N Q '. 
 
 C .
 
 4 > 
 ( I 
 o 
 
 A 
 $ 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 1 
 
 o 
 <> 
 o 
 
 THE PHANTOM 
 
 IN THE 
 RAINBOW 
 
 BY 
 
 SLATER LAMASTER 
 
 THE POPULAR LIBRARY 
 
 32 BLOOMSBURY STREET 
 LONDON, W.C.I
 
 Made and printed in Great Britain by 
 Lome & Brydone Printers Ltd., London, N.W.I
 
 &RLF 
 DIM. 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I A SHIP COMES IN 9 
 
 II GLORIA 28 
 
 III UNDER THE SHROUD OF NIGHT .... 39 
 
 IV His OTHER SELF 48 
 
 V THE PLAYHOUSE 71 
 
 VI THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 92 
 
 VII His LURID PAST . . . . 117 
 
 VIII THE INQUISITION 137 
 
 IX THE FORGING OF A CHARACTER .... 149 
 
 X A STRANGE MISSION 157 
 
 XI GLORIA GOES EXPLORING 168 
 
 XII A HUMAN DYNAMO 172 
 
 XIII REMOULDING THE WORLD 197 
 
 XIV STRANGE CHRISTMAS VISITORS .... 219 
 XV TORMENTING JOY 235 
 
 XVI THE REALM OF FEAR 239 
 
 XVII THE GHOULISH DIRECTOR 254 
 
 XVIII SPRING 263 
 
 XIX FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 279 
 
 XX His INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 292 
 
 XXI THE KING is DEAD . 304
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 PRIVATE radio code snapped and snarled through 
 the ether. Out of the very early morning mist, 
 a great ship loomed up off Sandy Hook. The 
 veteran captain, in resplendent uniform, stood 
 tensely on one end of the bridge and closely 
 scanned the Long Island horizon. 
 
 On that side of the huge vessel, down under 
 the lowest deck, a freight opening was being 
 cleared. These preparations were so far below 
 that no one could notice them unless he was 
 particularly curious and hung over the rail to 
 see. 
 
 The vast promenade decks were deserted at 
 this early hour. Only a few passengers were 
 astir, but among them was Bill Skyles, star 
 reporter of the sensational New York Morning 
 Star, returning from a European assignment. 
 Ever alert to any unusual development, he felt 
 the quiet tension pervading the crew and traced 
 their interest to the skyline and the mysterious 
 business below decks. 
 
 The monstrous greyhound of the deep gave 
 one short blast and idled to a stop as a long 
 dark cabin cruiser shot out of the fog which 
 clung to the Long Island shore. The wasp-like 
 boat circled gracefully to the side of the steam- 
 ship. 
 
 This was very strange, thought the reporter, 
 
 9
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 for it was too soon to take on the pilot. Skyles, 
 screening himself behind a ventilator, peered far 
 over to view what might happen. 
 
 A covered bridgeway was flung to the other 
 deck and something, which he could not make 
 out, was huddled across it. The gangway was 
 withdrawn as quickly as it had appeared and 
 the dark cruiser disappeared into the mist as the 
 engines of the great steamship began to turn 
 again. 
 
 " Now I would like to know," speculated the 
 puzzled reporter, " what in hell has come to 
 America?" 
 
 The next morning, however, the newspapers 
 carried no mention of this misty incident off 
 the country's shores, nor could Skyles get any 
 explanation of it. 
 
 The young June day, with all its fresh 
 splendour, was especially delightful in an old 
 residential section of New York where lived one 
 Edmond Fletcher. This nonchalant young man 
 lay tranquilly in bed, bathing in the warm 
 sunshine as it filtered through the curtains of 
 his little bachelor apartment. 
 
 Three stray cats and a large nondescript dog 
 sat in a row like soldiers at attention watching 
 Edmond Fletcher. These were friends that on 
 various occasions he had picked up and brought 
 home. The dog, a sliaggy individual of mongrel 
 mixture but very loyal disposition, had been the 
 latest addition to his household. 
 
 About dawn, after the nature of animals 
 awakening with the light, his pets invariably 
 filed into their master's bedroom and waited in 
 strained postures for him to arise. This was 
 
 10
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 indeed a vigil. Fletcher was in the brokerage 
 business, which didn't open until ten o'clock. 
 
 Belshazzar, as his master had christened the 
 big dog, saved a scolding by holding his patience 
 every morning until nine o'clock, when the alarm 
 sounded. Then in all anticipation he would flop 
 his tail on the floor and bark. 
 
 If this and the alarm did not bring Fletcher 
 out of bed he was privileged to take some 
 liberties, such as jumping on to the bed and 
 licking his master's face. Out of bed they came 
 together, and it was a joyous romp to the break- 
 fast eaten on the bathroom floor while Edmond 
 bathed and shaved. 
 
 There were some distinctive qualities about 
 the young fellow. He was inordinately two 
 things : a gentleman, and a gambler. He would 
 stake everything instantly to attain any suffi- 
 ciently desired end. 
 
 But above all, he had the instincts of a gentle- 
 man born. At present he was experiencing 
 genteel poverty; but to strip this youth of all 
 the niceties of life, his pleasant little courtesies 
 to everyone, the innate refinements, which dis- 
 tinguish the truly well bred, would have been as 
 impossible as to separate the moon from its 
 earth. 
 
 Edmond joyously led his retinue of Belshazzar 
 and the three felines, which he had chosen to 
 call Fatima, Celeste, and Aphrodite, to their 
 breakfast at his feet on the bathroom floor, even 
 as if they might have been guests at a hunt 
 breakfast. 
 
 In a few minutes Edmond Fletcher was in a 
 fresh, well-tailored suit and clean linen. In his 
 dress he would make no sacrifice, no matter 
 
 11
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 what else poverty might force him to forego. 
 His retinue walked solemnly behind him to the 
 door; and his shoulders thrown back, he jauntily 
 stepped forth to the day's adventure in the stock 
 market. 
 
 At the corner some fancy moved him into a 
 florist where he purchased a little flower and 
 stuck it in his buttonhole, even as though the 
 fairest and most ethereal little lady in all the 
 land had placed it there; ethereal indeed she 
 was, for he had never met anyone who 
 approached his ideal. 
 
 At ten o'clock his play day began and he 
 stood immaculately dressed by the ticker in the 
 offices of Morton, Keene & Company. Entering 
 the customers' room and seeing him there, one 
 would have been more likely to take him for a 
 partner in the house than anyone else present. 
 As Fletcher reasoned, he needed the appearance 
 more than any of his superiors. 
 
 In nearly all forms of employment, Fletcher 
 saw others drudge. But from ten to three was 
 for him one continuous adventure. Always 
 there was a little catch in his throat when the 
 market opened. To him, when the gong sounded 
 on the floor of the exchange and the opening 
 prices started over the tape, it was as though 
 the barrier had sprung at the race track and a 
 thrill persisted until the close. 
 
 But at the present time the brokerage game 
 was not yielding him much of an income on 
 account of certain silly scruples which he 
 possessed in a marked degree. 
 
 The excitement and uncertainty of gauging 
 the possible trend were like wine in his veins 
 and he loved it personally, but underneath it all 
 
 12
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 there had been accumulating a deep sympathy 
 and sadness for the poor customers who made 
 this last stand of legitimate gambling in America 
 possible. 
 
 The game did not seem quite fair to the 
 harassed customers. Since the Civil War every 
 year or so and sometimes much oftener the 
 market was rigged sky high, securities were 
 unloaded on the public at silly prices; and then 
 the market inevitably broke all to pieces and the 
 public were cleaned out. Again and again they 
 repeated the process with a new crop of un- 
 initiated. 
 
 There was something rotten to this young 
 Don Quixote in such wholesale treachery. Of 
 course these cynical opinions were not conducive 
 to a large income. Money was made by playing 
 the game, not by throwing cold water on it. 
 His love of fair play was simply developing with 
 such leaps and bounds that he would not deign 
 to follow expediency as a guide. 
 
 Only a small clientele, who could understand 
 this very altruistic salesman, remained with him 
 and kept him going. Thus there existed the 
 paradox of a young business man apparently 
 successful in every way, who was actually very 
 poor. 
 
 " America's prince, Van Mortimer," said a 
 man standing at the news ticker, " has not been 
 found yet. Seems to have given the newspaper 
 boys the slip yesterday." 
 
 " That's a clever fellow," bantered Fletcher. 
 " He and I are the same age to the day, but we 
 live alike only in time; in all other ways our 
 lives have been so different ! " 
 
 Then a great idea came to him. If he could 
 13
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 only get to some young Croesus like that, or any 
 one of a dozen other enormously wealthy men, 
 what he could do with his knowledge of this 
 game ! Think of all this great public's enthu- 
 siasm investment loyalty and faith carried to 
 the point of sacrifice, which was forever going 
 wantonly to waste. What wouldn't he do if he 
 had the opportunity to handle one of those great 
 accounts? 
 
 To take the money of the small fellows who 
 came to him and who, like so many sheep, always 
 wanted to buy, was little short of larceny. 
 Day-dreaming was his weakness and along his 
 mind flew on how he could interest one of these 
 great overlords of finance, in letting him unify 
 some of this much squandered blind investment 
 loyalty in great productive enterprise. 
 
 His eyes dropped to the decoration in his 
 buttonhole. Truly the idea was as delightful as 
 the one that prompted him to wear the flower. 
 It breathed something of the same spirit. 
 
 At noon Edmond Fletcher picked up the 
 telephone on his desk and notified the office 
 operator that he was going out to lunch. Once 
 on the sidewalk he rushed a little because he 
 wished to conserve his meagre funds by eating 
 in a good but inexpensive cafeteria outside of 
 the financial district. Financial dyspepsia was 
 worse than the other kind down there. In the 
 district he dared not show himself in any but 
 the very best restaurants. 
 
 As he strolled back to the office, anyone who 
 did not know how little there was in his pocket 
 would have taken him for a wealthy, well-bred 
 young man returning from his luncheon club. 
 
 A gentleman of distinguished appearance, 
 
 14
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 grey haired and with a professional Vandyke 
 beard, happened to be emerging from the Bank 
 of the Western Hemisphere. Suddenly the 
 elderly gentleman halted and stared at Fletcher. 
 The man seemed in some manner very much 
 shocked and evidently surprised that he received 
 no sign of recognition. He had met the young 
 man face to face. 
 
 A close observer of the incident would have 
 seen that the professional man, if such he was, 
 attended to it that the young chap should dis- 
 tinctly see him again again without obtaining 
 a flicker of recognition from Fletcher. 
 
 " A remarkable resemblance," muttered the 
 elder party, as out of a growing curiosity he 
 followed Fletcher. 
 
 " Oh, Mr. Fletcher," greeted Morton, one of 
 the partners of the house, on his return, " that 
 funny-looking Bullard Bland was in to see you. 
 What does he do wear pyjamas in the daytime 
 or sleep in his clothes?" 
 
 " Why, Bullard's all right really a fine 
 scout ! " laughed Fletcher very heartily. 
 
 " Well, keep him out of the customers' room," 
 Morton smiled kindly. " Looks bad for you as 
 well as us to have him hanging around here." 
 
 As Fletcher idly sat by the ticker that after- 
 noon he took himself to task. He was about 
 ready for anything. Prospects were not very 
 hopeful for him. Unless he suppressed his 
 foolish idealism and eternal consideration for 
 others, and began to play the game in the 
 severely practical way as others did and as he 
 so well knew how to do, he could never expect 
 much more than a mere living in his present 
 position. 
 
 15
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " May I speak to you? " suavely queried the 
 partner Morton at Fletcher's shoulder later that 
 afternoon. Fletcher followed him into his 
 private sanctum. 
 
 " Mr. Fletcher, we like you," he admonished 
 ominously, " but you should do more business. 
 What's your answer ? " 
 
 " Nothing," asserted Edmond earnestly, " un- 
 less you wish me to sever my connection and go 
 elsewhere." 
 
 " Fletcher," Morton coughed and paused as 
 though he was angling for words to express 
 himself, " you know we don't want you to leave. 
 Honestly, my boy, what is the matter with you?" 
 
 " Morton," snapped Fletcher, and there came 
 into his eyes a gleam of something which 
 actually made the ever placid Morton uneasy, 
 "you are inviting me to thrust the truth right 
 into your teeth, and here it is : I am sick of 
 seeing these suckers lose their money. Now fire 
 me!" 
 
 Morton swayed as though some invisible fist 
 had landed upon him. Next he braced himself 
 in his chair and held up his hand warningly, as 
 he stared shrewdly at the erect young fellow. 
 He even neglected to relight his cigar, something 
 never before known to happen. 
 
 " No," he blustered hotly, " don't you dare 
 leave here! I have noticed you moon-calfing 
 around. It's a sure sign you are starting some- 
 thing big ! " He cocked a knowing eye to the 
 ceiling and complacently lit his cigar. " I think 
 you are just scorning the small fry ! " 
 
 " You know more than I do," answered 
 Fletcher a bit wonderingly as he slipped out. 
 
 Morton's attention returned to a bunch of 
 16
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 inquiry sheets which had poured in all after- 
 noon. They were queries on this peculiar youth 
 to be filled out for several commercial reporting 
 agencies. All afternoon, too, Morton had been 
 occupied answering the most silly sort of ques- 
 tions about him to an anonymous inquisitor 
 whose compelling references could not be slighted 
 by any brokerage house. 
 
 " I wonder," he sighed, " whether this kid is 
 patronising loan sharks, furnishing a hotel on 
 the instalment plan, or flirting with big business. 
 He is surely exciting a lot of interest, and, 
 anyway, I like him." 
 
 As the word " close " appeared on the tape, 
 Edmond Fletcher bade good night to the office 
 and stepped out into the warm and genial sun- 
 shine. He strolled up Broadway wondering just 
 what to do next. He had no ties. These late 
 afternoons were sometimes irksome. 
 
 One day an average good man, practically 
 unknown and unacclaimed, holds the office of 
 Vice-President ; a death occurs, and in the 
 twinkling of an eye he becomes President of the 
 United States. An honest son of toil is elected 
 President, due to a split in the opposition; a 
 civil war breaks out and we have a Lincoln. A 
 minority on some confused issue elects a scholar, 
 who would never get much beyond theorising 
 but for a great catastrophe. A world war comes 
 our way and makes him the standard-bearer for 
 all humanity. Sometimes an individual and a 
 circumstance do collide magnificently. 
 
 The street agencies gave Edmond Fletcher an 
 absolutely clean bill of health, a reference hard 
 to surpass ; and he happened to saunter up lower 
 Broadway on a particular afternoon. 
 
 17
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 A large car of foreign make edged into the 
 curb as he stopped to light a cigarette. A 
 uniformed chauffeur respectfully touched his cap 
 to Fletcher and jumped out to open the car door. 
 
 Fletcher looked into the car to see who wanted 
 him, but no one was inside. 
 
 " Do you wish to go now, sir ? " asked the 
 chauffeur respectfully. 
 
 Fletcher could have said " Where? " or "What 
 is it you wish of me? " but to have done so 
 would have violated one of his principles it 
 would have disclosed his hand, or betrayed his 
 lack of information in an interesting and prob- 
 ably advantageous situation. 
 
 Instead, he answered, " Wait a minute," while 
 he continued to light his cigarette, thinking 
 quickly whether he should accept the invitation. 
 He decided that at most it could only be a 
 question of mistaken identity, or just possibly 
 some practical joke at his expense. 
 
 At any rate, this luxurious equipage seemed 
 to be very much in line with his desire to 
 associate with the very rich. If he could just 
 make the most of this amusing little incident, 
 maybe it would lead to some wealthy acquaint- 
 ances. 
 
 So he calmly stepped into the car and nodded 
 to the driver. The motor made its way up to 
 Lafayette Street, while Fletcher noted that this 
 was a very powerful foreign make of car, an 
 Isotta Fraschini; he believed it was the most 
 costly Italian car. 
 
 The upholstery was exceedingly soft and 
 luxurious, and he noted that the chauffeur's 
 uniform had been carefully tailored in a distinc- 
 tive livery. He could not imagine anyone he 
 
 18
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 knew who could command such accoutrements 
 playing a joke upon him. So he came inevitably 
 to the conclusion that it must be a case of 
 mistaken identity, and began to wonder just 
 where this bubble would break, and, more par- 
 ticularly, how he could get out of the situation 
 gracefully. 
 
 Anyhow, for the moment it certainly was a 
 most pleasurable feeling to sink into those downy 
 cushions while he was being so smoothly pro- 
 pelled uptown. 
 
 Guardedly he kept looking around, for he 
 had perceived that another beautiful motor, a 
 Hispano-Suiza, was following him, nosing up 
 close each time they slowed down. Lifting the 
 tube, he spoke to the chauffeur. 
 
 " I think there is a car following us." 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied the man, touching his cap 
 again, " that is your second car, sir. In case of 
 any motor trouble, you can go ahead in the other 
 car without inconvenience." 
 
 "Ah! "he thought. 
 
 On Lafayette Street the car picked up speed 
 and the traffic officers began to salute the 
 equipage. At first Fletcher thought an officer 
 every now and then was friendly with the 
 chauffeur. Then he believed they could not all 
 be so friendly. Soon he decided the car must 
 belong to someone of importance. Consequently 
 he surmised that they must all be saluting the 
 one presumed to be riding in . the car. The 
 person in the car was no other than himself. 
 
 This gave him a little shock. He had no idea 
 of what he was doing and he did not wish to be 
 placed in the position of impersonating any 
 officer of the Police Department, a high national 
 
 19
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 officer or any great person. Difficulties with the 
 police are as much to be feared by a gentleman 
 as a crook. 
 
 He was just about to ask some general ques- 
 tions in the hope of adroitly getting out of all 
 this when the chauffeur touched his cap and 
 spoke through the tube. 
 
 "Shall I start home, sir?" 
 
 " Certainly," he said gratefully, after a mere 
 instant's hesitation. This, he quickly meditated, 
 settled it. If he did not understand the situation 
 by the time they arrived home, wherever that 
 might be, he would dismiss the car, or rather 
 cars, at the gate. The chauffeur would think he 
 was going in. If anyone else saw him they 
 would probably think he was some guest using 
 the limousine; but he knew he would not be 
 going in, nor would he be a guest if he could 
 help it. He would simply go quietly away. 
 
 The car now sped up the avenue and turned 
 through Fifty-Ninth Street. It ran up Broad- 
 way and gracefully swung into the West 
 Seventies. Very unexpectedly, and much to his 
 consternation, the easy gliding coach began to 
 wend its way down to the docks under Riverside 
 Drive. It seemed he lived on a ship, and you 
 could not very well dismiss your car and walk 
 away from the gangplank of a ship. 
 
 Fletcher could see that they were approaching 
 a long rakish yacht, her white woodwork and 
 brass rails agleam in the afternoon sun. At 
 their approach a coyered launch came from the 
 yacht. "Put-put-put-put!" it sang as it kept 
 coming toward them. 
 
 The car came up to a canvas-sided landing, 
 at whose end, as if by magic, appeared a trim 
 
 20
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 young sailor in the launch. The chauffeur 
 stepped down and opened the car door; the 
 young sailor saluted. There was nothing for 
 him to do but step in, and put-put-put-put! he 
 was carried out. 
 
 As he passed up the ship's canvassed stairway 
 he saw a captain adorned with much blue and 
 gold appear on the diminutive bridge. The 
 captain saluted and bowed. A steward led the 
 way into a softly carpeted spacious cabin which 
 gave a splendid view on all sides. The steward 
 asked : 
 
 " May I do anything for you, sir? " 
 
 Edmond sank down on a lounge. 
 
 " Yes," he said, " draw the curtains. I am 
 rather fatigued." 
 
 The steward deftly did this, going around 
 the cabin and then went out softly as Edmond 
 stretched himself out on the lounge. 
 
 No sooner had the door closed behind the 
 servant than, like a cat, Fletcher was on his feet. 
 First he explored a writing desk thoroughly, but 
 he only found stationery with a Park Avenue 
 address embossed upon it, and other letter sheets 
 bearing the name of the yacht Sylvia. It all 
 meant nothing to him. 
 
 Around the room ran bookcases full of most 
 rare and interesting volumes. At random he 
 looked them over hurriedly but gently. This is 
 an attribute of a person who really loves books. 
 He will under no circumstances handle roughly, 
 mar, or mutilate a good book. A lover of good 
 literature handles a book with as much care as a 
 woman. 
 
 After a careful search he could find no clue 
 which would solve his identity immediately, but 
 
 21
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 this did not discourage him. He sat down in a 
 comfortable chair and took a fragrant club- 
 monogrammed cigarette from a gold humidor. 
 
 " Evidently," he reflected, " these people are 
 my servants or I am the guest of their master. 
 With all these facilities at my command I should 
 be able to obtain the information I desire with- 
 out making my peculiar situation any worse." 
 
 Studiously he reviewed every little detail 
 since he had left the financial district so cere- 
 moniously. In a few moments he straightened 
 up in the chair, tossed his cigarette away, and 
 pushed a button which he noticed inlaid suitably 
 on a near by table. The steward silently 
 appeared as if from nowhere. 
 
 " Have I any mail ? " Fletcher asked absently. 
 
 " You have quite a good deal, sir," replied the 
 steward. " We were holding it to be delivered 
 to your secretary." 
 
 " Thank you, but you may bring it in. I wish 
 to glance through it." 
 
 The steward returned shortly with a pile of 
 mail matter. The personal letters addressed in 
 longhand were first put together on the table. 
 Now followed several neat stacks of typewritten 
 correspondence and miscellaneous matter separ- 
 ated to the best of the steward's ability. 
 
 Edmond's eyes were quietly rivetted upon 
 the first letter he saw. It bore this astounding 
 inscription : 
 
 Sigmond Fan Mortimor 
 
 Fifth Avenue 
 
 New York City 
 
 Although dazed by this astonishing bit of 
 information, Fletcher slowly began to mentally 
 
 22
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 review his knowledge of this illustrious family. 
 Its name alone was a magic talisman with which 
 to conjure and, in the popular mind, meant 
 unlimited wealth and power, for chancellors and 
 treasurers of nations had actually stood humbly 
 in line to borrow from its bulging coffers. Since 
 Edmond was a boy its mighty power had be- 
 come as subtle and mysterious as it was vast. 
 Scarcely anything was generally known about 
 how this tremendous wealth was handled, but its 
 control was felt so forcibly in so many directions 
 that it had become a sort of an octopus in the 
 public imagination and was credited with owning 
 well-nigh everything. 
 
 Evidently, it came to him, he was being mis- 
 taken for Mr. Van Mortimer. The readiness 
 with which the steward gave him the mail 
 dispelled any doubt on that score. A sort of 
 numbness pervaded his entire person when he 
 realised how far he had now gone in this 
 dangerous business. He had certainly got into 
 touch with great wealth quickly enough ! 
 
 As his overwhelmed faculties returned to him, 
 he appreciated that here was an advantageous 
 situation. If he kept his head sufficiently clear 
 and used nimble enough wits, this might become 
 his golden opportunity to become intimately 
 acquainted with Mr. Van Mortimor. 
 
 A delicate problem now arose in his mind. 
 Fletcher greatly desired to know more about his 
 second self, his great temporary identity, but his 
 reason told him not to open any of that mail. 
 Instead he selected at random several important- 
 appearing letters and laid them to one side. 
 
 As he expected, the ever courteous and ex- 
 tremely obliging steward picked up a letter 
 
 23
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 opener, slit the envelopes and smoothed out the 
 correspondence nicely in front of him. After 
 that Fletcher selected the other letters which 
 interested him, laying them to one side as 
 before, and the steward repeated the process. 
 Whereupon he dismissed the servant from his 
 presence. 
 
 Finally he really found himself. Letters from 
 friends on the continent, letters from fellow 
 hunters in Africa, letters over-intimate from 
 women and much formal correspondence gave 
 him an excellent understanding of his supposed 
 identity. One on the stationery of the Savoy 
 Hotel, London, considerably enlightened him. 
 It ran : 
 
 DEAR SIGMOND : 
 
 Just reached London to-day after my visit to Nice. 
 The past year which we have spent in the jungles of 
 Africa has brought us very close together and prompts 
 me to take the liberty of saying that this rough life may 
 in some measure have prepared you for taking up your 
 position and residence in America. 
 
 If you keep well no doubt you shortly will take 
 interest as an empire builder, and fulfil your heritage in 
 the fullest sense. Please believe that I am most sincere 
 in my platitudes as your name is synonymous to me 
 with great action, as against the noxious, wasteful, 
 worthless life that you and I have lived here and in 
 Europe since our early youth. 
 
 As ever your friend, 
 
 ARCHIBALD. 
 
 Another letter greatly astonished Edmond 
 Fletcher. It was from Alexander, Cromwell & 
 Klaton, Attorneys, New York City: 
 
 Mr. Sigmond Van Mortimor, 
 
 Fifth Avenue, New York City. 
 DEAR SIR : 
 
 It is indeed a distinct pleasure to welcome you home. 
 
 24
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 As your lamented father's chief counsel in his many 
 great enterprises, may we not ask your immediate con- 
 sideration of the important affairs which have fallen 
 into your hands? You will find detailed accountings of 
 everything in the hands of your secretary, but there are 
 several matters of pertinent importance which we wish 
 herein to press upon your attention. 
 
 Although twenty-seven years of age, you have not 
 been here since you were fourteen. In the meantime 
 while you were living entirely abroad, great changes have 
 occurred at home. 
 
 The six great railroads in which your family has 
 control have passed through the hands of the govern- 
 ment administration incident to the war and need your 
 attention as to the policies of management which should 
 now be pursued. 
 
 The banks in which you are so heavily interested 
 have become members of the Federal Reserve System 
 and present new problems, which are beyond our 
 authority to handle. 
 
 Areas of real estate which you own in New York 
 City have greatly increased in value without adequate 
 improvements on them, and present obstacles to civic 
 progress. 
 
 Will you please let us know at your earliest con- 
 venience when we may come to see you or have the 
 honour of receiving you at our office? 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 ALEXANDER, CROMWELL & KLATON. 
 
 In letter after letter, he gleaned that he had 
 just returned home after having spent his life, 
 since boyhood, abroad. Now he had come to 
 take his rightful place in American life and to 
 assume the authority with which fortune had 
 endowed him. 
 
 Fletcher put the mail aside. There would be 
 plenty of time for details if this went farther. 
 The problem which confronted him was what 
 he should do at once. Obviously the thing to 
 do was, the moment he met any member of the 
 
 25
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 family, to explain the whole thing and to 
 apologise as gracefully as possible. It would be 
 ludicrous to attempt an explanation to these 
 servants, and if he tried to inform the captain 
 of the yacht it might result in his arrest with 
 serious consequences. 
 
 Fletcher had found that if you were in a 
 strange city and without identification, and 
 needed a cheque cashed or some favour, the 
 proper thing to do was to go to the best hotel 
 there. If you ever were embarrassed in your 
 dealings with any concern or family, go directly 
 to the most important person in it and 
 straighten out your troubles frankly. This in- 
 tention steadied his overwrought nerves. 
 
 He had the curtains opened, and calmly sur- 
 veyed the placid, silvery Hudson. Shortly he 
 noticed the yacht turn in toward a little white 
 pier. He heard the telegraph on the bridge 
 gently guide the swanlike boat up to the pier 
 without the slightest vibration, and the next 
 moment the captain stood in the doorway. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimer," he spoke, " I have not 
 had the honour of knowing you before this 
 occasion, but I've had the yacht thoroughly 
 reconditioned and I trust you will find it sea- 
 worthy in every respect." 
 
 This was the first time Fletcher had been 
 addressed as Van Mortimor, and it gave him a 
 distinct thrill. He disliked to admit so much 
 pleasure and distinction at the deference the 
 great name carried. 
 
 Fletcher's answers were very guarded, antici- 
 pating the result later of what he might say 
 now. 
 
 " Quite so," was all the speech he risked. 
 26
 
 A SHIP COMES IN 
 
 He passed across the gangway and at its other 
 end stood what seemed the duplicate of the car 
 he had just left in the city. The door was open, 
 he stepped in, the chauffeur saluted and they 
 were off. 
 
 Before him he could see a castle-like structure 
 on one of the Westchester County hills, over- 
 looking the river. Around one side of this great 
 undulating hill ran like a ribbon a white road- 
 way, and into this the car turned, taking the 
 slight grades as though it were on a racecourse. 
 He wondered at the reckless driving and then it 
 occurred to him that this was all a private park- 
 way, where no other cars would be met ! Care- 
 fully tended shrubbery and parklike greensward 
 spread out to his right and left, and after a few 
 deft turns in the bright thoroughfare the car 
 ran under an awning before the house on the 
 crest of the hill. As the car was brought to a 
 stop, he saw a large motor-load of trunks and 
 baggage coming in from another direction. 
 
 " If I don't get out of this soon," thought 
 Fletcher, " I'll be wearing the chap's clothes." 
 
 27
 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 GLORIA 
 
 FLETCHER had small time for contemplation. A 
 liveried man was swinging open a large grilled 
 door. A venerable and stately butler was stand- 
 ing just inside, and as Fletcher passed the 
 portal, he bowed and began a little speech. 
 
 " Mr. Sigmond, everybody below stairs wishes 
 me to bid you welcome. We have long waited 
 this day to have you again with us." 
 
 The feeble old man's emotion was truly touch- 
 ing, and Fletcher wondered if he could really see 
 him well. 
 
 " I am glad to be here," Fletcher vouched, 
 watching to see if his voice would register a 
 false note. Apparently not. As an after-thought 
 he asked : 
 
 " Is anyone to dine with me this evening? " 
 
 " Miss Gloria wishes to dine with you, sir." 
 
 " Very well," he answered, as a servant led 
 
 him to his apartments. Who, he puzzled, was 
 
 Miss Gloria? 
 
 The main room held a large bouquet of 
 flowers and by them lay a card with the fortu- 
 nately enlightening words upon it : 
 " From your loving sister, Gloria." 
 He could hear baggage being quietly moved 
 into the rear . of his rooms. Stepping into a 
 convenient bedroom, he mechanically began 
 
 28
 
 GLORIA 
 
 undressing to clean up and make himself pre- 
 sentable before facing the patrician girl below 
 and apologising for his awkward position. A 
 servant obsequiously passed into the room, 
 opened a door and turned on the bath. 
 
 In a few minutes Fletcher was completely 
 refreshed and upon re-entering the room he 
 found his clothes gone and in their place, care- 
 fully laid out, was a dinner suit. 
 
 "What next?" breathed Fletcher. "I hope 
 I can get into his clothes ! " They fitted him 
 surprisingly well. With a few slight alterations, 
 they would have been perfect. 
 
 " Bring me back the clothes I have just taken 
 off; I wish to take some things out of them," he 
 ordered. " And you may tell the butler I shall 
 be down in fifteen minutes." 
 
 As soon as the man had withdrawn, he re- 
 moved all of his effects to the dinner suit. 
 Following which he put his own clothes in a 
 cheffonier drawer and locked it, placing the key 
 in his pocket. He meant to tell his own story 
 and did not want any advance news released on 
 it. 
 
 Momentarily, this young -adventurer studied 
 his expression and appearance in a mirror to 
 make sure that he had fully regained his com- 
 posure. His courage arose, and he even smiled. 
 It was better to have lived, if only for a few 
 hours, than never to have lived at all. 
 
 Thereupon, Fletcher descended. He wondered 
 how he should greet this strange feminine 
 aristocrat with the touch of Midas. He con- 
 sidered it better to let her greet him and then, 
 after seeing the effect that his presence would 
 have upon her, to explain the situation. As he 
 
 29
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 reached the foot of the grand staircase, the 
 dignified old butler led him into the drawing- 
 room as if he were the world's eighth wonder, 
 and so, Fletcher felt, he was ! 
 
 It was a large, deep room with a highly 
 polished floor. Period furniture and deep lus- 
 trous rugs of untold value lay scattered before 
 him in elegant simplicity. Splendour sat un- 
 obtrusively about. Each thing was severely 
 beautiful to his sensitive nature in its quiet 
 perfection of detail. The very grandeur of his 
 surroundings gave him the impression of having 
 unceremoniously broken into a royal court. But 
 his eyes strained ahead for the high priestess of 
 all this; ugly as sin, he supposed, like so many 
 of our ultra rich. 
 
 Fletcher first saw her rising frbm a chair to 
 meet him. There is a lithesome grace about 
 some women which makes their every motion 
 poetic. She was slender, and there was a soft 
 femininity about her, a purity of breeding and 
 beauty as though the power of the house through 
 generations to pick and choose its women, 
 had been concentrated in producing this utter 
 thoroughbred. 
 
 Half dazzled, Fletcher could only make out 
 that her hair was dark, and that her large grey 
 eyes somehow wore a hurt look. He sensed the 
 feeling of being a hunter who had just startled 
 a fawn at some stream. But he only had this 
 feeling for one fleeting instant; she was coming 
 toward him, and the strange look had gone from 
 her eyes. 
 
 He was so overcome by the loveliness of this 
 girl advancing upon him that he was at loss for 
 words. She put her arm around him and kissed 
 
 30
 
 GLORIA 
 
 his cheek ever so softly. 
 
 " Sigmond, how well you look," she began. 
 " Really, what a wonderful brother I have ! 
 Come sit close to me. I have needed you so 
 badly. Just the two of us and you have avoided 
 me so long ! " 
 
 How anyone could long avoid this girl was 
 far beyond Fletcher's apprehension. However, 
 the unexpected was coming at too alarming a 
 pace. He had every reason to believe that the 
 mere meeting with Gloria would solve the whole 
 thing. 
 
 He had expected that as soon as she saw him, 
 she would look at him in horrified amazement. 
 A cold, withering look would follow as soon as 
 her consternation at seeing this rank impostor 
 had subsided. He knew how to counter the 
 expected. 
 
 A humble explanation and apology would set 
 things right, and if he could only succeed in 
 confessing all the little reasons for the situation 
 fully enough, the matter might become very 
 humorous and really result in an interesting 
 acquaintanceship. 
 
 Now all his plans were upset. But one thing 
 he would, must do. He must make a clean 
 breast of the whole thing to this lovely young 
 girl. 
 
 She took his arm, and he felt an indefinable 
 softness, the clinging weight of a feather and a 
 thrill of strange contentment went through him 
 As if here were that utmost in the world for 
 which he had always been unconsciously seeking, 
 and now that he had found it, he well knew how 
 unattainable it was. 
 
 She drew him to her side on a slender divan, 
 2 31
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 its dainty lines well befitting her delicate little 
 figure. Pie sat as one entranced while she diffi- 
 dently cuddled up to his side and looked wistfully 
 up into his face. 
 
 " Sigmond, dear," she spoke gently, "you must 
 love me oh ! so much. You must be a father, 
 a mother, and brother, and everything to me; I 
 haven't had any of them for so long. I'll tell 
 you all sorts of silly things, and you must listen 
 and help me, for there are so many intimate 
 little matters in which I do not know what to 
 do, and in which I cannot ask anyone else's 
 advice. 
 
 " There's the count, who says the most beau- 
 tiful things, and threatens to die if I do not 
 marry him. There's Phil Vordman, who dances 
 divinely, and is the best polo player we have, 
 who will call this evening. 
 
 " You are my whole family. Should I drink 
 more? Our set often laugh at me and insinuate 
 that I am a poor sport." Her sensitive counten- 
 ance changed slightly. 
 
 " Oh, Sigmond, there are some ugly rumours 
 about you, but I could never believe them, and 
 you are so good. I knew they were lies. You 
 are so strong, your face seems determined; I 
 believe in you, Sigmond. You are just different 
 from men I know." A shadow of doubt, even 
 of disappointment, came over her face. He felt 
 a slight chill in her Voice as she drew partly 
 away from him : " But I must bore you. Please 
 forgive all this banal talk. It is the desire to 
 confide in someone that has been pent up in me. 
 I hoped I could in you, but you have not said a 
 word to me. Perhaps you do not like your little 
 sister ! " 
 
 32
 
 GLORIA 
 
 " You are the most interesting person I have 
 ever met," he answered truthfully. " I have so 
 much to say I don't know how to start." 
 
