The San Francisco call. [volume], December 05, 1913, Image 12

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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..V Krazy Kat
Copyright, 1913, International News Service.
The Kokkle Roach
Tomorrow:
What Can It Be?
A REEL JOKE
In the days of the land troubles ln
Ireland, two Irishmen, Pat and Mike,
were concealed behind a hedge with
heavy bludgeons, awaiting the return
of their landlord from the city to kill
him. The landlord was detained much
later than usuai, and Pat began to
"Mike," said Pat, in a hoarse whis
per. "1 wonder what's keeping him?"
"1 annuo," said Mike anxiously, "I
hope nothing's happened to aim/*
The Dingbat Family
Polly and Her Pals
Us Boys
THE KING OF DIAMONDS
\ if) U fOF A » v \ flJjrKii r*-CifT •
Continued From Yesterday
Whatever faults the denizens of
Park Lane may possess, that of being
unknown can not be reckoned among
them, and Mrs. Atherley, in a period
not very remote, knew the occupants
of every house in that remarkable
thoroughfare. She could not, how
ever, recall the name of Anson.
At last a most enjoyable meal came
to an end. Philip, supported most
ably by a skilled head waiter, spun
it out to the utmost possible limit,
but the inexorable clock would not be
denied. *
He thought the two ladies might
prefer to drive home alone, so he sent
them away ln his carriage, and made
an excuse that he had an appoint
ment at his club. In truth, he wished
to be free to walk far and fast, while
his excited'brain demanded a solution
of the strange congeries of events
which had so crowded into his life
during 48 hours.
About the time that Philip's coach
man safely deposited Evelyn and her
mother at their residence, Victor Gre
nler, again attired in evening dress
and accompanied by Jockey Mason,
whose huge frame was incased In a
suit of gray tweed, entered a fash
ionable West End bar, and found an
elegant young person leaning against
the marble topped counter, engaged
ln a war of wits with a barmaid.
The arrival of the two men, how
ever, put a quick stop to the badinage.
The youth quitted the couneer with a
careless discourtesy that annoyed the
girl to whom he was talking.
"Well." lie demanded from Grenier,
"did anything happen?"
"Jimmie," was the cool reply, "I
told you that your stupid ruse last
night would result ln failure. Far
worse. It has supplied you with a
rival against whom you may as well
give up the game at once."
"Rot!" cried the other, fiercely, with
an oath. "Don't irritate me. Tell me
plainly what has gone wrong now."
"She was there, and sang delight
fully. 'Pon my honor, she Is a pretty
girl. But the man was there, too, and
he managed to improve so well on the
opportunity you were kind enough to
provide for him, Jimmie, that after
h»r show was over she and her mother
LOUIS TRACY
met him at the main entrance, and
they drove off together to the Savoy
in a carriage and pair."
"Then who the deuce is ehe?" de
manded the angry yo^ith.
"I tell you, Jlmmte, you have no
sarthly chancy. Last night's intruder
was none other than Mr. Philip An
son; tlie millionaire."
"Philip Anson. #Great Scott! He—
3f all men in the world."
The younger man became very pale,
and his eyes rolled in a species of
delirious agitation. But Jockey Mason
had caught tho name, though he did
not comprehend the exact subject of
their discourse.
"Philip Anson!" he said. "If there's
anything on foot where Philip Anson
Is concerned, count me as his enemy.
Curse him! Curse him to all eter
nity!"
And he struck a table with his great
fist until other men began to stare,
and Grenler was forced earnestly to
counsel his associates to control them
selves in such a public place.
THE MASTER EIEXB
"Come to my chambers." muttered
the youngest of the trio. "We are
fools to discuss such tilings here. It
Is your fault, Grenler. Why did you
drop this bombshell on me so unex
pectedly? You confounded actors are
always looking out for a curtain. You
should not try the experiment on your
chums in a crowded bar."
