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the now enormous value of his real property； he was soon on a level
with the merchant princes。 His judgment was considered sound； and
he had the full confidence of his business associates for safety
and caution。 Fortune heaped up riches around him with a lavish
hand。 He was unmarried and the halo of his wealth caught the keen
eye of the matron with marriageable daughters。 He was invited out；
caught by the whirl of society； and tossed into its maelstrom。 In
a measure he reciprocated。 He kept horses and a yacht。 His
dinners at Delmonico's and the club were above reproach。 But with
all he was a silent man with a shadow deep in his eyes； and seemed
to court the society of his fellows； not because he loved them； but
because he either hated or feared solitude。 For years the strategy
of the match…maker had gone gracefully afield； but Fate is
relentless。 If she shields the victim from the traps of men； it is
not because she wishes him to escape； but because she is pleased to
reserve him for her own trap。 So it happened that； when Virginia
St。 Clair assisted Mrs。 Miriam Steuvisant at her midwinter
reception； this same Samuel Walcott fell deeply and hopelessly and
utterly in love； and it was so apparent to the beaten generals
present； that Mrs。 Miriam Steuvisant applauded herself； so to
speak； with encore after encore。 It was good to see this
courteous； silent man literally at the feet of the young debutante。
He was there of right。 Even the mothers of marriageable daughters
admitted that。 The young girl was brown…haired； brown…eyed； and
tall enough； said the experts； and of the blue blood royal； with
all the grace； courtesy； and inbred genius of such princely
heritage。
Perhaps it was objected by the censors of the Smart Set that Miss
St。 Clair's frankness and honesty were a trifle old…fashioned； and
that she was a shadowy bit of a Puritan； and perhaps it was of
these same qualities that Samuel Walcott received his hurt。 At any
rate the hurt was there and deep； and the new actor stepped up into
the old time…worn； semi…tragic drama； and began his role with a
tireless； utter sincerity that was deadly dangerous if he lost。
II
Perhaps a week after the conversation between St。 Clair and
Walcott； Randolph Mason stood in the private waiting…room of the
club with his hands behind his back。
He was a man apparently in the middle forties； tall and reasonably
broad across the shoulders； muscular without being either stout or
lean。 His hair was thin and of a brown color； with erratic streaks
of gray。 His forehead was broad and high and of a faint reddish
color。 His eyes were restless inky black； and not over…large。 The
nose was big and muscular and bowed。 The eyebrows were black and
heavy； almost bushy。 There were heavy furrows； running from the
nose downward and outward to the corners of the mouth。 The mouth
was straight and the jaw was heavy； and square。
Looking at the face of Randolph Mason from above； the expression in
repose was crafty and cynical； viewed from below upward； it was
savage and vindictive； almost brutal； while from the front； if
looked squarely in the face； the stranger was fascinated by the
animation of the man and at once concluded that his expression was
fearless and sneering。 He was evidently of Southern extraction and
a man of unusual power。
A fire smoldered on the hearth。 It was a crisp evening in the
early fall； and with that far…off touch of melancholy which ever
heralds the coming winter； even in the midst of a city。 The man's
face looked tired and ugly。 His long white hands were clasped
tight together。 His entire figure and face wore every mark of
weakness and physical exhaustion； but his eyes contradicted。 They
were red and restless。
In the private dining…room the dinner party was in the best of
spirits。 Samuel Walcott was happy。 Across the table from him was
Miss Virginia St。 Clair； radiant； a tinge of color in her cheeks。
On either side； Mrs。 Miriam Steuvisant and Marshall St。 Clair were
brilliant and lighthearted。 Walcott looked at the young girl and
the measure of his worship was full。 He wondered for the
thousandth time how she could possibly love him and by what earthly
miracle she had come to accept him； and how it would be always to
have her across the table from him； his own table in his own house。
They were about to rise from the table when one of the waiters
entered the room and handed Walcott an envelope。 He thrust it
quickly into his pocket。 In the confusion of rising the others did
not notice him； but his face was ash white and his hands trembled
violently as he placed the wraps around the bewitching shoulders of
Miss St。 Clair。
〃Marshall；〃 he said； and despite the powerful effort his voice was
hollow； 〃you will see the ladies safely cared for； I am called to
attend a grave matter。〃
〃All right； Walcott；〃 answered the young man； with cheery good
nature； 〃you are too serious； old man； trot along。〃
〃The poor dear；〃 murmured Mrs。 Steuvisant； after Walcott had helped
them to the carriage and turned to go up the steps of the club；
〃The poor dear is hard hit； and men are such funny creatures when
they are hard hit。〃
Samuel Walcott； as his fate would； went direct to the private
writing…room and opened the door。 The lights were not turned on
and in the dark he did not see Mason motionless by the mantel…
shelf。 He went quickly across the room to the writing…table；
turned on one of the lights； and； taking the envelope from his
pocket； tore it open。 Then he bent down by the light to read the
contents。 As his eyes ran over the paper； his jaw fell。 The skin
drew away from his cheekbones and his face seemed literally to sink
in。 His knees gave way under him and he would have gone down in a
heap had it not been for Mason's long arms that closed around him
and held him up。 The human economy is ever mysterious。 The moment
the new danger threatened； the latent power of the man as an
animal； hidden away in the centers of intelligence； asserted
itself。 His hand clutched the paper and； with a half slide； he
turned in Mason's arms。 For a moment he stared up at the ugly man
whose thin arms felt like wire ropes。
〃You are under the dead…fall； aye；〃 said Mason。 〃The cunning of my
enemy is sublime。〃
〃Your enemy？〃 gasped Walcott。 〃When did you come into it？ How in
God's name did you know it？ How your enemy？〃
Mason looked down at the wide bulging eyes of the man。
〃Who should know better than I？〃 he said。 〃Haven't I broken
through all the traps and plots that she could set？〃
〃She？ She trap you？〃 The man's voice was full of horror。
〃The old schemer；〃 muttered Mason。 〃The cowardly old schemer； to
strike in the back； but we can beat her。 She did not count on my
helping youI； who know her so well。〃
Mason's face was red； and his eyes burned。 In the midst of it all
he dropped h