contempt showing on his face, knew that he had tricked the man he hated. He had found Ezra Talboy’s weakness - an inherent love of evil.
All the while, burning eyes were studying this strange scene. Graham Wellerton did not see the observer who lurked beyond the door. His own gaze was upon Ezra Talboy’s huddled form. The watching optics disappeared as the throb of a motor sounded from somewhere outside.
To Graham Wellerton, that vague noise signified the arrival of the law. Calmly, despite his aching wound, Graham waited, with real confidence that all would go well. He was sure that his words had had effect. Soon he would know. The test was coming.
Two long minutes passed. Footsteps were stamping in the hallway. Three men burst into the room. With Sheriff Ellis Taussig at their head, the summoned rescuers stopped in awe as they observed two men living with three dead bodies close beside them.
Ezra Talboy opened his eyes. Before his uncle could speak, Graham Wellerton boldly forced the issue. Half rising from his chair, he spoke to Ellis Taussig.
“I came to see my uncle,” he asserted. “He was being tortured by these men. I saved him. This is the result.”
Ezra Talboy, evil admiration glowing in his eyes, spoke the words that Graham had hoped to hear.
“What my nephew says” - a cough came from Talboy’s blood-flecked lips - “is true. He - he came here at an opportune moment. He - he saved me from torture - and saved my life - for the present.
“Whatever he may tell you is correct. He worked to help me. He and I are in accord. We” - the old man’s lips formed a strange smile - “were having a family reunion. A reunion - after many years - many years -“
More men were coming into the room. One, evidently a physician, was leaning over Ezra Talboy’s form. He snapped quick orders. Two others picked up the old man and carried him from the room. Graham knew that they were taking Ezra Talboy to the hospital.
“Look after this fellow,” said Sheriff Taussig in a kindly tone, as he indicated Graham. “He looks done up.”
Graham smiled weakly as the doctor began to examine his wounded arm. It was not the fact that aid had come which caused his smile. It was the knowledge that a frank admission of his past, with no confession of his present change of heart, had served him well.
He was to be the hero, after all. Ezra Talboy would never tell the facts which Graham had admitted. The old man had explained the whole affair. He had called it a family reunion, in which his nephew had saved him from murderous death.
Yet through Graham’s brain throbbed a new thought - an idea which related to matters unexplained. Graham, alone, knew that he was not the one who had effected this rescue. Some unknown hand had brought about this present state of affairs.
Who had fired those shots from the doorway? Graham did not know. The possibility of The Shadow being here did not once occur to him. Graham knew only that some weird and hidden presence had intervened - that without its help, this odd reunion between himself and his uncle would never have been completed!
CHAPTER XVI
GRAHAM STATES FACTS
THREE days had elapsed since the affray at Ezra Talboy’s home. Graham Wellerton, recuperated from his wound, was seated in Ralph Delkin’s living room. The young man was alone, idly passing the early afternoon in a leisurely fashion.
Eunice Delkin entered. The girl’s eyes were sympathetic, as they turned toward Graham. The young man seemed moody; Eunice thought that she knew the trouble.
“It is too bad, Graham,” she said. “Too bad to think that after your brave effort, your uncle died. We feared that he would not recover, but no one expected that he would pass away last night. Father hesitated to break the news to you this morning - that was why he did not tell you until he was leaving for the factory -“
“Don’t worry about me,” interrupted Graham. “I am not sorry because my uncle died. There was no good will between us.”
“But your uncle said that you had saved him!” exclaimed the girl. “It seemed so wonderful to think that you had gone to his home to make a friendly visit!”
“You are mistaken, Eunice,” declared Graham cryptically. “I had a different purpose in visiting my uncle’s home. When he told his story, I offered no objection - that is all.”
“Another purpose?” echoed Eunice. “What other reason could you have had?”
“You may learn that later,” said Graham. “After I have gone from Southwark.”
“You are leaving us?”
“Yes. Today.”
As Graham arose, Eunice stared in bewilderment. This decision was an unexpected one. The girl seemed wistful. She placed a restraining hand upon Graham’s arm, and urged the young man to remain.
“You can’t leave here now!” Eunice exclaimed. “You have found yourself, Graham! You have been so different since the night you saved your uncle’s life - so friendly - so patient -“
“I did not intend to leave Southwark,” interposed Graham, “until my uncle died - as I expected he would. Now that he is dead, there is nothing to keep me here.”
“Nothing?” questioned Eunice sadly. “I thought - we thought, father and I, that you would learn to like us, to appreciate the friendship and the hospitality that we offered. You are free to leave here, Graham, but there is every reason why you should stay.”
“There is every reason why I should leave,” responded Graham. “I have been a cad. I came to the realization that I was wrong. I have tried to make amends - to reward you and your father for the kindness that you have shown me.”
“You can do that best by remaining.”
“Not now, Eunice. I have only one more favor to ask - one that I believe your father will grant. That is sufficient money to enable me to leave town and go somewhere else.”
“But Graham! You must explain your reasons!”
Graham Wellerton shook his head. A heavy feeling gripped his heart. He was sick of crime - through with it forever, and it hurt him to realize that the only way he could have found to reward Eunice and her father had been through theft.
RALPH DELKIN had not yet found the notes which Graham had placed in his safe. Graham had done that job with elation; he had since experienced the reaction. For the first time in his career of lawlessness, he had thought of other persons while committing a deed of crime. The paradox - the belief that the end justified the means - had produced chaos in his mind.
He had recalled all his previous crimes - actions impelled by thought of selfish gain. He realized that Eunice Delkin was so far above him that comparisons were futile. The thought that he had stooped to crime to insure this girl’s happiness made him feel that he was a creature unworthy even of contempt.
What would Eunice think if she knew him to be a crook? All Graham’s usual indifference faded at the thought. He wanted to leave Southwark before this beautiful girl would know that he had dealt in crime.
Let Ralph Delkin find the notes; the manufacturer would understand. He would destroy those paper obligations, without, Graham hoped, mentioning the subject to his daughter.
Graham Wellerton walked toward the door. He was going upstairs to pack some luggage. Then to the factory, to borrow money from Delkin, and after that a departure to begin a new and honest career.
It grieved Graham to realize that he was forced to leave behind him the one person who had ever shown understanding. Graham liked Ralph Delkin, but he knew in his heart that the manufacturer had tolerated his idle term of residence only because of Eunice’s persuasion.
The girl was not willing to see Graham depart without further discussion. Eunice stopped the young man at the door, and quietly demanded a reconsideration of his decision. This increased Graham’s misery; it did not, however, change his notion. Firmly, Graham repeated that he was leaving Southwark.
The front door opened while Graham was still insisting that nothing could change his mind. Ralph Delkin appeared. At sight of her father, Eunice decided that she had found an ally. She turned to Delkin and blurted forth
