P recluse
¿ fifth
' AVENUE
A one spoae as ne gazed at i t Even
Barnes felt that the emotion which he
could not fathom had In it some un­
usual quality. There were tears In
Floyd Mulet’s eyes as he turned to
Peter Milman. and his voice was
husky. “Yes," he said In a low voice,
•it Is good. I should have been among
the great ones."
"You are among them," Milman as­
sured him.
CHAPTER IV
I
1 W YNDHAM
J M ARTYN
C 0 S V R I6 H T In
« T A T I»
» * • U K IT t D
W.N.U.
Slavics
When midnight was passed and the
four men very comfortably seated
about the fire, Neeland Barnes began
to think there was to be no unmasking
of bis past In a sense he was glad.
These two men whom he had begun
hy despising seemed, after all, to have
cut considerable figures once. Barnes
was a shrewd Judge of men. He
thought that they had spoken only the
truth. The big man with the eager,
gray eyes was most certainly no
grafter. And as to the other, Barnes
recalled his case well now It was
brought to his notice. He had sneered
at the sculptor's odd defense and be­
lieved It with most men about town a
very poor excuse. But now he be­
lieved absolutely In Floyd Malet's In­
tegrity
In
comparison,
Neeland
Barnes, professional man-of-the-world.
felt rather a poor specimen.
“We now come,” said Milman, break
Ing In on his reflections, "to the case
of Mr. Neeland Barnes."
Mr. Neeland Barnes groaned In­
wardly.
Exteriorly he was urbane
and gracious.
"Shearing the black sheep," he said
"A lesson to all young men. IIow not
to live."
"Mr. Barnes,” said Peter Milman.
“Is not so complex a type as his fel
low guests. He aimed at physical at
tributes ruther than Intellectual or ar­
tistic achievements. And be succeed
Barnes, looking about for sympathy, f ed , 0 loDS „„ your troub|e i , hat yoo
“What's bis name?” Barnes did not
doubt his host's sincerity for a mo­
ment.
"All In good time," said Milman;
“first let me show you his photograph."
He unlocked a drawer and took the
picture from an envelope. "Is that
he?”
“As I remember It, yes," said
Barnes; "hut It's years ago. and there
might be a possibility of error."
Mllinan passed the photograph to
Floyd Malet.
"Do you recognize him?’’
There was excitement In the sculp­
tor's voice. “It's the man with the
fur coat who came to my studio that
night. This Is the man. I'll swear.
What's his name?”
"That Is the man to whom you all
owe your misfortunes— Paul Itaxon."
It was a thin, narrow face that
stared hack at them, but It was not
the face of a fool. Few men without
the early advantage of financial train­
ing had Impressed themselves on Way
Street as he had done. The collapse
of International Motors and the fail­
ure of the Hazen Brewer crowd to
break him made Raxon for the mo­
ment the most spectacular figure In
New York. And yet none of Milman's
guests had ever before seen a photo­
graph of him. He had a knack of out­
witting the newspaper photographers.
He had smashed many cameras. It
had come to he understood thnt to at­
tempt to photograph him was to in
cur the enmity of a man who never
forgave or forgot.
‘“That he broke Professor Bnftney
was a precautionary measure aud not
born of any personal malice. No doubt
his subordinates hqd found the pro
fessor was not rich and supposed him
ripe for the fall. There Is hardly a
doubt that he has made enormous
amounts by these methods, always
covering himself with hopelessly com
promised lesser men who dared say
nothing. As to Mr. Malet, that was
merely bad luck and not In the first
design. I don't suppose Raxon had
anything personal against him, but he
recognized the opportunity to escape
from a troublesome position. The only
pi rely personal spite was In the case
I are mad. The other will be to dis­
close the confidences a dead tnan gav
me.
“But you want me to give up the
only chance I may ever have of clear­
ing my name,” Brudney complained.
"You can never clear it that way
I don't think you can ever hope to
defeat Paul Itaxon that way.” Ills
tone changed a little. "Tell me this
Mr. Bradney.
