Show tiThe The Recluse of Fifth A Avenue venue i CHAPTER ER IX I. I CHA 17 17 ungraciously Mrs per per- vert a Brown Drown t to o be bc absent for fed ht Very gladly the girls Big d I D n ged ed of ot It t Robin would be theirs I a horned hours After cramping g n coni cona con- con i for lor a few tew and small hotels hotels Dental pensions present resent lavish life rather w went nt the tIr r P heads beads It took the form of ot a ato their i to complex which Irritated sop Jn Sin enormously But he had prom prom- obin ln R- R d his father tather to aid him by preserver se heartiness of ot manner that he lie r. r dId All er ag not a feel He was wholly obsessed I thought of ot Agatha that strange b the y girl who held him trim at arms arm's 6 nd lore lovely Y harassed him snubbed him length n 1 brought him back with n end d then glance of ot those amethyst eyes She would tell him nothing about her past worried him very much life Ufe and find that her he wondered had loved j What That batmen men and had bad there been men about v hom Mrs understood understood under under- the she cared and sympathized i stood the situation 5 1 was vas unusually Irritable husband I g Her ee hu J He Se could talk about nothing but the infamous famous manner In which his press pres I J agent neglected to have laye him film featured I It seemed to that the papers papers pa- pa were filled with r Paul Ac- Ac p pers ers some club women had started a tI Better Architecture League with Baron as president The They were to tor r agitate for classes In architectural ap- ap appreciation predation n in the high schools l wandered about the bl big rooms fidgeting was as not to tobe be seen seea At midnight when Sneed stood respectfully at his elbow Mc Mc- Kimber was as nearly nervous as he lie ha had bad ever eyer been But he was too old a campaigner to show It He followed the butler Into n a big room entrance to which was gained by a flight of ot eight stairs That the apartment apartment apart apart- ment meat was vas furnished with subdued I 1 splendor and was of magnificent proportions proportions pro pro- portions added to Irritation tion Instinctively he was aware that naIon was getting ready to use his la lavish settings In publicity work I This tower stud study would soon be fa- fa I d roas through the magazines It was wasI easy to visualize visualize- Paul leaning back In his customary Indolent way with a specially prepared backgrounds back back- ground grounds private room rep- rep represented re resented office furnishing In Its most efficient style He reflected bitterly that this apartment must have been planned for photographic reproduction deckled decided d It was effeminate It t provoked In him a feeling of contempt contempt contempt con con- tempt which could not dispel the knowledge e that axons axon's settings were superb But they were presumptuous was riding for a fall He needed need need- ed to be taught a lesson It would have hare been wiser for fOl McKim bel to recollect rec that had not succeeded succeed- succeed ed through any lack of strength This extensive publicity campaign of yours began deceive us any any Us queried We who represent an organized party In this state tate We know youre you're out to fo get a primary nomination and andES andas ES as youve you've got money and a good press agent It doesn't seem easy to prevent you ron These primaries play the devil with party obligations They encourage encourage encourage age age the malcontents and the ambi ambi- Which am I Ii asked smil smil- tag ing Youre ambitious You are areo o The Bard of Avon says lays that's the thing which brought the angels down This Is the first time I have been called an nn angel said the o other er McI frowned He lIe detested I prefer to think of you ou as ambitious ambitious ambitious am am- than to suppose you ou are wantIng wantIng want- want Ing tag to split spIlt our ticket and let Westfield West Vest held field In If It one strong man with his party's solid soUd backing runs against Westfield eld hell he'll beat him That cheers me very cry much mach Rason replied It was not easy for the domineering bic er to hold himself In n. n lie 18 wa was accustomed to respect in the field of Politics You wont won't be the man man he exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- claimed And you will 1 U Unless tany spiteful malcontent de de r 1 proves a traitor Up-state Up w Which I control has hns no use I f for lor r you it doesn't know about you asked a man from trum Wayne J. J county the oth Other er d day ay If It he hell hed ever heard lieal d of ot Paul n axon Me lief Kimber i tuber smiled lie