 " How wonderful ! " she exclaimed, beaming 
 upon him. Her changing moods were reflected 
 beautifully in her limpid expressions like some 
 iridescent jewel struck by lights and shadows, or 
 the delicately tinted lights which play from deep 
 within some pure white diamond. How like a 
 diamond, thought Fletcher ! For he fully appre- 
 ciated that no less than that very same stone 
 could this girl cut hard and deep, for him. 
 
 At last she said pensively : " But you do not 
 have to be so polite. You are my brother ! " 
 
 The butler appeared in the doorway. 
 
 " Begging pardon, sir ! " he said. " Dinner is 
 served if you please, sir." 
 
 Fletcher gave Gloria his arm, as they passed 
 into an immense feudal dining-room. Dinner 
 was a formal affair, and scarcely seemed the 
 place to make an explanation, especially with the 
 butler standing behind his chair. Besides, they 
 were in the presence of several other stiff-backed 
 servants. It would have proved doubly em- 
 barrassing to the real mistress of the house, in 
 view of her confidences. 
 
 They carried on the usual small talk of a 
 formal dinner; he at one end of the table, she 
 at the other, with a confusing array of glass 
 and silver sparkling between them. 
 
 The butler pompously poured a different wine 
 with each course, but Fletcher scarcely tasted it 
 because that was what Gloria was doing. He 
 had thus passed up sherry with the oysters and 
 the soup, his sauterne with the fish. With an 
 entree and claret Gloria incredulously asked : 
 
 33
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 "Don't you drink at all?" 
 
 For once Parkins had his whole soft-footed 
 crew out of earshot, and Edmond seized this 
 opportunity to answer boldly : 
 
 " I am drunk enough on your eyes ! " 
 
 " Oh ! " was all she said, and settled back in 
 her chair, badly startled. 
 
 Several leading questions put by her now, 
 probably in all innocence, badly confused him. 
 He noticed her studying him intently. He did 
 not wish a public explanation of his ignorance 
 of matters, and he thought he would give an 
 excuse until he could get her alone again. 
 
 " I do hope you will excuse me if I act queerly 
 at times," he pretended. " I experienced a slight 
 injury at Ypres, and I do not remember as well 
 as I should." 
 
 " I did not know that you were in the war ! " 
 she exclaimed in surprise. 
 
 He flushed crimson. 
 
 " There were lots of things we didn't know 
 about you ! Of course you were ! I am dread- 
 fully sorry," she pleaded. 
 
 " It is of no importance," he said, mentally 
 detesting himself for having used such a dis- 
 tasteful excuse. Only his dire risk of premature 
 exposure had forced him to do so. " Forgive 
 me if I am absent-minded. I'll tell you about it 
 later." 
 
 She excused herself immediately after dinner, 
 but not before he had entreated : 
 
 " I have something of great importance to tell 
 you may I speak to you alone?" 
 
 " No," she smiled sweetly. " Join Mr. Vord- 
 man and me on the East terrace a little later. 
 The moonlight is beautiful, and I shall need a 
 
 34
 
 GLORIA 
 
 member of the family. After he departs we 
 can talk all night." 
 
 As one enthralled he went into a large library 
 which opened conveniently where she had left 
 him. There a telephone came to his notice, and 
 he was reminded of something. He gave a 
 New York number and heard a familiar voice. 
 
 " Mrs. Kelly," he spoke softly, first looking 
 carefully around, " you know who this is. Use 
 your duplicate key and take my dog and cats 
 out for an airing and everything they can eat. 
 Treat them as though they were your own 
 children. I am compelled to be away a little 
 while. Fine ! Good-by ! " 
 
 Then he sat and smoked. Absent-mindedly 
 he ran his eyes down the wall of books nearest 
 him. French authors they were, Baulelaire, 
 Flaubert, France, Maupassant, and so it went, 
 volumes in French and in English. Surely he 
 could explain everything to her on the terrace 
 later in the evening, he meditated, when they 
 would be all alone as she had promised. 
 
 Eventually he noticed a collection of American 
 authors and further observed that they were not 
 in alphabetical arrangement as others in the 
 room. Poetry and prose were mixed as well. 
 Rather interested as he was always keenly obser- 
 vant of anything unusual, he noted that the first 
 five authors from left to right were the works 
 of, first, Poe; second, Walt Whitman; third, 
 Thomas Paine; fourth, Nathaniel Hawthorne; 
 fifth. James Huneker. 
 
 He started. By the strangest coincidence He 
 ranked American authors in this order himself. 
 Although he had never tried to graduate authors 
 in order of preference beyond the fifth place, he 
 
 35
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 ran on through the list and was practically 
 compelled to agree with the arrangement. This 
 was uncanny. Did he think like these people, 
 too? 
 
 Being in the mood he read at random, mostly 
 poetry. He was so absorbed that he did not 
 hear Parkins until he spoke at his elbow. 
 
 " Excuse me, sir, Miss Gloria would like you 
 to join her on the terrace." 
 
 He arose and followed until at the far end of 
 the house he came out oh a long stone terrace, 
 grey in the pale moonlight of a warm summer 
 evening. Great trees in the gloaming made it 
 look singularly cool and inviting. Just a suffi- 
 cient amount of light came through a French 
 window casement to illuminate the faces of the 
 couple sitting there. They instantly became a 
 study to Fletcher. 
 
 The young man arose. Gloria, remaining 
 seated, murmured simply : " My brother, Mr. 
 Vordman." 
 
 Mr. Vordman replied : "I am indeed honoured 
 to meet Mr. Van Mortimor," as though he were 
 being presented to royalty. Fletcher bowed, and 
 did not offer his hand for fear he might have 
 been supposed to have acquired Continental 
 manners. 
 
 However, he indulged in a pleased smile not 
 of politeness, as it was taken, but at the idea of 
 a Vordman feeling honoured in making his 
 acquaintance. 
 
 Vordman was a very handsome young fellow, 
 well mannered and apparently likeable in every 
 respect, but Fletcher could not help but mark up 
 a mental reservation against him before he 
 began talking. Fletcher did not feel that the 
 
 36
 
 GLORIA 
 
 words "too soft" were fairly descriptive of 
 him, but they were what rang in his mind. One 
 unfortunate result of great wealth, he had ob- 
 served, was that after a few generations it, time 
 and again, saps the stamina of the family, and 
 leaves its young men rather colourless. 
 
 Here, too, he found an entirely different 
 Gloria, superficial, coolly polite. 
 
 The talk ran on, and Fletcher listened atten- 
 tively and as politely as he could. Since he did 
 not interject any remarks, the others, in defer- 
 ence to him, asked his opinion on the topics 
 being discussed sport, yachts, the doings at 
 smart resorts. But Fletcher feigned a lack of 
 familiarity with the local society, which was true 
 enough. 
 
 Throughout the conversation he could not help 
 but notice the constraint in Gloria's manner. 
 She was affable, she was exceedingly charming 
 in her little affections, but performing like a 
 beautiful mechanical doll. 
 
 She was vivacious, but in no degree spon- 
 taneous; nothing flowed from her real self. 
 Letter perfect were all her petty little conven- 
 tionalities, but there was an icy barrier, beyond 
 which one could not peer. Fletcher could only 
 reflect that earlier in the evening he must have 
 had a peep into her real heart. 
 
 Soft, melodious chimes within struck eleven 
 o'clock. Vordman arose and excused himself. 
 In a burst of cordiality, his parting words were : 
 
 " Come over and get potted ; have a cellar of 
 wonderful liqueurs." 
 
 Fletcher returned to the terrace. Gloria had 
 undergone another transformation. She simply 
 glowed her happiness at being alone with him. 
 
 37
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Freeda," she commanded in a kindly tone, 
 " you may go." A herculean woman appeared 
 from just behind the French casement, where she 
 had evidently been the entire time. Fletcher 
 was astonished. She was a giantess, and he 
 thought how puny the ordinary man would be 
 in her hands. She looked at Fletcher search- 
 ingly, but respectfully, laid a Spanish shawl on 
 the arm of a chair, and smiling in a stolid way, 
 silently withdrew. The duenna of the house- 
 hold was a good one. 
 
 38
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 UNDER THE SHROUD OF NIGHT 
 
 " OH, Sigmond," Gloria began, " come close to 
 me ! " 
 
 The winsome girl had moved over on a 
 cushioned settee, and he sat beside her. She 
 nestled up to him and put her head on his 
 shoulder: Her soft body intoxicated him. Her 
 hair breathed a most delicate perfume. He felt 
 her dainty little fingers close on his and, then 
 his arm was pulled around her. He looked away 
 lest she read his expression. 
 
 " Isn't it beautiful this evening? " she sighed. 
 " I love the view from this terrace, but it never 
 was so lovely as to-night. I suppose it is because 
 I am very happy, but I am more than happy, I 
 am contented that is the only way I could feel, 
 now that I have you here, my very own big 
 brother to love me, and cuddle me, and help 
 me." 
 
 Fletcher felt her warm cheek against his as 
 she again lightly kissed him. - Her face was 
 damp with tears. She relaxed upon his shoulder. 
 
 " I am so happy," she sobbed softly. He 
 could understand, for deep emotions, which were 
 very rare with him, affected him similarly. 
 
 " Hold me tight," she said tenderly, " I am 
 just a silly little baby. I have been so lonely 
 
 39
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 and my heart is so full to-night because I have 
 you." 
 
 This was the proper time, but how could he 
 tell her now ? To disillusion her at the moment 
 would be like bowling in a cathedral. He must 
 turn the conversation into other channels and 
 prepare her for what maybe he had to say. 
 
 " It feels so good to be myself," she confided. 
 ;< To have someone with whom 1 can be un- 
 reserved and just human. I shall try hard to 
 please you so that you will never leave me again 
 for long." 
 
 Her tears were gone as quickly as they had 
 come. The deep emotions which swept her were 
 as April showers. He expected her to excuse 
 herself to remove the traces of them. But this 
 did not concern her. Evidently she did not dab 
 at her face as much as the usual run of woman- 
 kind. Eagerly she looked up into his counten- 
 ance and asked : 
 
 " Do you like your little sister ? " 
 
 This afforded him a splendid opportunity to 
 talk. 
 
 " Gloria," he said, " most people and things 
 are named inaccurately; but you are perfectly 
 named. Every moment since I have seen you 
 I have been struck with the thought that you 
 are indeed a glorious little creature, one to be 
 adored." 
 
 " Oh, oh ! " she interrupted. " All women 
 are vain, and I am going to be frank with you 
 go ahead, I just love it ! " 
 
 ' You seem as exotic as though you were a 
 lovely flower growing in some tropical paradise 
 a thing apart from human mediocrity." But 
 the fascinating glow of her soft eyes was 
 
 40
 
 UNDER THE SHROUD OF NIGHT 
 
 dazzling him. Putting a brake on his ardour, 
 he continued : 
 
 " I cannot make up more poetry, but I'll tell 
 you a fairy story." 
 
 " How delightful ! " she exclaimed. " I'll be 
 a little girl and listen." 
 
 " This day has been the most wonderful one 
 in all my life. Once upon a time, we shall say 
 this very morning, I was a listless young man 
 working in a brokerage office. We shall call 
 myself , for instance, Edmond Fletcher. Nothing 
 out of the ordinary happened in such a person's 
 life until after the market closed at three o'clock 
 this day. I see myself arising in a little bachelor 
 apartment about nine o'clock this morning. 
 Aphrodite, Celeste, Fatima, and Belshazzar are 
 with me." 
 
 ;< Who are they ? " She looked at him startled. 
 
 ;< They are my cats and Belshazzar is my big 
 shaggy dog." 
 
 " Oh ! " she said with apparent relief, and 
 settled her head back contentedly on his 
 shoulder. 
 
 ' They were my loved ones. Outside of them 
 no one loved me. There were relatives who 
 loved me sincerely, but they were far away. 
 Some I had thought cared for me and maybe 
 one in particular." 
 
 " Who was she ? " asked Gloria, placing her 
 dainty little ear near his lips as though it was a 
 great secret. 
 
 " She was a little girl who liked to dance all 
 the time and always was demanding things to 
 be done for her or given her." 
 
 " She loved herself," decided Gloria, and 
 settled her precious little head with its mass of 
 
 41
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 hair slightly disarranged, back again upon his 
 shoulder. 
 
 " So it went. Outside of a few lifelong men 
 friends, there was no one to care for me. But 
 often I dreamed of a slender ethereal little 
 creature oh! so sweet and tender who would 
 stand apart from all other women." 
 
 " Only men with blue eyes can think like 
 that," murmured Gloria, and she playfully 
 kissed his fingers. 
 
 " Isn't it getting rather late? " inquired 
 Fletcher solemnly. " And we are all alone." 
 
 :< What does it matter ? Can't I be up as late 
 as I wish with my brother ? " she questioned, 
 and stretching her fascinating little body out on 
 the settee, she pillowed herself on his breast and 
 arms and asserted contentedly : 
 
 " I am simply too happy. Go ahead with the 
 fairy story 1 " 
 
 " So I had gone to the office and after the 
 close of business was sauntering up Broadway, 
 when I met with a great adventure. A coach 
 of a fairy princess was waiting for me just 
 around the corner. I stepped into it and was 
 whisked to a fairy boat which conveyed me to a 
 great castle. 
 
 " I didnt know that the princess was waiting 
 for me at the end of the journey, and not being 
 accustomed to her station of life, I was some- 
 what embarrassed. By a happy coincidence I 
 was mistaken for her brother, which gave us 
 some happy hours together. The little princess 
 was very lonely and perhaps I entertained her 
 for a little while." 
 
 Gloria was holding one of his hands tightly 
 as though he were about to slip away from her, 
 
 42
 
 UNDER THE SHROUD OF NIGHT 
 
 and in the semi-darkness she was looking wide- 
 eyed into his face. 
 
 "Shall I finish the story?" he asked. He 
 felt as though he was sounding his death knell, 
 for what could ordinary beauty be to him now, 
 after the superlative vision of Gloria's smile? 
 Bitter indeed must this disillusionment be for 
 him! 
 
 She buried her face on his breast that he 
 might not see her and one little slender hand 
 caressed his cheek as though she expected to 
 read his expression as the blind do. 
 
 " Yes," she assented, almost inaudibly, as if 
 she were afraid to finish it, " it is all a puzzle 
 to me." 
 
 " All fairy stories do not end happily," he 
 informed her sadly. " This one must end miser- 
 ably for one of its characters, but he will feel 
 better for having been truthful with the little 
 princess. I am not your brother I am Edmond 
 Fletcher ! " 
 
 She clutched him to her tightly. " Sigmond, 
 dear," she gasped, " are you trying to frighten 
 me? " He felt a tremor of fear run over her 
 and sensed the same feeling of having hurt her 
 that he experienced at their first meeting. 
 
 " You should not say such things. I need 
 you desperately," she beseeched, as she looked 
 up at him pleadingly. " Please do not scare 
 me any more, as I am very nervous from what 
 happened here last night." 
 
 He gathered her tightly into his arms. 
 
 " My wonderful sweet little girl, I have only 
 done what I thought was right. I would will- 
 ingly do anything conceivable for you. I am 
 going to do one more thing that bears on this 
 
 43
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 subject and ask you a question, and then I shall 
 never mention it again to you." 
 
 Tenderly raising her head, he implanted fully 
 upon her soft warm lips a kiss, and he felt her 
 relax in his arms as if her very soul were going 
 out to him. She had innocently made no attempt 
 to resist him, and she lay in his embrace for a 
 long moment before he spoke. 
 
 'Who am I?" he asked. 
 
 " You are my brother and do not kiss me so 
 peculiarly ! " She straightened up. 
 
 " You are Sigmond Van Mortimer," she 
 answered, again defiantly, " and of course it was 
 only a fairy story. Please don't tell any more 
 like that one. I have your promise ! " 
 
 "Ah-h well!" he sighed. "What's the use 
 of my arguing with you ? " and a deep silence 
 seemed to wrap them in a dark cloak. 
 
 The moon had set; the trees loomed up like 
 great black patches. He made her comfortable 
 in his arms, for she had entreated : 
 
 "Just a few moments more, before I must 
 give you up." 
 
 Fletcher looked out into the darkness 
 supremely happy, holding in his arms the most 
 entrancing bit of femininity that he had ever 
 imagined. It was so very quiet. He was think- 
 ing what a miracle the day had produced; how 
 adventure and romance were just around the 
 corner to him who sought it. 
 
 Cuddled up to him she was asleep, he noticed, 
 asleep with one of his hands pressed to her lips. 
 What an exquisite sensation it gave him to have 
 this surpassingly lovely creature dreaming in his 
 arms. 
 
 For a few moments he just sat there before 
 44
 
 UNDER THE SHROUD OF NIGHT 
 
 disturbing her, marvelling at how hushed and 
 peaceful it was at this late hour of the night, so 
 far out in this ideal country. The darkness out 
 beyond was like velvet, and where his hand had 
 touched the balustrade he could feel the night's 
 cool moistness. 
 
 Suddenly there came a plaintive, ghastly cry, 
 from somewhere far down in the hollow among 
 the trees, something gruesome, swelling louder 
 as his flesh began to creep. He was not a 
 coward, but this sound seemed inhuman. Never 
 could he recall having heard such a weird and 
 ghoulish wail. For strangely intensifying the 
 dread voice and commingled with its shrillness 
 was a trace of tune or song, some fiendish 
 hopeless dirge of the unknown, scarcely under- 
 standable. 
 
 Gloria was awake and shaking. A convulsion 
 of fear was sweeping over her. Terror-stricken, 
 her little hands broke into a cold sweat. 
 Fletcher sat frozen with fright. For fully half 
 a minute the eerie wail rent the night, its 
 undulating sound breaking into horror-laden 
 notes, abounding in some sort of inhuman tor- 
 ment, which infected the listener. 
 
 Some inconsolable appeal, it seemed, which 
 levied painful sympathy, as though its maker, 
 having run the full gauntlet of human emotions, 
 sought to express his torment. 
 
 Fletcher suddenly remembered, in a dazed 
 way, having heard of drug habitues, particularly 
 users of hashish, who in their hallucinations 
 gave forth such excruciating sounds. 
 
 This was suggestive of such a fiend and more. 
 Its bitter melody savoured of the sigh of dank 
 winds through valleys of tombstones and myrtle ! 
 
 45
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 The morbidity of a lost dead soul was haunting 
 the earth to some other than natural purpose! 
 As suddenly as it had come it stopped, leaving 
 the dismal darkness ringing with an oppressive 
 silence. 
 
 He was chilled to the marrow. Gloria weakly 
 straightened up, clinging tightly to his hand. 
 Her heart was beating frantically as the old 
 butler and several servants, hastily dressed, 
 appeared in the light. 
 
 "Is Mr. Sigmond there and safe?" asked 
 Parkins, the butler. 
 
 "I am here," he spoke, and, supporting Gloria, 
 he stepped into the doorway. " What is this 
 noise ? " 
 
 " We do not know, sir," the old man quavered. 
 " Will you both please come in out of the lighted 
 doorway? You can be seen for miles in the 
 light. Pardon my suggestion, sir." 
 
 They went, Gloria huddled against him, to 
 the foot of the stairway, while Parkins, with 
 all the starch out of him, in a trembling voice 
 went on : 
 
 " We heard it last night, sir. Miss Gloria 
 has been panic-stricken. We have had the 
 woods all round and the valley searched, but 
 have found nothing unusual. Thank God you 
 came to-day, sir! We have been apprehensive 
 of your safety." 
 
 " Bring me a revolver," demanded Fletcher. 
 " I am going down in the valley. The sound 
 cannot be far away and we shall find some 
 simple explanation of it." 
 
 Gloria clutched him hysterically. 
 
 " Sigmond, for any love that you may have 
 for me," she begged, " do not go out of the 
 
 46
 
 house. Something dreadful would happen to 
 you, I can feel it. You must be near me so 
 that I may call you if it comes again." 
 
 Her entreaty was so serious that, without any 
 argument, he took her to her apartment as she 
 hung on his arm quivering, and with pallid face. 
 
 They met Freeda on the steps. A bare arm 
 of huge proportions protruded from her 
 hastily donned clothes. " Forgive me," said the 
 giantess, " I slept after you sent me away, Miss 
 Gloria." 
 
 Fletcher had some coffee served in the living 
 room of Gloria's dainty little quarters, and 
 shortly had her back in normal spirits. She did 
 not wish to discuss the occurrence of the even- 
 ing, and he did not hurt her by insisting on it. 
 Finally he departed and Gloria called after him : 
 
 " If I send for you, come. If you wait to 
 dress, I'll send Freeda to bring you." 
 
 Smiling, he sought his rooms. But when all 
 alone in them he seriously looked out into the 
 velvet night. 
 
 Between fresh, cool sheets he fell asleep. 
 Exhausted but undaunted, he still smiled. If 
 Fate would thus so mightily jest with him, he 
 would laugh too. His last thoughts were, would 
 he be able to literally wear the other chap's 
 shoes? He expected them to be placed out for 
 him when he awoke. Another's clothes might 
 fit passably, but another's shoes had their prob- 
 lems, and might not fit so well as the pumps he 
 had worn at dinner. 
 
 47
 
 " s 
 
 "s 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 FLETCHER awoke about nine o'clock. His first 
 impulse was to dive for the bathroom that he 
 might not be late at the office. He put up one 
 arm to ward off the advances of Belshazzar, 
 who was wont to leap up and lick his face about 
 this time. Instead of Belshazzar, he saw his 
 valet enter. 
 
 " Do you wish to arise now, sir? " 
 
 " Yes," he announced, and he could hear his 
 bath running. He bathed and, with the aid of 
 the valet, was soon dressed. A pencil-striped 
 suit practically fitted him. The shoes were full 
 instead of tight, and he thanked his stars for 
 that. The valet placed in his buttonhole a 
 bud from the bouquet outside. He smiled his 
 pleasure, went downstairs, and was about to 
 start for a walk when Gloria joined him. 
 
 She was delightfully -refreshed and wore a 
 charming, simple little morning dress. 
 
 " Good morning, my dear," she greeted him. 
 " I could not breakfast until you arose." 
 
 She kissed his cheek, and together they went 
 in. No reference was made to the night before, 
 and, enthralled by her charming little man- 
 nerisms, he dallied over his breakfast for half 
 an hour, an amount of time which he had not 
 spent that way in all his days. 
 
 48
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 A clock chimed ten. In olden times when the 
 alarm sounded in the firemen company's house 
 the horses pranced and were nervous to go and 
 firemen dressed automatically without any 
 thought to it at all. Before the clock struck, 
 Fletcher was about the most languid and con- 
 tented young man imaginable. The first chime 
 rang; his body became taut as if a current had 
 passed through him. 
 
 Down in the Street, the prices were coming 
 over. Force of habit and an overpowering 
 sense of duty brought him out of his chair. 
 His customers were making and losing money, 
 and God alone knew where he was ! 
 
 " Excuse me," he said, " very important ! " 
 There was preoccupied terseness about him that 
 left an anxious expression on her face. 
 
 A few quick steps brought him into the 
 library. First looking guardedly around him, 
 he gave his office number in a low voice. At 
 least, long practice had made him perfect in 
 talking into a telephone so that others could not 
 hear. The answer came back : 
 
 " Morton, Keene & Company." 
 
 " Mr. Morton, please. Fletcher speaking." 
 
 "Mr. Morton," he began, "this is Fletcher. 
 I shall not be able to get in to-day, and maybe 
 not for several days. Real business is in pros- 
 pect. Give general quotations by phone to-day 
 to Sigmond Van Mortimor, Cleborough, New 
 York." 
 
 " Repeat that, please, Mr. Fletcher," said the 
 astounded partner. Then he added : " Con- 
 gratulations. I trust for your own sake that 
 you are not joking with me." 
 
 " Never so serious in my life," he replied. 
 49
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Explanations later. Have somebody give me 
 quotations, please." 
 
 Fletcher listened while they came over, in- 
 trusted his customers to the partners of the firm 
 and hung up the receiver. 
 
 Gloria and he went riding. It was one thing 
 he could do well, having come from a range 
 country, where much of his equestrianship had 
 been bareback. Gloria marvelled at this, not 
 understanding his prowess. 
 
 All nature seemed to be striving to paint a 
 beautiful picture while they rode through bridle 
 paths which were deep woodland trails. 
 
 They rode all morning, and he carefully led 
 over the entire estate; but whenever he ap- 
 proached the deeply wooded valley which lay 
 below the terrace Gloria tried to keep him from 
 riding through it. 
 
 " I am superstitious," she said piteously, 
 " about your going through the valley. You 
 can guess the reason ! " 
 
 In deference to her he did not insist, but he 
 succeeded in gaining an eminence which com- 
 manded a better view of the lower part of the 
 valley than the terrace afforded. From there 
 he saw a sort of lodge, or bungalow, which 
 aroused his strongest curiosity. Could that be 
 the habitat of this ghoulish creature, or sound, 
 or whatever it was? Only Gloria's entreaties 
 took him back to the house. 
 
 " Mr. Morton, of Morton, Keene & Company, 
 brokers, on the phone, sir," Parkins gravely 
 announced. " They have been calling you for 
 some time." 
 
 Fletcher picked up the instrument. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor," the voice came, " this 
 50
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 is Morton, of Morton, Keene & Company. Our 
 Mr. Fletcher, who is detained out of the office, 
 informed us that you wished general quotations. 
 May I personally give them to you ? " 
 
 " Yes, thank you," said Fletcher. 
 
 There was a moment's hesitation at the other 
 end, as though Morton, one of the shrewdest 
 room traders in the Street, smelled a mouse 
 upon hearing Fletcher's crisp and familiar voice. 
 
 Then the quotations came. As Morton 
 finished, trying with his usual canniness to hear 
 a little more of this suspicious voice, he said : 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimer, we are indeed pleased 
 that you should call upon us through our Mr. 
 Fletcher. May we ask you at first hand what 
 you think of conditions abroad, since your 
 opinion will help us in rendering you such ser- 
 vice as you may require? " 
 
 Such a question, in any way that Fletcher 
 could answer it, required more than mono- 
 syllables. 
 
 He said coldly : " Sorry, Mr. Morton, I am 
 really out of touch with business conditions. I 
 am afraid my opinion is of no value." 
 
 " Now, Mr. Van Mortimor, would you not say 
 that there is a good deal of hypocrisy in what 
 we get over here from the other side?" 
 
 " Mr. Morton," said Fletcher, " I am not 
 interested in your opinions. Is that sufficiently 
 clear?" 
 
 " Certainly, sir," apologised old Morton. " We 
 are brokers, not prophets, and glad to serve you. 
 I trust I did not offend you, Mr. Van Mor- 
 timor? " 
 
 Old Morton was playing safe on big business, 
 but it was obvious that he thought it queer how 
 
 51
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 similar this voice and Fletcher's were. 
 
 " No. I appreciate your interest, but I will 
 not be quoted," answered Fletcher as he hung 
 up the telephone and turned to the door. 
 
 On the threshold stood Gloria, her face 
 wreathed in smiles as though she had made 
 some pleasantly surprising discovery about this 
 brother. 
 
 '* You are interested in business," she ex- 
 claimed, " aren't you ? I know now why you 
 left breakfast so hurriedly. How remarkable! 
 You must really like it from the way you act." 
 
 " Dear," he said, " I should like business if 
 I had a million dollars " then, as he saw a 
 puzzled look on her face, he waved his hand and 
 added, quickly " to invest every minute." 
 
 ' You make me very happy," she answered. 
 " I can only conceive of a real man doing some 
 kind of useful work. You are not in the least 
 like what I have always heard you were." 
 
 It was a narrow escape from the consequences 
 of his momentary slip of the tongue. Every 
 moment he feared that the bubble would break, 
 but until it did he decided he had just as well 
 play the game. 
 
 After luncheon with Gloria he spent the after- 
 noon with his new secretary, Floyd. This young 
 chap was a wizard for figures. In concise state- 
 ments Fletcher had the enormous ramifications 
 of the Van Mortimer fortune laid at his finger- 
 tips. With Fletcher's financial knowledge he 
 got an excellent understanding of the condition 
 of everything; but he did not express opinions, 
 lest his own secretary should wonder at his 
 insight. At the conclusion of the conference he 
 merely said casually : 
 
 52
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 " Prepare for me a statement of how many 
 human beings work for enterprises in which 
 there is Van Mortimor control." 
 
 The secretary had innumerable appointments 
 and conferences to press on his attention. These 
 Fletcher waved aside temporarily. 
 
 Altogether he was having a glorious week- 
 end. The enormous castle-like house, its spacious 
 grounds, the feeling of grandeur which per- 
 meated everything about him, and the adorable 
 little Gloria, were all so charming that Fletcher's 
 over-acute sensibilities were highly satisfied. He 
 was happy, delighted, no matter what horror 
 might be lurking in the valley below them. 
 
 The evening passed quickly with his soul- 
 satisfying companion. Some subtle sense told 
 Fletcher not to stay up too late with Gloria. 
 He succeeded in getting her to retire early, and 
 it must have appeased the voice below, for they 
 were undisturbed. Sunday morning broke bright 
 and clear upon two gay young people who had 
 slept serenely in the very shadow of some dread 
 which they did not understand. 
 
 At last he came to the conclusion that there 
 was no use in delving into that weird business 
 anyhow. If he did get into the vicinity of the 
 thing, it would only terrify Gloria. Rather than 
 pain her, why not just let the situation solve 
 itself. Naturally, however, he would be ever 
 alert to protect her. 
 
 One evening, much to their mutual regret, 
 Gloria went out after dinner, having previously 
 accepted an invitation. She begged him to come 
 along, since he would have been welcomed, but 
 he pleaded fatigue, for he did not wish to risk 
 a public appearance. 
 
 53
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Fletcher knew not how long he had slept, for 
 it had been particularly sound and deep. The 
 isolation of the house in its vast estate gave a 
 singular quietness during the night. 
 
 Fletcher felt himself suddenly awakened by 
 that plaintive sound of the first evening. It was 
 very near. Involuntarily a cold chill ran over 
 him. He felt that he was probably all alone in 
 that part of the house and about to face some- 
 thing supernatural. Just under his window was 
 the roof of a stone portico which had been made 
 into a little garden. Steps ran up to it from the 
 end of the east terrace which overlooked the 
 unexplored valley. All this flashed through his 
 mind as he lay in bed as if paralysed. 
 
 The sound now came low and soft, but, oh, 
 so weirdly ! He knew it was the unearthliness 
 of it alone which had awakened him, for it was 
 so low that surely no one else could hear it. 
 Evidently this was a personal message. He 
 wanted to rush to the window, but he could not 
 move. 
 
 On second thought, he remembered how the 
 butler had urged him in out of the light the first 
 night, and realised that it would have been very 
 foolish to have exposed himself in the window. 
 He thought it better to lie still and watch the 
 window in the hope that the thing would appear 
 within his vision, so that he might get some idea 
 of what he was up against. 
 
 On came the anguish-stricken notes, nearer 
 and nearer, as though it were groping along the 
 side of the house to his window. Transfixed 
 by fear and unable to move so much as his head, 
 he stared through the casement at the portico. 
 A stone balustrade ran along the edge of it, and 
 
 54
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 the low, waning moon threw grey shadows 
 between the little columns of the balustrade. 
 
 By the setting of the moon he judged it must 
 be close after midnight and about the hour when 
 this ghoul had called before. Why did not the 
 marauder come within his vision? 
 
 The anguish-laden notes came low, but clear, 
 yet they seemed to hesitate at the verge of the 
 window. Was this fiend or incarnate voice 
 waiting for the moon to set and leave the world 
 in pitch darkness ere it entered? Was it trying 
 to fill his soul with horror in the interim? His 
 thoughts raced along with this ghastly accom- 
 paniment, this dying swan song of unearthly 
 desire. 
 
 Some details in the room suddenly stood out 
 vividly in his mind. A chair was sitting by his 
 bed facing him as though something had been 
 sitting in it studying him, probably a little earlier 
 in the full moonlight. The window was wide 
 open from the bottom, and he would have sworn 
 it had been half up from the bottom and half 
 down from the top. 
 
 Something had been in the room. For what 
 was it waiting? Why did it now hesitate? 
 
 The suspense was as horrifying as if a hang- 
 man were trifling with the gallows after the 
 signal had been given to spring it. The haunt- 
 ing notes came fuller, and then something moved 
 silently full into the window and stopped just in 
 front of the sill as if it would send its plaintive 
 song straight through as it peered in. 
 
 The moonlight came a little brighter, and the 
 thing did not draw back as Fletcher had antici- 
 pated it would. Instead, it looked searchingly 
 in, as if this strange, ghastly thing sought 
 
 55
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 something by the moonlight, or, having finished 
 its morbid errand, turned back for one last look 
 before departing. 
 
 The moon must have been behind a cloud, for 
 now the grey light flooded the stone roof, arid 
 Fletcher looked full into a pale face, a blanched 
 and ghostly face but, for all that, his very own ! 
 
 His heart seemed to stop, he could not 
 breathe. He was looking into his own face, 
 which was peering at him through the upper 
 sashes of the window. He did not move a 
 muscle he could not. This could not be a 
 reflection, for the lips of the apparition were 
 puckered up. Now it was whistling that weird 
 tune again; Fletcher was motionless, and help- 
 lessly aghast. 
 
 For a brief moment while he faced the 
 apparition, he felt himself dead. This, his 
 physical body, was dead in bed, so that he had 
 no physical use of it; but it still retained the 
 faculty of .perceiving what went on about it. 
 To the strange accompaniment of the weird 
 notes, he was perceiving himself disentangled 
 from his present body and clinging to the win- 
 dow, taking one last look at his old mortal body 
 before his tormented soul departed for parts 
 unknown. 
 
 He wondered if he had been murdered as he 
 slept and that this was his soul really departing 
 to that bourne from which no traveller returns. 
 He had no physical power to investigate whether 
 there was any wound on his still form. He 
 could not move ; he coulo^ only stare at himself 
 there at the window, the face blanched and 
 agonised, but unmistakably his own. It was 
 turning away from the window now. 
 
 56
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 He could see himself silently crossing the 
 portico. That music of the dead nay, dirge 
 of the more-than-dead, was growing fainter. 
 It was himself leaving, his very stride; and this 
 apparition wore his clothes, the very clothes that 
 he had worn to this house on that memorable 
 day. 
 
 Strange sweet thoughts flitted through his 
 mind. At least he was going in his own clothes. 
 Even if he were dead, he had died in his own 
 raiment and not as an impostor. There was 
 something consoling about being honest in death. 
 
 The weird, ghastly music was nearly hushed; 
 no such supernatural funeral chant had mortal 
 ever had before, and the spirit was stopping by 
 the balustrade again to look back. 
 
 His great climax of happiness with Gloria 
 had ended in sudden tragedy. The dismal end 
 was tragic and quick as the joy had been great 
 and sudden such were the laws of compen- 
 sation in life. Needs be that he would once 
 more look back at the scene where he had lived 
 the sensations of an ordinary mortal's life all in 
 two days, and now he must pay as quickly with 
 the penalty of his life. 
 
 The moon shone full on the figure by the 
 balustrade. How often he had worn that very 
 suit, how he had romped with his dog and cats 
 in it; what simple pleasures with his friends he 
 had wearing it down town. Those with whom 
 he had lived in it came back to him, the simple 
 life that he might have lived on for his full 
 span, if he in these same clothes had not been 
 led out of his old surroundings into the glorious 
 adventure now so tragically closing. 
 
 " Where do I go now ? " he pondered, for he 
 57
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 had lost all sense of feeling. His spectral body 
 was leaving the balustrade outside and gradu- 
 ally fading away. " I can scarcely see myself 
 any longer," he thought, " so it is to nothingness 
 oblivion." 
 