Which counts more
with you: the clearing of your nunie
of suspicion of dishonesty—not actual
conviction of It, remember, for your
case never came before a court of
law—or the opportunity to devote
your life to your chosen science?”
"The latter, of course," Brndney
cried. “It is only If I establish my
Innocence that I can hope to get an­
other appointment.
Such work as
mine Is very cost'y. I must hnve large
funds at my disposal and elaborate
equipment."
"And you?" Milman said, turning to
the sculptor.
“I f enough mud is thrown at a man.
no matter how Innocent he Is, some of
It will stick. I have long since abao
nyjZ)>rectory
A lbany baking co .
405 West First
B U TT E R -N U T BREAD
Albany Floral Co.
Cut flowers
and plants. Floral art lor every
and all occasions.
Flower phone 458-J.
ALBANY STATE
BANK—We
■‘ •■invite Jyour business. Savings and
commercial aceounts. Capital, surplus,
undivided profits, $100.000.
C ’ASTBURN'S GROCERY
4th and Lyons Street
The place to buv good groceries at the
right price. On the corner, plenty of
room to park. Albany.
UVJRD SALES AND SERVICE
(Continued)
selfish enough to think her thin,
*
Tires and accessories
"1 heard of that," Itradney said. draped figure would do for one of the
Repairs
"and I begged them to give his name models of a group I had In mind which
K i e e -P o l l a e M otos Co.
was
to
he
called
’Winter.'
She
told
so that I could thunk him. I have
E\)rtmiller Furniture Co., furni.
often vowed If ever It were possible to me something of her history. It was
A tnre, rugs, linoleum, stoves ranges.
do something for him I would, hut coinmonpluce. I had heard It before
Funeral directors. 427-433 west First
that's unlikely.
tVhnt could I do, I do not mean It was not true. I
street, Albany, Oregon.
mean rather, that It was the usual
who made a bare livelihood?” Brad
ney surveyed Ills garb with scorn. “No -lory of the ambitious girl trusting
oo well the man who defers to marry
decent man-servant would admit me
INTEL WRECKING CO.
to his master's hou ■<*. I look w hat I tier."
*36 West 1st
"1 know," said Neeland Barnes wlse-
am—a failure, arid yet. God knows,
Used Parts for all cars
y. "I know. Waiting for the divorce."
not a cent of that money stu' k to my
“She shrunk from going up in the
UO LM AN A JACKSON
fingers. What on earth should I want
elevator because she was so shabby,
money for except for my work?"
Grocery— Bakery
Everything in the line of eata
“This Paul Itaxon," Milman con­ so I helped her up the long flights to
my
studio.
She
fainted
when
she
got
Opposite Postoffice
tinued, "la one of the ablest men In
New York.
No decent man has a there, und 1 gave her brandy. She was
wi III that I wanted to send for a doc
l I U B C o n f i o t i o n e r j . Noon
chance when pitted against him and
•*■* lunches.
Home-made candy and
his accomplices. He Is not of the
ice cream. Ftrst street, next dooi ro
usual contractor class. He began life tor. Instead she osed the telephone
Blain Clothing Go.
I did not hear the number, but I knew
as an architect, but always desired
wealth, and found his profession too It must be to the man she spoke. Very
IM PERIAL CAFE, 209 W. First
reluctantly he agreed to come and see
slow a method to gain It. Yes," Mil-
A
Harold G. Murphy Prop.
her.
I
think
the
fact
that
I
Insisted
on
man said In a slow, meditative way,
Phone 665
speaking
was
the
cause.
Perhaps
he
Wg n e v e r close
“I kuow a great deal about him. I
imagined
I
knew
his
name
and
more
ed Just as they did. I doubt If there
even subscribe to a clipping hurenn
about him."
is an American living who excelled In
so that I may miss nothing. You will
len n in gs Auto Top Shop— Auto
certain phases of sport ns Mr. Barnes
be surprised to hear (hat I had him J "Then you didn't know who 1.
