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Page 86
CHAPTER XXVII
TOM OSTRELLO'S STORY
On the following evening, at exactly seven o'clock, an old man came to
the depot at Sidham and met the incoming train. He was rather feeble in
his movements and hobbled rather than walked to meet a man who came in
with a portfolio under his arm.
"Excuse me, but is this Mr. Granby?" he asked in a quavering voice.
"That's my name," said the new arrival, with a slight start.
"How are the sketches getting along? I hope you are making a good
picture of my daughter."
"Very good, I think, sir. If you will come to my room, I will show you
my proof."
"All right, sir," answered the old man.
The two men left the depot, and crossing the roadway, walked to a hotel
on the next block. They ascended to the third floor and made their way
to a fine apartment in the front. Here the door was locked, the curtains
drawn, and the gas was lit. Then both men removed wigs and false
whiskers, and there stood revealed Charles Vapp and Adam Adams.
"You are on time, I see," said the latter, as he dropped into an easy
chair and lit a cigar.
"Yes, I was lucky enough to get your telegram directly after it came in.
The trail took me near the office and Frank passed it to me."
"What of the man you have been following?"
"He is looking for you."
"Do you know the reason?"
"Yes. He has had several talks with Letty Bernard, and she has advised
him to speak to you, and tell you everything, whatever that may mean.
The girl told him that you could clear him."
"Humph! She takes a good deal for granted. Anything else?"
"Do you know that Margaret Langmore has disappeared?"
"So I heard, less than an hour ago."
"They say she ran away to escape trial."
"Perhaps so, but if she did she was out of her head. It is too bad, for
it complicates matters."
"By your telegram I see that you want me to turn to something else," went
on Charles Vapp, after a pause.
"I do." Adam Adams drew a long breath.
"Charley, wonderful things can happen in twenty-four hours."
"I know that, Adam."
"Last night I was doomed to die. I was in the hands of one of the worst
band of evil-doers I ever ran across. They drew lots as to who should
slay me--just as the Anarchists draw lots to kill one who has been marked
by them."
"And you escaped?"
"If I hadn't I shouldn't be here. It's a long story. As luck would have
it, the foul deed fell to the lot of a fellow known as Number Four. He
was a weak-kneed chap, and I had previously spoken to him about getting
caught and imprisoned, and I said I would befriend anybody who would
befriend me. He was to shoot me, tie my body in a bag with rocks, and
sink me to the bottom of the river. He said he would do the job only
when alone and the others took him at his word. When he got me where he
wanted me, he told his story. He used to be poor but honest, and was
once sent up for a theft that he had not committed. The gang got hold of
him, when he came out of prison, and he was made to join the band. He
said he did not want to kill anyone, that he was sick of what he had been
doing, and wanted to reform. I promised him a thousand dollars if he
would let me go, and promised not to testify against him, if he would
tell me all he knew. He took me at my word, and sank a sack full of
grass and stones to the bottom of the river, instead of yours truly.
Then he came away with me, told me some astonishing things, took his
thousand dollars; and I haven't seen him since, and I doubt if he will
ever show himself again."
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