 He could not see; darkness engulfed him, and 
 he knew no more. 
 
 When he awoke about nine o'clock in the 
 morning, he found himself lying identically in 
 the position he had occupied earlier in the night. 
 His gaze in a sort of a fascinated way went 
 through the window. The lower sash was fully 
 up, and he knew it had not been left that way 
 by his hands on retiring. 
 
 He was tremendously happy that he could 
 see, but a horror seized him that if he attempted 
 to move he would find himself incapable of 
 action as in the night. A delightful breeze 
 through the trees outside wafted into the room 
 the scent of blossoms from the garden. His 
 servant came in and adjusted the curtains at the 
 window, and seeing Fletcher looking at him 
 mutely, asked : 
 
 " Do you wish to arise now, sir ? " 
 
 Beyond his fondest hopes he could also hear; 
 three of his senses had returned. 
 
 ' Yes, indeed," he said joyfully. 
 
 Then as the servant stepped into the bath, he 
 pinched himself, with the results most to be 
 desired. Hurriedly examining his body he found 
 he was not injured in any way. But beside the 
 bed sat the tell-tale chair, and on the floor was 
 a small envelope, empty and without any mark- 
 ings. 
 
 Arising and stretching his limbs, inordinately 
 happy to feel life pulsating through his lithe 
 
 58
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 young self and deeply thankful for each breath 
 of the pure invigorating country air, he felt that 
 he had miraculously escaped death. 
 
 He bent over and picked up the little white 
 envelope beside the chair. It gave off a pungent 
 perfume, and on holding it close to his nostrils 
 he experienced a most nauseating sensation. He 
 dropped it with a shudder, and went to his bath. 
 
 While Fletcher dressed he dismissed his ser- 
 vant on an errand. From among his things he 
 hastily took the key to the chiffonier drawer 
 where he had locked up the clothes worn on his 
 arrival. Fletcher opened the drawer quickly 
 and found it empty; all of his personal clothes 
 and effects were gone. His own wallet, his 
 watch, some personal papers which had been 
 carried by him in short every possible vestige 
 of identification of his former self had van- 
 ished. Some of these things he had worn in 
 Van Mortimor's clothes for fear of detection by 
 the servants, but they, too, were missing. 
 
 " Who am I now, anyhow ? " pondered 
 Fletcher as he descended the stairway. " If 
 some unknown authority is depriving me of 
 my former identity and conniving to make me 
 Sigmorid Van Mortimor, surely this can only 
 be with the assent of Van Mortimor, and if I 
 find that he is robbing me of my identity and 
 placing me in his position, it is only a fair 
 exchange that I become Van Mortimor with a 
 vengeance ! I'll feel out my way a little farther 
 to-day; and if I am actually made Van Mor- 
 timor, I'll be a real one, and the world will 
 know it ! " 
 
 Gloria joined him at breakfast, charmingly 
 fresh and delightful. 
 
 59
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Gloria," he cheerfully smiled, " I am getting 
 restless. I think I should like to get to work. 
 Would you care to go into town with me a few 
 days?" 
 
 She was overjoyed at the prospect of being 
 with him, and he had decided that in feeling 
 out the strength of his position, he had better 
 keep as many anchors to windward as possible, 
 by having around him the most important allies 
 with whom he passed muster as Van Mortimor. 
 
 " You know I want to do that," she said 
 laughingly. " Indeed, you will have to put up 
 with having me near you at all times." 
 
 Nothing could have suited his plans better. 
 The more important servants were sent to her 
 Park Avenue apartment, at her suggestion, in- 
 stead of opening his town house at Fifth 
 Avenue. Floyd, the secretary, was instructed 
 to meet him at the apartment, and Gloria and 
 Fletcher drove down together. 
 
 " Now we set out to conquer ! " she exclaimed 
 as they stepped into the car. 
 
 How little did she realise the truth of that, 
 thought Fletcher. 
 
 They swept into Manhattan at lunch time and 
 ate publicly at the Alexandrian. Word quickly 
 spread around. 
 
 People bowed to Gloria, who recognised their 
 greeting with a slight inclination of her head. 
 Occasionally she smiled an invitation to someone 
 whom she presented to Fletcher. In this way 
 he met a severely dressed old lady, two blase 
 young men, and a charming young lady who 
 was lunching with a distinguished foreigner. 
 
 " Only those," she said sotto voce, " whom we 
 really care to know." 
 
 60
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 They were all playing the game. He noticed 
 a little cold glint in Gloria's eyes as she glanced 
 over the crowd. A few spoke to her when she 
 did not seem to see. Fletcher realised that 
 Gloria was now Miss Van Mortimer; although 
 occasionally he caught a sly little smile when her 
 face was turned so that only he could see. How 
 superficial and cold this girl could be ! 
 
 After lunch he drove Gloria to the Park 
 Avenue address, and without entering excused 
 himself for the afternoon, pleading that he 
 wished to familiarise himself with the old city. 
 Picking up his secretary, they fared forth. 
 
 The day before, Edmond Fletcher had super- 
 ficially informed himself with the life he was 
 supposed to live downtown, and now, having 
 given up the safe escort of his sister, whose 
 introduction surely could not be doubted, he 
 drove to the National Club, the most exclusive 
 one in town, accompanied only by Floyd. As 
 he was riding there, he asked innumerable but 
 guarded questions, which this accommodating 
 fellow painstakingly answered and in detail; for 
 since his employer ventured no opinions, Floyd 
 presumed Mr. Van Mortimor had only the 
 faintest conception of business. 
 
 Several times Fletcher caught veiled sugges- 
 tions in some of the replies which might lead to 
 feathering the secretary's nest. This, thought 
 Fletcher, was a perfectly natural trend in human 
 nature, especially considering the character of 
 the man the secretary was supposed to be 
 serving. Incidentally, a way occurred to him 
 of handling this fellow's natural avarice, for he 
 really wished to keep Floyd on account of his 
 quick grasp of affairs and his veritable genius in 
 accounting. 61
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 They entered the National Club. Fletcher 
 merely indicated the register to Floyd, who 
 signed : " Sigmond Van Mortimer." 
 
 He knew that he had been elected to this and 
 other clubs in his absence. Several governors 
 of the club and old friends of Van Mortimor's 
 father introduced themselves to him or were 
 presented. He was careful in his remarks and 
 only carried on the lightest type of pleasant, 
 mutually respectful conversation. This en- 
 deared him to the old chaps who were ultra- 
 conservative. 
 
 He noticed, however, one tall gentleman of 
 distinguished appearance, with a grey shock of 
 hair and a professional Vandyke beard, who 
 seemed to be watching him intently. Something 
 intuitively told Fletcher that this man was too 
 much concerned over him. Otherwise, every- 
 thing was proceeding beautifully. His plan was 
 merely to present himself quietly but openly and 
 see if he could be accepted. 
 
 From the National they drifted on to the Polo 
 and Racquet Club, where they went through 
 about the same formulae, but Fletcher got away 
 from here as quickly as he gracefully could. 
 This was a younger set of men who insisted 
 on discussing sports, even European sports 
 rather than none, and he did not wish to feign 
 too much indifference. Also they had been 
 followed by the distinguished grey-haired gentle- 
 man of the National Club. Fletcher decided 
 now that this fellow would absolutely bear 
 watching. 
 
 As they left, an hour or so later, Fletcher 
 bade the chauffeur stop on a pretext that he 
 wished to look in a shop window. As the grey- 
 
 62
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 headed man emerged from the club, Fletcher 
 went directly up to him and, trying to put it as 
 politely as he could, demanded : 
 
 " I do trust you will not misunderstand my 
 concern in inquiring why you have been follow- 
 ing me. May I ask for an explanation?" 
 
 " Certainly," smiled the stranger. " I am 
 greatly interested in you. Allow me to intro- 
 duce myself : I am Dr. Wendell Bates, the Van 
 Mortimor family physician. The fact is, I am 
 supposed to have brought you into the world, 
 but I haven't seen you since you were about 
 fourteen. No wonder you didn't remember me I" 
 
 The words " supposed to have brought you 
 into the world " gave Fletcher a start. That 
 was a point on which a physician ought to speak 
 positively. If the man was sure of Sigmond's 
 identity, why did he happen to use the word 
 " suppose " ? 
 
 Fletcher's mind began to work quickly. Here 
 was a clue to something if he could only trace 
 it. Why did this man follow him? Surely not 
 out of idle curiosity. With this in mind he 
 answered : 
 
 " This is indeed fortunate. Only to-day I 
 was thinking that I should like to consult you." 
 
 " That will be a pleasure," said the doctor. 
 " My offices are just around the. corner. Would 
 you care to come with me now? " 
 
 " Certainly," agreed Fletcher, and he indicated 
 to the chauffeur that they were to follow him 
 with the car. 
 
 Fletcher was particularly on the alert. He 
 
 was convinced this doctor knew something. 
 
 Going up on the elevator he fenced carefully 
 
 with a very polite but meaningless conversation. 
 
 3 63
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 With an open avowal that must never be made 
 to anyone but the principals he wished to con- 
 vey that he knew the doctor had some knowledge 
 about him and elicit from the doctor some sign 
 as to whether he was friend or foe. 
 
 They went into the consultation room and 
 Fletcher stripped off his coat and shirt for a 
 physical examination. The suave physician 
 began an examination in a perfunctory way. 
 All this time Fletcher watched him intently for 
 some sign of suspicion about his identity. 
 
 "Am I doing all right?" asked Fletcher 
 casually. It was just a simple question that 
 anyone under examination might ask; and also 
 it was the natural question from a blind pawn 
 to his principal, or from one in doubt asking 
 guidance from one in a position to give it. 
 
 " Nicely," answered the physician, just as 
 non-committally without the slightest noticeable 
 added meaning. 
 
 Yet Fletcher could not help but believe the 
 physician knew something about him. He de- 
 cided on a broadside question. 
 
 " Doctor," he said, " the duties that I am 
 about to take up will be quite extensive possibly 
 a little wearing on just one human being ! Will 
 you please advise me how I am to live ? " 
 
 " Young man," said the doctor, as he looked 
 him fully in the eyes, and it seemed that his 
 heart was now in his words, " great things 
 depend on you. Just be your natural self, above 
 all be natural. Much more than I can tell you 
 depends on it. Keep your mind clear above all 
 things." 
 
 After this oracular advice, which Fletcher 
 seemed to believe was given sincerely, he passed 
 
 64
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 down into the street, reflecting that the doctor 
 was a pretty good old chap, and wondering 
 whether his interest in him was other than 
 professional. He looked in his or, more 
 exactly, Van Mortimer's wallet, and found 
 money, crisp American bank notes. Some little 
 money would be necessary for what he had in 
 mind, and the paradoxical idea had just come 
 to him that with all of his wealth, he might not 
 have a cent, in his pocket. 
 
 Driving to the Forty-First Street entrance of 
 a building on Lexington Avenue, he directed his 
 secretary and the car to wait for him, saying he 
 would be inside some time. He passed through 
 the lobby of the building to the Forty-Second 
 Street entrance, where he knew there was a 
 subway station. He took the subway and in a 
 few moments stood in front of the building 
 in which was his little bachelor apartment. 
 Realising that he had no keys, he rang for the 
 janitress, Mrs. Kelly. 
 
 " Mrs. Kelly," he explained, " I have lost my 
 keys. Would you lend me your key, please?" 
 
 " Sure," she said. " Do you think you left 
 them inside or did you just this minute lose 
 them?" 
 
 " No," he answered, " I am certain I didn't 
 do either." 
 
 " For the love of Mike ! " she gasped. " How 
 have you been getting in and out to-day? I saw 
 you several times." 
 
 Fletcher kept his face under control. 
 
 " Where are the dog and cats ? " he asked 
 anxiously. 
 
 " Up in the apartment," she avowed, both 
 hands upon her hips. 
 
 65
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Getting Mrs. Kelly's pass-key, he took the 
 steps several at a bound. 
 
 As he approached his door, he heard a low 
 dismal bark or moan. Belshazzar was whining 
 in a pitiful sort of way. 
 
 " Here is where I find out something about my 
 other self," Fletcher reasoned as he noiselessly 
 used the key and carefully closed the door 
 behind him. He didn't want anything to rush 
 by him and out. 
 
 His rooms were very dark. It rather non- 
 plussed him to find all the curtains drawn. 
 
 He waited awhile, his back to the door, for 
 Belshazzar to run to him, as he knew he could 
 not enter the apartment without the big dog 
 knowing it and greeting him. 
 
 Instead, there only came the low but plaintive 
 howl of the dog, seemingly from back in the 
 bedroom. He knew that sound. Out in desolate 
 countries he had heard a dog howl in that 
 manner when someone was dead, and it usually 
 was the dog's master. A creepy feeling spread 
 to his fingers and toes. Was Belshazzar already 
 mourning him? 
 
 It connected up only too sinisterly with his 
 nightmare of the night before. Was it a warn- 
 ing to go no further with this high-handed 
 adventure in which he was so wildly engaged? 
 Steeling himself to confront the horrible 
 unknown, he advanced cautiously down the 
 hallway, and peered through the portieres, into 
 his living room. 
 
 A strange sighj: met his eyes. There was a 
 black rug on the floor, how black only he knew 
 from trying to keep it clean, but it never had 
 looked so weird as now, for near the centre of 
 
 66
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 it was just one murky splotch of sunlight 
 shining through an aperture in the window 
 curtain. Stretched out stiff and stark in the 
 path of light lay Celeste, apparently dead. 
 
 Across the patch of light slowly came Aphro- 
 dite, placing each foot with measured funereal 
 tread. From a corner gleamed softly two dull 
 lights, which he took to be Fatima's eyes. They 
 moved in dizzy solemn circles. The low, pitiful 
 howl of Belshazzar came dismally from the 
 bedroom. 
 
 Belshazzar's wailing set Fletcher's nerves on 
 edge, and a nausea was seizing him. He detected 
 a peculiar odour in the room, such as that of 
 crushed peach pits. He must get to the door or 
 window; he felt about to faint. 
 
 Marshalling all the strength that he could 
 possibly command, he lunged for the window, 
 hit it with a bump, and raised it somehow. He 
 had stepped on one of the cats, but she made 
 no sound, although he must have hurt her. 
 Filling his lungs with fresh air he turned back 
 into the room and opened the curtains. He 
 feared an attack and braced himself for it, but 
 nothing sprang at him. Instead an unnatural 
 sigftt swam into his view. 
 
 The cats were walking about with stately 
 tread oblivious of their surroundings, with the 
 melancholy accompaniment of Belshazzar's 
 weird howl. They walked here and there in a 
 mystic and spectral saraband, each foot placed 
 carefully and slowly and then withdrawn 
 heavily, as though it stuck to the floor. 
 
 Passing through between the cats, which paid 
 no attention to him, he looked into the bedroom. 
 He must find out what was making Belshazzar 
 
 67
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 howl so dismally. Reaching into the room care- 
 fully he pulled the shade and it snapped up. 
 
 The big dog was huddled in the corner, his 
 back arched and bristling. Both eyes were 
 closed as if he were dreaming some horrible 
 thing, and he continued to emit the mournful 
 sound in the sunlight. Fletcher called to him, 
 but he did not awake or show any signs of 
 recognition. He feared that his pets had all 
 gone mad, so he did not touch them. Instead 
 he opened the other windows, letting in as much 
 air as possible. 
 
 After their antics had subsided somewhat he 
 took a basin of cold water and threw some of 
 it into Belshazzar's face. The dog jumped, 
 seemed to come out of his trance. He yawned 
 deeply a few times and became playful, making 
 a demonstration at seeing his master again. 
 Belshazzar was a little nervous and shaky, but 
 he followed Fletcher back into the living room; 
 and, as the cats were still walking around in 
 their stately tread, he began to push them over 
 with his nose. They offered no resistance, but 
 just tumbled over like mechanical toys and lay 
 still. Soon they were opening their red mouths 
 with deep yawns, and something like normality 
 was restored as Belshazzar and the cats became 
 more natural. 
 
 First Fletcher thought someone had tried to 
 poison his pets, but if that were true, they would 
 be sick, and they were not in the least ill now. 
 They did not now show the least ill-effects of 
 their strange performances. To a superstitious 
 person, it would have appeared that some occult 
 force was at work. Fletcher did not like the 
 subtlety of all this. 
 
 68
 
 HIS OTHER SELF 
 
 He took the dog and cats, for which he had 
 a genuine affection, down to Mrs. Kelly and 
 asked her to keep them out of the apartment, 
 as it would be more healthful for them in his 
 absence. Then, retracing his steps to his apart- 
 ment, he took all small things of value: an 
 insurance policy, letters from various friends, 
 a bank book, returned checks and, in short, a 
 great number of little things that would serve 
 to identify him, and these he made into a neat 
 bundle. Putting this under his coat, he hailed 
 a taxi and drove to the Merchants Safe Deposit 
 Vaults, where he asked the driver to wait. 
 
 Here he took a box in the name of Edmond 
 Fletcher and deposited in it his neat bundle. 
 When he was offered keys, he asked the official 
 to keep them, saying, " I am rather absent- 
 minded." They agreed to accept his signature 
 for opening the box, and he signed signature 
 cards in the presence of the official. He had 
 a premonition that it was well to have proof of 
 his real identity somewhere. Then he smiled 
 and mumbled to himself : " Now, ghosts or dope, 
 come get me if you can ! " 
 
 Driving on to the Forty-Second Street en- 
 trance of the building from which he had taken 
 the subway an hour earlier, he walked through 
 to the opposite entrance. As he entered the 
 building he noticed three men converge upon 
 him and respectfully follow about fifteen feet to 
 each side in the rear. As he neared the car, he 
 saw his secretary nod to them. Two went 
 away and the largest of the three took the seat 
 by the chauffeur. 
 
 " Who are these fellows ? " asked Fletcher. 
 
 " They are detectives, sir," the secretary ex- 
 69
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 plained. " You left so suddenly that I only had 
 time to find that you went in the subway, and 
 as you immediately stepped on a train as the 
 doors were closing, I lost you." 
 
 " Is it necessary to have them follow me ? "" 
 quizzed Fletcher. 
 
 " I should feel very badly, sir, if anything 
 happened to you through any oversight on my 
 part. I would particularly beg you not to go 
 alone into the subway. Your picture is familiar 
 to the worst characters in the city. Your life 
 has been threatened repeatedly, sir." 
 
 " Oh ! " ejaculated Fletcher as he speculated 
 on unthought-of contingencies. 
 
 The car ran uptown a few blocks, and turned 
 into New York's most gilded avenue. He 
 glanced at his watch. It was only about five 
 o'clock. His movements had been hurried, for 
 he dared not tarry long anywhere until he 
 acclimated himself to his new condition of lord- 
 ship. 
 
 He glanced out upon Park Avenue. Often 
 he had passed along it enviously. Now he came 
 to hve upon it. The motor stopped. He passed 
 through what might have been the nave of a 
 cathedral, and the hushed lift conveyed him to 
 the apartment. He could not have announced 
 the floor, but that was wholly unnecessary. His 
 arrival had been heralded over the house and, 
 for that matter, the city. The elevator door 
 opened silently, and the old butler was there to 
 receive him with a deferential bow. 
 
 70
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 " PERHAPS you would have preferred the old 
 town house, sir. This is a fancy of Miss Gloria 
 to whom we all bow, sir," Parkins said, smiling. 
 
 Fletcher started walking around at random to 
 get a better insight into this elaborate apart- 
 ment. He found a drawing-room, several living 
 rooms, a library, a picture gallery, a large 
 dining-room and several others he didn't explore, 
 and then he noticed a stairway. Although the 
 building was a large one, he knew by the stair- 
 case that it was a duplex apartment, or perhaps 
 had more than two floors. Aimlessly he wan- 
 dered up the stairs. 
 
 A mezzanine floor with doors opening off it 
 ran around encircling a rotunda. He sank into 
 a silken lounge and looked about him, letting 
 his eyes gloat longingly on the quiet magnifi- 
 cence. 
 
 A dainty little French maid gracefully ap- 
 proached him, extravagantly curtsied and spoke 
 in French. 
 
 " Miss Gloria wished to see you as soon as 
 you came in. And Minnette," she touched her 
 heart demurely, " is anxious to see you at any 
 time." 
 
 He looked at her blankly. 
 
 " Oui, monsieur," she exclaimed, noting his 
 confusion, " I am very grateful for you sending 
 
 71
 
 me to America, but they have all been so kind 
 to me, but where the heart is concerned, voila. 
 Only to see you occasionally nothing more I 
 ask." 
 
 " I do not seem to remember," stammered 
 Fletcher. 
 
 Minnette blushed furiously. 
 
 " Oh, non, non, monsieur! " she said, believing 
 he did not wish to recognise her. " Pray do not 
 fear me. My lips are sealed, it is my heart 
 which is open. Miss Gloria is in her boudoir, 
 sir." 
 
 She opened a door, opened it silently and very 
 prettily, as though there were an art in opening 
 doors, and passed down the steps, eyes straight 
 ahead. Apparently I am a Don Juan, he pon- 
 dered as he collected his wits and crossed the 
 dainty threshold. 
 
 Mauve carpets and soft, luxurious draperies 
 enhanced the loveliness of the interior. He was 
 in a spacious little lounge, with rooms leading 
 off it. Gloria was sitting by a window. 
 
 She arose and, rushing up to him, kissed him 
 daintily on the cheek. 
 
 " It is so good to have you. I saw you come 
 in below," she began. " What a thrill there was 
 in waiting for you. I wanted to be the first to 
 see you when you entered here. How satisfying 
 it is to have someone all my own who comes 
 home to me ! I have never had anyone." 
 
 Fletcher felt the sincerity of her impetuous 
 welcome and experienced keen delight at her 
 interest in him, a joy which he could only dimly 
 understand or recognise after his desultory, 
 lonely life of the last few years. 
 
 " There could be no sweeter hearthstone," he 
 72
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 "You do like this place?" she asked, as she 
 rang for tea. 
 
 " It is charming," he replied. " It is so like 
 you." 
 
 She smiled her pleasure, started to speak, and 
 then stopped as though she had some reason for 
 hesitating. Fletcher did not press her. Long 
 ago he had learned that the way to get a 
 beautiful woman to talk is not by asking her 
 questions. If they like you, and you do not 
 prove inquisitive, they will tell you themselves 
 what you wish to know. 
 
 She was very lovely in her little clinging tea 
 gown, and he sat indolently watching her. Soon 
 she spoke. 
 
 " I do not know why I should hesitate in 
 telling you this. I suppose it is because in their 
 fulfillment some plans take on such a beautiful 
 hue, become so much lovelier than one could 
 expect, that it gives me, almost, a feeling of 
 reverence." 
 
 He knew not what to say, and scarcely were 
 any words required. He just enjoyed looking 
 at her and hoped that he might ever do so. 
 She paused, and with her delicate hand gently 
 touched his hair. 
 
 " I love this place because it is my little play- 
 house. I do not like the big old home on Fifth 
 Avenue. It reminds me too much of the years 
 of loneliness since I was a little girl when papa 
 died. I had this place built just to suit me and 
 my own dear brother I trusted. 
 
 " When you did come I wished to make you 
 so contented that you would not wish to leave 
 me again. This was to be my little playhouse. 
 I should play at running our home, you know 
 
 73
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 keep house for my big brother, look after him 
 and take care of him. To one brought up all 
 alone there is a deep yearning to have some close 
 relative or family which is all their own to love 
 and cherish. I made this place just for that, 
 and many times have I come here and day- 
 dreamed of the time when you would make me 
 so happy. Now I have been tremendously 
 overpaid for all my longings." 
 
 She daintily poured tea and handed it to him. 
 As he took it, she arose and went around to 
 him. She hesitantly started to put her arms 
 about him. Then, as he looked up at her, she 
 caught his hands. 
 
 " Come see your rooms ! " she cried, as if it 
 were an excuse for not hugging him just then, 
 and out of the door of the little boudoir she led 
 him. Down to an entrance in the centre of the 
 mezzanine floor they went. 
 
 Gloria opened it, and they stepped across the 
 threshold. It was a square, cool, huge living 
 room in harmonising blues and browns. 
 Luxurious overstuffed chairs and lustrous old 
 woods gave it a comfortable appearance. To 
 his right was a room containing a diminutive 
 library, a desk and two telephones. As she saw 
 him looking at the telephones she said : 
 
 " One is a private line and unlisted. I just 
 had it put in for you to-day. You are so 
 secretive at times, I imagined it would please 
 you." 
 
 He smiled his appreciation at her thoughtful- 
 ness and he glanced into a most inviting bedroom 
 and bath as they returned from the library to 
 the living rooin.. 
 
 He felt her hand touch his. " You draw out 
 74
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 the best there is in me," she said softly. ' You 
 say very little, and yet you inspire me to tell 
 you everything even when I am reluctant to do 
 so. You seem to understand me so thoroughly 
 that I want to put my whole self in your confi- 
 dence. It is wonderful to have such a splendid 
 brother on whom you can rely. 
 
 " The morning after you came I arose early. 
 I wanted to sing and dance maybe you heard 
 me singing. Most of all, I wanted to get down- 
 stairs ahead of you to greet you again ; not miss 
 a minute of being with my big sweet brother." 
 
 A blush gradually crept over her face. 
 
 " Then I began to think of the playhouse 
 down here, and I wanted you in it so badly, but 
 I could not ask you to come. It seemed so bold, 
 I don't know why. You brought me such 
 happiness I wished to do something to delight 
 you." 
 
 " You always delight me, dearest," he inter- 
 posed. 
 
 " Oh, but I wanted to do something for you ! 
 There was nothing I could do for you up in 
 the country; but if we came here, I could show 
 you what I had prepared for you. But I could 
 not ask you. It was too romantic. It seemed 
 somehow that I had built a little cottage for my 
 love and myself, and that entering it was a very 
 sacred matter. Well, I must dress now," she 
 said lightly and flitted out the door. 
 
 He sat down in an odd chair of rich velvet 
 and contemplated his fortunate condition, while 
 he looked at the panorama from the window. 
 Each hour brought its new sensation. His 
 secretary had told him many queer ways that 
 newspaper feature writers had suggested of 
 
 75
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 illustrating 'his income. One was, that if 
 champagne were poured night and day continu- 
 ally, by relays of waiters, the expenditure would 
 not materially affect his income. " And that 
 would apply at prohibition prices," Floyd had 
 said smilingly. 
 
 Practically anything the world offered was his 
 for the mere asking. He tried to think of that 
 which he most desired, and his thoughts from 
 all directions focused on Gloria. All else 
 seemed trivial. 
 
 But what about all this wealth and position 
 which was being showered upon him? He was 
 shrewd enough to know that you get nothing in 
 this world without paying for it, no matter how 
 much it may appear otherwise. What price 
 would he have to pay? What would be the 
 terms of this stupendous stewardship? 
 
 Very shortly it came to him that Gloria was 
 dressing. He stepped into the dressing-room, 
 and there were his dinner clothes. His man 
 came in silently, ever waiting an opportunity to 
 be of service, and began to assist him. What a 
 life this was ! 
 
 He went down into the library. A few 
 moments later Gloria entered. More than ever 
 was she ravishingly lovely. 
 
 Her hair was done smoothly against her head, 
 except here and there, where its natural wavi- 
 ness could not be confined. Her creamy bare 
 arms and delicately curving breast flashed 
 against a clinging silver gown. 
 
 Lithe and supple, her slender and erect little 
 body poised on her dainty feet for one moment 
 as she stood framed in the doorway. Here was 
 something of the grand air, another Gloria 
 
 76
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 scintillating in the high lights of life converging 
 upon her from every direction. 
 
 " Do you like me? " she asked coquettishly. 
 
 " You are incredibly beautiful," he gasped 
 sincerely. 
 
 She reached up and kissed him, saying : 
 
 " You are a dear, my wonderful brother. 
 All women love to be told that they are pretty, 
 and you tell me so sweetly. It is so restful to 
 be frank with you." 
 
 " No matter who you were, I would adore 
 you," he said. 
 
 " Wonderful boy," she queried, " are you not 
 getting too romantic?" She appeared slightly 
 distressed. After a moment's hesitation she 
 changed the topic. " You made me your mistress 
 of your social affairs. To-night we shall have 
 dinner out. It is well for us to get accustomed 
 to appearing together. I thought we should 
 dine somewhere publicly and later go dancing. 
 If it is agreeable we shall start now." 
 
 He offered his arm, and, taking his hat from 
 Parkins, followed Gloria. They descended, and, 
 walking under the marquee to the kerb, stepped 
 into the car. The car turned down town and 
 soon stopped at a famous hotel which was 
 known only by name to Fletcher. Their passage 
 through the lobby occasioned quite a little 
 comment. Eyes glanced politely from several 
 directions when they neared the elevator. 
 
 They were to dine on the roof, and here 
 Fletcher came face to face with Ralston, one of 
 his best customers, who affected this hostelry 
 occasionally. Miss Van Mortimer evidently had 
 been pointed out at some time to Ralston, for he 
 took a sharp look at her and Fletcher and 
 
 77
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 floundered to one side as though he had been 
 stabbed. Ralston made no attempt to greet him, 
 much to Fletcher's relief. 
 
 They came out on the roof, gay in its bright 
 awnings and fashionable atmosphere. The dis- 
 tinguished couple were seated at a very good 
 table which was awaiting them. The head 
 waiter called them Mr. and Miss Van Mortimor 
 as though he had served them often. He 
 marvelled at the delicate compliment in ascer- 
 taining his name so quickly. Gloria thought he 
 of course might know from previous visits. 
 Fletcher's astuteness now came into play. 
 
 " Since you are in charge of my social life 
 and we are so frank with each other," he said 
 naively in an undertone, " you may indicate 
 what it is your pleasure that we have for dinner. 
 Just make your wishes known and I shall order 
 accordingly." 
 
 She made suggestions for the complete dinner 
 as he had hoped she would. Each course she 
 mentioned he silently photographed on the menu 
 before him with all the mental agility of a 
 mountain goat sighting herbage. 
 
 The waiter came up and he ordered easily, 
 having been forearmed. This had required no 
 little finesse on his part and he had not attempted 
 to look over the diners as yet. Now that the 
 tedious part was over, he noticed that Gloria 
 was occasionally recognising acquaintances at 
 other tables. 
 
 He glanced farther afield and half across the 
 roof directly facing him was Morton ! 
 
 Fletcher recognised that Morton had been 
 doing a little private espionage on his big new 
 prospect. He- had probably had " Mr. Van 
 
 78
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 Mortimer " shadowed all day ! 
 
 But it was evident from Morton's perturbation 
 that his mind was well confused. He levelled 
 one look after another at Fletcher until he was 
 evidently exasperated. Fletcher was careful not 
 to look directly at him for fear the old broker 
 would speak to him. 
 
 Fletcher could see out of the corner of his eye 
 that Morton was talking to the head waiter, 
 undoubtedly discussing him. Fletcher could 
 understand how the broker was completely 
 adrift. First he would have thought that it was 
 Fletcher himself whom he saw dining with Miss 
 Mortimor. Now, no doubt, he had just been 
 authoritatively informed that the gentleman was 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor himself. Morton would 
 feel that Mr. Van Mortimor was a customer of 
 the firm now, or any moment would be! Yet 
 these two not only talked alike over the tele- 
 phone: they looked alike so deucedly much so 
 that Fletcher's employer wondered if he had 
 been employing an angel unawares these several 
 years and he was giving the matter of this 
 particular gentleman dining at this particular 
 time and place with his particular dinner com- 
 panion most deliberate concern. 
 
 The music came like some dreamy melody 
 across an expanse of lagoon water or so it 
 seemed to Fletcher. Just then Gloria noticed a 
 young man of rugged build and a lean contem- 
 plative expression who was sitting alone several 
 tables distant. She and he smiled and nodded 
 to each other. Then to Fletcher : 
 
 " That is Edward Brockton. You have no 
 doubt noticed how the press continually specu- 
 lates on what a wealthy couple we would be 
 
 79
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 if we should marry. We are always a bit 
 amused whenever we meet, because I suppose 
 each of us thinks down in the heart how much 
 more we need than the other's money. He is 
 really worth while, however, and you should 
 know him ! I'll have the waiter call him over." 
 
 Fletcher arose as Gloria presented him and 
 they grasped hands. As the men became better 
 acquainted it was evident that a friendship was 
 developing in the nature of a pleasant surprise 
 at the number of things in which they were 
 mutually interested. 
 
 The music struck up again and Brockton 
 asked Gloria to dance. This pleased and hurt 
 Fletcher at the same time. He wished to see 
 her dancing to prepare him for the inevitable 
 test which he must go through with her as the 
 cynosure of all eves. It was logical and as he 
 would have wished it. But, too, he felt a 
 poignant unwillingness to have anyone else 
 touching this charming creature. For several 
 days she had seemed all his own ! 
 
 At last Brockton and Gloria came back to 
 the table, and after thev were seated Fletcher 
 glimpsed old Morton, who was leaving the roof, 
 bearing down on him. 
 
 Morton had paid his check and ostensibly 
 eoing to an exit, made his way over in 
 Fletcher's vicinitv. As he drew near he at- 
 tempted to catch Fletcher's eye, but without 
 success. Since he could not stand still very 
 well without drawing attention upon himself, 
 he decided on a bold move and walked directly 
 up to speak to Fletcher. When he was two 
 tables away a diner arose and blocked his path 
 as if by accident.
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 " Excuse me," asked the politely rude gentle- 
 man, " did you wish to speak to someone ? " 
 
 " Who are you ? " complained Mr. Morton, 
 purpling with annoyance at the disruption of his 
 plan. 
 
 A lapel of the dinner suit moved slightly, just 
 enough that the rather nettled broker could see 
 the shield of a detective. Fletcher was taking 
 in Morton's discomfiture, much to his own 
 amusement, but he gave no sign of noticing the 
 incident. 
 
 Half in fear that he was making an ass of 
 himself, Morton scribbled something on one of 
 his cards, and asked : 
 
 " Would you kindly hand this to Mr. Van 
 Mortimor ? " 
 
 The detective beckoned to a waiter, and 
 meantime sat down, virtually forcing Mr. Mor- 
 ton to join him at his table. 
 
 Fletcher looked at the bit of pasteboard. It 
 read : 
 
 MR. VAN MORTIMOR : 
 
 May I have the pleasure of speaking to you? 
 
 This, the canny broker had figured, would 
 force the issue; but the human enigma, without 
 so much as glancing at Morton, pencilled on the 
 card : 
 
 Sorry. I will have Mr. Fletcher bring you to see me 
 some time. 
 
 S. V. M. 
 
 Fletcher then returned the card to the waiter. 
 Morton took it and left, no doubt feeling he 
 had done something foolish. Being so well 
 acquainted with him, Fletcher knew that on the 
 
 81
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 way down from the roof, Morton must have 
 soliloquised, " They talk alike, they look alike," 
 and glancing at the card, " by Jumping Jupiter 
 they write alike ! " 
 
 It would be beyond him. Yet he could not 
 dare to question openly that the man he had just 
 seen was Sigmond Van Mortimor. No detec- 
 tives would ever have been hovering around 
 Edmond Fletcher except on his trail, in Morton's 
 estimation. 
 
 Brockton had gone after a cordial invitation 
 to Fletcher to .visit him. People who had any 
 claim to social recognition were crowding upon 
 them now to meet Sigmond Van Mortimor. 
 Few of these Gloria acknowledged. She was 
 as calculating in bestowing her favours as a 
 merchant in the mart. There was something 
 intoxicating to him in the open adulation from 
 every side. Apparently he was well enough 
 vouched for in high places. Morton and his 
 kind were the ones Fletcher would have to 
 watch. 
 
 Edmond asked Gloria to dance, after several 
 more introductions had been made. The gay 
 pretender did not dare put this off longer, much 
 as he both desired and dreaded the privilege. 
 
 He was tall and slender, and had determined 
 to dance naturally, come what might. But when 
 he led Gloria Van Mortimor into that smartly 
 sophisticated throng, he felt like Abraham Lin- 
 coln at his first ball. With acute apprehension 
 he found his feet moving somehow. 
 
