“Thanks,” returned Graham dryly.
Delkin did not note the sarcasm in the young man’s tone. Pacing back and forth, the Southwark manufacturer wore a worried, doubtful air. Finally he turned. and spoke again.
“Your uncle,” he said to Graham, “is deliberately set to swindle me. Yet his means are fair - within the law.”
“As Ezra Talboy’s ways always are,” interposed Graham.
“You mean your father’s case,” nodded Delkin. “Graham, that’s why I’m talking to you. Ezra Talboy swindled your father. I have detested the man ever since. I have only done business with him under pressure. Now I have come to a point of regret.
“I needed money not long ago. Fifty thousand dollars. I wanted it to keep my plant open - to pay deserving men and let them work during a poor business period. I wanted to avert unemployment in Southwark.
“Ezra Talboy loaned me the money for three months, with a promise of renewal for another ninety days. I gave him the best security possible - my plant and its equipment, valued at more than a quarter of a million.
“I exhausted nearly all of the fifty thousand. I saw my business through the difficult period. The plant is now showing a slight profit. One month from now, it will be wiping out all deficits.”
“But in the meantime,” reminded Graham.
“That’s it,” admitted Delkin. “My notes are due within a few days, I dropped in to see Ezra Tallboy - to remind him of the extension. He has refused to give it.”
“Which means?”
“That my entire plant passes into his control. I lose everything - all for fifty thousand dollars.”
“Money which you do not have.”
“Money which I paid to my faithful employees.”
Graham Wellerton leaned back in his chair and emitted a raucous laugh. Ralph Delkin stood in amazement as he heard the young man’s merriment.
“That’s what comes from your folly, Delkin,” jeered Graham. “You dealt with that old skinflint - although it was against good judgment. Why? To help out a lot of employees who should have been laid off. Your workmen have been living along at your expense. Now you are going to pay the piper.
“Gratitude! Where is it? What does it amount to? You brought me here - you insisted upon treating me well. I took your favors; and I warned you that I did not want them - that I would give you no return.
“If you expect advice from me, I have none to give. If you want sympathy or encouragement, those are lacking also. You deserve what you are getting - and it’s coming from the chap that’s most capable of giving it - Ezra Talboy.”
RALPH DELKIN was frantic. Graham Wellerton’s jeers had a double effect; they made the manufacturer angry and they also drove him to a state of pitiable hopelessness. Between these mingled emotions, Delkin paced across the room and half staggered from the door. Graham could hear his footsteps pounding up the stairs. The young man chuckled with evil glee.
Graham looked up to see Eunice Delkin standing beside him. The girl had entered the room silently. As her eyes met Graham’s, Eunice put a question:
“What is the trouble with father?”
“Business,” sneered Graham. “Misplaced trust. He is going to lose everything, because he was big-hearted and believed what other people told him. I rubbed it in - I told him he was a fool. How do you like that? You’ve found cause to criticize me now, haven’t you?”
“None at all,” replied Eunice patiently. “I am sorry for you, Graham. Sorrier for you than I am for father. He and I can stand poverty. My only regret is that you will suffer also if we can give you a home no longer.”
Quietly, the girl left the living room. Graham could hear her going upstairs to talk to her father. The young man found himself recalling the sincere words that Eunice had uttered. He began to fume - to curse himself for his own meanness. Rising from his chair, Graham walked about the room. His eyes fell upon the newspaper which he had dropped on the floor.
A determined sparkle came in Graham Wellerton’s eye.
Crime!
He had abandoned that profession. He realized now that he would never be a crook again. But with a consummate desire to go straight came a willingness to once more participate in criminal activity.
Stealthily, Graham Wellerton donned hat and coat. He strolled out through the front door and stepped into darkness. The chill wind of the night was invigorating. It gave him a new impetus.
Once again - for the last time in his life, he decided - Graham Wellerton would play the part of a gentleman of crime.
CHAPTER XIII
THE ROBBERY
HEAVY winds were sweeping the deserted Southwark street as Graham Wellerton made stealthy progress away from Ralph Delkin’s home. Storm clouds had gathered overhead; these added to the blackness of the faintly lighted byway chosen by Graham.
During his stay at Delkin’s, Graham had left the house only on rare occasions, but his few excursions had been sufficient to refresh his memory regarding the streets of Southwark. Sidling through the night, Graham reached a road which led him toward Ralph Delkin’s factory; a short distance farther on, he took a lane to the right.
Through the black night loomed a ghostly mass of gray. Graham had reached the cliffs of an old quarry - a spot which he had long remembered. They had been blasting at the quarry during the past week. Graham felt sure that he would find what he had come to seek.
The young man drew forth a flashlight which he had picked up in Delkin’s home. Using it discreetly, he found a huge red box which bore two words in white:
DANGER
DYNAMITE
The box was fastened with a large padlock. Graham picked up two large stones. He let the padlock dangle upon the piece of rock which he held in his left hand. He used the other stone to deliver a series of sharp blows.
The padlock broke. Graham opened the box, played the flashlight within and removed a stick of dynamite from the mass within.
Closing the box, he retraced his steps. He turned this time toward Delkin’s factory which lay farther down the side road. Graham used his flashlight intermittently and soon arrived in the vicinity of the plant.
A few lights from factory windows enabled the stealthy man to approach with ease.
Graham had been here with Ralph Delkin. He had made mental notes of the place. He knew that a watchman was on duty, but he did not expect to encounter the guardian. Delkin’s plant turned out metal castings and it offered no spoils of value for prowlers. The watchman’s duties were no more than mere routine.
Graham forced a basement window and entered the lower portion of the factory. He found an unlocked storeroom. He went in and turned on a light. The room was windowless. Moreover, it contained the very supplies which Graham required.
The young man crumpled his dynamite into a small pail. He found some cakes of soap and began a mixture. All the ingredients that he needed were here. The room contained all sorts of odd equipment, even to a pair of small electric stoves.
Cautious at times, Graham paused to listen. He heard nothing of the watchman. Probably the man did not intend to visit this obscure portion of the factory. Graham applied himself to the task before him. He was mixing “soup” - the compound used by safe crackers.
When the job was done, Graham took his supply of explosive and left the storeroom. He made his way through the window and started back along the road. He had fuses in his pocket - he had obtained these from the dynamite box. Everything was ready for tonight’s work.