said Buld he never Jever never Went to moving pictures Your mistake said was wasat th that at you OU did not ask his wife The Women men nen know me My Betin Bet 4 ter re Leagues Leagues' are spring spring- in g un up ever iP h m. m J tj J yiv iv n u t iii ere Theres L a U flour tailing n n ig one in Wayne county The larger ser cities such ui asi Buffalo Rocher Roch Roch- est er Syracuse aud and Utica are ure taking the e thing up admirably Politicians of Tour four old kind resent women wom- wom tn en in public life lite and you dont don't conceal con con- teal ceal this Politically women ore are hypersensitive have haTe because they k know ow they not hot accomplished pushed what the world e ted of them I admit your up- up te t strength exceeds mine but hut what about t New flew York city A A stronghold for tor Westfield R Not S so much as ns y you u Imn Imagine lne sub abject ion lect 3 yawned at a Q lIttle as though the It m him At 1 It all events trill III b be e an nn interesting experiment Lh hocked Exp 1 t b DIcKi m be r cried be at hla hIli callousness It will wUl e a tragedy edy Toe the putty It 71 t toned be bc your OUr re re- re- re 1 t t. t T His tiis manner had no animus In lie J hurl had neither raised his Ills voice i I or sho Shown heat hent LU LitO as 68 had 15 e an ell oid time old e politicians 8 you lacert lack lacer t L By WYN WYNDHAM DHAM MA MARTYN Copyright In the tho United Stater W N U Service mental agility and you ou wont won't reconcile yourself to new conditions In th the past you ou have been of great u use e to the organization Toda Today you are merel merely amusing flushed red and lively clenched his big fists Paul noted the thc gesture That demonstrates it perfectly he said When you lose a n point or henr henra hear a disagreeable le truth you want to hit hita a nOlan man Elemental stu stuff We are here to discuss political conditions In this f state I think that Is how you ou put it it You want me to back down and leave the field to you ou I refuse It if the pa pa thinks Ive I've the better hetter chance they'll theU knife you In a minute It Isn't possible surely that you believe gratitude gratitude gratl tude has hns anything to do with practical politics McI did not answer Imme Imme- dintel He was conscious that he had allowed personal antagonism to color colm his conversation He ad adopted the confidential confidential confidential con con- tone which had often won success for tor him he Ire began Im putting m my cards on the tide table Save yourself the trouble replied I can see them JUSt jut as well when you on hold them In your ur hands All An you need to understand Is that I have a better chance than you ou to go goto go goto goto to Washington If It we two fight each other Westfield Westfield West West- field goes said earnestly Wo We need a senator at ut Washington why I Intend to go as ns you ou may as well wen tell teU your ur c friends Ive I've Ivel Ivea l a l l I 1 I rr r fl I 9 l He Said He Never Went to Moving Movin Pictures been working much longer than you youcan youcan youcan can guess for this very end Dont you ou realize you ou will be he denounced denounced denounced de de- de- de as a traitor to your cause If the cause means so much to you throw your Influence my way If you did that Westfield wouldn't have a chance Youre d d-d d d well right shouted The man I indorse would get in even if you ou were he Ill I'll tell you ou just this From now on ou Im I'm going to devote myself to showing you ou up up for the crooked ward politician you ou aT are My Iy God Cod To To think you ou expect expect ex ex- Pact me to work for you 1 I If It youre you're going to be abusive said coldly we may as well wen stop struggled Into a little le lets lew- violent mood He lIe might yet be able abl to divert the ambition to some less lott lofty height I take talc that bade bad he said I recognize recognize recognize rec rec- that you deserve some reward for what liat youve you've done In the past but Im I'm entitled to the nomination It Is Ismy ismy my mv just reward I want McKim rs r's bers ber's voice became almost conciliatory Dont you ou see the Justice of it I 1 want In my old age the opportunity of serving my country And I Paul sneered want In my iny early earl middle age the opportunity opportunity opportunity of serving myself Why drag your yoUl country In Do you think Im I'm a political poUt poUt- I teal ical idealist just because bad bat cc ture offends m me tae l rote rose to his feet teet He lIe knew he had lost and he wanted to toSo togo togo go So before he forgot the slender sneerIng sneering sneer sneer- ing lag man was his