 Then Gloria looked up into his eyes as though 
 he had touched some hidden spring in her. He 
 forgot the many things which might have seri- 
 ously disturbed him in so brilliant a fashionable 
 
 82
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 world. They danced unconsciously as part of 
 the rhythm of the music. 
 
 Gloria's eyes soon sought his face and took on 
 a happy dreaminess which he did not believe 
 even she could counterfeit ! 
 
 It was much later when he bade her good 
 night upon their arrival at the playhouse, and 
 at once retired to his rooms, for he planned a 
 big day on the morrow, his first business day. 
 
 Quickly undressing Fletcher stretched himself 
 comfortably between the cool sheets. Looking 
 out westward over the city he could see the sky 
 illuminated by the myriad lights of Broadway. 
 There they were, the millions of hard-living 
 denizens of the city and the country, doing their 
 frenzied best to buy what they thought was 
 pleasure and happiness under the bright lights. 
 
 He drifted off into slumber, but was shortly 
 awakened by a light in his face. After he was 
 conscious he caught only a quick flash of it, 
 but from the inclination he felt to rub his eyes, 
 he believed it must have shone full upon him. 
 Since he was soon wide awake, he walked over 
 and looked out the window. It was probable 
 that some searchlight playing over the city had 
 caught him in its radius, for he was sleeping at 
 a considerable elevation. Directly across from 
 him he thought he could see the dull glow of a 
 cigarette in a darkened window in the building 
 across the court from his bedroom. Perhaps 
 someone else could not sleep. 
 
 Fletcher wandered about over his suite and 
 marvelled at the attention to detail and the 
 consideration for his comfort which had been 
 lavished on it. He considered himself rather 
 familiar with the place by this time, but new 
 
 83 '
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 features to suit his convenience quite frequently 
 surprised him. 
 
 At the far corner of his bedroom was a door 
 which was rather intriguing. He didn't think 
 it was a closet, and yet he could not account for 
 its presence. He had been opening closet doors 
 and just curiously looking over his many posses- 
 sions with which he was unfamiliar. 
 
 A key was in the door, but there was nothing 
 unusual in this. He grasped the knob and 
 opened the door. The light from behind him 
 flowed over his shoulders and disclosed where 
 the entrance led. 
 
 It was Gloria's bedroom, and there she lay, a 
 vision in pink and cream, her head resting on 
 her elbow among her thick dark tresses, a happy 
 little smile playing over her face while she slept. 
 He started to shut the door gently, but the light 
 awakened the demure little maiden and she saw 
 him. There was not the slightest fear as she 
 drowsily called out : 
 
 " Don't run away, Sigmond, dear. Come in 
 and talk to me if you are restless." 
 
 " Not for anything," he explained, " would I 
 have disturbed you. I was just exploring my 
 delightful quarters, and little did I guess what a 
 surprise there was behind this door." 
 
 She pulled the coverlet slightly about her and 
 turned on a little night light which cast a soft 
 glow over her pillow. Sitting up she answered : 
 
 " Come in. It is no surprise to me. I 
 arranged this all so that you would ever be very 
 near me. Isn't it nice to know that even in the 
 late hours of the night we are so near each 
 other? You are just through that door, my 
 own sweet brother. 
 
 84
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 " Do you know, several times to-night I was 
 tempted to open it and steal in to kiss you while 
 you slept, simply tuck you in a little bit, or do 
 some little thing for you. I just wanted to see 
 you once more and know that you were perfectly 
 comfortable before I slept. Something held me 
 back. I couldn't say just what it was, for I 
 really wished to come in very much." 
 
 He looked yearningly at her, lying there so 
 innocently sweet and so expectantly waiting to 
 be kissed good night. 
 
 Some premonition or instinct caused him to 
 look over his shoulder. The shade and the 
 window in his room, just behind him, were up. 
 For an instant he reflected that he had better 
 draw the curtain before entering Gloria's room, 
 because her bed was directly in line with the 
 window. He half turned to do so when he 
 noticed a slight wave of disappointment creep 
 into her expression, and then he stepped into 
 her room, for he felt to draw the shade would 
 be rather suggestive. 
 
 As he crossed the threshold a slight chill ran 
 over him, for ever so faintly he sensed the low, 
 weird cry of the blanched face. Gloria stretched 
 out her arms, with all her impetuous nature, to 
 kiss him, and the nearer he came the more 
 plaintive rang the haunting sound within his 
 ears. He bent over her and soft clinging arms 
 enfolded about him. Such ecstasy to hug close 
 to him the smooth, firm body of this transcend- 
 ent girl, who coloured all his thoughts. 
 
 For an instant he forgot everything but the 
 immediately delicious present. What mattered 
 anything on earth if such divine loveliness were 
 within his actual grasp? He kissed her soft 
 warm lips. 85
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 The weird notes of the haunting cry beat 
 piercingly on his eardrums, congealing the very 
 blood within his veins so that he stood immobile, 
 unable to kiss her again even if he had dared to 
 do so. She fell back in the bed and sobbed. 
 Between sobs she quavered : 
 
 " Did you hear it just as you kissed me? It 
 has followed us here." 
 
 Her words brought him partially out of the 
 paralysing fear which was settling upon him. 
 Turning in the direction from which the warn- 
 ing seemed to come, he dashed for his window. 
 As he faced round it grew fainter, and though 
 he rushed to the window the sound had died out 
 before he reached it. 
 
 Everything across the court was dark ; nothing 
 stirred in any direction. Retracing his steps to 
 Gloria, the weird noise began as soon as he had 
 reached her doorway. Running back to the 
 window, he could hear or see nothing. Upon 
 his entering her room again it came in a horrid 
 tumult, and Gloria buried her head in the pillows 
 from the dread thing. 
 
 "Where is Freeda?" he demanded hoarsely 
 of her. 
 
 There came a mumbled reply as she pointed 
 to a door at the end of the room. As he left 
 her bedside, the cry subsided. He pounded on 
 the door indicated, and Freeda loomed up in her 
 nightclothes, hurrying without further instruc- 
 tions to Gloria's side. 
 
 When Fletcher hurried out of her bedroom 
 the noise stopped suddenly. Throwing off his 
 dressing-gown and slippers, he vaulted to the 
 stone ledge outside his window, clad only in his 
 pyjamas. He peered up and down the ledge, 
 
 86
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 above and below it, and across to the other 
 apartment building without discerning anything. 
 
 It was only a short distance to the corner of 
 his building and, knowing that their apartment 
 occupied the entire floor so that he would not 
 disturb neighbours, he began stealthily to crawl 
 along the narrow projection to see around the 
 corner. Halfway along, his movement was 
 arrested by a noise at the casement through 
 which he had just emerged. Looking back, he 
 saw the window gradually descending, as though 
 some unseen hand were lowering it ! 
 
 Returning as rapidly as he could, for he didn't 
 dare be trapped outside, he found the window 
 closed and he knew it was useless to try to raise 
 it, for they locked automatically. In a warm 
 summer night he stood shivering, poised on the 
 dizzy ledge with nothing to grasp for safety; 
 and yet the thing he most desired was one more 
 look at his Nemesis. 
 
 A few moments, which seemed hours, he 
 crouched there, fearful of an invisible attack, 
 yet hoping to see something. Then the window 
 was carefully opened and the trembling butler 
 whispered : 
 
 " Mr. Sigmond, come in quickly out of that 
 dangerous place, sir." 
 
 Fletcher did so with alacrity. Shortly there- 
 after he received from Gloria a request to join 
 her in a few minutes for coffee, which was being 
 hastily served in the drawing-room of her suite. 
 He shut the door leading to Gloria's bedroom. 
 While he partially dressed and went to her 
 rooms through the mezzanine hallway, he 
 realised, rather nonplussed, that he had found 
 no explanation at all of the sinister phenomena. 
 
 87
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Some sort of warning had come to him out 
 of the air. Could it have been his conscience? 
 The worst of devils are sometimes right within 
 us. 
 
 Gloria had come out of her scare wonderfully. 
 Her freshness was a constant quality, like the 
 waters of a crystal fountain. You might dis- 
 turb her deeply, but her natural self soon 
 bubbled to the surface. 
 
 " I sent Parkins to get you, foolish boy. Do 
 you think I want to lose my brother? Anyhow, 
 what did you find? " Her question was put 
 drearily as though she knew the answer. 
 
 " Nothing," he said. 
 
 A far-off look came into her eyes, and she 
 spoke gently : 
 
 " Many people try to reach the other end of a 
 rainbow because, to them, a pot of gold is there. 
 Even though their pursuit is futile it is worth 
 while, because they have fortune and happiness 
 to seek." She searched his countenance thought- 
 fully before she spoke again, weighing her 
 words : 
 
 " You must not chase rainbows, dear Sig- 
 mond, because we have nothing to gain. We 
 start with the pot of gold, the reward is at this 
 end of the lovely arc. Since we must be at the 
 good end of the rainbow, you can guess what is 
 at the other, so do not desire it. You have 
 a hallucination that you can run down this 
 marauder and thus put an end to my fear. That 
 is just a mirage with further horror as its goal. 
 You think you can just reach out and put your 
 hand on this phantom physically, but I know you 
 cannot for I have seen it." Her voice was 
 choking with emotion.
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 " Where? " he asked in astonishment, scarcely 
 believing that his apparition had been visible to 
 Gloria. 
 
 "Forgive me, my dear brother; it was very 
 near you." She buried her head in her arms 
 so that she would not have to look at him. 
 " Very near too near you." 
 
 He stammered in his confusion. " Gloria, do 
 you not mean that you think this is all in my 
 mind?" 
 
 " It can't all be in your mind," she replied, 
 " for I have heard the awful wail too often, 
 but I have seen you quite different from your 
 true good self. There are things we cannot 
 fathom. This thing is intangible, and even 
 though it is closely bound up to you, it is too 
 terrible for you to investigate it. 
 
 " Something dreadful may happen to you ! 
 You must leave well enough alone. I am so 
 very happy now with you. In time this thing 
 will wear away, but if you try to follow it I 
 just know something horrible will befall you, 
 and then what will I do ? " 
 
 Fletcher knew not how to answer her words. 
 
 Suddenly a strange idea broke fully upon her. 
 
 " I first heard it to-night when you kissed 
 me and then again when you re-entered the 
 room. It subsided as you withdrew each time. 
 Was it wrong for you to kiss me?" 
 
 " I don't know, my sweet little Gloria," he 
 stated. " But if it was only the inner voice of 
 our consciences, it certainly had a tremendous 
 echo ! " 
 
 They both laughed nervously. 
 
 " Can it be that some malignant spirit," she 
 continued, " some family skeleton, wishes to 
 
 89
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 keep us apart? We have been separated so 
 long. But let's not talk about it. It makes me 
 shudder." 
 
 He would have liked to tell her about 
 himself, but he did not dare in view of his 
 promise and what she had just said. Some time 
 there would be an opportunity, no doubt, for 
 him to confess the whole thing. 
 
 Again he retired. He had never believed in 
 the supernatural, but there were very peculiar 
 circumstances here. He could not doubt his 
 own identity. He knew who he was, Edmond 
 Fletcher. He knew every step that led up to 
 his present status as far as Edmond Fletcher 
 was concerned. 
 
 Even if one presumed that Sigmond Van 
 Mortimor had not conspired to put him here, 
 at least there had not been the slightest 
 interference from the real Van Mortimor to 
 Fletcher's assuming his name and place. The 
 press had spread the news of his return and 
 doings at home broadcast, so that wherever Van 
 Mortimor was, he surely must know that some- 
 one was taking his place at home. From this 
 Fletcher could only surmise that this much, at 
 least, was agreeable to Van Mortimor. 
 
 If he were the steward entrusted with this 
 great fortune he wanted to be a just one, ready 
 to render an accounting at any time. Indeed 
 he would be deeply thankful to his benefactor 
 for this great opportunity and the acquaintance 
 of the marvellous Gloria. 
 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor was at least ac- 
 quiescent in Fletcher's imposture. However, 
 there was one other possibility: the other con- 
 tingency was that Sigmond Van Mortimor was 
 
 90
 
 THE PLAYHOUSE 
 
 dead. He really shuddered to think of that, so 
 many ominous things bore it out. If he were 
 dead, of course, Van Mortimer could not 
 denounce Fletcher, and things might very easily 
 have run along as they had. 
 
 Could it be that the ghost of Van Mortimor 
 had come back to haunt the wrong that was 
 being done him, and was hovering over Gloria 
 to protect her in this unique situation? To one 
 who would, for a moment, accept the super- 
 natural, the warnings at the country home, and 
 particularly the distinct challenge to-night, 
 growing louder as he drew near and diminishing 
 as he withdrew from Gloria in her bedroom, 
 would have been sufficient to establish a spiritual 
 message. 
 
 Whatever this warning was, Fletcher could 
 not argue with it. It was morally right and he 
 was wrong to be in this innocent girl's room. 
 To Van Mortimor dead or alive, as his bene- 
 factor, he would be true; and with this thought 
 in mind he went to sleep. 
 
 91
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 FLETCHER rose at nine o'clock, feeling much 
 better than he had expected after the night's 
 experience. The problem of accidentally en- 
 countering his former acquaintances in the city, 
 and particularly in the financial district, had 
 given him some grave uneasiness. But his 
 work was primarily financial, and the only place 
 to establish himself was in the financial district. 
 
 He went down to breakfast. Gloria, never 
 withholding her real interest and encourage- 
 ment, had slipped into the seat opposite him 
 before he had tasted his melon. 
 
 As he had come to expect, no mention was 
 made of the previous night's occurrence, and 
 Gloria was elated at the interest her brother 
 was displaying in business. A servant brought 
 the morning papers and handed them to him. 
 Fletcher had lain them aside. Gloria asked 
 petulantly, in the very loveliest of her pouting 
 manners : " Aren't you going to read them while 
 you eat? " 
 
 " No, dear," he said, " I'll see them later." 
 
 " But you must read them now," she pro- 
 tested. " In the pictures and fiction all business 
 men read the paper at the breakfast table. They 
 bolt their food and have a difficult time trying 
 to do the two things at once, but they never stop 
 reading the paper ! " 
 
 92
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 " That is only because they don't have you at 
 the table," he replied, as he gently kissed her 
 hair, bade her good morning, and joined his 
 secretary, who was then waiting for him in the 
 library. 
 
 Fletcher's shoulders were back, and the old 
 spirit of the game was upon him. How great 
 now the stakes ! Only time could tell. Some- 
 thing in Fletcher's quick stride brought the 
 secretary out of his chair instantly upon his 
 appearance. Fletcher thought from the way his 
 secretary arose that he would not have been 
 surprised should he have heard Floyd's heels 
 click together and have received a salute from 
 him. Fine such was the spirit of the employees 
 which he would need. 
 
 ;< Where to? " asked the secretary. 
 
 ' The Bank of the Western Hemisphere." 
 
 " They will not expect us, unless you permit 
 me to phone, sir." 
 
 " So much the better. Come along," directed 
 Fletcher. 
 
 Colston Floyd, the secretary, was having 
 instilled within him a new respect and admira- 
 tion for this quiet unassuming young man. This 
 Mr. Van Mortimor had a snap to him like a 
 twenty team whip. They settled back into the 
 car, which turned through a side street, and 
 glided down the avenue. 
 
 " Floyd," Fletcher spoke deliberately, as 
 though he were pronouncing some judicial 
 decision, firmly but after due consideration, 
 " I am taking over to-day these great business 
 interests about which, frankly, I know very 
 little. In the nature of things you may be of 
 very great service to me, since it is necessary 
 
 93
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 that men in my position have others of ability 
 on whom they can absolutely depend to present 
 conditions to them and to carry out their direc- 
 tions. 
 
 " My next few words will be on a very 
 delicate subject which will never be mentioned 
 to you again. This is man to man. Give me 
 your absolute, unstinted loyalty in every word 
 and act, which is something that no man can 
 buy, and in return you will receive more than 
 anyone else can give you." 
 
 His hand went out, and Floyd grasped it. 
 
 " Now, Floyd," said Fletcher, " just between 
 you and me, the wise old heads down in the 
 street, I imagine, have sized me up as a soft 
 young hothouse plant, who won't obtrude into 
 the business game very much, a sort of flabby 
 young mollycoddle who can be flattered and 
 cajoled along, and who will leave things for 
 them to run very much as they please. Under 
 all the deference that they will pay me, isn't 
 that so?" 
 
 Floyd gasped at this unexpected acumen and 
 frankness. " It would seem probable." 
 
 " Well," replied Fletcher, " they may be right, 
 so far as lack of ability is concerned, but they 
 are due to receive the shock of their dear old 
 hearts in other respects. To-day I begin to take 
 over the absolute management of everything my 
 estate owns, and you are going to have a very 
 active part in my affairs. How does this appeal 
 to you?" 
 
 " Splendid !" enthusiastically exclaimed Floyd. 
 " I think I shall get a great deal of personal 
 satisfaction out of my work." 
 
 The Bank of the Western Hemisphere is so 
 94
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 large that one does not look for it. He merely 
 finds the block it covers and looks for entrances. 
 If one should happen into this great bank with 
 less than five thousand dollars, and with proper 
 credentials ask to open an account, he would be 
 courteously referred to a remote end of the floor 
 which he would find was the Savings Bank 
 Department. If he should just wander on out 
 at the nearest exit, without depositing at all, 
 nobody would notice it. 
 
 Floyd was beginning to feel the leadership 
 of the suave and deliberate young man by his 
 side, and moment by moment was becoming 
 more enthused at being his lieutenant. The 
 secretary led the way proudly through the main 
 arch and across the great banking floor. The 
 private policemen on the entire floor suddenly 
 came to a standstill as if at attention upon the 
 sight of Van Mortimer's bodyguard, which had 
 been following closely. 
 
 At Fletcher's suggestion, Floyd led him into 
 the sombrely furnished offices of the widely 
 known James Wilkerson, president of the insti- 
 tution. 
 
 Mr. Van Mortimer's name opened wide the 
 door of the private office and those inside cut 
 short their business and left. 
 
 Mr. Wilkerson sat beyond a great desk, a pale 
 dynamic character. His Celtic features were 
 hardened by steely eyes which bored into you as 
 if he would first drill and explore the subject, 
 even assay the findings, before doing business. 
 
 For once, Floyd felt no trepidation in the 
 man's presence. Though he realised it was little 
 known, he already believed the stronger man of 
 the two was this quiet young fellow behind him, 
 
 4 95
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 his chief, to whom alone he was answerable. 
 Turning, the secretary stated : 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor, this is Mr. Wilkerson, 
 the president of the bank." 
 
 Wilkerson arose. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor, I am indeed delighted 
 to have you call on me, and to have you visit 
 the financial district." 
 
 " So am I," said Fletcher, " but I am afraid 
 you will find this is more than a visit. I should 
 thank you to assign a vacant office here for my 
 
 use." 
 
 " It will be a pleasure to do that," smiled Mr. 
 Wilkerson, and raising his voice slightly, he 
 said : " Mr. Jones." 
 
 There entered a sleek man, about forty-five, 
 whose sole business was ever to be present when 
 needed and ever unobtrusively in the background 
 when not of some service. 
 
 " Mr. Jones, prepare the private offices in the 
 east wing for Mr. Van Mortimor, who will use 
 them immediately until he can choose rooms 
 which may be more to his personal taste." 
 
 Mr. Wilkerson looked quizzically at Fletcher, 
 analysing him to the best of his ability, dissect- 
 ing the character of this very rich young man 
 who expatriated himself and then came down 
 here so much like a bolt out of the blue. He 
 might be a little difficult to handle, but his looks 
 read the contrary. " Clay in the moulder's 
 hands," his true thoughts ran along, the while 
 he was outwardly suave and friendly. 
 
 " I shall look forward to having you here as 
 much of your time as you can possibly give the 
 institution. It will pleasantly recall to me my 
 associations with your father when he was 
 
 96
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 chairman of the board of this bank, and I know 
 you may grow to be of great service to all of 
 us." 
 
 " Mr. Wilkerson," said Fletcher, speaking 
 calmly, and fully realising the shock his words 
 would convey, " there is an annual meeting of 
 the stockholders for the election of officers next 
 Tuesday, the twelfth. 
 
 " On that day I shall become the chairman 
 of the board of directors of this institution, 
 and in the meanwhile, I shall pass upon the 
 merits of the officers who will be continued in 
 office, including yourself. I might say, in justice 
 to your incumbency, that I have no reason up 
 to the present to resist your re-election." 
 
 Wilkerson's face went red, and then in a 
 strained effort to be polite, he stammered : 
 " But, Mr. Van Mortimor, you have not had 
 an opportunity to learn the banking business. 
 You cannot understand the purport of what you 
 say are your intentions." 
 
 " If you are to remain the nominal head of 
 this institution," calmly stated Fletcher, " your 
 first obligation and loyalty is to the owner of 
 the majority of the stock, which happens to be 
 myself. If I am to have any doubt on this 
 score, I may have to reconsider my original 
 inclinations in your instance. Do you wish to 
 continue? If so, you will, of course, carry out 
 my policies in this bank." 
 
 ' You took me off my feet, Mr. Van Mor- 
 timor," spoke Mr. Wilkerson, thinking hard and 
 fast. " Of course, I have no other desire but 
 to serve your interests." 
 
 " I am sorry to have startled you," smiled 
 Fletcher. " I am very grateful to you for the 
 
 97
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 efficient administration of the institution, but 
 we must have no misunderstandings. Please 
 believe that there is no personal ill-feeling in my 
 actions. 
 
 " I am sorry that I do not even know you. 
 What I do know is that I understand your 
 position, and I am being perfectly frank with 
 you so as to dispel any illusions which you 
 may have about the control of this bank. If 
 you will have your man direct me to those 
 offices you have so kindly put at my disposal, 
 I'll get to work." 
 
 The president conducted Fletcher down to 
 the east wing and into several rooms with high 
 ceilings, out of which the files and departmental 
 belongings of the last occupants were being 
 hastily removed. 
 
 Then the banker apologised that several 
 appointments were awaiting him and withdrew, 
 very glad to remove himself for some serious 
 contemplation of the situation. As soon as he 
 could think coherently, he reflected : " Here is 
 the devil to pay! Who could expect that lad 
 to assert himself, and out of a clear sky take 
 over the whole blooming bank. Before I could 
 formulate any personal plans, he frankly and 
 openly challenges interference." 
 
 He sat chagrined and dumbfounded. Then 
 the hard, designing look somewhat faded from 
 Wilkerson's face. Reminiscences crowded upon 
 him. Before him swam a vision of the adamant 
 old man, Phelps Van Mortimor, blustering 
 ahead, countenancing absolutely no interference. 
 
 "Who says the character dies out? By gad, 
 it's inherited! He's a real chip off the old 
 block. At that, I'd rather follow the true spirit 
 
 98
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 in the boy than have somewhere underfoot a 
 white-livered insult to the grand old man." 
 
 Fletcher walked to the end of the suite, which 
 was a large room constituting one of the corners 
 of the building. He noted with pleasure that 
 there were several exits without going through 
 his suite. 
 
 Taking a seat at the large rosewood desk in 
 the centre of the room, he stated simply : 
 
 " This will be my private office. Now, Floyd, 
 the next one is yours. Step into it and close 
 the door." The secretary did so. 
 
 " Mr. Floyd," he spoke, slightly raising his 
 voice. 
 
 The door opened instantly and in came Floyd, 
 advancing respectfully. 
 
 " Fine," said Fletcher. " It works perfectly. 
 Now we are ready for business. Funny, isn't it?" 
 
 Noticing his secretary's strained look of doubt 
 and indecision as to just how he should reply, 
 Fletcher added : " When we are absolutely alone, 
 just feel free to be your natural self." They 
 laughed heartily as the tension was relieved. 
 
 " Now, old top, get several under-secretaries 
 for me. Handpick them, and fill the office with 
 help as our needs require. By the way, I am 
 getting in a nice little playmate for you who 
 will be my only other confidential man. His 
 name is Bullard Bland, and if you and I ever 
 run short of nerve he has quite a reserve supply 
 on hand. 
 
 ' You know, Floyd, I believe a gentleman can 
 get anywhere he wishes in this business game 
 if he has, at certain critical times, a good enough 
 roughneck to help him along. Our little play- 
 fellow \\ ill be well qualifier 1 " 
 
 99
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Fletcher looked about him appraisingly. All 
 was well so far. Evidently, the president of the 
 bank had capitulated. No suspicion of his true 
 identity there. 
 
 Fletcher knew that to carry out his role, there 
 must be no vacillating. The true Van Mortimor 
 could be procrastination itself and vacillate as 
 much as he wished, but not so with the under- 
 study. He knew he must be a strong man. 
 Wherever interference loomed, he must assert 
 himself. At the slightest sign of opposition to 
 his power, he must attack strike fairly, but 
 straight and quickly, right from the shoulder, 
 and thus inspire fear, that greatest of all levers 
 in human endeavour, to work in his favour. 
 
 Grasping his hat, Fletcher opened one of the 
 other exits. It led him into the main hall. 
 Retreating to the rear of his large private room, 
 he opened another door which, to his pleasant 
 surprise, led down a private stairway. 
 
 Crossing the street and ducking through a 
 building which he knew very well, he slipped 
 into a telephone booth, after having ascertained 
 that booths on both sides were empty. 
 
 " Fall 8960," he gave the operator. 
 
 As he expected, the operator rang a couple of 
 minutes before there was an answer. 
 
 "Hello?" 
 
 "Hello to yourself, Bullard. Here's a little 
 message that is going to wake you up thoroughly 
 before noon and result in your coming out of 
 bed every morning." 
 
 " Hello, Edmond, what's happened to you ? " 
 
 ''' It's important that you forget that. Do 
 exactly as I tell you. Make yourself as present- 
 able as possible and come to see Sigmond Van 
 
 100
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 Mortimer at the Bank of the Western Hemi- 
 sphere at two o'clock. I've fixed it up and you'll 
 be cordially received. Can't tell you any more 
 in a hurry. Good-bye." 
 
 Another nickel dropped in the telephone, and 
 he called his office, through the bank. A 
 pleasant, courteous voice answered him. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimer's office." 
 
 " Van Mortimor speaking, put Floyd on, 
 please." 
 
 " Yes, sir. Permit me to say I am your phone 
 operator. Your switchboard and direct lines 
 will be installed by one o'clock, and your number 
 is Beaver 10. Mr. Floyd, sir." 
 
 " That is excellent, thank you. Hello, Floyd. 
 Invite Wilkerson to join me for lunch at the 
 Financiers' Club. Phone me there if it is really 
 inconvenient for him to come." 
 
 Turning into a great building, he shot sky- 
 ward. The car door opened and he stepped 
 into the Financiers' Club. A few times he had 
 dined there with a member incidental to some 
 brokerage service which he was rendering, but 
 he had eaten there more in the nature of con- 
 serving the member's time than as a guest. 
 Now he came purely for effect and he did not 
 worry much about being remembered. 
 
 Striding into the main dining-room, the head 
 waiter approached him. 
 
 " A table by a window," he ordered, as the 
 captain started to speak. 
 
 The captain led him to a good table, slightly 
 perplexed. This young man evidently belonged 
 in the atmosphere, but he had to be careful. 
 Hopefully he asked : 
 
 "Are you dining with someone?" 
 101
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 ' Yes, I am expecting Mr. Wilkerson of the 
 Western Hemisphere." 
 
 ' Yes, indeed, sir. May I be of any further 
 service, sir? " 
 
 " No, thank you," and Fletcher noticed that 
 the captain had been called to the foyer. 
 
 Two strange, heavy-set gentlemen had just 
 peered into the dining-room. The young billion- 
 aire recognised them as in his own entourage. 
 Shortly Wilkerson came puffing in, slightly red. 
 
 " You know," he said chuckling, " you young 
 rascal, it is decidedly inconvenient for the presi- 
 dent of the Western Hemisphere to lunch on a 
 moment's notice, but I couldn't pass up the 
 opportunity to be the first to introduce you over 
 here. By the way, am I to understand that you 
 are going to take detailed active charge of the 
 bank?" 
 
 " Oh, no ! " replied Fletcher. " You and the 
 other executives who draw salaries for doing 
 that are going to execute the policies of the 
 bank. I am just going to direct major policies." 
 
 As he had planned in advance, Fletcher was 
 introduced in the club by Wilkerson, an un- 
 doubted sponsor, and he left with his luncheon 
 companions knowing he was well established in 
 the Financiers' Club. 
 
 Striding back to the bank, old Wilkerson 
 unconsciously found himself taking considerable 
 pride in his young companion. Several times 
 he detained him to present people they met. The 
 old financier began to feel again the memorable 
 days when the lad's father swayed the district. 
 His step became more sprightly and he felt the 
 more animated. It was really as though twenty 
 years had been stripped from his life. 
 
 102
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 Fletcher entered his office. Here a magic 
 change had come about. Through a half-open 
 door, a battery of stenographers were rhythmic- 
 ally at work. Through another door he could 
 see an accounting department in full swing. He 
 passed the office boy and stepped into his secre- 
 tary's office, where several alert men arose and 
 were presented by Floyd as new secretaries. 
 After which his first secretary explained : 
 
 " We hope to present you daily summaries 
 and weekly digests on all your enterprises." 
 
 " Excellent," declared Fletcher, passing into 
 his office and seating himself at the large desk, 
 by which a stock ticker buzzed cheerily for him. 
 " So far, so good," he concluded. Swinging 
 about in his chair, he slightly raised his voice. 
 
 " Mr. Floyd." The door opened and silently 
 Floyd came to his side. 
 
 " Do you think we do this ' come hither stunt ' 
 in just the approved fashion? " 
 
 " Perfectly, sir," smiled the secretary. 
 
 " Human nature revels, you know, in the 
 symbols of power," he sardonically stated. 
 " Now we are ready for big business. Arrange 
 appointments as quickly as ypu can for some 
 partner in Alexander, Cromwell & Klaton, 
 Attorneys, to call here; also Morton, of Morton, 
 Keene & Company, brokers. Then in quick 
 succession, have the presidents of all railroads, 
 banks, and other institutions in which I am 
 interested, present themselves here so that I may 
 impart to them my administrative plans for the 
 future. 
 
 " Don't make it too harsh on those who find 
 it inconvenient to come at once, but instantly 
 put an operative on the trail of anyone who 
 
 103
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 isn't anxious to see me in these offices, and 
 shadow his every movement, wherever he may 
 be. Of course these measures are precautionary 
 only." 
 
 Floyd, the secretary, who had been making 
 notes in shorthand, respectfully withdrew, softly 
 closing the door behind him. He moved 
 reflectively and he was going over minutely 
 everything that he had done since this harmless 
 appearing but gimletlike intelligence had arrived 
 in America. He was concentrating his mind in 
 an attempt to marshal any suspicious circum- 
 stances which would indicate that he himself 
 had already been checked up. As he called up 
 one man after another in making the perfunc- 
 tory appointments, his mind raced along doubt- 
 fully scrutinising his own conduct. 
 
 Finally Floyd opened up some personal papers 
 which had been carefully secreted, and in a fit 
 of what he believed profitable virtue, destroyed 
 two options on advantageously located real 
 estate which had cost him a pretty penny. 
 Taking out his wallet he extracted and also 
 destroyed quite a large cheque which had come 
 to him in absolute secrecy in return for merely 
 using a bit of favourable influence. 
 
 Meanwhile in the reception room a large 
 heavy set man with a very bland and innocent 
 face had appeared. It was obvious that his 
 clothes had been freshly pressed. He had just 
 hastily partaken of a combination breakfast and 
 luncheon at a porcelain-topped table restaurant. 
 
 What on earth Sigmond Van Mortimor could 
 desire of him was beyond his horizon. The 
 office boy was out at the moment. The man 
 sauntered to the window and glanced out. He 
 
 104
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 peered carefully into the adjoining offices. Then, 
 to occupy his mind, he nimbly estimated the floor 
 space covered, and speculated on how he could 
 move the business to another location to the 
 owner's and his own mutual profit. 
 
 Returning to the reception room desk, he saw 
 a book in which the boy kept a record of callers 
 and miscellaneous messages. Carefully looking 
 about and listening, he deftly glanced through 
 the book. He had no ulterior motive, merely an 
 uncontrollable curiosity forced him to do so. 
 
 His insatiable curiosity had led him into so 
 many embarrassing situations that his experience 
 had made him adept in getting out of them. 
 When caught, such plausible excuses blandly 
 flowed from his tongue that you could not 
 believe your own eyes. Only many repetitions 
 of strange acts could teach you not to discuss 
 them at all with him, for if you did he would 
 surely get the better of the argument. He was 
 watchfully going over the contents of the record 
 book when suddenly, behind him, he heard : 
 
 " You are Mr. Bullard Bland." 
 
 Though slightly surprised at being identified 
 so readily, he retained presence of mind to drop 
 a newspaper which he was carrying over the 
 record book. As he turned about, with his hand 
 he closed the book under the newspaper. Facing 
 around he encountered the out-thrust hand of a 
 very businesslike young man, who greeted him. 
 
 " My name is Floyd. I am Mr. Van Mor- 
 timor's secretary. Take Mr. Eland's name in 
 to Mr. Van Mortitnor," he addressed the boy 
 who had returned to his desk. 
 
 Bland, unobserved, pushed the paper with the 
 book under it into the position where he had 
 
 105
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 found the book, and, not in the least perturbed, 
 picked up his paper while Floyd was addressing 
 the boy. 
 
 Floyd was somewhat surprised to see the 
 book where it belonged, and closed. " Maybe 
 Bland wasn't reading it at all," he mused. As 
 soon as the boy could return, they were ad- 
 vancing into the inner office. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor, Mr. Bland," announced 
 the secretary as he quietly withdrew. 
 
 " Jumping Jehosaphat," thought Bland, as he 
 looked at Mr. Van Mortimor, who was idly 
 letting the stock tape run through his fingers as 
 he glanced at the quotations. The very image 
 of Edmond Fletcher was before him. 
 
 Could this possibly be Edmond Fletcher? If 
 so, he sat near the throne. Many had been the 
 times when a few dollars had been legal tender 
 between them, even quite a favour when passed 
 from one to the other. 
 
 Though radically different in personal traits, 
 Edmond Fletcher was the best friend he ever 
 had, and he would trust him implicitly. Edmond 
 Fletcher, thought Bland, always admired an 
 artist whenever he found him in art or business, 
 and openly confessed that he, Bland, himself, 
 was truly and artistically distinguished for sheer 
 nerve and chicanery. 
 
 " Well," spoke this Mr. Van Mortimor, as he 
 looked up from his desk and the tape, " I am 
 indeed pleased to know you from the sterling 
 qualities that my friend Mr. Fletcher attributes 
 to you. Kindly sit Tiere by the desk, where I 
 can watch the tape while I talk to you." 
 
 Fletcher wanted to get Bland in a position 
 where he could look at the tape part of the time, 
 
 106
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 so as to hide his expressions, when necessary, in 
 conversing. 
 
 Mr. Bland was comfortably seated. Turning 
 quietly upon him, Fletcher began : 
 
 " As my friend Edmond says, ' Full many a 
 flower is born to blush unseen.' But it is 
 possible that your latent ability may, around 
 here, find very vehement expression ! " 
 
 Bland was completely perplexed. This young 
 man looked identically like Edmond Fletcher, 
 and had about the same voice. He spoke 
 familiarly of Fletcher. But there was too vast 
 a gap between Edmond Fletcher, his friend, and 
 Sigmond Van Mortimer, one of the wealthiest 
 men in the world ! His mind simply could not 
 bridge it. Anyhow it was more expedient to 
 consider young Sigmond Van Mortimer to be 
 himself as his secretary Floyd had done, and 
 not to try any monkey business. 
 
 " My friend Mr. Fletcher phoned me this 
 morning," Bland respectfully stated, " saying 
 that you wished to see me. As I have implicit 
 confidence in him I shall appreciate an oppor- 
 tunity to be of service." 
 