** trimming, snat cbvers and winter in­
followed for a long lime by a private I was?”
did.
closures. 202 B Second. Phone 4l8J.
Floyd Malet shook his head. “Nor
N. L. Jennings Manager
“Ue was a man who might have
detective."
lo
I
now,
but
I
remember
him
di
passed a blameless life had his
“May I nsk why?" Brudney returned.
Huctly.
lie
was
a
thin
mun
with
a
money lusted. There came a time
"I shall tell you presently. Let me
AGNKTO ELECTRIC CO.
him k mustache and brown eyes wltli
when his relatives would not help
speak first of the misfortunes, equally
Investigate the new Prestclite
rod flecks In them. I knew he was a and his horses could not win races.
undeserved, which befell Sir. Floyd
of Mr. Neeland Barnes. Raxon was
Battery prices before buying.
man who had been successful with
Male!."
Finally, he wus accused of some trick
Intending to buy a big house at Nar
women. I met him at the entrance
The sculptor flushed. “I don't think
ery nt Saratoga and found his racing ragansett and entertain largely."
agel’s Bob and Beauty Shoppe,
lie
wore
a
fur
coat
whose
collar
con
anyone hut myself knows what they
career at un end. Since then he has
"I don't remember the name there,"
Hotel Albany
cpaled
his
face.
Outside
It
was
still
were."
been living Insecurely on what his said Barnes.
Manicuring, marcelling, facial
A Few Hundred Spent In Bribery,
few remaining relatives choose to
"There you ore wrong," Milman cor­ ■mowing hard. I Judged him to he
Miss
Lamphrar, operator
“He left the pier," Milman an
doned any hope of being whitewashed
rected gently. “A dozen yeurs ago used to getting his own way. I did give him."
swered.
"Raxon
la
curiously
sensi­
not like his manner. There wag a
pianos ! Pianos ' ! Some big
America discovered that Mr. Mulct
“Sir. Milman," Barnes said, and tive to ridicule. He could not remain In a sense, the equipment of the sculp
bargains in second-hand pianos; one
was a genius. Some of you may have snarl in IL * Perhaps my studio— you there wns a certain dignity In his bear­ to lie pointed out as the man Neeland tor Is expensive. I f I were a painter.
$85, one $195; one $250. Call at
know what a dirty, unluxurlous place ing, "I have been almost every sort
It
would
be
n
different
thing.
There
seen the heroic figure of Stonewall
Barnes had contemptuously tossed
Davenport Music House, Albany
Jackson at Raleigh. That made him." a sculptor's workshop is— did not Im­ of a fool In my day. I have thrown Into the ocean. I t took him several Is no Institution to endow broken
press
him.
The
girl
had
died
while
I
middle-aged
men.”
"I remember now," Neeland Barnea
away fortunes nnd gambled und drunk years to get his revenge, but It was a
exclaimed. "There whs some sort of whs waiting for him. He cried out like a madman, hut I never pulled complete one.
" It Is for that reason 1 asked you PULLM AN CAFE
He boasts that he
thut
It
was
a
trick
I
had
played
him
Good food. Popular prices
wild studio party where a woman was
any dirty tricks on a race track. I was never lets up, and ascribes Indian an
all to come here," Milman answered.
227 W. First
I hen lie run out for a doctor and the always out to win and never betted
killed. I don’t see how that could
"You
don't
understand?
Gentlemen,
cestry to thia unatnlahle quality. His
police." Malet shrugged Ilia slioul
hurt an artist." Neeland Barnes had
ignlnst my own horses. I ’m not what most spectacular hatred was thnt my I 1 am a broken middle-aged man. In
lira. "I never suw him again. Some­
formed Ills opinion of the morals of
.mi might call a relluhle man, and I've poor friend Hazen Brewer Incurred.
Hazen Brewer's failure my entire for
ROSCOE AMES HARDWARE
times I wonder If he was run over
artists from the fiction writing of sen
lone tilings I'm heartily ashamed of
"Brewer committed suicide because j tuna went. I mortgaged this house
■mil
killed,
or
If.
when
he
found
I
did
tlmental women "Surely that Wouldn’t
now, hut I did not do what the Sara
to
help
him.