"Now, my dear Langdon, do be rea
sonable. How could I tell that the
mere name of Philip Anson would cre
ate a scene? You look as sick as a
ma n who has Just been sentenced to
be hanged, and my old pal Hunter
seems to have suddenly gone mad."
Indeed, his words were Justified.
Mr. James Crichton Langdon was
corpselike' in pallor, and Mason, alias
Hunter, though his tongue was stilled,
bore every indication of a man en
raged almost beyond control.
"Come away, then," said Langdon,
with a horrible attempt to smile in
differently.
"No. -no. There are too many eyes
here that we should leave with the
air of - a set of stage murderers, Sit
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1913
down. Let us have a nip of brandy.
Talk about racing, women, anything
for a little while, and then go out
quietly.".
Grenier was right. A detective had
already nudged an acquaintance and
whispered:
"The pigeon seems to be upset. And
one of the hawks is in a rare/ tem
per, too. I'll keep an eye on that
collection. »
He watched them through a mirror.
He saw Grenler exert himself to put
his companion in a better humor.
When they went out he followed, and
ascertained from the commissionaire
at the door that they had gone to*
ward Shaftesbury avenue.
By walking rapidly he sighted them
again, and saw them turn Into a door
way.
"Grenier's chambers"' he said.
"What a splendid nerve that fellow
has. Reports himself coolly at Scot
land Yard every lives In
style not half a mile away. How does
he manage It? I must make some In
quiry about the others."
Certainly the methods of the supe
rior scoundrels of London are pecu
liar. Grenier knew that he was a
marked man in the eyes of the police.
He knew that the particular saloon
bar he affected was the rendezvous of
the smartest detective officers of the
metropolitan force. Yet this was his
favorite hunting ground. Where the
carcass Is there are the jackals; he
would never dream of honest en
deavor in a new land to begin life
anew. The feast was spread before
his eyes, and he could not resist it.
But Grenler was a careful rogue.
After a boyhood of good training and
education he drifted into a bad set at
the beginning of his adult career.
Once, indeed, he endeavored to put his
great natural abilities to some rea
sonable use by going on the stage.
The industrious hardship of the early
years of ap actor's striving were not
to his liking, however. No sooner had
he attained a position of trust as
manager of a touring company than
he tampered with money intrusted to
his care.
He was not actually found out, hut
suspected and dismissed. Then the
regular gradations of crime came nat
urally to him. Gambling, cardsharp-
Ing, company frauds, even successful
forgery, succeeded each other ln their
recognized sequence, until, at last,
ca,me detection and a heavy sentence,
for the authorities had long waited
for him to drop Into the net.
Now that he was free, he did not
intend to revisit any nf his majesty's
convict settlements If he could help it.
His wits were sharpened, his eooi
intellect developed, by prison life and
associations. He personally would
keep clear of the law and make others
support him.
He would depend on two classes of
contributories—fools, like Langrron,
and slow witted criminals, like Ma
son. Being a really clever man, It
would be strange If his own middle
path were not kept clear of fetters.
In the mystery, surrounding Philip
Anson's influence over these two he
scented interesting developments. Be
ginning with a young rake's attempt
to ensnare a beautiful girl, he sud
denly discovered a situation pregnant
with tlie potentiality of gain to him
self. It did not matter to him who
paid bim, whether Anson or Langdon.
He would betray one or the other, or
both, impartially.
Mason he liked. The man's rugged
strength of character, his sledge
hammer villainy, his dogged accept
ance of the leadership of a more
skilled rascal, appealed to him . Ma
son was a tool and a hard hitting one.
He would use him, safeguard him if
he could, but use him anyhow.
In the seclusion of Grenier's small
flat Langdon poured out his spleen.
Anson was the bane of his life. His
stepfather was Anson's uncle, and the
old idiot recently found out certain"
facts concerning the life led by his
stepson that caused a family rupture.
His mother endeavored to patch mat
ters with ill success, and the baronet
was intent on finding his sister's sou,
and atoning to him for years of neg
lect by making him his heir.