 " Mr. Bland," said Fletcher, " from the news- 
 papers you are doubtless aware that I am just 
 taking up the reins of business. I need a few 
 unusually dependable men to help me run my 
 business a little better than the average." He 
 looked full in Eland's face and spoke seriously. 
 
 " In Edmond Fletcher I have found nearly all 
 the ability I need to conduct this business in that 
 way. He believes in you, which means that I 
 do. You are offered one thousand dollars a 
 month to start, and if you live up to my 
 expectations there will be advancement for you. 
 
 107
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " No further investigation of you is necessary, 
 as I know all about you, even down to the fact 
 that an hour ago you got out of bed and had 
 your suit pressed, which is still warm upon you. 
 You will note that everything is done thoroughly 
 around here. Can you give me your services 
 f ull-heartedly, and at once ? " 
 
 Bland felt like answering with the question, 
 " Can a duck swim ? " But, realising that he 
 had better not deal in any merriment where so 
 much was at stake, he simply gasped, " Yes, 
 indeed ! " 
 
 Fletcher extended his hand. 
 
 " You are now one of my confidential secre- 
 taries, who will report solely to me." Again he 
 looked seriously with a deep appeal into Eland's 
 countenance. 
 
 " Unusual loyalty is necessary. Keep in the 
 strictest confidence what you learn around here, 
 and do not discuss any opinions that you may 
 have with anyone but me." Reaching into his 
 wallet, he handed Bland some large bills : 
 
 " Just a little advance to relieve you of any 
 financial worry. Even though you may not 
 understand what my plans are, may I always 
 depend upon you? Will you and can you keep 
 the faith?" 
 
 Bland awkwardly grasped his extended hand. 
 
 ' You bet I can ! " he exclaimed feelingly. 
 
 ' You are through for your first day," an- 
 nounced Fletcher. " Come in the morning when 
 you feel like it. Just do as you please, but 
 always let me know where I can reach you 
 during business hours." 
 
 Bland arose and walked in a puzzled manner 
 toward the door. Twice he turned and half 
 
 108
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 opened his mouth to speak. Each time the 
 inscrutable Van Mortimer had his eyes fixed on 
 the tape which was flowing through his fingers. 
 
 He was absorbed in the prices on the little 
 stream of paper because he did not dare look 
 at Bland again lest he disclose his true identity. 
 
 At the door, Bland turned and declared : 
 
 " This fellow Fletcher and I were pretty close 
 to one another. We went through some rather 
 tough places together and he never failed me. 
 We got so that in ordinary conversation with 
 others we could convey messages to one another 
 and answer them without being understood. If 
 he asked me to risk my life for him I could not 
 refuse him. Your confidence in me and your 
 resemblance to him inspires the same loyalty." 
 
 The door closed and Fletcher released his 
 eyes from the message of the stock ticker. 
 Good old Bland ! With all his faults he stood 
 out alone among a million. This would surely 
 do for one day. Although two news services 
 had flashed over their wires his advent into 
 business, his stocks were closing firm. Bidding 
 the office force good night, he descended to the 
 street. As he stepped into the elevator, two 
 plain-clothes men came in and no one else was 
 permitted to ride down in the same car with 
 him. Getting into his motor, he turned his 
 thoughts to home and Gloria. 
 
 When he entered the apartment, Gloria begged 
 him to accompany her for tea with some friends 
 at Meirre's. He delighted her by accepting, 
 and as they went along he quickly sketched the 
 day's business. 
 
 " You are my partner," he declared, " and 
 everything must be agreeable to you." 
 
 109
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 She followed his recital, necessarily curtailed 
 in some respects, with breathless interest, and 
 was particularly excited over the forthcoming 
 encounters with some of the railroad presidents 
 whose families she knew personally. 
 
 " I forgot to tell you," she exclaimed as the 
 car stopped. " We are having tea with the 
 count about whom I told you, and a charming 
 young lady. I'm sure she will prove interesting 
 to you." 
 
 Count Rononotski and Myrtle Marbleton were 
 in earnest conversation as they entered. Under 
 no circumstances would Miss Marbleton have 
 relished the count as a husband, for she was too 
 familiar with the Continental conception of 
 women, but she sincerely liked him and, as his 
 friend, nothing would have pleased her more 
 than to see him married to Gloria. 
 
 Not that she was in any way sure that this 
 could be effected, for Miss Van Mortimor was 
 very attractive, outside of her wealth ; yet Gloria 
 was quite young and, Myrtle guessed, rather 
 susceptible from the guarded and yet orphanlike 
 wav in which she had been reared. The dash 
 and gallantry of the count had its appeal, not 
 to mention his old world polish. Moreover, the 
 woman who married the count would grace an 
 authentic title which ran back to the time of 
 Charlemagne. 
 
 Myrtle understood the count perfectly, in- 
 cluding his impetuous and sensitive nature, for 
 he had proposed to her most ardently very 
 shortly after they became acquainted. 
 
 As they came forward the count arose and 
 bowed. Myrtle smiled her pleasure, which was 
 redoubled by meeting Sigmond Van Mortimor 
 
 110
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 under such fortunate circumstances. 
 
 After Fletcher was presented they sat down, 
 with Myrtle on his right. In her he found the 
 complete typification of impersonality. She could 
 scarcely be blamed for her excessive artificiality, 
 for she was merely the natural result of her 
 environment. 
 
 At Meirre's you found the idle set. That 
 small distracted mob who suffer from ennui. 
 Most of its habitues have become purely imper- 
 sonal impersonal in that the family ties and 
 qualities of loyalty and faithfulness which 
 ordinarily distinguish and promote character in 
 the individual have been broken so often that 
 such sentiment is totally lacking. The majority 
 of the young men and women are the offspring 
 of divorced parents, not once discarded but many 
 times. 
 
 What ordinary people take as permanent and 
 serious family ties, marriage, death and even 
 births- are not touched upon seriously in their 
 set. Such things are just incidental, for no 
 attachments are stable. The backwash of all 
 this is that one's social affairs are rather hectic, 
 and Myrtle Marbleton only knew life as she had 
 seen it. 
 
 She regarded love as a divine feeling, of 
 course never to be denied because it was so rare. 
 A sort of heavenly will-o'-the-wisp that came, 
 but, according to experience, never lasted. But 
 one could always take that in some way when it 
 arose. In the meantime one must marry so 
 well that she could not possibly lose by it when 
 the inevitable reckoning came. 
 
 Though distinguished men appealed to her, 
 wealth was the better balm in the inevitable 
 
 111
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 dark days to come. On account of her own 
 status the eligible men in point of wealth were 
 few in her estimation. Her grandfather had 
 made an enormous fortune in mining out West 
 in the early days, and since the property was 
 willed to her, she had the fortune and its accu- 
 mulations. 
 
 But Sigmond Van Mortimor was truly desir- 
 able in this respect, and more than that, he was 
 distinguished by birth. 
 
 She now sat intimately conversing with him. 
 Here was a mate worthy of a golden Amazon. 
 The count and Gloria were exchanging some 
 polite inquiries across the other corner of the 
 table. 
 
 " I suppose you find America rather stupid? " 
 asked Myrtle, casting a very sympathetic look 
 upon Fletcher. 
 
 " Why, no, I rather like it," smiled Fletcher. 
 Her face, breast and arms pallid with powder 
 rather appalled Fletcher at first. Myrtle used 
 no rouge. Only a splash of crimson outlined 
 her mouth. Her hair was drawn tightly against 
 her head and it was a beautiful corn colour. 
 Her eyes were blue, deep and wide, made up 
 with heavy mascara. 
 
 There was a certain feline beauty about her 
 which first struck him forcibly, then grew upon 
 him. He felt an air about her which said to 
 him plainly : " I make myself up in this way 
 because I like the supernatural. I should feel 
 undressed without it." To accent her exotic 
 voluptuousness, she wore a black silk gown 
 which showed the contour of her body with any 
 little movement. 
 
 As though she could almost understand his 
 112
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 viewpoint about their native country, she pouted. 
 
 " It is so strange how New York grows on 
 one. I always desire to be away until I am 
 ever so far away. Then I wish suddenly to 
 come back here. I have cancelled trips in the 
 Orient for no other reason than to hurry to 
 New York. I can understand how you feel 
 now, when you have been away so long. But 
 do you know what I would do when I got here?" 
 
 " What would you do ? " he asked politely. 
 
 " I would go away again somewhere, probably 
 back where, no doubt, I had just left. That is 
 the trouble with me, I always want to be some- 
 where else. Like Baudelaire, I seek a blue 
 dahlia or a black poppy. I do not like people 
 who are contented. You, for instance, are 
 discontented, aren't you?" 
 
 The sudden question rather startled Fletcher. 
 
 " On the contrary, I have every reason to be 
 happy," he replied. 
 
 " That is just it : you have every reason to 
 be happy, but you aren't ! I thought it might 
 be just America, but it isn't," she languidly 
 affirmed. " Oh ! All worthwhile people fight 
 something. I merely fight ennui." She sighed; 
 her hand ever so gently touched his upon the 
 table and a dreamy look came into her melting 
 eyes with a wan little smile. Her lips were 
 slightly pursed up as though she were asking 
 for a kiss. A strange thrill ran through him, 
 and he felt the emotions of those mediaeval 
 ascetics who had visions of unearthly infernal 
 beauty succubi and enchantresses. 
 
 He quickly glanced at Gloria, and to his 
 horror she was gazing blankly at them. 
 
 " Certainly, my dear count," spoke up Gloria 
 113
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 so that they both might hear. " You must call 
 on me often in the city. I am sometimes a little 
 lonely, particularly at this season in town." 
 
 Count Rononotski was a handsome young 
 fellow of about thirty, quite a little younger 
 than the average nobleman who comes here. 
 One could not help liking him. He was erect, 
 showed military training in his aristocratic bear- 
 ing, and was yet so pleasant and unassuming 
 that you felt he was truly descended from those 
 to whom nobility had been unconscious second 
 nature for centuries. He was a Pole who had 
 lived so long in Paris that he spoke with a 
 French accent. 
 
 " Ah, mademoiselle" he cried, " you over- 
 whelm me with pleasure! Only to-morrow 
 afternoon will I phone asking your indulgence." 
 
 At last they arose to leave. 
 
 " Whenever you have the opportunity," lan- 
 guidly purred Myrtle, "I shall be very pleased 
 to receive you, Mr. Van Mortimer. Interesting 
 people are truly so rare ! " 
 
 He thanked her graciously and they sought 
 the car. As they turned out of sight, Gloria 
 huddled up in the far corner of the seat and 
 appeared engrossed in the scenery. Fletcher 
 could feel her attitude as if they were in tele- 
 pathic communication. 
 
 " Let me tell you more about business," he 
 parried. 
 
 " I do not care to hear it ! " 
 
 "Why not, Gloria? Have I offended you?" 
 
 " That woman flirted with you ! " 
 
 "I couldn't admit that," replied Fletcher. 
 " But even if she did, would there be any great 
 harm done if your brother paid your friend a 
 little attention?" 114
 
 THE ARENA OF BUSINESS 
 
 There was no answer, but before they arrived 
 home at their playhouse, he noticed her covertly 
 glancing at him several times, her bright eyes 
 twinkling. 
 
 He went immediately to his rooms to dress. 
 Hardly had he entered them than he received a 
 radiogram : 
 
 SS. LEVENGARIA. 
 Mr. Sigmond Van Mortimor: 
 
 Park Avenue, 
 
 New York City, U.S.A. 
 
 Arriving on the Levengaria Wednesday. We are 
 ready to confer with Dr. Bates. 
 
 DR. CARON BENSONHURST, 
 DR. RANDAU MARTEL, 
 DR. HENRI LANDEAU, 
 DR. JOHN MARTIN. 
 
 What could these four old world physicians 
 want with him? He felt no little uneasiness. 
 Medical men are most often the kindest of 
 fellows, but Fletcher had a horror of the pro- 
 fession. A mere physical examination was as 
 far as he had ever voluntarily gone. But this 
 smacked of surgery to him. Why were these 
 specialists crossing the ocean? Had they treated 
 him abroad? Did this, by any ghastly chance, 
 have anything to do with Gloria's terrified and 
 inexplicable remarks about his " queerness " 
 when they had last been visited by the weird 
 unearthly noise. 
 
 With many misgivings he showed Gloria the 
 radiogram at dinner. 
 
 "Ah!" she cried hopefully. "You will be 
 happy now. They will surely be able to help 
 you." 
 
 It was not a comforting reply. Fletcher, who 
 115
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 desired neither help nor any change in his 
 status, winced. 
 
 " Dr. Bates to speak to you, sir, on the 
 phone," announced Parkins. 
 
 Even as he went reluctantly to the phone, he 
 guessed the doctor's purpose. 
 
 ' Yes, Dr. Bates. Is it about the men on the 
 Levengaria ? " 
 
 " Quite so," came the physician's voice. " I 
 have made arrangements to spend to-morrow in 
 conference with them, which will give us time 
 to go into the matter thoroughly. Can you 
 come down to my office to meet them, let us say 
 day after to-morrow, at ten in the morning? " 
 
 ' That will be fine," muttered Fletcher. 
 * Thank you." He hung up the receiver, no 
 wiser and very definitely no happier than 
 before. 
 
 116
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 ASSEMBLED in the offices of Dr. Wendell Bates, 
 were four eminent physicians : Lord Caron 
 Bensonhurst of London, Dr. Henri Landeau of 
 Paris, Dr. Randau Martel of Vienna, and Dr. 
 John Martin of Bombay. Dr. Bates had can- 
 celled all other engagements, and he greeted 
 them most cordially. 
 
 After the usual courtesies of the introduc- 
 tions, Lord Bensonhurst became the speaker for 
 the coterie and began : 
 
 " Dr. Bates, as you pointed out in calling this 
 conference, since the age of fourteen, Sigmond 
 Van Mortimer has been attended by one or 
 another of us, so that our services make a com- 
 plete history of his amazing case." 
 
 " Yes, indeed, and it is a pleasure to have 
 you gentlemen here," said Dr. Bates. 
 
 " As it is important that we first discuss the 
 unusual history of the case, I shall relate my 
 experiences with the patient. Mr. Van Mor- 
 timor was put under my care when he was 
 about fourteen years of age and attending the 
 Dexter Academy at Highhampton. Even at 
 this early age he had a great income at his 
 command. His surviving parent, Phelps Van 
 Mortimor, had just died, and his guardian, 
 
 117
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Thomas Montfort, the eccentric New York club- 
 man, now deceased, lavished money upon the 
 youth, Sigmond, as America's young prince. 
 
 " Strange to say he caused no particular 
 trouble at Dexter. There was one predominating 
 point in his character. He only seemed really 
 interested in those things in which he could 
 excel all others. 
 
 " In English, for instance, he composed weird 
 imaginative stories which, without quite offend- 
 ing, shocked and thrilled his masters. This 
 delighted young Mortimer. Having the best of 
 worldly possessions, he was not much concerned 
 about the average thing; he always wished the 
 superlative. 
 
 " Sigmond reminded me very strikingly of 
 what I had read of Alexander the Great, for 
 he, too, was an heir to an empire in a way, and 
 somewhat of a prodigy. I often wondered what 
 trend this strange young man's mind would take 
 when he really came into his own. 
 
 " Having finished the course at Dexter he 
 matriculated at Christ College, Oxford. About 
 this time he developed an inclination to be 
 eccentric. Sigmond gave fantastic dinners and 
 entertainments in which his talented friends 
 collaborated with him. Some of them were 
 quite spectacular, as it wasn't necessary to spare 
 expense in producing anything. 
 
 " The first concern was occasioned by his 
 attitude toward the World War. Even after 
 America entered it, he was completely indifferent 
 to patriotic sentiment which raged so high 
 during those times. However, he expressed no 
 opinions, did not make himself obnoxious, and 
 in no way interfered with the patriotic activities 
 
 118
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 of the American corporations in which he was 
 such a large stockholder. 
 
 " Van Mortimer withdrew from the univer- 
 sity about the time he was twenty-two years of 
 age and went to Switzerland. Here in his lodge 
 at St. Remo he lived until the Armistice. Dr. 
 Landeau visited him frequently at St. Remo and 
 he will continue with his observations." 
 
 Dr. Landeau bowed. 
 
 " It is to say most extraordinaire, the case of 
 this young man," he began. 
 
 " I saw Mr. Van Mortimer frequently, and 
 we became very friendly, despite his opinion 
 that physicians were just sublimated sanitary 
 engineers, and that cures were only the result of 
 nature striving to correct itself. 
 
 " Probably this was due to the fact that I 
 have always been predominantly a psychologist, 
 treating the mind primarily. I think he liked 
 me, too, because I originated the expression, ' A 
 man is as his desire,' and established a school of 
 thought founded on that principle. 
 
 "When I first met him at St. Remo he had 
 gathered up the leading cubist artists from 
 Berlin and Vienna. He felt that their mad 
 design and violent splashes of colour were a 
 veritable discovery in a world burdened with 
 such a monotony of conventional hue and shape. 
 
 " At the beginning he had the rarest of 
 delicacies at his table, but this was not overdone, 
 as he was in no sense a gourmand on mere food. 
 Another cause for his not developing a great 
 appetite was that he became an incessant cigar- 
 ette smoker. He claimed that the cigarette was 
 the true tobacco of a dilettante. 
 
 " He soon came to have only a cup of coffee 
 119
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 for breakfast and scarcely more than a sandwich 
 and a glass of something or other for lunch. 
 ' I can show anyone how to reduce,' he would 
 say. ' Just smoke sixty cigarettes a day and 
 you can't eat much. Consequently you will get 
 thinner.' 
 
 " In some unfathomable way he succeeded in 
 getting a powerful airplane in those war days, 
 and late at night, when no one knew about it, 
 he would have his pilot take him to some great 
 height over Swiss territory and then at this 
 dizzy altitude circle out over the warring 
 countries. Needless to say I was very appre- 
 hensive of his safety. 
 
 " He held long and intimate conversations 
 with me, for he really was profoundly concerned 
 with the working of the mind which is my 
 speciality. 
 
 " You see, gentlemen, this young man had had 
 the best of all there is in the world, and 
 anything he had never had was so easily obtain- 
 able at his command, that he was fast losing 
 all interest in life. Continually he sought an 
 incentive for interest in living and he had only 
 met with disappointment. We who struggle for 
 our daily bread, the necessities or luxuries of 
 our life, as the case may be, cannot realise the 
 monotony of a highly sensitive nature who had 
 nothing at all for which to exert himself. 
 
 " One day, as I was dining with him in St. 
 Remo at the Cliff House, this strange youth 
 informed me that he believed in no reality save 
 that of the senses. 
 
 " ' There is no truth or reason in religion,' he 
 told me, ' and so its strongest converts become 
 fanatics religious fanatics, as they are properly 
 
 120
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 called, and get untold happiness out of it. 
 Religious fanaticism is a form of sensualism. I 
 could never become a silly religious fanatic, a 
 narrow little religious sensualist; but I could 
 become a sensualist; that is a broad word and 
 implies a lot. Life may not be over, and I may 
 be very happy before I die and am lost in 
 oblivion.' 
 
 " He beamed, happy as a child with a bright 
 new toy, for ideas were really his playthings; 
 his great wealth quickly translated his thoughts 
 into realities if he wished it. I argued the 
 wantonness of his inclinations, yet little did I 
 guess how far they would carry him. His only 
 answer was to say dramatically : 
 
 " ' I think my day has come ! ' And then he 
 added sardonically : ' How would you like to 
 follow me to Paris? ' 
 
 " Like yourself, Lord Bensonhurst, I could 
 only follow him. I am a physician, not a dis- 
 ciplinarian. The war had been over some time, 
 and Paris was dissipation-mad as France re- 
 covered from its grievous wounds. Most of its 
 virile young men lay under the soil. 
 
 ' Van Mortimor took apartments at the Ritz 
 and a house befitting a prince on the Boulevard 
 Martin. The hotel was used only as a formal 
 address. He lived his remarkable life at the 
 house on the boulevard. How well do I remem- 
 ber the mansion ! The floors and woodwork 
 were done in black, and its costly furnishings 
 stood out against this background as jewels in a 
 casket. 
 
 " He began to live the gay night life of Paris. 
 He attended the theatres for no other purpose 
 than to pick out interesting women who in some 
 
 121
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 manner appealed to him. After obtaining their 
 names, those were invited to his house; and they 
 invariably came. Of course he had to be 
 introduced to the more important night life 
 favourites, but they soon vied among one 
 another for his favour. 
 
 ' Van Mortimer was ever a gentleman and 
 the master of the situation. If a woman did 
 not like him, there was no apparent emotion 
 on his part; he did not pursue her, thanks to his 
 theory that every woman could be duplicated in 
 a more desirable person. 
 
 " Van Mortimor's cellar was stocked with 
 rare wines and the best caterers in Paris were 
 constantly in his employ. He gave dinners with 
 a few close men friends as guests, and flocks of 
 the most beautiful women in the city as both his 
 guests and entertainers. 
 
 " I was often present at these affairs in a dual 
 role. Mr. Van Mortimor wished me there 
 because the services of a physician were likely 
 to be required; and I personally endeavoured to 
 be with him as much as possible to guard his 
 health. 
 
 " If Mohammed were living he would no 
 doubt have considered some of these evenings a 
 fitting representation of his paradise. In the 
 house was a dancing room with a black marble 
 floor. This had been polished to such smooth- 
 ness that one could dance upon it without any 
 apparent effort. The walls were hung with 
 black silk and one wall was a perfect represen- 
 tation of that side of the room, but was actually 
 a silk screen behind which the musicians played. 
 
 " There was no furniture, just rose velvet 
 cushions scattered about on the floor for the 
 
 122
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 audience. The light came evently distributed in 
 any colour desired through a transparent ceiling. 
 Have you ever seen pink young flesh dance 
 against black marble ? " 
 
 The other physicians were leaning forward 
 deeply absorbed in this development. 
 
 " How do you account for these highly artis- 
 tic but startling affairs being kept so quiet?" 
 questioned Dr. Bates. 
 
 " The price of Mr. Van Mortimer's favour 
 was absolute silence," explained Dr. Landeau. 
 " He followed strict logic in this as in every- 
 thing else. Men friends of the women were 
 never admitted. The few close personal friends 
 of Mr. Van Mortimer who were present did not 
 wish publicity and the women were always mere 
 playthings and feared to talk because they knew 
 they would be ostracised from the house. 
 
 " Epicurean little dinners were served ; the 
 appetite was goaded with the most enticing of 
 vintages at each course. Gowns were provided 
 by him for all the women, and costumes for the 
 dancers. And since all would expect to be too 
 stupefied to leave, bedrooms were provided for 
 all guests. The bedrooms for the women in- 
 variably had black silk sheets. The beauty 
 which came there was ever seductively displayed. 
 In short, he fast became a libertine. But I 
 suppose this bores you- " 
 
 " No," Dr. Bates objected judiciously, " we 
 should know as much as possible about this 
 case. It certainly varies considerably from my 
 rather conventional practice here," he smiled. 
 
 " My patients are so phlegmatic," spoke up 
 Lord Benspnhurst. " I can scarcely conceive 
 of an Englishman taking to vice so delicately." 
 
 123
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " A little of the spirit of India was there," 
 ruminated Dr. Martin with a drowsy look in his 
 eyes. 
 
 " Yes, there was," went on Dr. Landeau. " I 
 cautioned Van Mortimor it might lead to the 
 occult, but he only replied, ' What if it does ? I 
 wish thrills and will seek them wherever I can.' 
 
 " After dining, all would repair to the salon 
 de danse and arraying themselves about the 
 walls of the dancing room on the cushions over 
 the polished marble floor, the evening would 
 begin. Every conceivable liquor and vintage 
 was at command and passed freely. 
 
 " But it was an unwritten law of the estab- 
 lishment that anyone who showed the signs 
 of offensive drunkenness must withdraw. The 
 penalty of the slightest infraction of this rule 
 was that they could not come again. But an 
 amiable and quiet drunk was welcome. Some 
 of the agreeable and gentle souls succeeded in 
 being deep in their cups from arrival to depar- 
 ture without losing the least of the festival. 
 
 " The full voluptuous appeal of nude bodies, 
 the infinitely more sensual refinements upon 
 female nudity which lies in semi-dress, and all 
 the artifices and subtleties of feminine allure- 
 ments were brought to play upon this young 
 man that he might be thrilled." 
 
 " Excuse me, gentlemen," interrupted Dr. 
 Martin, " I suppose we forget our hunger on 
 this case, but can't we eat while Dr. Landeau 
 talks? It is nearly three o'clock." 
 
 Good-naturedly laughing, they went over to 
 a neighbouring restaurant, where, securing an 
 isolated table, and cautioning one another not 
 to mention the young man's name, Dr. Landeau 
 resumed : 124
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 " For a short while he lived a high and joyous 
 life. Since I had no control over him I trusted 
 that soon he would become nauseated with all 
 this courtesanship. But he applied a certain 
 amount of ironical reason to it which worked 
 wonders in sustaining the spirit of the whole 
 thing. He never gave a woman valuable gifts, 
 and if one ever became mercenary he dropped 
 her instantly. 
 
 " He did not object in the least to parting 
 with gifts as he could so easily afford it, but he 
 believed it a poor way to try to hold a woman. 
 Beautiful women love those who gently dis- 
 courage them and even mistreat them but withal 
 gently. His theory was that you must first 
 interest them in some way, be very understand- 
 ing and sympathetic, and then artfully give them 
 some plausible reason why you do not want 
 them. Properly handled they would always be 
 at your beck and call. 
 
 " He offered a woman, for a few days or 
 nights as suited his pleasure, all the luxuries of 
 wealth. Splendid exotic amusement, the best of 
 dress, food and wine, the utmost realisation of 
 luxury for the time she visited him. It was 
 something rare to these women to know that 
 they could drop in for a little of this sort of 
 thing. 
 
 " Ably generalled, this life continued under 
 its own momentum for a couple of years. The 
 affairs which he gave well rivalled the debauches 
 of Alexander that you suggested, Lord Benson- 
 hurst. But along with our culture, since that 
 time, we have developed refinements in our vices 
 which the ancients did not know. All these 
 were added to Van Mortimor's entertainments. 
 
 125
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Cocaine and morphine were at first surrep- 
 titiously slipped into these repasts to stir their 
 jaded emotions after their appetites for food, 
 wine, and voluptuousness had become dulled. 
 As I protested violently, I simply found myself 
 excluded from these gatherings, and as I 
 scarcely wished to call in the police, I could only 
 hope to do something for him if the opportunity 
 presented itself. 
 
 " Rapidly becoming a connoisseur of every- 
 thing that interested him, Van Mortimer quickly 
 ran through the use of morphine, opium, and 
 had his fling at practically all drugs in domestic 
 use. But ever he sought the thrill which was 
 unattainable. 
 
 " Soon he became a confirmed drug addict, 
 much as I strove to prevent it. During this 
 period of his residence in Paris, he seemed to 
 get the greatest happiness out of the eating of 
 opium. Although as a matter of fact he usually 
 took it in the form of laudanum mixed with 
 wine. Often in talking with me his remarks 
 growing rather disjointed he would sit sipping 
 from a tall wine-glass. An analysis of the 
 dregs showed that he had his system sufficiently 
 saturated to take a thousand drops of laudanum 
 at a sitting." 
 
 " Amazing," murmured one of the others. 
 " Pardon proceed, doctor." 
 
 " As he had often stated before about his 
 earlier exploits, he would now claim that he 
 found absolute happiness in the fruit of the 
 poppy. 
 
 ' Everything you know or do, or that I have 
 experienced, is trivial, doctor,' he would say, 
 ' compared with the delights I experience in this 
 
 126
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 potion. After I have just gradually and properly 
 sipped this mixture of the divine poppy, care 
 slips from me as a cloak. 
 
 " ' There are unfolded vast cities of crystals 
 through which I wander with a continually 
 expanding ego. Exquisitely beautiful buildings 
 so translucent that you may look into them, out 
 of them, or through them, so unreal and yet so 
 delicately perfect they are. 
 
 " ' Legs, arms and body vanish from me as 
 impeding baggage. My inner self expands until 
 I throb with the universe and am wafted here 
 and there as I wish, all-perceiving and omnipo- 
 tent. 
 
 " ' At other times I float tranquilly on a 
 placid silvery stream at perfect content, at 
 absolute peace, until I am rested in body and 
 soul while celestial music is wafted to me from 
 some realm beyond. Then I wish to attain that 
 bourne, and, as in this delectable state, the wish 
 is father to the act, I feel myself beginning to 
 float down this ethereal stream. Ah, the sublime 
 ecstasy of it ! 
 
 " * As the music grows louder, bringing me 
 nearer, and the glittering sheen on the stream 
 ever changes, I pass vast primordial forests on 
 either bank in which little white monkeys and 
 blue parrakeets play, while gorgeous huge 
 parrots strut and gently f(y on their yellow 
 wings. 
 
 " ' Then ahead, where I cannot see, I hear 
 great volumes of water falling, falling, falling, 
 and I realise with pleasant anticipation that I 
 am soon going over a prodigious waterfall, to 
 shoot to great depths in worlds of rushing water 
 and frothy spray. Exultantly I await the plunge 
 
 5 127
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 while my way cannot but lead to the dulcet 
 music which floats from this Utopian beyond. 
 
 " ' Ah ! At last I poise on the brink of this 
 great waterfall; the soft green boughs, the 
 monkeys and the bizarre parrots fade out, and 
 I plunge onward to my goal. Miles and miles 
 I shoot downward, head first, accompanied by 
 tons of grey and white spray, mid roar, and 
 silvery tintinabulating glamour keeping time 
 to my pulsating thoughts. 
 
 ' I am dropped downward, breathlessly at 
 times, for hours and hours, and after an in- 
 determinable period of time shoot upward in a 
 vast expanse of cascades. Great multi-coloured 
 jagged rocks are all about me, and the waters 
 storm them and churn me about to my unutter* 
 able delight. To my excruciating pleasure, I 
 am dashed against a great pinnacle here and 
 some sharp rock there, but I am not injured and 
 feel no pain, for I am invulnerable. 
 
 ' Above it all I hear the sweet chorus of 
 sirens ever calling and am washed out on a 
 broad gentle stream which, after my floodlike 
 baptism, takes me as a fresh clean spirit on its 
 broad bosom onward toward the sweet notes 
 from the paradise which beckons. On and on 
 I float in a happy but melancholy and deferred 
 hope. Years and years I seem to go, until I 
 am emptied into mighty oceans. 
 
 " ' But, oh, my dear doctor, I do not reach 
 the heaven of desire which calls so plaintively. 
 I have gradually increased my laudanum until I 
 am taking as much as I believe any human has 
 ever drunk and lived, but, doctor, though I 
 travel farther and farther I cannot reach the 
 music which ever floats so sweetly to me/ 
 
 128
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 " A look of abject sadness passed over his 
 face. I moved over and wiped from his brow 
 the large drops of sweat which always accom- 
 pany such deep opiate intoxication. 
 
 ' Van Mortimor usually took cocaine when 
 travelling, because he found it convenient to 
 carry in powdered form. This I most dreaded, 
 as it kills the finest instincts quickly, and dread- 
 ful crimes often follow its use for the reason 
 that it absolutely deadens the conscience. 
 
 " He never was able to attain the other shore 
 in his poppy dreams. However, he took so 
 much opium in an effort to reach the seductive 
 strains that he got so there was a sound of a 
 torrent of waters rushing at all times in his 
 ears, whether he took the drug or not. To get 
 rid of this, and also to ward off the intense 
 sufferings which had begun to fasten on him 
 in the relapses after intoxication, he resorted to 
 strange stimulations. 
 
 " Once I called upon him and found a tank 
 of ether by his bedside, and each time he came 
 out from under its influence he would reach for 
 the tube and administer some more of it to 
 himself. I was informed that he had taken a 
 fancy for this while visiting a dentist. By this 
 time women were completely forgotten. He 
 was well on the way to what he termed the 
 superlative thrill, and mere humans had lost 
 their charm. 
 
 " One night I came in to call as usual and 
 found him gone. On the library table were 
 many books on narcotics opened usually at some 
 reference to the drug hashish. I was informed 
 that he had left for India. I asked the American 
 Consular Service in India to look him up. Dr. 
 
 129
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Martin can tell you what happened in Bombay." 
 
 They arose from the table and repaired to 
 the office of Dr. Bates, where the conference 
 went on. Dr. Martin reported a weird tale : 
 
 " The first thing that I knew of this case was 
 when the American consul asked me to call 
 upon Mr. Van Mortimor at the Taj Maraj, a 
 hotel in Bombay. Upon presenting myself at 
 his suite I was received by a princely Hindu, 
 who courteously asked the nature of my call. 
 I explained, and while I waited I noticed that 
 everything was Oriental. All European furni- 
 ture and small evidences of English habitation, 
 even such things as the little personal effects of 
 an Anglo-Saxon traveller, had been removed, 
 and substituted therefor were all the evidences 
 of a high caste Indian residence. The object of 
 my call had, I feared, succumbed to the subtle 
 influences of occult India. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor received me in an ad- 
 joining room. He reclined on a couch, dressed 
 in the robe of a high caste Brahman; and the 
 only respect he paid my greeting was to raise 
 himself slightly on his elbow. He was partially 
 under the influence of some drug, which one, of 
 course, I could not just then determine. He 
 moved his eyebrows superciliously and languidly 
 spoke : 
 
 " ' To me the most pertinent thing about you 
 is that you are a white man. What could any 
 white man require of me?' 
 
 " ' Mr. Van Mortimor,' I hastened to explain, 
 ' the American-consul here, at the urgent request 
 of your people, has asked that I see that you 
 have every attention/ 
 
 " ' Ah/ he drawled. ' Every attention. What 
 130
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 a word ! Of what aid could any white man be 
 to me? I tell you that I have drunk the cup of 
 the white man's civilisation dry, that it is all a 
 monotonous routine of viciousness, disguised as 
 virtue, law and order. Everything your kind 
 can offer I have exhausted, and there is no thrill 
 left for me in your vaunted culture.' 
 
 " I looked around very carefully and, believing 
 that I would not be overheard, I declared 
 quietly : 
 
 " * I think I understand. The spell of India 
 is upon you. I know these people. The occult, 
 the magic, the philosophy, and the whole in- 
 sidious atmosphere has been my work-ground 
 for years. Be careful. No white man can ever 
 really penetrate and understand all these mystic 
 things, and it all may end very disastrously for 
 you. Just take my friendship on trial; it may 
 prove very helpful at times, especially should 
 you wish to avail yourself of a possible exit 
 through me.' 
 
 " He acquiesced to a very limited degree in 
 my request. On condition that I never try to 
 deter him from his determination, except on his 
 specific command, he admitted- me quite freely 
 to see him at nearly all times. 
 
 " He fraternised with the leaders of the 
 various esoteric religions and philosophies in 
 which India abounds; and, to my surprise, he 
 was received on unusually intimate terms by 
 these men. Of course this was in his lucid 
 intervals, as a large part of the time he was so 
 abjectly under the influence of drugs as to be 
 lost to any intelligent communication. As you 
 know, a great number of these men are very 
 worthy, and, strangely enough, he associated 
 
 131
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 with the highest as well as the lowest caste, the 
 best as well as the most weird sects. Nobly 
 born princes and philosophers met such lowly 
 and outcast characters in Van Mortimor's rooms 
 that they could not deign to touch what they 
 had touched, but each had his appeal and in 
 return was attracted to his host. 
 
 " In pursuit of his drug mania, he soon 
 became a slave to hashish. He smoked it, 
 chewed it, and drank it in all its various forms. 
 At first it was highly pleasurable to him, and 
 then its various inevitable effects began to work 
 upon him. 
 