Out
of
the
wreck
I
may
The Winchester Store
he had plunged Into penury a man
not know his name and did not find
put him down and out?"
oga stewards believed of me."
who was near and dear to him. This save enough to live In a couple of
my letters In the girl’s pocket, lie left
"It did." Mulet answered bitterly.
"What did they believe?" Itradney wus a man unused to finance, who humble rooms for the rest of my life.
me to hear the bluiiie.
"A sculptor depends In this country,
ieniniideil. lie know nothing of racing
trusted Brewer with hla fortune nnd We are all In the same boat, all four
“I sent for a doctor, who In turn
>it all events—on commissions from
"My trainer gave evidence before mortgaged his home In a vain effort of us victims to Puul Iiiixoti's whims.'
-ont
for
the
police.
When
I
told
them
public bodies, many of whom have
Attorney at Law
llicni.that I Instructed him to dope to save his friend. Brewer felt dis­
"You," Neeland Barnes cried. "You
women among them When my name the story of the man Willi the fur coni
my entry for the Saratoga cup so graced. I think this emotion was far had all sorts of money, 1 thought.”
Practices In U. S. and atate courts. Suits
whose
five
I
could
not
see
distinctly,
was besmirched It was deemed un­
that I might bet on another horse.
“I have none now. Thnt Is hardly i t law.iu equity and estates in probate
more potent than the fact of his flnan
whose name I did not know, and of
minimum
wise to employ me io decorate build
Mine wus the favorite.
It did go clal collapse. He did not know that true. I have enough to live on In carefully attended to at
whose address I was unaware, I could
lugs consecrated to drama literature,
o Hie post full of bromide, and the
this house for three months. Then charges Money to Ioan.
his friend harbored no hard thoughts
Baltimore bldg., Albany. Oregon
or H ip nrts. Even politic« hail to be me they thought me lying. And when
lorse I was reputed to have bet on
of him and would have made no com­ the mortgage will fall due. There will
I told them the girl, had not taken the
protected from my Impure touch' I
von nt long odds. I had the trainer
plaints. After all, the friend's loss he an Ruction sale and an end of the
elevator, I could sec they thought It
lost the award I bad been definitely
against me and the bookmaker, nnd
was a vulgar Intrigue."
was very little compared with his New York Milmnns"—he paused—
promised fur a statehouse been use
unless— "
because I was known to be In mone­ downfall."
"Bill the man with the fur coat
LAWYERS
my morals were—so the report ran —
tary difficulties, I was disbelieved
"Unless what?" Brndney demanded
Fleming Brndney, perhaps the clos­
loose. My failure was Just as com­ didn't walk up," Neeland Barnes re
Not Hint I blame the stewards. They
"Y
ou
complained
a
few
minutes
ago.
H«l«°y
aud Brownsville
minded him.
est observer of Milman's guests, wns
plete as that of Professor Brudney. I
lid their duty as they saw It. Some­
nnd Justly, that I had listened to your
"But
the
elevator
boy
denied
having
becoming
possessed
with
a
vast
Im­
Oregon
had u little money, and that went In i
body fixed my trainer nnd the Jockey
confidences ami given none of tny own.
patience to know for what reason lie
lawyers’ fees. M.v friends were few seen him,’’ Malet explained. “It was I wus forced out of Hie racing game,
5 ery well. You shall hear me now.
I
my
word
ugalnst
Ills.
The
record
of
hnd been summoned. Itradney had the
mid not Influential.
nnd found I hadn't a friend In the
To begin with, I am prepared to aban­
'.he teleplMine call could not he traced
^our eye« examined and a flue
analytical mind of the scientist. There
'lik e Alfred Gilbert. I destroyed
world.
My
wife
would
have
believed
don the conventions anil habits of a
1 I made a had witness. Nobody Identl-
were
several
things
In
Milman's
nar­
pair of
what I thought mis poor, and that Is
me.
hut
she
was
dead.