Lady Louisa concealed nothing of
this from her scapegrace son. She
hoped to frighten him by the threat
ened loss of supplies. But neither
fright nor hatred could tarjng him to
leave London, and settle down to a
quiet life in Devonshire, when, per
haps, the elderly naturalist's fit of
indignation might gradually wear It
self out.
At this crisis came his discovery 01
Evelyn Atherley and a mad desire to
win her affections. He even dreamed
of persuading her to marry him, and
by this means succeed in rehabilita
ting himself with Sir Philip Moreland.
The girl was well born. Mrs. Ather
ley was Lord Vanstone's half sister,
and although his lordship had ruined
himself and his relations by his ex
travagance, the match was in every
other respect suitable.
He was not content with the slow
formula of seeking an acquaintance
in the ordinary way. Accustomed to
speedier (Sqnquestg, lie confided his
wishes to Grenier, and resented the
latter's condemnation of his sugges
tion ot a mock accident, la which
Skinny Mu£ Laugh a Lot, He's So Fat
(Registered Uuited States Patent Of flea)
Langdon should figure as the gentle
manly rescuer, as a ready means of
winning the girl's grateful regard.
The result was worse than failure.
He was wild with himself, wild with
Grenier, and reached a higher pitch
of fury when Mason surlily refused
to say whaj; grievance he harbored
against Anson.
A MIDDLE
"A nice muddle I've made of every
thing," cried the disappointed youth,
"and a precious lot of friends I've dis
covered. I tell you everything, place
myself unreservedly in your power,
and you not only let me drift into a
stupid blunder, but decline to share
your confidence with me."
He rose to go, but Grenier firmly
pushed him back into a chair.
"Don't be a bigger fool than you
are, Jimmie, and leave those who will
help you. I told you the cab adven
ture was a mistake. It might go
wrong in 20 ways and right only in
one- And you must admit that I
never heard of Anson from you until
tonight."
I All the cheering refreshment that tea I
I ever brought to womankind I
I * s blended in I
I iqdgioqyslea J
Wretch! He Agrees With Her
Copyright, 1913, luteroaliunai News Service. »
And Delicia Wore a Sweater
Copyright. 1913, International News Service.
"I may be to blame," was the sulky
admission, "but who is your friend
Hunter and why does he not be as
outspoken as I?"
"There are reasons. Hunter was
cleaned out in Africa on acocunt of
Anson's manipulation of a diamond
mine. He wants to get even with him.
That should be enough for you."
Mason smiled sourly at his leader's
ready explanation, and Langdon saw
only the venom in the man's face.
"He ought to have said so," he mut
tered. "I am in no mood to be denied
the confidence of those who act with
me -in this matter. In any case, what
can we do?''
Grenier procured a decapter of
brandy and passed his cigarette case.
"We can accomplish nothing with
out money."
"Money! What avail is money
against a millionaire?"
"None, directly. You would be
swamped instantly. But we must know
more about Anson. He has servants,.
They can be made to talk. He has
susceptible cooks and housemaids in
Park lane and whatever place he owns
In the country. I am great with
cooks and housemaids. There is a
mystery, an unfathomable mystery,
about his supply of diamonds. It
must be probed—"
"No mystery at all," snarled Jockey
Mason. "He found a meteor In a slum
called Johnson's Mews. It was cram
full of diamonds. I saw 'em."
"You saw them!"
HJs hearers allowed all other emo
tions to yield to the interest of this
astouding statement.
'.'Yes. I don't say much. I act.
You'll get ho more out of me. I want
none of your girls or property. I
want Philip Anson's life, and I'll have
it if I swing for it!"
"My dear Hunter, you are talking
wildly. Have another drink?"
Grenier, cool as an icicle, saw unex
pected vistas opening before him. He
must be wary and collected. Here
was the man who would pay, and the
man who would dare all things.
< 'oatlnued Tomorrow