 ' There were subjective sensations of mental 
 brilliance which greatly delighted him. The 
 dark brownish-green colour of the various con- 
 coctions of hashish and its faint peculiar odour 
 were now ever about him. As I so often warned 
 him, the pace he was setting could only lead to 
 such a torment that nothing known could ease 
 his pain and raw senses. 
 
 " In association with the morbid element from 
 which he procured his drugs he became intrigued 
 with the marvellous tricks which the fakirs per- 
 petrate. With an uncanny instinct for these 
 unexplainable things he delved into their mys- 
 teries, mastered many of them and created 
 several of his own for their edification. 
 
 " One day, I think to shock my Anglo-Saxon 
 ideas, he arranged a most astounding reception 
 for me. When I called upon him, he was lying 
 on the couch in his bedroom where I was accus- 
 tomed to find him. I noticed that the surface 
 of the couch was higher than it had previously 
 been, and that he- had a silken spread drawn 
 over himself. He asked me to remove the 
 
 132
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 spread, and, to my horror, I found him peace- 
 fully reclining on a bed of sharp spikes. 
 
 " ' Mr. Van Mortimer, get up,' I expostulated. 
 ' Don't you know that even if you can stand the 
 pain, you may become poisoned from that sort 
 of thing?' 
 
 " Quickly coming to the centre of the floor, 
 he asked me to examine him for injuries that 
 could cause pain. There was not a blemish on 
 him. I examined the bed of spikes for some 
 support, but could find none, even pricking my 
 finger on one of the needle sharp points. How 
 he did it I don't know. 
 
 " ' There, doctor/ he gloated. ' You are cer- 
 tainly egotistical to think you can help me when 
 you do not understand a little thing like that. 
 Now leave me while I take repose,' and he 
 crawled back on the spikes. 
 
 " One day when I called he had the large 
 central room darkened, and a Hindu appeared 
 with a rope. 
 
 " ' Observe closely, doctor/ Van Mortimer 
 remarked. The Hindu threw the rope into the 
 air and, hand over hand, ascended it, passing 
 through the place where once there had been a 
 ceiling. Gentlemen, as far as I could make out, 
 he disappeared into thin air. Although Van 
 Mortimer permitted me to flood the room with 
 light, I could not explain it. ' Now, doctor/ he 
 asserted, ' if you think that was a mere trick, I 
 shall do it myself/ and he threw a rope upward. 
 It stiffened like a pole. Hastily I assured him 
 that it wasn't a trick not because I believed 
 what I was saying, but because in his enervated 
 condition I knew he would try it, and I didn't 
 want the results on my hands. 
 
 133
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 1 Doctor,' he would say, ' I could tell you 
 things which I know, things I can do which 
 would be so incomprehensible to you that it 
 is foolish to discuss them. So much for the 
 physical side. But, doctor, far greater things 
 can I do through the mind.' 
 
 " About him always were vast piles of books. 
 He was ever a prodigious reader, and now his 
 mind ran to the occult. Always under the 
 influence of drugs, I did not doubt that these 
 sayings were the outcroppings of his vaporous 
 dreams. 
 
 " ' I can murder with fear alone/ he would 
 exclaim, and then, his face softening, he would 
 say, * and I can build paradises with love alone/ 
 
 " I would let him ramble along, the poor 
 fellow. Hashish was his besetting sin. In his 
 deliriums from this drug, he emitted a curious 
 weird noise or song. He called it the cry of 
 ultimate desire, a yearning cry for that super- 
 lative thrill which he could never find. Finally 
 this sound became so unendurable that the 
 management of the hotel requested his rooms. 
 Though he had taken much empty space in 
 every direction to keep from disturbing other 
 guests, the weird blood-congealing air became so 
 harrowing and penetrating, in the small hours 
 of the night, that many guests departed from 
 the hotel at most inconvenient hours and would 
 accept no excuses. 
 
 " Van Mortimor suddenly left for the wilds 
 of Africa, where he hoped to find that the 
 heart of nature still heat undisturbed by the 
 mechanisms and customs of mankind. It was 
 erroneously supposed, and we were practically 
 compelled to announce, that he went there to 
 
 134
 
 HIS LURID PAST 
 
 hunt big game, but, as you know, I accompanied 
 him, and I tell you he made this expedition to 
 study wild animal life. Days without end he 
 stalked animals to study their habits, to learn 
 from them, he said, the springs of fundamental 
 emotion. 
 
 " Wild men would come from miles to hear 
 his weird cry at night when he occasionally gave 
 vent to it. The surrounding jungle was infested 
 with a rapt audience of head hunters and wild 
 beasts drawn in from all directions by the 
 inhuman incantations. Van Mortimer's soul- 
 rending notes struck a responsive feeling in the 
 breast of the savage. 
 
 " As his interest in Africa faded after a year 
 or so, he drifted back to civilisation with an 
 English crony he had met, Sir Archibald 
 Cleavington, and you gentlemen, with the excep- 
 tion of Dr. Bates, recall all the incidents of our 
 Paris conference. 
 
 " In my estimation, though, the rough life 
 of Africa has strengthened his body. I think 
 almost any measures are warranted to save this 
 brilliant though strange young man, for with 
 the amount of drugs taken and dissipation which 
 lies behind him, I do not believe he will live 
 much longer, and if he does it may be in abject 
 pain and misery. Dr. Martel, in my estimation, 
 can alone permanently remedy his condition, if 
 it is possible to do so. What do you think of 
 his heart, Dr. Laudeau? " 
 
 " In a very weak condition naturally. It 
 requires now extreme stimulation to function 
 properly. I would not be surprised to see him 
 drop dead at any time. You know how it is 
 in these desperate cases. 
 
 135
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " I warned him, in Paris, and he replied that 
 it did not matter in the least whether he lived 
 or died. As he enjoys having you banter with 
 him, I said, ' Come, don't say that. Why not 
 emulate a cat and have the full nine lives ? * 
 
 " With the supreme ego of a hashish eater, 
 he took me very seriously and confided, 'Perhaps 
 I shall.' ' Dr. Landeau sighed. 
 
 These physicians then went into a deep 
 scientific analysis of the physical and mental 
 manifestations of this tremendously grave case. 
 The continental contingent as a unit insisted on 
 a drastic course of action. Dr. Bates alone had 
 divergent views, and the gallant old practitioner 
 stood out against them like an obstinate juror. 
 At last they adjourned to snatch a little rest 
 before the consultation with Van Mortimor 
 himself to-morrow.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 THE INQUISITION 
 
 AT ten o'clock Edmond Fletcher presented 
 himself at the offices of Dr. Wendell Bates. 
 The visiting physicians, Lord Bensonhurst, Dr. 
 Landeau, Dr. Martin and Dr. Martel, were 
 awaiting him grouped around the consultation 
 table. 
 
 He thanked his lucky stars that Gloria was not 
 with him. The exposure would very probably 
 occur here : this was the crisis. Instead of 
 welcoming it as his honest self prompted him 
 that he should, he sincerely hoped he could avoid 
 denunciation, for he felt chagrined that fate had 
 not permitted him to explain the matter in a 
 more gentlemanly manner to the lovely Gloria. 
 Now he was so far committed to his role that 
 exposure in any abrupt way would prove utterly 
 embarrassing. 
 
 A wave of surprise ran over the assembled 
 group as they first saw him standing in the 
 doorway, his cheeks aglow and the very picture 
 of health. 
 
 Lord Bensonhurst arose and extended his 
 hand, which Fletcher grasped in a hearty 
 fashion. He sensed that he should appear happy 
 to see them. 
 
 " You are looking well," said Bensonhurst. 
 
 " It is particularly to say so," gasped Dr. 
 137
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Landeau as he grasped both of his hands and 
 
 leaning far back jocularly peered into his face. 
 
 ' What is it you are taking now? Strychnine?" 
 
 Fletcher grinned sheepishly. Was he a dope 
 fiend? Well, they might have any opinion of 
 him they wished, as long as they thought him 
 Van Mortimer. 
 
 ,Dr. Martin insisted on taking him into the 
 full light of the window where he called to their 
 attention : 
 
 " We can all see the changes which are 
 wrought in the countenance of a man who has 
 pulled himself out of the occult." 
 
 ' The facial changes are quite considerable, I 
 imagine. My mind now seems quite clarified," 
 interjected Fletcher, thinking the doctor's re- 
 mark quite an opportunity for him to get in a 
 favourable word. 
 
 " One thing I would ask of you," cried Dr. 
 Martel. " Were the snakes in Africa so big as 
 those in your dreams ? " 
 
 Fencing shrewdly, he replied : 
 
 " It is hard to improve on nature." 
 
 Evidently among these physicians he was 
 passing as Van Mortimor. What a farce ! If 
 these great men could not distinguish between 
 two human beings, what havoc might not their 
 decisions easily create? 
 
 After their smiles at his last remark had 
 vanished, a look of solemnity came over them. 
 ., " Shall I state the result of our deliberations 
 and go ahead?" asked Lord Bensonhurst, look- 
 ing about. 
 
 They all nodded, and Dr. Randau Martel 
 added : 
 
 " This* apparent ruddy good health and the 
 138
 
 THE INQUISITION 
 
 flash of a normal mind only precedes that which 
 you can readily guess. I believe now that action 
 is imperative." 
 
 They all looked at Dr. Bates, who shook his 
 head in the negative; but he qualified his action 
 with : 
 
 " I am the only one who dissents. We must 
 be 'guided by what you say." 
 
 Lord Bensonhurst reached among some photo- 
 graphs laying face downwards and selected one 
 which he turned over. 
 
 " Here you see an X-ray of your head taken 
 two years ago you will recall, in Paris." 
 
 Pointing with a pencil : 
 
 " This is the cerebrum of the brain which 
 controls human thought. You see just above 
 the centre of it a small speck or spot. This was 
 not of sufficient purport to alarm us at the time 
 the picture was taken, as nearly every such 
 photograph shows these without serious conse- 
 quences." 
 
 Bensonhurst reached for another photo- 
 graph. 
 
 ' This is the X-ray which we took in Paris 
 before you sailed for this country. You will 
 notice that the speck has now grown as large 
 as a small pea." 
 
 The physician reached over for quite a large 
 photograph. 
 
 " This is the last photograph, magnified ten 
 times. You see it virtually becomes to us a 
 map of that part of your thinking apparatus, 
 and on this picture you see a large dark spot 
 with tell-tale darkness radiating from it along 
 all the little veins. It is spreading farther." 
 
 Fletcher was mildly elated that they were 
 139
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 letting the talk run along medical lines. It was 
 also very interesting and uncanny the way they 
 read maps of people's anatomy. He trusted he 
 would not have to take any treatments for 
 the other fellow's blemishes. The next words 
 shocked him to the core. 
 
 ' That is unquestionably a blood clot on your 
 brain," the doctor was saying kindly, " and you 
 must know the only effective treatment for it." 
 
 Fletcher was stupefied. Surely they would 
 not resort to any desperate measures upon a 
 man as well as himself. Yet how could he show 
 it without disclosing his identity? Bensonhurst 
 read the blank expression as a doubt of their 
 conclusions. 
 
 " These enlarged sections of the brain are an 
 open book from which your very thoughts, 
 inclinations, and future can be easily read. Let 
 Dr. Martel, whose reputation as a surgeon you 
 well know, give you a surprise about your own 
 thoughts and tell you what will happen if this 
 isn't taken in hand." 
 
 Dr. Randau Martel, the noted Austrian 
 surgeon, leaned on his elbows and began : 
 
 " I can only discuss this frankly. The clot is 
 unmistakable, and in time leads to a hemorrhage 
 and death unless it is arrested in its growth. 
 But in this case, far worse results than the mere 
 death of the subjecj; may ensue. The subject 
 in an attempt to satiate his mind with all known 
 thrills as this clot has grown, has practically run 
 the whole gauntlet of human emotions except 
 one kind." 
 
 He paused impressively. 
 
 " In my study of many similar cases, the most 
 atrocious criminal tendencies have invariably 
 
 140
 
 THE INQUISITION 
 
 cropped up before the actual breaking of the 
 clot. In the ignorant and poor, it takes the 
 form of brutal crimes, robbery and lust for that 
 which has been denied them. In the highly 
 cultured and rich where practically nothing de- 
 sired has been denied, atrocious criminal acts 
 are committed merely for the thrill in itself. 
 
 " The subject has run nearly all the gauntlet 
 of human sensations and thrills except this last 
 kind. He would probably at about this stage 
 begin a study of human emotions as he has. 
 His mind, previously concentrated on his own 
 thrills, would now delight in playing upon the 
 emotions of others. 
 
 " He might become a force for good in study- 
 ing, arranging, and classifying his knowledge of 
 the working of the human mind in short, he 
 might become a psychologist or criminologist. 
 More likely, however, he would wish to experi- 
 ence crime rather than to study the acts of 
 others. 
 
 " I would say that as soon as he got into this, 
 at any cost he would put some human being in 
 deadly fear of him and enjoy it in the same way 
 that a snake charms a bird, or a cat toys with 
 a trembling mouse. This form of thrill intoxi- 
 cation invariably leads to one result, the supreme 
 thrill of killing the victim after he has suffi- 
 ciently tortured him, just as the snake finally 
 kills the bird, and that is where the dreadful 
 
 crimes come in." 
 
 Fletcher was grasping the table, cold beads 
 of perspiration were forming on his forehead, 
 but the emotions which were sweeping him at 
 the moment were not actuated by worry about 
 anything of that nature which he might do. He 
 
 141
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 was beginning to fully understand some things 
 which had previously occurred. 
 
 Lord Bensonhurst spoke gently : " It is our 
 consensus of opinion that the clot must be 
 removed from your brain in the hope of 
 restoring your health and er saving your 
 mind ! " 
 
 Dr. Bates* leaned over to speak, but before 
 he could do so Fletcher, calmly weighing his 
 words, asked Dr. Martel : 
 
 ' This is a capital operation? " 
 
 ' You cannot touch the brain with impunity. 
 But the continuance of your condition forebodes 
 far worse results than what I must admit are 
 the grave risks of the operation." 
 
 Fletcher felt himself in the position of a 
 patriot who must charge the full blast of a 
 cannon. He had assumed the role, had already 
 accepted its rewards. A beautiful little girl 
 believed in him, and whatever happened, he 
 must avoid exposing her to ridicule, shame, and 
 disgrace. 
 
 But could he by any chance avoid exposure? 
 If he protested about this operation, they would 
 probably take new X-ray photographs of his 
 brain ; and Fletcher was too shrewd to hope that 
 the enlarged map of his brain would bear enough 
 resemblance to Van Mortimor's, when placed 
 side by side, to fool these trained physicians. 
 
 If no possible means of escape offered, he 
 would be confronted with the choice of under- 
 going this operation, or confessing outright. 
 He didn't know much about medical matters, 
 of course, but he guessed there was a chance 
 that the surgeon, finding the blood clot gone 
 and his brain apparently healthy, might not be 
 
 142
 
 THE INQUISITION 
 
 able to identify it as an imposter's. There was 
 also the very good chance that he would die on 
 the operating table. Here was a colossal gamble 
 with destiny, one to appal even as sporting a 
 spirit as Fletcher's. 
 
 Dr. Bates had been whispering to Dr. Martel, 
 who only shook his head. 
 
 Gloria's sweet little face came to Fletcher's 
 mind. He probably could never have her any- 
 how, but she alone was worth the risk of his 
 life. He would play the game to the very 
 end! 
 
 Fletcher looked straight at the great surgeon, 
 Martel, his eyes challenging him. 
 
 " Gentlemen," he said, " make your arrange- 
 ments. I am ready at your convenience." 
 
 Tears sprang into the famous surgeon's eyes, 
 and in an outburst of eccentric emotion, which 
 was characteristic of him, he wheeled upon his 
 associates with a burst of passion : 
 
 " Mein Gott, haven't you dummkopfs any 
 intuition? Such a history you give me of this 
 case ! Your stories suggest an enormously selfish 
 cad, a narrow degenerate, a licentious hog." 
 He glared at them. " If he were such, this man 
 would protest arrogantly at our decision." 
 
 Turning to Dr. Bates, he shouted, " I didn't 
 expect such heroism ! There's very fine stuff 
 here ! " 
 
 A smile of gratification was enveloping Dr. 
 Bates's features, which had been so tense the 
 moment before; and in his eyes was the light 
 of unmistakable pride about something. More 
 than ever Fletcher was convinced that this man 
 was his ally in some definite yet mysterious way. 
 
 " Gentlemen," Dr. Martel was saying, " please 
 143
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 forgive my rudeness. I am an old man, and 
 great heroism touches me deeply." 
 
 They smiled in their bewilderment, and made 
 no attempt to answer him, for they were accus- 
 tomed to his behaviour. Often it even proved 
 to have good reason, but they did not quite grasp 
 his full meaning this time. 
 
 Lord Bensonhurst arose. 
 
 " Dr. Martel, we shall now leave the case in 
 your hands. Sigmond, your complete surrender 
 to Dr. Martel's skill is going to be the turning 
 point in your life." 
 
 Adieus were said, and the old surgeon Martel 
 alone faced Fletcher and Dr. Bates across the 
 table. No words were passed for a few minutes. 
 Each man had his own thoughts, and no two 
 were alike. Each one was about to begin fencing 
 with words, and each wondered how to start. 
 
 To Fletcher, and well he knew to the depart- 
 ing physicians, this operation was a certainty. 
 Truly he was in high favour with all in the 
 conference, but in attaining their high esteem he 
 had committed himself to a dire risk. 
 
 " No wonder you are a great surgeon," spoke 
 Dr. Bates abruptly. :< I can see how your 
 seeming miracles are often due to a prescience 
 just a little above surgery. Dr. Martel, I am a 
 bit old-fashioned, and I have some set ideas on 
 this case. I believe by using only some sensible, 
 ordinary treatments I can bring Sigmond round. 
 
 " Each of these physicians," logically argued 
 Dr. Bates, " has had Sigmond in charge for a 
 long period, and according to their own stories 
 he has steadily grown worse. I have had him 
 a very little while, yet look at the remarkable 
 improvement. Do you think that within your 
 
 144
 
 THE INQUISITION 
 
 professional discretion you could see your way 
 clear to back me in a request, which I could 
 make at our dinner with them to-night a 
 suggestion that in all fairness I be allowed some 
 time to see what change I can effect in Sigmond 
 before this desperate operation should be 
 attempted? I might even further say that if 
 I am allowed this privilege, I am confident Mr. 
 Van Mortimer's recovery will be so rapid that 
 the operation will not be considered again." 
 
 The eminent surgeon raised his eyes from 
 Fletcher's face till they paused above the door 
 of the room, and suddenly he burst out laugh- 
 ing. Such were his traits, it seemed, tears and 
 laughter on the same subject matter. He looked 
 at Fletcher quickly and back at Bates. Again 
 he laughed heartily. 
 
 " Frankly, Bates," he chuckled, " I think you 
 are somewhat of an old fox. I do not care to 
 go into this deeper, and I don't think you wish 
 me to. I believe you have Sigmond Van Mor- 
 timor's welfare at heart." 
 
 He drew the X-ray maps to him and spread 
 them out contemplatively. 
 
 " Here is irrefutable evidence of the necessity 
 of a capital operation, and yet to act upon it, 
 backed by my profession and protected by every 
 law, would be little short of murder. On what 
 a thin thread often hangs momentous conse- 
 quences ! " 
 
 His keen eyes focused the two of them. 
 
 " Bates, to-night I shall recommend a post- 
 ponement of the operation, to give you your 
 chance; and tenderly I bury in my memory a 
 rare act of heroism. Further, the extreme 
 delicacy of this situation, and the very warmth 
 
 145
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 of my feeling for this young man, will ever 
 prohibit me from divulging certain opinions I 
 may have formed." 
 
 With a sweep of his hand he pushed the 
 photographs and data toward Dr. Bates. A 
 shake of Fletcher's hand and he was gone. 
 
 Fletcher and Dr. Bates were now alone. 
 Something of comradeship had grown up be- 
 tween them, and both experienced a sense of 
 great relief. 
 
 " Let's lunch," smiled the doctor wearily. 
 
 They passed out into the warm sunlight, 
 which seemed to soothe and caress Fletcher's 
 distracted nerves. He felt a profound sense of 
 gratitude to Dr. Bates. Across the luncheon 
 table he tried to express it. Why withhold 
 anything from his obvious ally? 
 
 " Doctor," he confided in a low tone, " I wish 
 to be honest with you. You know I am not 
 Van Mortimor, and " 
 
 A look of chagrined surprise came across Dr. 
 Bates's face as he stopped Fletcher's words with 
 an upraised hand. 
 
 " I have just staked my reputation," Bates 
 glared at him, " to save you from a dangerous 
 operation. You, Van Mortimor, have just risked 
 your life to remedy the results of your past. 
 Do you want me to change my mind and think 
 you are crazy?" 
 
 Fletcher reddened and remained silent, his 
 bewilderment overpowering him. Dr. Bates 
 fumbled uncertainly with a package which he 
 had been carrying. 
 
 " I have been pondering whether I should 
 give you this to read. Your remarks have 
 decided it ! " Now he nervously unwrapped the 
 
 146
 
 THE INQUISITION 
 
 parcel and handed Fletcher a great sheaf of 
 typewritten pages, which were bound together 
 into a book with heavy covers. 
 
 " This is a stenographic copy of the history 
 of your case as your physicians reported it. 
 Read it over and try to get your worst hallu- 
 cination out of your mind." 
 
 Fletcher took the medical transcript mutely 
 and tried no further confidences on the rather 
 delicate subject of his identity. What was, 
 what could be the doctor's motive and position 
 in all this? 
 
 Bidding the doctor good day, he called up 
 Gloria. Her sweet voice over the wire put the 
 warmth back into his veins. Stepping into his 
 car, he directed that he be driven to his offices. 
 
 Sinking into the cushions of the car bearing 
 him down town, Fletcher reviewed the day. He 
 had escaped a terrorising operation, but he had 
 added to his fears; for just as surely as he was 
 not Van Mortimor, the true Van Mortimor was 
 a horrible fiend, if alive. The thinking that 
 emanated from that spot on the brain which he 
 had seen might result in almost any horrible 
 tragedy for Fletcher. He shuddered to recall 
 Dr. Martel's analysis of what these degenerates 
 do. That Martel was a genius, who knew what 
 he was talking about. 
 
 All along, Van Mortimor had been running 
 true to form. The price which Fletcher must 
 pay for all that he was getting was beginning 
 to loom up. He looked out at the warm, sunny 
 streets. Soon the night would come and some- 
 where this arch fiend would be lurking, waiting 
 to pounce upon him; for from what Martel had 
 said, things would culminate rather quickly now. 
 
 147
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Martel had stated at all costs Van Mortimer 
 would play upon the emotions of his victim, 
 charming and terrorising him. Had he not 
 already begun it? 
 
 The car door opened with a click. He peered 
 out as if he were driving an old, ramshackle 
 car and had just thought he heard a puncture. 
 
 " Ah, yes," he reflected hastily, " the Bank of 
 the Western Hemisphere. I have some little 
 national affairs to look after here. Very well, 
 I'll attend to the business in hand." 
 
 148
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE FORGING OF A CHARACTER 
 
 BRISKLY Fletcher walked through the main floor 
 of the great bank as innumerable customers and 
 employees craned their necks at him. News 
 about the young man was spreading like wildfire. 
 
 The previous day Fletcher had disposed of 
 engagements with many railroad officials and 
 corporation presidents. His demeanour and 
 message had been about the same in each in- 
 stance, courteous but formal. To each one 
 whom he interviewed, he explained that at the 
 next regular meeting of the board of directors 
 of that particular corporation, he would become 
 chairman of the board and absolutely dominate 
 the policies of it. As they went out, each was 
 impressed by the fact that he was dealing with 
 a strong if inexperienced character in Van 
 Mortimor. 
 
 The interviews with the attorneys and his 
 new stockbrokers, Morton, Keene & Co., had 
 been deferred until after the conference with 
 the physicians, which he feared might obviate 
 the necessity of ever seeing him. 
 
 Floyd now informed him that he might expect 
 Mr. Morton over at any time. He glanced idly 
 at the stock tape. The market had not changed 
 perceptibly since he left the Street on that 
 auspicious day. Just a trading affair, was all 
 he could make out of it. 
 
 149
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Mr. Morton," announced his secretary. 
 
 " Mr. Floyd, have twenty-five thousand shares 
 of G. T. and X. out of the safe-deposit vaults 
 for delivery to-day," answered Fletcher, so that 
 Morton would have the full effect of it. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor," greeted Mr. Morton 
 as he observed Fletcher like a hawk. " I am 
 very sorry I intruded with my request to see 
 you on the roof of the hotel the other evening. 
 I am indeed pleased to know you, and I can 
 see how much more businesslike it is that you 
 wish to receive stockbrokers at your office." He 
 extended his hand. 
 
 Fine old Morton. Fletcher would very much 
 have liked to shake hands, but there were certain 
 necessary formalities that he knew he must 
 observe to impress this well-seasoned broker. 
 Not that he cared in the least, but he noticed 
 that the men he had been meeting, in deference 
 to his exalted position, did not offer to shake 
 hands unless he did so first. 
 
 " Just sit here," kindly motioned Fletcher in 
 a matter-of-fact tone. " I am very sorry I do 
 not shake hands. There is nothing personal in 
 my refusal, just a rule I follow for obvious 
 reasons." 
 
 Then in a businesslike manner he shot at the 
 canny broker : 
 
 " Can you unqualifiedly recommend Edmond 
 Fletcher, so far as his honesty is concerned ? " 
 
 " Certainly." Morton stared at him in patent 
 bewilderment. 
 
 " Well, I have some need for him that will 
 take him away from you indefinitely. I shall 
 give you a lot of stock business in return, which 
 you can credit to him, if the arrangement is 
 
 150
 
 THE FORGING OF A CHARACTER 
 
 agreeable. This to be strictly confidential, of 
 course." 
 
 " All the members of our organisation are at 
 your service on your own conditions," answered 
 Morton, who was already impressed by the 
 tremendous authority which this young financier 
 wielded. 
 
 This cold-blooded youngster certainly could 
 not be Fletcher. There was no human way that 
 he could fit into Van Mortimer's boots. Any 
 doubt in Morton's mind was soon dispelled 
 absolutely. 
 
 " I am sending over to you to-day twenty-five 
 thousand shares of G. T. and X. Sell it until," 
 the young financier's eyes sought the tape, " the 
 price reaches two points under the present 
 market, forty-one and one-half. That is in the 
 strictest confidence, which I will see how well 
 you can keep. There are, Mr. Morton, no blind 
 spots in the eyes of my organisation. I trust 
 you will excuse me now," he ended. " Please 
 pass out," he indicated the door into the hall, 
 "through the exit." 
 
 Morton quietly moved to the door, his manner 
 hushed by the spell of the great commissions 
 impending. 
 
 " One minute," called Fletcher, getting up 
 from his seat. * You know I must have very 
 great confidence in your good faith, to make you 
 my broker on what little I know about you. I 
 sometimes break a rule and indulge in what is 
 otherwise a time-wasting formality, when it 
 really means something. May I depend on your 
 strict loyalty to my personal interests? " 
 
 Morton would keep his word through great 
 personal hardships, Fletcher knew positively. 
 
 151
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Ah! What an organisation he was building! 
 
 The most that could be said of Fletcher was 
 that he was excellent material. 
 
 Ordinarily he would have stood out only a 
 little from the crowd as an idealist. That is 
 all. Now he found himself a boiling cauldron 
 of opportunities, and the tremendous forces 
 being brought to bear upon him were forging a 
 noteworthy character, just as with poor material 
 and its low ideals in the same potent surround- 
 ings, the great forces at work would have 
 produced a weakling, or more likely an explosion 
 of him. 
 
 Fletcher was unifying this great fortune into 
 an absolute one-man control, and very soon he 
 would have it working like a vast orchestra with 
 him wielding the baton. 
 
 He had decided that he would own nothing 
 short of control in anything in which his money 
 was invested. 
 
 He was checking up the prospects of each 
 such investment, whether to buy additional stock 
 at a fair price to obtain control or to sell his 
 holdings in such a company without sacrifice. 
 This G. T. and X. was an investment which he 
 wished to sell. 
 
 After looking over the day's correspondence, 
 he was surprised to find it getting late. He 
 grasped his hat and the book of papers which 
 Dr. Bates had given him. 
 
 Gloria was waiting in the library of the 
 " playhouse." How delightful it was to have 
 this lovely young creature so solicitous of his 
 coming and going. She was jubilant, radiant 
 with smiles about something as she threw her 
 arms about him and kissed his cheek impetu- 
 ously. 152
 
 THE FORGING OF A CHARACTER 
 
 She seemed relieved from some great nervous 
 anxiety and strain, and he wondered if she were 
 familiar with the happenings at Dr. Bates's 
 office, as he had been very careful not to alarm 
 her with these developments. 
 
 " Gloria ! You little minx," he asked, " with 
 whom have you been talking to-day? " 
 
 " No one would tell me much," she explained. 
 " When you slipped out this morning, without 
 seeing me, I knew you were eluding me for some 
 purpose, probably to spare my feelings. But, 
 Sigmond," she cried, " I couldn't let you go like 
 that. Those doctors might hurt you. They 
 couldn't love you as I do." She hugged him 
 tightly. 
 
 " I gave you time to get there and then I 
 went directly to Dr. Bates's offices. You were 
 in conference in an adjoining room." She looked 
 up defiantly. " I listened at the keyhole, not a 
 nice thing to do, but you are mine and I don't 
 care. I only heard snatches of the conversation 
 and I could not quite understand it all except 
 that they wanted to operate on you, and only 
 Dr. Bates stood up for you. 
 
 " If they had dared touch you," she exclaimed, 
 " I would have been right on top of them and 
 put a stop to it instantly. 
 
 " I did some good, though, I think. When 
 Dr. Bates was begging the surgeon to let him 
 have you for a while, with just you three left 
 in the room, I got on a chair, climbed up and 
 peered through the transom. I had such a hard 
 time doing it that I bumped my head on the 
 glass and looked directly into the face of that 
 old foreign doctor across the table. I jumped 
 down as quickly as I could, but I heard him 
 
 153
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 laughing and then I listened at the keyhole and 
 it was all right. He must have seen me and 
 known I meant trouble." 
 
 " Anyhow, it is all over now, little sweet- 
 heart," he laughed, not wishing to alarm her. 
 " I'll be all right, I know." 
 
 Gloria had mentioned that Myrtle Marbleton 
 and probably the count would be over that 
 evening. 
 
 Fletcher dressed, and seemed very absent- 
 minded until the arrival of the count and Myrtle 
 recalled him to his duties as host. 
 
 Shortly thereafter, the four of them drove 
 out to a very exclusive country club to dance. 
 Fletcher met a few people, but Myrtle contrived 
 to occupy most of his attention, which suited 
 him just as well. He would have much pre- 
 ferred to have retired early, but he was he 
 could not deny it jealously unwilling to leave 
 Gloria to the count. 
 
 Myrtle, whenever she was alone with Fletcher, 
 expanded her allurements more than slightly. 
 If you were interested in the amorous charms 
 of a seductive feminine body, Myrtle certainly 
 displayed them in ample measure. She believed 
 that the best and most potent appeal in woman 
 was purely physical. 
 
 If the mind could lend an air, create an 
 atmosphere for her polite courtesanship, so 
 much the better; but the major appeal lay in the 
 body itself and of this she was ever cognisant. 
 To her a woman was only as great as her allure- 
 ments. Certainly the army of men who marry 
 and otherwise go to perdition over women's 
 bodies, without any other appeal, would fortify 
 her claim. 
 
 154
 
 THE FORGING OF A CHARACTER 
 
 She knew the alluring value of perfume and 
 one could always detect the faint odour of a 
 mixture of amber and jasmine about her. She 
 was a well-bred, gentle and sophisticated siren 
 who under the guise of conventional manners 
 held forth the promise of the utmost of human 
 passion to a favoured one. 
 
 All this Fletcher recognised, as the types 
 run the same in every walk of life. Myrtle 
 maddened the senses to look at her, intoxicated 
 the gaze. Fletcher preferred to do this just 
 look at her; she interested him and was a 
 magnetic creature. 
 
 But unfortunately she insisted on talking, 
 which greatly interfered with his enjoyment of 
 her, for he had small sympathy with the fierce, 
 ruthless love of power, and domineering force, 
 which she unashamedly avowed. A certain 
 hardness came into her face as it broke into a 
 cynical smile. 
 
 " A little poodle dog comes along and the 
 men in the street kick it, but let a bulldog 
 approach and everyone gets off the pavement. 
 If I were a man I would be a bulldog," she 
 laughed. 
 
 Fletcher wondered at her utter sophistication, 
 and the very practical philosophy of ruthless 
 wealth which he knew gleamed through it. 
 
 His mind wandered to Gloria dancing with 
 the elegant nobleman. Her happiness was worth 
 more to him than all Myrtle could conjure up. 
 This beautiful little wisp of a girl pirouetting 
 out there with so charming a partner. He could 
 understand how mothers of heiresses would buy 
 such men. 
 
 " I like that darned count," reflected Fletcher, 
 155
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " he has caught something that I can't have, in 
 his absolute detachment from the struggles of 
 life, and if his charm can bring happiness to 
 Gloria, maybe it would be the better for her." 
 
 What could Fletcher give her, in comparison? 
 Actually the count could not be poorer than 
 Edmond Fletcher, and Edmond lacked even the 
 qualifications for congenial companionship in 
 which the polished gentleman excelled. 
 
 Shortly they moved homeward, and as 
 Fletcher left Gloria in the apartment, she made 
 a little wry face and exclaimed : 
 
 " Ugh ! You smell of amber perfume ! " 
 
 " Good night, countess," he rejoined, as he 
 dived for his rooms. 
 
 156
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 A STRANGE MISSION 
 
 IT had indeed been a strenuous day. Entering 
 his rooms Fletcher sought the comfort of a big 
 chair in the living room. 
 
 Idly the well-meaning usurper picked up the 
 volume of papers which Dr. Bates had given 
 him : the history of the case of Sigmond Van 
 Mortimor. Edmond Fletcher felt that he might 
 just as well familiarise himself thoroughly with 
 all the details of this elusive antagonist. Maybe 
 then he could better understand some of the 
 strange things in the past and defend himself 
 against the ones to come. 
 
 Deeply absorbed he ran over the first part of 
 the history. This Sigmond Van Mortimor had 
 intelligence, and Fletcher surmised that he him- 
 self was only the pawn in some great though 
 probably criminal scheme. 
 
 Only confinement or death would stop this 
 fellow's sinister activities; and even then the 
 occult, in which he had become an adept, might 
 be brought into play. 
 
 Narcotic drugs and the magic of India what 
 was there that he might not expect from this 
 monstrous libertine, who was playing with him 
 as a conscienceless cat with an interesting, 
 quivering mouse? 
 
 157
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Especially was this true if Van Mortimor 
 was wandering around somewhere near. Even 
 if he were dead, which would apparently end 
 further fear of him, hadn't he said to Dr. 
 Landeau, " Nine lives? Perhaps I shall." 
 
 At five minutes of eleven the next morning, 
 a silent, serious young financier, accompanied by 
 his first secretary, Colston Floyd, left his offices 
 and repaired to an impressive board room. Ten 
 minutes later, after adjourning this meeting on 
 his own motion, it was a new chairman of the 
 board of the great bank who returned to his 
 private offices. 
 
 He had scarcely spoken a dozen words. A 
 few formal introductions and a few crisp re- 
 marks. That was all. A man in his position 
 could not permit familiarity on short acquaint- 
 ance. The air was getting chillier as he 
 ascended the frigid heights, and Fletcher was 
 beginning to get the " feel " of great power. 
 
 Sitting at his large desk, with the doors of 
 his room tightly closed, he looked over endless 
 summaries and digests privately prepared. 
 Scarcely any communication or business report 
 came to him directly. Secretaries waded through 
 all matters and submitted just the kernels of 
 things. 
 
