Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/109

 *sequently have something to think about while he awaits the action of the grand jury."

Inured as he is to tragic scenes and happenings, Jack winces slightly at thought of the part he expects to play in acting as the "guide, philosopher and friend" of Cyrus Felton on probably his last night of liberty.

"By the way," he remarks, "you said Felton had made preparations for an extended absence from Raymond. Did he cause that to become generally known in the town?"

"Per contra, as the lawyers say, no one in Raymond had any idea that he contemplated a trip to Cuba, understanding that he is off on a business trip to New York. A little judicious investigation revealed the fact that he had quietly severed every business tie that should connect him with Raymond. Even his house, I found, he has mortgaged to the chimneys, and then leased for a period of ten years to a western man, to whom, by the way, he has disposed of his interest in the quarries. His share in the bank block he sold two months ago, taking a mortgage for two-thirds the purchase price, but this mortgage he last week transferred to the Vermont Life Insurance Company, receiving cash therefor. Even his horses have been shipped to Boston and sold. All this Felton has accomplished so quietly that, as I said before, no one in Raymond suspects that he is not as deeply interested financially in the town as ever.

"Well, on the whole," finishes Barker, "I am glad we have concluded to postpone the arrest a couple of days, for I have some personal matters I must attend to. What have you on hand to-night?"

"Just an hour or so at the Madison Square Garden. Come to dinner with me and we'll go to the Garden together. I want to talk this matter over further," says Ashley.

Barker acquiesces, and as the newspaper man leads the way to the street he murmurs to himself:

"So the blow falls on Wednesday. Well, it will make one of the most interesting 'beats' in the history of the Hemisphere and I guess I had better begin on the story to-night."