I
used
what
lifetime
In
order
to
keep
this
home
| lied the girl, aud as I admitted giving
rative which needed elucidation.
why there are not three of my works
money
I
could
get
hold
of
to
fight
the
of mine. I was born here, and I wish,
her brandy, the thing was treated In
“Why," he asked suddenly, "did you
left In the world today. I have failed,
the papers us a drunken debauch, and thing, but the man, or men, who subscribe to a press-clipping agency when my eyes are to close forever, to
tint I could have done good w-ork If
I was marked ns a Parisian decadent. framed me had more money. I shall and put a detective on Itaxon's die here. I have suffered disappoint­
in a frame of your own choice
the Incredible had lint happened."
never know who it was."
ments In my earlier life that have not
It wns my finish."
track V'
"As I remember. Hie thing was
made me anxious to go about nnd ba
"I know," said Peter Milman quiet
Malet sank down In his chair. The
“Because I had learned through a pointed out as the Peter Milman
rather—e r —delicate," Barnes said.
y. "You were not framed, as you
sensitive face was marked by suffer­
source entirely confidential that It was whose wife ran away from him. My ■
I ou shall Judge. A poor girl ac­
_
ing. The stamp of realized failure term It. by any crooked owner of
costed me on the street and said she
I cannot face the world K
i f
F r p r i r h
Jpy Q n n
thoroughbreds. None of them was hlg Itaxon who hud ruined Mr. Mulct. I life Is.here
seemed upon lilm. Itradney leaned for
was
interested
In
Mr.
Malet.
I
think
was starving. To o n e who hud lived
with equanimity after these so litary!
■*■’ ■*• * * V 1 1C 11 OL O O I I
Hough to pull down a man of your
ward and put un arm h I mo U the bowed
an long In Parts. It was nothing out of
ort. You hud traditions and a name that marble group proves IL And I years where never an unwelcome per­
shoulder of the smaller man. It was
have said I wus Interested In your son came to disturb me."
the way to take a hungry gamine to
lehlnd you. Your downfall came be
a protective, brotherly action born of
work too. I f It had been possible to
my studio and give her a meal und a
Of the three watching him, Neeland
cause you threw a man from the pier
sudden sympathy and understanding
Albany, Oregon
clear you. I should like to have done Barnes was conscious of the deepest
at Nurrngansett into Hie Atlantic
But lie hud nothing to say.
so.
I
am
not
sure
there
was
not
gome
depression.
Milman
hnd
brought
him
iceiin.
Ibi
you
remember?"
Malet shivered a little as a light
thing of childish vanity In It. I liked here under false pretenses. All those
"Yes," Barnes said slowly, " I think
(Vlnil swept ulong the little garden. He
to sit here In my lonely, unvlsited dreams of future prosperity were Idle
rose from Ills chair und held out Ills I do. There wus a woman mixed up
house ar.d feel I wus learning day by ones. The man was almost ns down
iu It, hut I forget her name now She
hand lo his host.
day, hour hy hour, more about a man nnd out as lie himself. He must go
“You have made me forget nnd you wns one of those little fluffy blondes
who believed himself above the law hack and try to persuade l.lppsky to
that
were
fashionable
that
season.
Ah.
have made me remember." he said. “I
and building up this knowledge into a let him live rent free until something
( have It. She was a roof garden star.
am grateful. Mr. Milman."
weapon against him. But I found he turned up. There was always Mil-
Manufacturers of
“Bui I cannot let you go yet," said A man came up and tried to make a
was so secure as to be able to boast
Hie other. "There should be some scene. My Aunt Sarah, who was most
of things thut no legal evidence could
cedar logs already blazing In the particular, was coming toward us
(Continued on page 5)
charge him with. Neeland Barnes, for
drawing room." He turned to the The thing would hnve been most dis
example.