 From time to time a resolution of his election 
 to the chairmanship of another board of direc- 
 tors was laid before him. Other meetings that 
 day he didn't even attend, merely sent his 
 proxies with directions how they should be 
 voted. 
 
 Bullard Bland, duty-less and puzzled confi- 
 dential secretary, had meantime set himself one 
 duty. Just before he was so abruptly engaged 
 
 158
 
 A STRANGE MISSION 
 
 Bland had made a deposit of five dollars on a 
 great bargain in the way of a suit of clothes at 
 twenty-two dollars and a half. 
 
 This order he precipitately cancelled, and took, 
 in lieu of the complete loss of the five dollars 
 deposit which seemed to him akin to sacrilege 
 five pairs of dollar socks, as there was really 
 nothing else that he could now possibly use in 
 that cheap store. 
 
 He gave orders to some sartorial experts of 
 the Avenue, who promised to make his bay 
 window appear merely as an attic semi-sash. 
 But he felt an immediate crying need of getting 
 this personal atmosphere to invigorate him and 
 his surroundings, and he appeared at the most 
 exclusive ready-to-wear establishment in the 
 same locality. 
 
 Here he displayed some of his precocious 
 ability for handling a delicate matter most 
 admirably. He asked for the manager of the 
 store by name, having first ascertained that 
 before entering the store, and introduced him- 
 self. Naturally he was very favourably received. 
 
 " Mr. Chiltonwaggle," he stated, " my business 
 affairs take me all over the world, and it puts 
 me a little out of touch with the latest correct 
 thing in dress. I would very much appreciate 
 the favour of having a clerk assigned to serve 
 me who can be depended upon to supplement my 
 taste correctly." 
 
 Mr. Chiltonwaggle fairly gushed his delight 
 at receiving carte blanche, and did nobly. 
 
 Various coloured topped shoes with pearl 
 buttons struck deep and responsive chords in 
 Bland's heart; but he accepted spats without 
 a murmur. 
 
 6 159
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 On this Tuesday, while the great Sigmond 
 Van Mortimer sat at the big desk and took over 
 the complete responsibilities of vast corporations, 
 a new Bullard Bland had come into the secre- 
 tary's private office. 
 
 For this new man wore a suit of some won- 
 derful dark blue cloth which blended with the 
 colour of his Copenhagen blue eyes as though 
 a genius had experimented with all blues and 
 then triumphantly pointed out this harmony. 
 If his two hundred and twenty pounds of 
 avoirdupois had been melted and poured into 
 his clothing the fit would not have been more 
 perfect, nor would the weight have been half 
 so well concealed. A grey tie of just the right 
 shade and light grey spats completed the picture. 
 
 Much earlier than Van Mortimor's arrival 
 Bland had tossed his cane into the corner of 
 his office and adjusted the flower in his button- 
 hole. For once he had foresworn the tempting 
 couch, early as it was. He simply hadn't the 
 nerve to muss the clothes. At times he could 
 not help but harbour secretly the idea that this 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor was in some inexplic- 
 able fashion his old friend Edmond Fletcher. 
 
 When this Mr. Van Mortimor came in he 
 diffidently presented himself the first time at 
 the door. Without any change of expression 
 Fletcher, with his mind engrossed, only shook 
 his head. 
 
 Several other times during the day, at various 
 intervals in Fletcher's strenuous efforts, Bland 
 tried to attract the young magnate's attention. 
 Each time, however, Fletcher had only looked 
 at him kindly but absently, with a shake of the 
 head. With a firm conviction settling upon him, 
 
 160
 
 A STRANGE MISSION 
 
 Bland at last sank into his chair at his desk. 
 There he soliloquised : " I know positively now 
 that not in any way on earth could this fellow 
 be Edmond Fletcher. He would have fainted 
 if he had ever seen me dressed like this." 
 
 It was getting after two o'clock. Fletcher 
 notified Floyd that he would not take up any 
 further business that day. 
 
 Edmond's face gradually softened. " I'll give 
 Van Mortimer all there is in me," he mused, 
 " but I'll not work long hours. Lots of relaxa- 
 tion, that's the thing that makes you hit hard 
 when you do work." 
 
 As he slackened up he felt a vague loneliness 
 in his high position, a yearning for friendship, 
 for real companionship, for someone he could 
 talk to without his thoughts being betrayed. 
 Such warm and true hearts would be hard to 
 find up here in the land of the frigid financial 
 heights. Then his thoughts turned to Bland, 
 good old Bland, with all of his faults, yet one in 
 a million. 
 
 " Mr. Bland ! " He slightly raised his voice. 
 
 Mr. Bland was nodding at his desk. He 
 could not sleep in those clothes without the fear 
 of disarraying them. The best he could do was 
 to indulge in a very deep reverie. Quickly 
 Bland looked about him. Could it be possible 
 that at last he was wanted? That there might 
 be even the faint semblance of a hope that he 
 be given some little service to perform? He 
 peeped into the great financier's room, only half 
 believing. Yes, indeed, there he sat, his desk 
 cleared and awaiting him. What a pleasure to 
 serve if he would only tell him something to do ! 
 He eagerly started into the room. 
 
 161
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 As the full sartorial splendour of Bland, from 
 the imported linen collar to the pearl grey spats, 
 dawned upon Fletcher, he was seized with an 
 abnormal interest in the market and grabbed 
 the tape wildly. 
 
 " Quick ! " Fletcher gasped. " Get me a Wall 
 Street Journal!" 
 
 Bland was off like a shot searching through 
 the bank for one, and Fletcher, as his steps 
 faded away, gave vent to an uncontrollable 
 burst of laughter. When his merriment sub- 
 sided it occurred to him that Bland's dramatic 
 entrance had been worth a million to him. The 
 hearty laughter had cleared his mind of the 
 day's strain, relieved the drastic tension he was 
 under, and made him normal again. 
 
 By George, though, the fellow was a wonder. 
 Fletcher thoroughly appreciated that he was a 
 suave wizard in his speech and actions at 
 ferreting out anything or at any scheming 
 whatsoever, but he never before had believed 
 him capable of any sort of taste in dress. 
 Really, Bland was a human chameleon. The 
 way he had so readily blended into the environ- 
 ment pleased Fletcher exceedingly, and he 
 realised that he had a very exceptional confiden- 
 tial secretary. 
 
 It just happened that the new office had not 
 subscribed for the paper, but we won't go into 
 the details of how Bland got a copy. Probably 
 some vice-president missed the sheet which he 
 had laid aside for an instant, or some files 
 sacredly complete for a decade suffered this day; 
 but it was Bland's first assignment to duty, and, 
 needless to say, very shortly he appeared, paper 
 in hand. If the order had been to bring the 
 
 162
 
 A STRANGE MISSION 
 
 president of the bank in by the nape of the neck 
 he would have produced him just as promptly. 
 
 By this time Fletcher was completely himself. 
 He thanked Bland and looked over the paper, 
 while out of the corner of his eye he accustomed 
 himself to the transformation of his friend. 
 
 Finally laying down the paper when he was 
 fully confident of himself, Fletcher addressed 
 him: 
 
 " Mr. Bland, you are looking surprisingly 
 well. Allow me to compliment you upon the 
 very good taste in your dress." 
 
 Bland did not answer. His clothes were very 
 much a delicate matter conversationally, since 
 another mind had dressed him; such a delicate 
 matter indeed that he had not been able to lie 
 down the whole day! 
 
 For a time Fletcher and Bland chatted. They 
 just drifted along, their conversation getting 
 friendlier. Here was a fellow with whom 
 Fletcher could let down the bars in a way, so 
 long as he did not disclose his identity. He had 
 great work to do, and Bland could help him, 
 because no matter how bad his faults, he was a 
 brilliant thinker, an unconventional genius. 
 
 He knew that the obvious faults in Bland 
 under his direction would become great virtues 
 for helping him in the vicious game of business. 
 Gall, unbounded nerve, and clever chicanery 
 were powerful assets when carefully directed 
 by another; and they would counterbalance Ed- 
 mond's weaknesses. The fact that he had never 
 deigned to use such qualities personally, Fletcher 
 realised, had accounted to a great extent for his 
 previous comparative failure in business. 
 
 When absolutely necessary now to fight fire 
 163
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 with fire, he meant to rely on Bland in these 
 noxious particulars. 
 
 Fletcher glanced at his watch. " By the way, 
 Bland, come and ride home with me." 
 
 When they entered the car many wondered 
 who was the debonair heavy-set young gentle- 
 man who accompanied Mr. Van Mortimor. 
 Evidently some European friend. 
 
 " What a wonderful country ! " mused 
 Fletcher. " Just a little brushing up is all the 
 difference often between the humblest and the 
 most exalted." 
 
 Home and Gloria, so the thoughts of the 
 serious young pretender ran always at about this 
 hour. That incredibly delightful little creature, 
 so beautiful and so unacquainted with reality. 
 
 Situated as he was, he knew in time he might 
 by some quick coup win her. He knew, if their 
 present relations continued and he used his best 
 endeavours, sh'e might impulsively marry him, 
 but this young Edmond Fletcher had rather a 
 keen insight into human emotions. He knew 
 that just to marry her might be of little avail ! 
 
 His reason for such a conclusion was that 
 their minds necessarily thought in different 
 languages, and, as at present constituted, could 
 no more mix permanently than oil and water. 
 
 Mated happiness seemed to Edmond Fletcher 
 dependent upon absorbing interests much greater 
 than any mere physical thrill could inspire. He 
 could never enter upon Gloria's formal, sophis- 
 ticated plane of thought, and therefore the 
 question was, could he ever bring her down or 
 up to his own, whichever it really was? 
 
 More than her body, he wanted her whole 
 soul, and if he ever had Gloria Van Mortimor 
 
 164
 
 A STRANGE MISSION 
 
 that completely, he intended to have more than 
 the mere modern formal lie of marriage for her 
 promise. 
 
 Such idealism, he admitted, verged upon the 
 ridiculous in the minds of many to-day. But 
 then, nothing is impossible in the eyes of youth, 
 and so he did think anyway ! 
 
 Now the problem that confronted him was 
 how to change Gloria, remake her to his own 
 liking, and thus his very own ! His was the 
 dominant role or nothing ! 
 
 " Surely," he pondered as he rode at Eland's 
 side, " if one could once impress her with the 
 seriousness of life, her true sweet heart would 
 respond to more worthy things than the social 
 fripperies that now engross her." 
 
 She must see his viewpoint if she were ever 
 to become his true wife. In a flash he thought 
 of a scheme by which he could change and 
 develop Gloria, if it worked. Instantly, he was 
 again the great gambler, staking everything on 
 a desperate chance, but to him an infinitely 
 worthwhile one, for the prize was the life and 
 soul of Gloria Van Mortimer herself ! 
 
 Fletcher was sitting erect in his seat now and 
 was staring straight ahead with a distant look 
 in his eyes as the idea formed in his mind. 
 Bland was alert to the situation. Something 
 of momentous importance had dawned upon his 
 amazing chief. 
 
 Bland dared not move lest he disturb the 
 young financier. As the hope leaped into his 
 breast that out of this he might get something 
 to do, he watched with avidity the roll of the 
 mental dice. 
 
 Slowly Fletcher's gaze fell on Bland, who 
 165
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 strained himself to clear his mind for quick 
 action on some of this highly mysterious work 
 which might be forming in the financier's 
 brain. 
 
 " Bland," he directed, " go at once to the East 
 Side and find three or more appalling cases of 
 destitution, in just as miserable and abominable 
 surroundings as you can. Try to find a very 
 old person or couple literally starving to death. 
 Let's see, find also a very poor person who is 
 desperately ill; and though this is rather more 
 difficult find someone who has just died, alone 
 in squalor ! 
 
 " As quickly as you have located these cases, 
 bad enough to horrify you, .telephone me the 
 information. Then you are through. I'll per- 
 sonally take charge. These people are to be 
 dramatically pitiful ! Show your genius, Mr. 
 Bland." 
 
 Bland dropped off hurriedly. 
 
 " Better bring along a lot of handkerchiefs," 
 he flung back quietly. " You will need them ! " 
 
 As Fletcher came in Gloria ran to greet him. 
 
 " You are filling up the newspapers, Sigmond. 
 All day I read about you. They say you are a 
 strong man, just like dad, and that it is going 
 to be just the same as if he had come back." 
 
 "Don't believe 'everything, Gloria," he 
 laughed. " What do you say to forgetting it 
 all, and let us go slumming? " 
 
 " How lovely ! " she exclaimed. " Must I act 
 'tough'?" 
 
 " As ' tough ' as you wish. We'll have an 
 early dinner and then go out to forget who we 
 
 are." 
 
 So Gloria came down to dinner in a little 
 166
 
 A STRANGE MISSION 
 
 street suit. Her mind was full of romancing 
 through Chinese dens and charmingly villainous 
 places with her big brother. Fletcher looked at 
 her pityingly. He disliked to shock this lovely 
 doll-girl and break up her beautiful crystal 
 world. He was called to the phone. It was 
 Bland. A notebook soon contained some 
 addresses and further information. 
 
 167
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 GLORIA GOES EXPLORING 
 
 THEY started forth as on a holiday excursion. 
 Gloria clung to Fletcher's arm in the car as if 
 they were about to explore a strange and 
 dangerous country. Never in all her experience 
 had she been beyond Third Avenue, the be- 
 ginning of the tenement house district, although 
 she had lived most of her life within a few 
 blocks of it. 
 
 By some strange irony of fate, in great cities 
 the tenements and poverty always lurk only a 
 few squares away from the exclusive residential 
 sections. All Gloria's knowledge of the slums 
 was pleasantly modified, amusing melodrama 
 with the shock extracted. 
 
 Four hours passed in that strange and exten- 
 sive brick world of grinding poverty; four hours 
 of shock, disillusionment, awakening to reality 
 for Gloria; four hours of equal torment for 
 Fletcher, who understood only too well the 
 agony and horror of spiritual rebirth that was 
 racking the slight form which so bravely stayed 
 by his side as long as her beloved brother 
 wished. 
 
 At last they left -the dismal room which had 
 just been the scene of a squalid and horrible 
 death. Their unseen stage hand and deus ex 
 machina, Bland, had found one for his employer 
 with ease with tragic ease. 
 
 168
 
 GLORIA GOES EXPLORING 
 
 Gloria was shuddering as they sank back 
 against the car's soft cushions. She had always 
 been so carefully shielded from all knowledge, 
 let alone sight, of human sorrow and suffering. 
 
 Fletcher's emotions were rather mixed. The 
 plan had worked, thanks to Eland's masterful 
 and truthful dramatics. He himself had been 
 grieved though not startled to witness these 
 scenes in the Van Mortimor tenement property. 
 But Gloria was awakening, he knew, into a truly 
 glorious creature. About this he could not help 
 but be elated. Misery did not long oppress him. 
 He had seen and even experienced not a little 
 of it. 
 
 But now he wondered whether he had not 
 perhaps gone a little too far within the bounds 
 of his trust. What would the cold, calculating 
 Van Mortimor think of Fletcher's playing on 
 the sensitive sister's feelings? Van Mortimor 
 would scarcely be in sympathy with the impulses 
 toward social justice that would probably follow 
 Gloria's excursion. 
 
 From the history of his case, it appeared 
 that Van Mortimor ha<i elected himself alone 
 to the office of dealing high-handedly and ruth- 
 lessly with the human emotions involved. Surely 
 he would not relish the idea of his pawn and 
 victim entering this field even in a small way, 
 particularly when it concerned Van Mortimor's 
 own sister. Under his obvious calm, Fletcher 
 was really a little nervous and excited. 
 
 As they neared the edge of the better part 
 of town, an undertaker's motor hearse shot out 
 of a street ahead of them and blocked their path. 
 To be sure, it was nothing unusual to see one 
 of these death cars on parade, but it struck him 
 
 169
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 that it was very strange at this hour of night. 
 Normal people don't bury their dead after dark ! 
 
 When he and Gloria finally got past it, the 
 funeral car dropped in behind their motor, 
 cutting in ahead of the plain clothes men in the 
 other car which trailed them. 
 
 Fletcher looked back, quite casually to dis- 
 cover that the haunting thing was following 
 him! Of course it might just be going their 
 way on some casual errand. But the possibilities 
 of that " errand " made him uncomfortable. 
 
 Very faintly, as they passed through a dark 
 tunnel of a street, Fletcher heard a sinister 
 sound, the low shrill notes of the blanched face ! 
 
 The damned thing was with him again! 
 Terror-stricken, he glanced back once more. 
 It was rather dark, but the hearse loomed up, 
 obliterating everything else. The ghastly vehicle 
 was so close behind him that its mudguards 
 must be touching the rear of his machine. 
 
 Why did it have its lights turned off? Why 
 didn't Fletcher's detectives keep that infernal 
 thing away from him? 
 
 Fletcher felt suddenly alone and helpless. 
 He drew the curtain in the rear of the car to 
 shut out the maddening sight, in case Gloria's 
 eyes had followed his strained gaze. She had 
 not said a word. He hoped she hadn't heard 
 the weird cry. 
 
 The car turned quickly into a broad, lighted 
 avenue. What a boon to mankind was light, 
 floods of light ! Edmond Fletcher boldly raised 
 the rear curtain. As he had suspected, the 
 hearse was gone. 
 
 " I must have light at all times hereafter 
 lots of light," he meditated solemnly. 
 
 170
 
 GLORIA GOES EXPLORING 
 
 What an arrant fool he had been ! So many 
 big things he was confident he could do, and 
 yet he could not conquer his own ridiculous 
 fears. He realised that in fact he had been as 
 frightened as a child in the dark ! 
 
 171
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 THE next morning Edmond Fletcher arose early. 
 His personal desires must be subordinated for 
 the time being. First, he must get into the 
 harness ; set his house in order. Such excursions 
 as that of yesterday were a trifle premature. 
 He must get his business machine running 
 smoothly at once, hitting on all cylinders; and it 
 certainly had as many cylinders as a centipede 
 has legs. Then if he wished to win Gloria or 
 delve into philanthropy, he would have a clear 
 mind with which to fight the occult influences 
 that surrounded such attempts. 
 
 Fletcher sat down before his clean desk and 
 chuckled gleefully. Let Floyd, his front secre- 
 tary, and the willing gang of underlings dig the 
 stuff up, wade through it, sort it out, and bring 
 him its essentials. He would pass them on to 
 his other secretary, Bland, for an acid test, and 
 then he himself could make quick decisions on 
 policy. He glanced at the opening prices. 
 Everything was rolling along merrily ! 
 
 Two weeks of incessant business activity 
 followed. Through the days Edmond Fletcher 
 interviewed important executives, took over con- 
 trol of enormous corporations, visited his banks, 
 and displayed generally the qualities of a human 
 
 172
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 dynamo, plus the startling ability to strike like 
 forked lightning. 
 
 He might have been seen just dropping in 
 whenever he had interests at any time, without 
 notice, looking through the vaults, and delving 
 into the actions of all his institutions for any 
 signs of favouritism or fraud among their 
 officers. Many a man broke into a cold sweat 
 at his mere appearance. Others by herculean 
 efforts made quick restitution when the news of 
 what he was doing spread through the ranks. 
 
 The few who were caught red-handed were 
 handled without much mercy. After a scathing 
 denunciation before his fellow officers, the guilty 
 party was told to report the next morning at 
 Mr. Sigmond Van Mortimor's office and warned 
 that if he tried to escape he would be relentlessly 
 hounded down wherever he might go. 
 
 One famous bank president and several men 
 of impeccable reputation answered this stinging 
 summons. This avenging angel dealt with all 
 of them alike in private, although not one of 
 them ever knew exactly what happened to any 
 other than himself. 
 
 As soon as this Sigmond Van Mortimor felt 
 he had the last penny of restitution which he 
 could possibly get, he ordered the guilty party 
 to settle up his affairs quietly, and just as 
 silently leave the country with his family. The 
 price of every parole was utter secrecy ; each one 
 was warned that if he divulged anything about 
 his disposal he would be arrested, brought back 
 and summarily tried in the courts. If they were 
 penniless he gave them funds. 
 
 These complete and unexplained disappear- 
 ances served Fletcher much more effectually 
 
 173
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 than any public punishment. In each instance 
 Fletcher's parting words had been that he bore 
 the man in question no personal ill-feeling. It 
 was simply that he and his institutions could 
 no longer afford to associate with the fellow, 
 nor would he permit him under any conditions 
 to pollute the atmosphere of his companies by a 
 "rotten apple" presence in the country. Edmond 
 Fletcher always said these things with a secret 
 smile, for actually he was taking a tip from the 
 real Van Mortimer, utilising the tremendous 
 potency of the unseen. 
 
 Gradually this determined " understudy " 
 covered all his interests in New York, and in 
 a few more weeks his influence crept out 
 through the country over the railroad systems 
 he controlled. As time wore on, he was learning 
 at first hand the integral parts of his vast 
 machine. Clerks looked up from their ledgers, 
 great lawyers came out of private offices, rail- 
 road officials turned about sharply, office boys 
 stuck cheap literature in their desks; cashiers 
 heard a new key turn in the locks of their cages, 
 to find a solemn but kind-spoken young man at 
 their shoulder. 
 
 The humblest to the mightiest under him 
 never knew but what this firm youth of avenging 
 fire might appear like a flash from the blue. 
 Strange to say, he was admired for these very 
 qualities. Wherever anything was wrong in the 
 entire Van Mortimer regime, he grew to be 
 expected and he came ! 
 
 Steadily, through shrewd orders to Morton, 
 Keene & Co., the adamant young leader was 
 getting rid of all the minority interests in 
 various stocks which he did not want, and 
 
 174
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 acquiring majority stock interests in useful com- 
 panies. 
 
 " Edmond Fletcher's commission account 
 should show big earnings in Morton, Keene & 
 Co.," he reflected sagely. That, he felt, was 
 permissible pay for his services, inasmuch as his 
 deals would have cost the same commissions 
 anywhere else. In painstaking fashion he was 
 now welding his mighty business machine into 
 its maximum working power. 
 
 For a month he had been so busy that his 
 only relaxation had consisted of a few hours 
 with Gloria in the evening. They would go to 
 some affair, meet some of Gloria's friends. 
 
 Fletcher's terrific activity, as reported in the 
 papers, was an ever-recurring wonder to Gloria, 
 who had been a pampered, idle orchid in a field 
 of perfect leisure, and she found considerable 
 pleasure in just having with her this striving 
 young Hercules. It was a joy to her to 
 domineer playfully over him in their home. 
 
 The rude view of life which Fletcher had 
 given her was instilling within her a healthy 
 new curiosity about humanity in general. As a 
 result of that memorable excursion into the 
 slums, Gloria bombarded him with questions 
 about the poor, and about the tenement proper- 
 ties which the Van Mortimors owned. Edmond 
 could see that as soon as he found time for it, 
 he could direct Gloria's new and genuine interest 
 into valuable work in permanently bettering 
 conditions. In time, the Van Mortimor proper- 
 ties would prove, not an " obstacle to progress," 
 as city officials had termed them, but a great 
 force for good. But Fletcher dared not think 
 of philanthropy for the time being. He explained 
 
 175
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 that he must get the Van Mortimer business 
 firmly in hand, and then they would work, hand 
 in hand, along other lines. 
 
 Strict attention to work and abnegation of 
 his generous nature was showing splendid effects 
 in clearing Fletcher's mind of his greatest enemy 
 and weakness, fear of the incorrigible Van 
 Mortimor. 
 
 Evidently he was pleasing the occult roaming 
 spirit, if such there was, for the moment, and 
 his derelictions had been overlooked, for not 
 once since the incident of the mysterious hearse 
 had he been disturbed in the least. He realised 
 that it was paramount now that his mind be 
 as free as possible while he completed the 
 organisation of his huge affairs. As an extra 
 precaution he even began keeping distant from 
 Gloria herself. But she didn't exactly approve 
 of this tendency. 
 
 Her " brother " had opened up flood gates of 
 new emotions in the dazzling little beauty, and 
 although she admitted his superior judgment in 
 most things, she wanted more of him now than 
 his time afforded. Gloria Van Mortimor had 
 deferred many of her plans for the social season 
 merely to be as near him as possible, and she 
 believed that she was getting cheated ! 
 
 Sunday afternoons afforded no business ex- 
 cuse for an absence, and on one of these 
 Fletcher sat quietly smoking by the pensive 
 Gloria. This Park Avenue scene was singularly 
 domestic. A very dreamy look came into the 
 girl's eyes and Fletcher started to call Parkins 
 for his hat. 
 
 " Sigmond, dearest ! " she asked very con- 
 tritely, " can a sister love a brother as I love 
 you?" 176
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 " No ! " he answered emphatically. 
 
 " But, Sigmond ! " she exclaimed, " I know 
 positively that you are my brother, and I am 
 very much ashamed of myself at times ! " 
 
 She became so distressed that he simply kissed 
 her and told her to forget about the matter. 
 
 By dinner time Gloria was her natural self. 
 Fletcher had already learned that when she was 
 in the mood of the afternoon it was better 'not 
 to argue. He well knew that the affection of 
 a beautiful woman is as uncontrollable as the 
 ocean wave. One has it or one hasn't. To 
 attempt to control it is futile. He believed that 
 the love of woman must come voluntarily of its 
 own accord, and if, as it so often seemed, it 
 thrived to some extent on discouragement, 
 Fletcher hoped that element too would break in 
 his favour ! He waited for Gloria to raise the 
 subject again. 
 
 " We shall forget," she soon began, " what I 
 said. You are my brother, and that settles it ! 
 However, if there should be anything to your 
 queer fancies, which I just won't permit you to 
 discuss, it surely will all be decided conclusively 
 in a few months. Suppose we just forget about 
 it for that time and be happy, since we have 
 each other anyhow." 
 
 Fletcher readily agreed. He himself badly 
 needed time to get his 'bearings in the Van 
 Mortimor mystery and to work as only a very 
 few mortals had ever had the opportunity to 
 work in this world. 
 
 But though Gloria had arbitrarily settled their 
 personal relationship for a trial period, it was 
 too big a matter to remain definitely in suspense. 
 One morning at breakfast Fletcher sensed heavy 
 
 177
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 tragedy hanging in the air the moment Gloria 
 greeted him. Her face was pinched with 
 anxiety, and all that he could draw from her 
 was that she " didn't feel very well." He 
 realised that this answer unsupported from any 
 woman was just a little worse than none. 
 
 The truth came out when Fletcher attempted 
 to leave the table. Gloria did not want him 
 to go to the office that day, and she became 
 frantic about keeping him at home, as he insisted 
 upon going. Finally, .when she could keep him 
 no longer by her pleas and even tears, she 
 produced a tabloid, the Morning Star, which 
 had evidently been brought to her attention by 
 one of her maids. Gloria handed him the news- 
 paper with the words : 
 
 " You will find out anyway, Sigmond, as soon 
 as you leave so I might as well show you ! " 
 
 Before his eyes danced big headlines : 
 
 SIGMOND VAN MORTIMOR IS NOT 
 HIMSELF ! 
 
 IN His STRENGTH Is His WEAKNESS ! 
 
 This paper will expose one of the most daring and 
 amazing frauds ever perpetrated anywhere, involving 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor, our leading young American 
 financier, in a series of authentic articles which will 
 begin in to-morrow's issue. 
 
 This paper renders a great service to the whole nation 
 with our astounding information. It will present simply 
 enough of Mr. Van Mortimor's real character for the 
 people at large to know him and then compare that 
 knowledge with Sigmond Van Mortimor's present life. 
 Strange to say, in the surprising strength of the 
 pseudo Sigmond Van Mortimor lies his greatest weak- 
 ness, for this alone, when we are through presenting the 
 matter, will be ample to prove that everything done by 
 
 178
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 Mr. Sigmond Van Mortimer since he started his busi- 
 ness career in this country has been either the work of 
 an insane man or a substitute ! 
 
 This " great " man and all he has done will topple 
 over like a house of cards when the real facts of the 
 case are laid before the public ! 
 
 Imagine the situation in the financial district when it 
 is conclusively proved that every recent business act of 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor has been the work of a lunatic ! 
 That every recent signature of his has been a forgery ! 
 Imagine the consternation which will prevail among the 
 thousands of railroad employees and officials throughout 
 the country who get their bread and butter from this 
 man's shifty hands not to mention the plight of those 
 who draw their pay from the interests which he has in 
 banking and realty circles right here in New York. 
 
 Imagine the dishonesty, legal complications, and 
 snarled financial dealing already perpetrated by this 
 man, if he is not himself ! 
 
 The Morning Star is safeguarding the rights of the 
 American public with this startling disclosure as no 
 other paper ever has done ! For your own personal 
 sake begin these articles in to-morrow morning's issue 
 of the New York Morning Star! 
 
 There followed long columns about Sigmond 
 Van Mortimor and his enormous fortune. 
 Through it all, carefully written in, was a thinly 
 veiled hint of the true situation. 
 
 Somebody knew what he was talking about; 
 had either pieced all of this together, or could 
 guess enough to take a chance on opening up a 
 broadside fire upon him! 
 
 Fletcher was struck dumb with amazement, 
 for what confronted him was the literal truth! 
 How could he deny it? Somehow his imposture 
 had never seemed quite so bad as all this. But 
 on even a momentary reflection he was bound 
 to admit that everything was as the paper said. 
 
 All Fletcher could do was stare stupidly at 
 179
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Gloria Van Mortimer, now miserably huddled 
 in a chair. Her head was down in her arms 
 sobbing as if her heart would break. Then 
 Fletcher began wondering why she should take 
 the very truth itself so hard ! 
 
 Of course, the world had stepped on him now 
 but then, he had stepped on the world ! The 
 truth about him had to come out some time. 
 Awful as this was, it came as somewhat of a 
 relief from the great strain he had been under 
 for a long time ! Maybe the big conspirator 
 behind it all, and any others involved in this 
 tremendous affair, would be forced into the open 
 now, and Fletcher could patch things up decently. 
 But Gloria's terrific disappointment presented a 
 real problem. 
 
 Fletcher went over to her and touched her 
 gently. 
 
 " Gloria," he said sadly, " it seems that the 
 game is up ! Will you remember me long? " 
 
 She looked up at him in stupid bewilderment, 
 and as he continued to stare at her, her ex- 
 pression changed into one of deepest anguish. 
 
 " Sigmond," she answered, " are you going to 
 let them say these horrid things about you that 
 you are ! " 
 
 " Do you still believe I am your brother ? " he 
 asked, incredulously. 
 
 " Before everybody in the world," she de- 
 clared, " you are my brother ! " And there 
 could be no doubt of her sincerity in that 
 answer. 
 
 "Then," he said, "I ami" 
 
 His words had come painfully, sharply, as 
 though many things which had escaped his 
 attention were suddenly flashing before his eyes 
 
 180
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 now. Simultaneously, his face hardened. " Par- 
 kins ! " he called through the door. " Plug me 
 in a phone here at the table ! " He pounced 
 down in a chair as the butler hastily obeyed. 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed Gloria, a smile dawning in 
 her tears, " you are going to fight them ! " 
 
 " Hell, yes ! Pardon me," he barked, grabbing 
 the instrument away from Parkins. " Good 
 thing you delayed me, Gloria office is open 
 now. 
 
 " Come on, operator ! Beaver 10 Bland, 
 please glad you're on the job ! But keep 
 awake ! Have you seen the Morning Star? 
 They've been trying to get me, eh ? Fine ! 
 Some dirty work at the cross-roads there ! Hold 
 the line! Gloria, dress for the street quickly! 
 Don't ask me questions, just hurry ! " 
 
 As soon as Gloria had run out of the room, 
 he resumed : 
 
 " Bland ! Listen closely. The Morning Star 
 is due for an eclipse ! Dig out this libel and 
 get hold of all the parties responsible. Call in 
 all my secretaries and split these duties up 
 among them quickly. Find out who owns the 
 Morning Star and find out who holds its obliga- 
 tions ! Get the name of the landlord of its 
 building ! Have every man connected with it 
 shadowed for all outside contacts ! Notify press 
 associations and wire all major papers labelling 
 the story a canard, but give out no other state- 
 ment I'll do that ! Now get the screws ready 
 for this gang and wait at the office for me ! " 
 
 The receiver smashed in place, and there stood 
 Gloria before him, perilously balanced on one 
 heel, but ready for the street. 
 
 " You do love me, don't you ? " she asked 
 excitedly. 181
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Well if what I do to that paper is any 
 evidence of it, just wait and see ! " 
 
 "Where am I going?" anxiously inquired 
 Gloria. 
 
 " Come on ! " he ordered, and then a little 
 more kindly : " You're coming along with me. 
 I may need a lot of your sort of faith in me 
 to-day ! " 
 
 They rushed down to the car and Fletcher 
 slammed the door so hard that the servants 
 nearly fell over. 
 
 " I believe you are mad I " exclaimed Gloria, 
 jerkily. " And goodness, you didn't eat any 
 breakfast ! " 
 
 " This is horrible ! " declared Fletcher, giving 
 away to his feelings. " I should be ashamed of 
 myself getting you into this awful mess." 
 
 " I can stand it all right ! But what about 
 yourself?" hazarded Gloria. 
 
 Gloria was watching intently the present 
 actions of her new brother, and well she might. 
 Fletcher was undergoing a terrific mental re- 
 adjustment. His folly of grasping at any straw 
 whatsoever to humanise Gloria, even to the 
 extent of parading her around in the slums, had 
 probably suggested this scandalous exposure. 
 
 In short his infernal and impractical idealism 
 was showing its usual results, much as might 
 be expected. He was falling down on his great 
 job and hurting Gloria, the dearest thing in the 
 world to him, even while he was trying to help 
 her. 
 
 How differently would the real Sigmond Van 
 Mortimer have acted in these late circum- 
 stances ! Never would he have embarrassed 
 the family intentionally at least anything that 
 
 182
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 sinister personality might have done would have 
 been done purposefully. At worst Sigmond Van 
 Mortimer was not a blundering fool ! 
 
 Nothing hurts a man so much as to be made 
 to appear ridiculous. This rag of a paper was 
 undertaking to make a fool of " Sigmond Van 
 Mortimor " ; and nothing can hurt so much or 
 make one quite so mad in such a situation as 
 to know that he has been acting the part. A 
 very little more of this kind of thing and 
 Fletcher knew that he was through ! He was 
 human, very, very human, and the madder he 
 got at the ridicule which the newspaper was 
 heaping upon him, the more he realised that this 
 sort of thing must be stamped upon. 
 
 In a flash of anger, there occurred to him 
 the thought of what the old man, Phelps 
 Van Mortimor, Gloria's and Sigmond's father, 
 blustering along and brooking no interference, 
 would have done if someone dared to take 
 advantage of him in such a meddlesome 
 manner ! 
 
 He must root this rotten thing out at once, 
 and the more he thought about it the angrier 
 he got at this yellow sheet. He would show 
 them in very quick order how he could obliterate 
 his enemies ! Anyone who trifled with him and, 
 which was much more serious, the great name 
 he bore, would shortly realise his error and 
 retract his words ! 
 
 Gloria was deeply concerned with this entirely 
 new development in her brother. Such violent 
 resentment was decidedly alarming in one whose 
 past was rather noted for excesses. She had 
 never seen him angry before, and now her calm, 
 easy-mannered brother was burning with rage, 
 
 183
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 a quiet white heat that penetrated the atmos- 
 phere about him, and she did not like it. 
 
 He banged on the chauffeur's pane. 
 
 " Break through that traffic ! " he said sternly. 
 "I'll handle the police!" 
 
 They were moving at a frightful pace now 
 and though Gloria expected some dreadful 
 smash at any moment, she was much more 
 disturbed over what was going on inside her 
 brother's head. 
 
 She did not like this overmastering rage. For 
 some deep reason which she could not fathom 
 she even partially feared this singular relative, 
 not for anything which he might do to her, but 
 for other things. There were always to be 
 considered those horrible rumours about him in 
 Europe, and at times even with her his conduct 
 had been so queer. 
 
 " What are you going to do to these people? " 
 she gently asked, half afraid of his burning 
 temper. 
 