host They told me you ou were a dangerous danger danger- ous man he said slowly but I 1 dont don't think they gauged your rottenness cor cor- I take good care to keep that tho t from them But youre you're giving it away to me a con confessed rival laughed The spectacle of this taU tat portly man whose career had been o j-o successful amused him The Thc trouble with you he ald laid is that you OU dont don't understand understand under under- stand you ore are a n corpse Politically you 02 are arc dead dad and buried hurled You are arc not nota a n rival riyal Dont Don't flatter yourself to that extent tent I tell you yuu l thundered all the world shall shaH know what has bas haspas pas passed ed between us If It you ou dont don't lower your voice all the world will hear h ar Youre You're not a broadcasting station Sit down 1 sent for you because theres there's a lot 1 I have to say which you wouldn't care to miss Reluctantly sank back hack In hf his chair He lIe was enwrapped by a ac c certain and unwelcome uneasiness The man facing him seemed so secure so 0 unconcerned so sure sur of ot ultimate triumph The Tile first thing to tell you began is I am going to Washington ton You will quit In my favor and lend len ma me all nil your great Influence Naturally you must have an excuse which seems a true one I have it all ready pre p pared red Y You are too heavy even for your our height and the pouches under your our eyes are unhealthy signs You had better drop out because your specialist tells tens you there Is heart and kidney trouble I shall r refer er to the fact In my speeches with great regret re re- gret spoke with deliberation They told me you were dangerous and I kno know you are a traitor to your party but not until this moment did I 1 belle believe you were absolutely crazy They call your sort of madness megalomania mania l rose to his feet Ive Iye met all an sorts o of 0 knaves and fools In politics but youre you're the worst yet What a n senator you would have made I commented Do you suppose I 1 should have talked like this If It I had not been certain you were harmless a rattler with his poison sacs extracted My success has come mainly because I understand human motivation Im I'm going to show you how It is that when you OU leave here It will be to start a boom In your own city Sit down l John l I who prided himself upon taking orders from none pone dropped again into his seat sent It seemed to him himlie he lie was talking to a Baron he had not until now understood H He found himself himself him him- self noticing what a cruel mouth the theother theother theother other had and how In those brown browneyes browneyes browneyes eyes were little flecks of ot red Paul gazed at him as an executioner might stare at nt a prisoner delivered tl to him for death 1 knew that he had been heen holding too cheaply one who had a it dynamic and evil person person- aUty If It I stay stay he said huskily It willbe will willbe be to hear clear you give away more secrets about youself yousef Perhaps I shall shan learn by what trickery you got this place and how it was you sent Ha Hazen en Brewer Brew er to his grave I got this this' place said with his old urbanity as I have got everything everything every every- thing else in my life Ufe b by using men menas menas as tools I studied men and found them pugnacious noisy and vain It was hard to influence them by my subdued personality even though I 1 had the right on my side I do not mix well I knew that had to be over over- come In other words I determined to develop something to make male up for forit It My has come from finding almost unerringly the weak spot In every mans man's make up I got my chance at International Motors by fin finding ln out so 50 much of Brewers Brewer's life In London that he lie was forced to take me in to protect himself Youre a d d-d d d blackmailer Mc Me- Kimber cried hoarsely I am agreed The phrase i does not offend me In the least Why should It Is there any more powerful powerful powerful power power- ful weapon Most traitors in the great at war were forced Into espionage 1 Y muse cause the enemy threatened exposure ex ex- exposure as the th tr o of ot refusal In the thedla dla drawer bel u C me are two articles es One is an automatic pistol pis to opened the drawer and antl put the weapon on the writing table at which he sat I am not going to threaten you with it That Is old fashioned stupid stuff I am merely reminding you I J have it at hand if It you should attack attack at at- tack me me There was undisguised amazement In the bigger er mans man's voice olce Attack you jou ou What for TO BE CONTINUED |