A
few
hundreds
spent
In
ast rous been use I had turned over a
others. "We shall find it more agree
able In the house." lie put Ids arm In new leaf the previous evening and a bribery, or a few promise« dropped
thut of the sculptor. "Never think you codicil was to he added to her will. as to future patronage, and the thing
First and Baker
Albany
wns accomplished.
ore a failure," he said earnestly.
Fortunately, the man struck at me.
All you have dope," said Bradney, ¡Chevrolet Car« 6- Part«. Kepiaring
"Your Stonewall Jackson Is one of the and I thought the simplest way out of
(ew great things we have."
It was to drop him In the sea. Aunt who was auddenly assailed with 1926 Ford coupe, fine condition
Hargaiu
"You are saying that to hearten Sarah, being short-sighted, did not doubts as to Mlltnnn's ultimate pur­ 1926 Chevrolet.touring goodttires fine
pose,
"Is
to
get
us
here
and
show
us
finish
me." Malet answered
even see him disappear." Mr. Barnes
I f you enjoy a good meal
"Am I?" Peter Milman laughed. mused on the thing for a few moments. what failures we are. Thnt Is not
V d n u0” * tnOd *De* 1 wheo
«
FOR SALE
"You shall Judge for yourself."
"Most extraordinary. I never saw him kind, unless you have a remedy. Don't
_ “ 11 be back for you'll not forget it.
you
see
It
puts
us
In
a
very
poor
light?
Although the drawing room was a again
There was no summons, no
secured
man may fall and still have self
finely proportioned apartment and publicity— nothing. I was a bit un
tttn.ynn
--
I
wrsi u
Tuesdays
$1.500.00
$2500 00
S3. «.0.00
contained many beautiful things. Malet easy at first lest he should have been reiqioct left. I decline to consider my­
$3.500 00
G
E
O
.
M.
G
IL
C
H R IS T
*4500
00
$6000
00
self
a
black
sheep.
You
tell
me
Itaxon
had eyes only for his marble group drowned, but somebody saw him crawl
$7000 00
I shall make I
'
ALBANY
which stood near the window He had •«he»? I ne,er knew his name, and ruined my career. __________
point of seeing the editors of all the Linn County Abstract C o. In c . Tlcket ° ® c* ®**l Line Stage.
never learned where It was. but It was I never saw the blonde again.”
great New York papers and telling
Albany to Saa Francisco, $1$,
this work he had believed to be his
Katahlished 1892
Albany. Ore
“The man you threw Into the water
them what you have said Too long «
best He approached It almost nervous
was the man who arranged matters so
ly. Was he to find, after all. that he that you should be compelled to give certain type of man has ruled our
was only one of the second raters? up racing." There was a trace of cities In the name of democracy."
I Ramen,ber It W at Lata at Night
There was no doubt now about Pe­
The group had been exhibited under triumph In Mr. Milman'a manner.
Funeral Director and Licensed
the name of "The Settlers." and rep re
Yon will never be able to prove IL ter Milman s uueaaln-*ss as he listened.
little mooey
I remember It was late
at lowest rate of interesL
I thought you understood." he said
sentid one of those heroic American ao don't try."
Embalmer
at night, and I first saw her on a
Real Estate
Insurance
quietly, "that thia conversation was
families of Colonial days standing at
L
ADY
A
SSIST
A
N
T
"And I hoped he didn't drown," sold
bench In flryunl park Just as the first
l rompt service, courteous treatmeat.
privileged
I f you go to your editor«
bay. facing death In the foem of
Brownsville, Oregon
allow, of the year began to full. I was
55 M. Bant, with Lane Couaty Abstract
you will do two things: One will be
"King" Philip a Indian w arrlors.
_
company, Albany
to coavinc« them that you have brood-
F
M
N
George William Wright
TUSSI NG & TUSSING
Toric Reading Glasses
$6 to $7.50
Jewelers and Optometrists
Albany
Creamery Association
L IN N
Willamette Chevrolet Co.
BUTTER
and Buyers of Eggs
A P arm ers’ Co-operative
Creamery
Farm Mortgages | PARAGON CAFE
DELBERT STARR
lunch
FAR M LO ANS