *
Jawing '
- - - — m Macài
rer
‘TUi'saw
B n ) 0 « i . J . U n o . . . . . . t ,
r n ln m lH . I l n M m h n M
—
M . - h o w . hi .
W e gu aran tee o u e v e r y arrid e a saving o f f i
tu I r i . " e d e a t r e fe r to your loeel U i
SPIEGEL, MAY, STERN CO N94 SM * • * CHICAGO
“ And your assistants, who received me
last night, belong to the class of vulgar
thieves?” I queried.
“ Undoubtedly. I don’t use the word,
as a rule. It offends more than one sen
sitive acquaintance of mine. But those
fellows are, by no stretch of courtesy, any
thing but vulgar thieves. I must apol
ogize tor having forced such low com
pany upon you.”
“ Don’t mention it,” I said, sarcastically.
“ You will see no more of them,” he
said. “ I have need of them and many
others. I am, if my modesty will per
mit me to say it, something of a magnate
in my line. I have need of your services,
as well as of the services of those very
different persons. You will perceive the
high compliment I pay you in the estima
tion I place upon your moral qualities. If
I should want—just supposing, of course—
a citizen knocked down, a safe broken or
a house burned, I would have only to say
the word and those fellows would under
take it for a compensation which you
would he bound to confess very reasona
ble. They will even, at my instigation,
kidnap and bring to me an honest and
virtuous young man whom I desire to see.
In your case I have to take all precau
tions to prevent your excessive virtue
from getting the best of your proper
sense of self-interest.”
"What do you want o f me?” I asked,
bluntly.
“ There is a safe in your office of which
you-havc the combination,” he said. “ Now,
now,” he added, waving his hand in a de
precating manner, “ don’t attempt any lies.
I know and denial will do no good. I
want the combination of that safe.”
“ That safe,” I said, “ contains not one
cent of money at any time.”
“ I know that,” he answered. “ And if
there were, it would not be touched- You
can make an inventory every day, so long
as you remain in the office, and nothin#
will be missing. Nevertheless. I desire
and intend to have the combination to
that safe.”
“ You will not get it from me.”
“ You say# that I will not. I say that I
will. Give me the combination to-night
and you can be at your desk in the morn
ing »a thousand dollars richer than you
are now. Keep silent three months and
another thousand dollars will be yours.”
“ And if I refuse?”
“ Then your employers probably will be
making inquiries as toV hat has become of
you.”
“ What you ask,” I said, excitedly, “ is
dishonorable, and I will never do it.”
“ Take your time,” said he. “ There is
no hurry. Mr. Whitwood, I know, is in
Europe, and the combination will not be
changed nor the safe opened until he re
turns. Meantime, until you have acceded
to mv request, you will remain my guest.”
“ My determination is made,” I said.
“ I will unmake it when the time comes,”
he answered, in smooth, even tones. “ Now,
before bidding you good-night, I will tell
you a few things. If you attempt to climb
'out of the window you will get a bullet
through your leg and be carried back to
this room for treatment. If you attempt
to set your room on fire you will be de
tected instantly and some of those vrtj^ar
thieves we were talking about will give
you their undivided attention while others
are extinguishing the fire. We are not
amateurs and not easily frustrated. Now,
good-night!”
His towering bulk stood before the door
for an instant, his dark face wreathed
with a wicked, cynical smile. Then I was
again alone.
I sat down and thought of the difficult
and dangerous position in which I was
placed. The safe, to which access was
demanded by the criminal chief was one
containing papers only, and those chiefly
of a confidential nature, relating to the
character and whereabouts of clients and
persons with whom they were involved in
business matters.
Many papers were
sealed and had remained thus for many
years. Some of these the criminals, for
reasons known to themselves, desired to
inspect. Their purpose was evil. Some
body^ must snffer if they succeeded. I de
termined to be strong as I could and at
least never willingly agree to the dishonor
of breaking my trust, nor accept the
Judas price. But my blood ran cold at
the thought of the possibility of torture,
which I knew would be unsparingly ap
plied.
The fat woman brought my supper of
toast and hot milk.
"How do you like your room ?’* she
asked. “ T fixed it up myself especially for
you. Them pictures an’ books an* the
Bible was all up in the garret, where
there’s lots of other old stuff. The boss
has had new pictures in all of his rooms.
He’s a real sport, he is. When you come
(
Continued 0 n page * J )