 Fletcher's face had become long and set and 
 his upper lip was just a thin white line as his 
 anger mounted higher and higher, and he de- 
 cided upon the punishment, which not for one 
 moment did he doubt that he could put into 
 execution. 
 
 " Wipe the country clean of them," was the 
 verdict, uttered through set teeth; then, as he 
 saw a wave of fright sweep over Gloria, he 
 added : 
 
 " No personal violence. I wouldn't so much 
 as leave the bodies of these curs around." 
 
 " I don't know how to understand you," 
 soothed Gloria, " you are so kind and good, 
 with such admirable qualities, that I never 
 
 184
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 suspected you had such a terrific temper. You 
 know, dear, there are some very strange things 
 about you. Please don't get too excited ! " 
 
 Fletcher subsided into a better outward de- 
 meanour lest he unnecessarily scare his precious 
 ward. 
 
 With one long and undulating shrill blast of 
 the horn, they had come flying through the 
 financial district of the metropolis. Could all 
 of those crooked little streets have been cleared 
 for him? Traffic backed and filled as if making 
 way for the fire department. No one else would 
 have dared to thread the narrow needle of 
 Nassau Street as he did at high speed. But he 
 did it, not knowing that it could not be done. 
 
 When the car came to a standstill before the 
 bank, his information was before him at his 
 desk. William Thomas, majority stockholder of 
 the Morning Star, banked at Tremont National 
 Bank. William Skyles was the managing editor 
 and a large stockholder, and there were other 
 sundry and pertinent data. Through his banks, 
 Fletcher knew an effective lever to use on the 
 Tremont National Bank if it should be neces- 
 sary. 
 
 A few minutes at the telephone and he had 
 several persons in quiet conversation. Little do 
 most people realise what power bankers hold, 
 but Edmond Fletcher did. They literally can 
 decree the life or death of industry. The grim 
 words " no money " are uttered, and industrial 
 death ensues; on the other hand easy credit is 
 allowed some favoured endeavour, and it 
 flourishes like the proverbial green bay tree. 
 
 " I have taken the liberty," reported Bland, 
 " of buying the building which houses the 
 
 185
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Morning Star, and everything else about them 
 that was purchasable on the instant from the 
 third parties. The press manufacturers still 
 have some liens on their printing presses, and 
 already feel that they might get rusty where 
 they are ! " 
 
 " Thanks ! " said Fletcher. " We can just wait 
 right here for these meddlesome people to drop 
 in as we turn out the light of this morning star ! 
 But say, Bland ! Better go out and drive in 
 forcibly any of this crew that are slow in 
 coming ! " 
 
 " Yes, sir ! " replied Bland, instantly depart- 
 ing. 
 
 Soon the ante-room of the private office began 
 filling up with strangers. Prominent among 
 them were a fat gouty man and a tall, 
 cadaverous-appearing individual. They seemed 
 to be the ringleaders of the aggregation. 
 
 Through an open door Fletcher sat silently 
 studying each one as he entered his outer office. 
 They had been informed that Mr. Van Mor- 
 timor would see them a little later, and soon 
 they were pacing up and down in full view 
 of him exercising their pent-up energies and 
 glowering at one another. 
 
 " Go outside," whispered Fletcher to Floyd, 
 who was hovering at his elbow, " and use 
 your own judgment in admitting them; and, 
 Gloria," he said as his first secretary went out, 
 " step in Eland's office and leave the door open ! 
 You may be my very best weapon and safeguard 
 yet. Keep unobtrusively but plainly in sight in 
 that other room all the time ! " 
 
 " Sigmond ! You certainly do act peculiarly," 
 she whispered over her shoulder, but with all 
 
 186
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 the confidence in him that could possibly be 
 crowded into those big eyes. 
 
 "And you, Gloria," he answered, "can scarcely 
 guess how much you are helping to-day 1 " 
 
 A portly banker, neatly dressed, spoke a cold 
 good morning to those outside and passed 
 through the ante-room. These bankers had to 
 be so very careful one could never tell what 
 change in standing might come over a good 
 depositor in a night ! The sleek president of 
 the Tremont Bank was instantly admitted into 
 the inner sanctum. He took some papers from 
 his pocket just as a door closed shutting out a 
 view of him to those who waited. Shortly the 
 banker left the inside office rather hastily it 
 was, too, as though now he feared some one of 
 the men outside might in some way try to 
 presume upon his acquaintance. 
 
 William Thomas, the owner of the paper, was 
 the fleshy man; and he was let in next. 
 
 " I am the owner of your personal notes and 
 all the obligations of your newspaper," stated 
 Fletcher in very evenly spaced words. " Some 
 large items will come up for renewal soon. You 
 look to me like a poor banking risk from the 
 rotten way you conduct your sheet. Let me 
 have the truth about this libellous attack ! " 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor," sputtered the gouty 
 gentleman, who was out of breath from all the 
 clamour about the story, and fully realised the 
 purport of what he had just heard, " I only 
 run what I think is true. I try to make an 
 honest but sensational newspaper. My editor 
 must have gone crazy. He said he had a big 
 surprise for me ! And so he did ! But I never 
 thought it would be one like this. I have 
 
 187
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 brought this lunatic to you and I wash my hands 
 of him ! " 
 
 " Are you willing to print a full retraction 
 in the same space and headings, and to handle 
 this rat as I direct?" shot from between set 
 jaws. 
 
 ' Yes, sir ! " Thomas quavered. 
 
 "What's your editor's name?" 
 
 " Skyles." 
 
 " Have a seat ! " snapped Fletcher to Thomas, 
 and he reflected a moment. Fletcher had never 
 heard the name before, but here in this man 
 Skyles was the brain behind the exposure. 
 Something seemed to identify this fellow in 
 Fletcher's mind from among all the others 
 outside. He was the only man out there with 
 a truly menacing personality. Already, how- 
 ever, Fletcher had learned that his tale was not 
 overwhelmingly convincing. It simply appeared 
 to be a question of who could bluff with most 
 force. 
 
 " Skyles ! " he called put sharply. 
 
 The long, cadaverous man slouched in. His 
 hands were slightly smudged with blue pencil, 
 and his clothes were spotted here and there with 
 glue. 
 
 " I am Bill Skyles," he announced as he looked 
 from the one face to the other before him 
 without getting any sign of sympathy, and then 
 his gaze strayed into Bland's office, where it 
 seemed to stop fascinated at the surprising 
 presence of Miss Van Mortimer here, Gloria 
 did her part nobly. There was enough scorn 
 in the withering glance she gave Skyles to 
 intimidate an iron man. 
 
 " You dirty rat ! " Fletcher flared, now letting 
 188
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 his passion blaze, " the only reason I do not give 
 you your just deserts with these hands," his 
 hands doubling and twisting as he spoke, " is 
 out of consideration for my sister. Come clean ! 
 What's behind all this?" 
 
 " Well," said Skyles, " I see from the looks 
 on the faces around here that it is all up with 
 my job, so I may just as well get a little satis- 
 faction out of this swift ' How do you do ' and 
 ' good-bye/ ' 
 
 As Skyles spoke, the upper lip of Fletcher 
 stretched into a white, thin line. 
 
 Skyles went on : "I have a pretty fair nose 
 for news, and I smelled something fishy about 
 your return from Europe and your actions since. 
 I took a long shot in the dark on those headlines 
 and blurbs of mine ! If I was right, you 
 couldn't deny it, and I would have scooped 
 America. I have been watching you, Mr. Van 
 Mortimor. You're a queer duck, and my nose 
 tells me," he pointed to it vulgarly, " that there 
 is a big story lurking around you somewhere. 
 This was just the first shot, but it looks like I 
 missed the bull's-eye from the hell of a row 
 you are making. A pig that is stuck right, no 
 matter how big he is, doesn't holler at all; he 
 just rolls over and stays there." Skyles frankly 
 leered at Mr. Van Mortimor. 
 
 Fletcher was experiencing a sensation akin 
 to the desire to murder, but he had in mind 
 what he had previously decided upon, a policy 
 which he considered a far more effective way 
 to rid himself of this scavenging pest. His 
 upper lip merely became whiter and thinner until 
 it appeared just a thin thread, as he said : 
 
 " I can wipe your yellow paper off the face 
 189
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 of the map. I can blacklist you from your 
 filthy employment in this country. In short, 
 through the courts and otherwise, I can ruin 
 you and break you horribly. Regardless of any 
 rights that you may have, I can incarcerate you 
 until you rot, through my power alone, if I 
 wish 1 The alternative is that you leave 
 America, for ever and at once ! " 
 
 " How shall I live, and what will my family 
 do ? " Skyles asked calmly. 
 
 " A rat like you can live anywhere. As for 
 your family, I'll pay them in instalments the 
 value of your stock in the paper. If you take 
 them along I'll have it sent to them. Do as 
 you please about that; but be out of the country 
 in thirty-six hours, or by everything in hell, 
 I'll smash you ! " 
 
 Fletcher turned to William Thomas. 
 
 " See that he does this or I'll finish up you 
 and your yellow rag. Now get out, both of 
 you ! " 
 
 " I must say," commented Skyles sarcastically, 
 " that it is kind of . you to pay my travelling 
 expenses where I am going ! " And two men 
 slunk away to settle some difference of their 
 own. 
 
 Gloria timidly emerged. 
 
 " Sigmond," she ventured, and as he faced 
 her, she nervously jumped. 
 
 " You are not not yourself," she stammered. 
 " Let me get a doctor ? " 
 
 At no other time could he have been so abrupt 
 and cross with her, but something stronger than 
 himself was urging him on. For a second he 
 saw Gloria only as a part of the problems con- 
 fronting him. 
 
 190
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 " Young lady 1 " he declared. " This is a 
 business game, and from this moment on, I am 
 going to be on the job. In the future, you 
 amuse yourself ! " 
 
 " Goodness ! " she flung over her slender 
 arched shoulders as she staggered out of the 
 office, " You must be my brother ! " 
 
 Then he dismissed the others concerned and 
 invited in the gentlemen of the press from all 
 the other papers who had, during the interview, 
 been carefully excluded. 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimer," Fletcher announced 
 to them, " awaits with the keenest interest the 
 forthcoming disclosures about himself in the 
 New York Morning Star! Possibly he is not 
 well acquainted with himself and will learn many 
 interesting things about himself ! " 
 
 The reporters left, laughing hilariously. The 
 papers were full of ridicule of the silly story 
 about him. On top of that, the Morning Star 
 printed its full apology, and publicly thanked 
 Mr. Van Mortimor for not prosecuting them 
 under the " regrettable " circumstances. 
 
 The columnists and humorists of the whole 
 country widely caricatured this incident. Such 
 expressions as " Is Sigmond Van Mortimor 
 himself ? I'll say he is ! " and " As sure as Van 
 Mortimor is himself ! " became by-words and a 
 part of the slang of the nation. 
 
 Edmond Fletcher, nevertheless, pondered 
 gravely over his wonderful success on the very 
 brink of failure. " So shines the truth," he 
 mused cynically and then he caught' himself, 
 " but maybe things like this can only happen 
 when its candle power is weak ! " 
 
 The rest of the day of his signal victory he 
 191
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 worked with an iron grip on his actions. One 
 in his position must be very careful what he 
 did or his generous acts would jump up and 
 wreck him. 
 
 While lunching with a railroad official that 
 week he had a very peculiar experience. A 
 thought came to him and provided such a shock 
 that he dropped the day's work precipitately. 
 It was the doubt whether he had done all this 
 absolutely unassisted. Maybe there had been 
 some lashes of the phantom whip behind him 
 driving him on to his mad conduct. This violent, 
 avenging wrath he had exhibited was not 
 altogether natural to him. 
 
 What a genius this fellow Van Mortimor 
 must be ! " Of all possible things," he worried, 
 " I believed my mind was at least my 
 impregnable castle in which I had undisputed 
 sovereignty, yet I can't be so sure of that now, 
 for it seems that this Van Mortimor makes me 
 do what he wants me to, when he feels it 
 necessary ! " 
 
 Fletcher knew he could handle tangible things, 
 but what about such occult influences as had 
 seemingly been at work within him? He deter- 
 mined to run things more firmly still, lest this 
 mysterious influence should increase its sway 
 over him. 
 
 A different, sterner Edmond Fletcher dined 
 with Gloria for many evenings. He slept 
 peacefully at night and felt better in every way 
 while he was keeping up the hard pace. Best 
 of all, when he retired he felt free from Sig- 
 mond Van Mortimor. 
 
 Gradually Fletcher's great business went 
 192
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 ahead. He shook off his sentimental fancies 
 and redoubled his efforts. 
 
 But the most appalling thing everywhere to 
 his sensitive nature was the exploitation of the 
 working men in his organisations, and their 
 lack of foresight. Fletcher knew that for the 
 average family man to lose employment or meet 
 with illness meant that the wolf was instantly 
 crouching at the door. How he would like to 
 see every one of his employees self-respecting 
 and financially secure ! 
 
 One thing, though, was noticeable. Fletcher 
 was instilling a new spirit into the men. Crack 
 trains were coming in everywhere on the dot of 
 the hour. Great freight movements were pro- 
 ceeding punctually. Farmers, all about over the 
 nation, found empty cars on the sidings for their 
 produce as if by magic, and the country was 
 getting real service from his systems. One 
 incentive for this was that the men were taking 
 pride in the personal leadership of this strenuous 
 young magnate, who, no matter how hard-boiled 
 he might be reputed to be, was violently on the 
 job! 
 
 For some time he kept his face set to his task, 
 driving things through by the sheer power of 
 money and will force. Kindness was one luxury 
 that he could ill afford. If he was ever generous 
 again he must wear steel gloves, for the objects 
 of his liberality would jump up and bite his 
 hands or Sigmond Van Mortimor would do it 
 for them. 
 
 Then one night he sat watching Gloria con- 
 templatively. How careful he must be if he 
 ever stood a chance of getting her. Yet only 
 a worm working on a mulberry leaf with 
 
 193
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 patience made a silk gown. Patience was 
 needed; he must not do anything rash, just do 
 the best he could from day to day, and some day 
 his very own Gloria would emerge from the 
 mulberry leaf of his labours. 
 
 Gloria climbed over the arm of his chair and 
 began studying him. Fletcher wondered if she 
 was reading his thoughts correctly. 
 
 " The other day," she said pensively, " you 
 called me ' Honey/ It was peculiar but nice, 
 Sigmond. Just what did you mean?" 
 
 Fletcher became nervous. It was easy to tell 
 from Gloria's soft eyes now that she was 
 engaged in the further consideration of the 
 strangely contradictory feelings which he also 
 aroused in her. Almost simultaneously now 
 would come those wildly sweet flashes of feelings 
 from her which so secretly brought that baffling 
 question for her: "Was he her brother?" 
 
 " Just that," said Fletcher quickly. "But how 
 are you getting along with this Martha Adams, 
 the social service worker you've employed to 
 investigate some of those cases over in the 
 tenement district? " 
 
 " Martha and I are accomplishing a lot ! " 
 declared the winsome young lady. " However, 
 some of our cases are terrible disappointments. 
 You would be surprised how thirsty our very 
 worst cases are! Often we find that we are 
 only helping the bbotleggers in their vicinity." 
 
 " Um-m-m ! " he answered, but delighted to 
 find something safe and sensible to discuss. 
 
 " So," said Gloria wisely, " we have decided 
 not to help people who aren't willing at least to 
 try to help themselves." 
 
 '" Fine ! " complimented Fletcher. " But that's 
 194
 
 A HUMAN DYNAMO 
 
 the trouble with most unfortunate people, in the 
 first place they won't help themselves when 
 they have an opportunity. I wonder I do 
 wonder," he pondered aloud, " if we couldn't 
 make some improvement on the usual charity 
 systems. If a fellow could just hit on it, there 
 must be some way of playing on human nature 
 to make people help themselves ! " 
 
 Fletcher was deeply absorbed for a few 
 minutes. Suddenly practical ideas were break- 
 ing upon him like shrapnel. A ray of light was 
 coming to him by which he could help all his 
 many employees. 
 
 " Wonderful little Gloria ! " he proclaimed 
 excitedly to the dainty slender creature, all 
 curled -up like a big kitten and half sleeping 
 beside him. "I see how I can really help people, 
 even against their own wishes ! " 
 
 An engulfing emotion was flooding Fletcher's 
 innermost being. As ever when deeply moved, 
 he trembled and his eyes became moist. This 
 bold young dreamer was beginning to vision 
 how he could actually do something for which 
 his heart had so long striven in vain. 
 
 Gloria awakened, looked up at him in a 
 puzzled manner. 
 
 " I do not think I understand ! " she said. 
 
 " But I do ! " cried Fletcher exultantly. "You 
 see it is fine to put people on their feet, but they 
 should be able to stand alone after you do that. 
 Now I have found a way of sort of propping 
 them up so that they will stand up whether they 
 really want to or not ! This is too good to keep 
 I must get busy at once. I shall explain it all 
 to you and show you how it works a little later. 
 Now, let's retire so I can get up early in the 
 morning!" 195
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " I suppose that is right ! " said Gloria 
 dreamily, " but all I know positively is that you 
 certainly are a very sweet brother ! " 
 
 196
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 FLETCHER reviewed his business handiwork the 
 next day. His great machine was working as a 
 unit. Thanks to the efficient work of his staff 
 in carrying out details, everything was so beauti- 
 fully dove-tailed and organised that his slightest 
 wish, once expressed, reverberated to the 
 farthest ends of his vast enterprises and rippled 
 back promptly in complete execution. He tuned 
 up his solid organisation a little bit here and 
 there, where he might expect some friction, and 
 sat back in his chair satisfied. 
 
 The whole octopus of his double's fortune was 
 pulsating with new life in every tentacle, and 
 all the great Van Mortimor wealth was actively 
 ready for him to use in moulding some things 
 nearer to his own heart's desire. First he con- 
 templated he would make a few strokes beyond 
 the desire for gain, and see if he could not 
 sound some new harmonies for his employees in 
 their bungling human relations. For at last, he 
 felt, Fletcher knew how to go about that, too ! 
 
 That night, up in the playhouse, he worked 
 out his first big stroke and discussed it with 
 Gloria. She was also enthusiastic at its pros- 
 pects as she came to realise them. 
 
 ' You see, it is, like this," he summarised. 
 " We must begin to help people practically, 
 
 197
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 otherwise our efforts and funds are thrown 
 away, just as most charity fails of its purpose. 
 Thrift is the first practical step to comfort and 
 happiness among working people and I have 
 caught an idea by which I can force people 
 despite or through their own nature to 
 practice thrift with our help. I can make most 
 of all our employees independent and self- 
 respecting in no time. This is going to cost us 
 something, but it will be worth all it costs and 
 may even prove profitable. I am sure I can do 
 something worth while for all of us ! " 
 
 Then he went ahead and showed Gloria how 
 he had worked everything out for this. When 
 he finished he exclaimed jubilantly : 
 
 " Can you imagine how much happiness this 
 will bring? " 
 
 " You are now your own true self," she 
 praised, " my old Sigmond. If you can make 
 them any part as happy as you make me, this 
 will be a sweet old world ! " 
 
 But that night he was a little restless. He 
 had some anxiety about putting this potent thing 
 into execution.. Where would his own impetuous 
 nature lead him? Van Mortimor must be lurk- 
 ing around somewhere, nor would he be too well 
 pleased with his proxy's present intentions ! 
 This revolutionary thing which he had planned 
 for to-morrow necessitated a large cash expen- 
 diture, and it might very probably bring this 
 eventual catastrophe down quickly upon him. 
 Where would his uncontrollable impulses to help 
 people finally land him? 
 
 The next morning Fletcher was in the office 
 early, lest his resolution weaken if he considered 
 too long its personal consequences. It was surely 
 
 198
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 inviting personal disaster from the power behind 
 him. Of the things that might happen, he 
 rather hoped it would bring Van Mortimer out 
 into the open if alive. Fletcher felt himself 
 fairly entrenched now, and Van Mortimor 
 would have to admit that Fletcher's stewardship 
 had been permitted. 
 
 Once fairly begun, Edmond's scheme would 
 carry itself along, while he dealt with Van 
 Mortimor at any personal cost. So it would 
 be if he came out in the open; but Fletcher 
 did not fear that half so much as what else Van 
 Mortimer might do ! From what he knew about 
 him, it was far more likely that Van Mortimor 
 would mete out from his mystic ambush some 
 diabolical punishment concocted at his leisure. 
 Be that as it might, this thing was too big for 
 him to consider selfishly. 
 
 Within his first hour of business he issued 
 this astounding bulletin throughout all of his 
 enterprises : 
 
 NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES: 
 
 Effective as soon as arrangements can be perfected, 
 this organisation will give each employee earning under 
 three thousand dollars per annum, who is accredited by 
 a duly constituted bank with having ten per cent, or 
 any less amount of his salary, a sum equal to one-half 
 of such savings. 
 
 This additional sum is absolutely donated and de- 
 posited to the employee's credit in his personal account, 
 on conditions entered into between the employer and 
 employee, namely, that the employee cannot withdraw 
 this money, either his special personal savings or our 
 donations, in part or in whole while in the service of 
 this company, except with the consent of the company, 
 which will be freely given where and whenever any real 
 necessity arises. 
 
 199
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 This is designed as true life insurance. It really 
 insures life while living, for those who accept its 
 benefits, the people making under three thousand dollars 
 a year, who most need such a safeguard. It is pre- 
 sumed that all making over three thousand dollars a 
 year have sufficient of the wolf in them to keep the 
 kindred animal away from their door themselves. 
 
 Not one of you employees is to be put under the 
 slightest obligation to save, and it is purely optional with 
 each of you whether you do so or not. This simply 
 means that we will absolutely give you regularly every 
 pay day one-half of what you permanently save. 
 
 SIGMOND VAN MORTIMOR. 
 
 " Now watch them save like beavers, just as 
 they work," Fletcher chuckled merrily after this 
 was posted. " Their very selfishness to get that 
 fifty per cent, will make them forego extrava- 
 gances, as nothing else on earth could do. It 
 isn't so ruinous to us either, considering that ten 
 per cent, of the highest salary is only three 
 hundred dollars, which means we can only pay 
 out a maximum of one hundred and fifty dollars, 
 just a decent bonus, to one man in a year. But 
 it sounds like a tremendous gift to the employee, 
 and in its results it is," he craftily reflected, 
 " for he has saved at least twice as much as we 
 gave him, and with compound interest he will 
 find himself respectable and on the road to 
 independence before he knows it." 
 
 However, though scattered bonuses had fre- 
 quently been given to special classes, no one 
 before had ever dared to give a great bonus to 
 all workers generally. 
 
 Instantly the office was a storm centre. 
 Fletcher had never guessed that he could start 
 such a bedlam. Everyone in the place was busy 
 at telephones and interviewing a frantically 
 
 200
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 interested mob. Fletcher was besieged by all 
 who thought they had a chance of getting his 
 attention. Both telegraph news tickers were 
 devoted to details of this gift, nearly to the 
 exclusion of everything else. 
 
 Fletcher, with some misgivings, turned to the 
 opening clicking of the stock ticker. Ah ! here 
 was the real answer to what he had done if he 
 could just interpret it aright. 
 
 Beginning at this moment the answer would 
 start and it would all be discounted on the stock 
 tape months in advance of the actual results. 
 If he could just feel this pulse of the nation 
 to-day, to-morrow, this week, and read the true 
 results at once then there would be further 
 selfish opportunities which would please Van 
 Mortimor himself. 
 
 The market opened hesitantly and then the 
 avalanche of selling stunned Fletcher. In lots 
 of thousands of shares the sales came, his stocks 
 holding as fast as they could, but gradually 
 receding then there was a lull and the selling 
 and prices strengthened slightly. 
 
 " Ah ! " he grinned as he half -guessed the 
 cause for this and his breath came a little freer. 
 " The professionals, the wise boys, sold the 
 market short against the news, and there's been 
 some little liquidation. Now they are all won- 
 dering just which way the cat will jump and 
 they are afraid of supporting orders from me. 
 In the next few days we shall see what the 
 minority ^interests do with their stock in all 
 these companies in which I hold control ! If 
 they sell, prices will go lower and I'll get bar- 
 gains, according to my way of thinking." 
 
 Thus, while he put through a great heroic 
 201
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 good, another spirit within motivated him to 
 profit selfishly by it and he listened to this 
 second inner voice just as gladly as the first. 
 
 To his brokers, and particularly old Morton's 
 frenzied request for advice, Fletcher said 
 laconically : 
 
 " No supporting orders ! The situation is 
 well in hand." 
 
 He refused to see officers, directors, and 
 stockholders, no matter how big their holdings 
 in his companies. Knowing what to expect 
 from these people he had issued a blanket reply 
 for all of them, which was nearly as insulting 
 under the circumstances as if he had sent 
 around a handbill to them. His message was : 
 
 All great pioneer benefits entail some sacrifice. I 
 stand to lose more than all of you put together and am 
 absolutely within my rights. If you are not with me, 
 sell your stocks. 
 
 And with that stereotyped message behind him, 
 he left the office at noon, through for the first day, 
 leaving pandemonium to reign in that short 
 street called Wall, which has a river at one end 
 and a graveyard at the other. 
 
 Gloria had all the " extras " awaiting him. 
 Reading about her brother in the papers had 
 become a steady diversion with Gloria in 
 Fletcher's absence. For her now he had a sort 
 of dual personality; .one was this kindly good 
 fellow with whom she spent such a big part 
 of her time, and the other the vainglorious 
 demigod of industry who could be relied upon 
 to give one a thrill almost every day in the news. 
 
 Gloria had a letter from Martha Adams, her 
 social service worker, explaining some special 
 work and some new arrangements she had made 
 
 202
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 for her many patients. Much to Fletcher's 
 delight Gloria had planned an expedition to 
 inspect the patients and see that they wanted 
 nothing. As Fletcher was very busy she invited 
 Myrtle Marbleton and Count Rononotski to 
 accompany her. 
 
 Myrtle came very near accepting, as of course 
 she relied upon Van Mortimer's cheering 
 presence in this obnoxious undertaking. When 
 the personnel of the expedition was made 
 known, she was nearly stricken with apoplexy, 
 considering the number of conflicting appoint- 
 ments which she found in her engagement book. 
 
 Fletcher did not leave the house the next day; 
 and that afternoon Gloria and the count, closely 
 followed by the detectives whom Fletcher had 
 been careful to provide, came in exhausted from 
 their efforts. In appreciation of his helpfulness 
 Fletcher and Gloria insisted upon the European's 
 dining with them. One had to admire his 
 sportsmanship. He was a good fellow at heart 
 and Gloria was very close to that organ indeed. 
 At dinner the count voiced weakly : 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor, you know it I would 
 help them as I could for your sister. But the 
 next time I dress like a truck driver and wear 
 one Red Cross sign so that they will know I am 
 a non-combatant ! Too many things they happen 
 accidental-like ! " He inspected his clothes for 
 spots and nursed his toes under the table. 
 
 " But it is a wonderful country, n'est-ce pas? 
 No matter how miserable the people be here, 
 they have a keener sense of humour than I." 
 
 After dinner Fletcher slipped away to his 
 rooms and left the count with Gloria -for an 
 evening which he certainly deserved. 
 
 203
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Fletcher took this opportunity to study 
 seriously the press comments about himself. He 
 hadn't realised what a pandemonium his action 
 could start throughout the whole nation. The 
 papers varied widely in their opinion of him. 
 But the consensus of opinion was that he had 
 acted rather foolishly in view of his previous 
 sane and rigorous policies. 
 
 Capital was unanimously bitter in its denun- 
 ciation of young Van Mortimer's " suicidal 
 liberality." Great industrial leaders contended 
 that if he established this silly precedent, men 
 would be clamouring for the same benefits from 
 competing companies, and that there was no 
 telling how far this thing might spread. 
 Fletcher keenly enjoyed this vein of thinking. 
 
 A socialist paper acclaimed him as a money 
 baron with a spark of intelligence, but doubted 
 that his men would really get the money as 
 freely as it was promised. And here was some- 
 thing small but powerfully significant : the 
 Roundhouse Union of Racine had elected him 
 an honorary member. He made a note of that. 
 Those boys would get an inspiring wire of 
 acceptance from him. 
 
 But all the other harsh criticism wore down 
 Fletcher's spirit. One can assert that he is 
 immune to others' opinions and remarks, but 
 each lash flicks on the raw, each criticism sinks 
 a little barb in his consciousness and depresses 
 one, just as everyone feels a sense of exhilara- 
 tion when praised. 
 
 Fletcher had a much better criterion than 
 the news by which to judge what he had done, 
 but this was not blazoned in the papers. Thou- 
 sands of letters and messages were flowing into 
 
 204
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 the office from employees, thankfully anxious to 
 get started saving. As against this, the prices 
 of his securities were slowly but steadily 
 declining on the exchange. Fletcher glanced 
 over the stock tables gloomily. 
 
 Surely this thing would bring Sigmond Van 
 Mortimer down upon him, but where was he? 
 Last night Fletcher had been in mortal terror, 
 yet nothing had happened, and to-day, so far, 
 there had been no evidence of his ghostly 
 shadow. If anywhere, Van Mortimer was 
 probably very near Fletcher, right here in New 
 York! 
 
 But this Van Mortimor was no ordinary- 
 antagonist who could be easily seen. He might 
 at this very moment be watching him and coldly 
 calculating some torture in which he would take 
 a ghoulish delight at just the most opportune 
 time. Sitting in his very comfortable seat, 
 Fletcher shuddered to think that most anything 
 horrible might happen to him at any minute now 
 in these luxurious surroundings ! 
 
 He arose and inspected the window fasten- 
 ings, and minutely went over the upper floor 
 of the apartment. Fletcher didn't see how he 
 could sleep without ventilation and yet he 
 scarcely dared leave a window open. 
 
 Near one of the windows, partially hidden 
 by the side drapery, he found an ingenious 
 device recently installed for controlling the heat 
 of the radiators concealed under the window 
 seats. By a thermostatic arrangement the heat 
 was controlled automatically at any degree it 
 was set. 
 
 This intrigued him. He set the hand -up ten 
 degrees and he could hear the steam charging 
 
 205
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 into the radiators. He pushed the hand violently 
 in the opposite direction and the temperature 
 soon got chilly, compelling him to reset the heat 
 indicator. It greatly interested him this small 
 delicate instrument having such perfect control 
 of all. the cumbersome steam fittings and power 
 which went to make up the heating system. 
 
 This clever little mechanism stealthily 
 throttling, propelling, and gauging all the heat, 
 reminded Fletcher very unpleasantly of the way 
 Van Mortimor invisibly regulated his proxy's 
 conduct and emotions to suit his own desire. 
 The very stars were set against Fletcher now ! 
 The pressure he would feel would make him 
 writhe for his last offence ! 
 
 Fletcher could not sleep well during the 
 night. He purposely left on a light, and only 
 had one of the windows in his bedroom open, 
 just a little from the top. During the early 
 hours he woke up suddenly with a sense of 
 something burning his hand. Then he felt very 
 foolish, for he was standing over by the window 
 with his hand on the heat regulator. 
 
 Evidently he had been playing with its indica- 
 tor in his sleep. Never had he been given to 
 sleep-walking and this new experience rather 
 nettled Wm. The steam contrivance must have 
 strangelv fascinated him. It was very late and 
 still, but the light was burning as he had left 
 it. 
 
 The much disturbed young man turned the 
 lever up sharply. The heat charged up with 
 a gentle pulsating sound. It was unpleasantly 
 warm. He turned the heat off. Then he thought 
 he heard faintly the notes of the blanched 
 face coming from his window. But it was not 
 
 206
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 distinct. Probably he had only imagined this, 
 he reflected, as he had just quickly turned down 
 the steam and the radiators were under the 
 window-seats. That might account for what he 
 had heard, but he wasn't sure. He got down 
 on his hands and knees, and putting his ear as 
 close as he could to the pipes listened. 
 
 How silly he was suppose some of the 
 servants saw him ! Getting up, he looked 
 searchingly at the tiny indicator which had 
 such a powerful grip on the steam and such a 
 suggestive and irritating influence over him. 
 Fletcher did not like the thing and a fury 
 surged up in him against it. 
 
 He would order it removed, for he couldn't 
 tell whether he heard the guttural notes of his 
 avenging Nemesis or not with such a weirdly 
 gurgling thing in his bedroom. It was useless 
 to try to sleep. He dressed and, unnoticed, 
 slipped out into the night, but he did not go far, 
 for fear of being caught unprotected by the 
 great thrill pander who followed him. 
 
 He soon came back and lay down in one of 
 the rooms below where they had not yet installed 
 that infernal device which softly pulsated and 
 gurgled so humanly. 
 
 With the day Fletcher's, fear somewhat 
 abated. Darkness and fear, light and self-con- 
 fidence are so inseparably interlinked in our 
 understanding. He disliked to disrupt the 
 household with his eccentricity and give in to 
 what was most probably only a figment of his 
 imagination. Then, too, the strenuous market 
 of which he was now the storm centre distracted 
 his attention from this haunting fancy at home. 
 There was no use worrying about Van Mor- 
 
 207
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 timor in that maelstrom. Time enough when 
 the thrill hound came ! 
 
 Fletcher had a premonition that there would 
 be no doubt about it when Van Mortimor came 
 this time he believed he would know it as a 
 man might feel the touch of a thousand needles. 
 So he slept with his door open and lights on, 
 and kept a servant in his rooms on the pretext 
 that he wasn't well. 
 
 Meanwhile throughout the ensuing week, the 
 strain of the falling stock prices became terrific. 
 Pressure was being brought to bear from every 
 source upon this wild young capitalist to support 
 the market and not let his securities go lower, 
 for they were now leading the whole list down- 
 ward. But he sat maliciously inactive, and 
 silently watched the tape, while he rigorously 
 counselled his soul to wait for the utmost 
 bargains. To do this he had to steel his heart 
 against all entreaties. 
 
 But even as he schemed so satanically, this 
 adamant young financier took every short-cut 
 and precaution for putting his new pet philan- 
 thropy into operation. Within- a few days he 
 had it so generally authorised that it would be 
 in evidence on every pay roll of all his many 
 enterprises that week even if hell must burst 
 with it. 
 
 He, who had been so easily seen, so likely to 
 drop in anywhere, had become a recluse hugging 
 his ticker behind tight-locked doors, while all the 
 world could praise him or damn him as they 
 wished. 
 
 Now came the day!~ Friday, it was, and 
 truly a black one. It was about two o'clock as 
 Fletcher watched the tape sullenly. He had 
 
 208
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 believed for five consecutive minutes that his 
 stocks were scraping bottom, as low as they 
 could be carried at this time. 
 
 Then and then only did he begin to buy 
 cautiously, and all the time that he was buying, 
 he kept answering desperate appeals for the 
 support of the market with his cryptic reply 
 that he wasn't interested in the gamblers over 
 there meaning, of course, on the New York 
 Stock Exchange, where now he was the very 
 biggest speculator. 
 
 The bargains Fletcher got were thousands 
 and thousands of shares of America's greatest 
 corporations. He did not bid up for anything. 
 He just took them quietly at the last sale or 
 under as they were offered, his sly purchases 
 almost unnoticed in the day's demoralisation of 
 values. 
 
 But to his chagrin the market did not firm 
 up after he had bought absolutely all he wanted. 
 On they came, these avalanches of big selling 
 orders. Prices sagged lower. 
 
 Now he gave forth the news that he was 
 supporting the market blatted it over the news 
 tickers rushed it through the wires over the 
 country, inasmuch as he had his chosen line very 
 fully purchased. 
 
 Yet still the stocks came for sale until he was 
 forced really to support the market, and now 
 he stood desperately overbuying to protect him- 
 self. Soon his brokers were frantically taking 
 everything on his rushed orders to stem the 
 tide and hold his already swollen purchases from 
 further depreciation. 
 
 Never during that awful day did Fletcher 
 know how much he bought. He only knew that 
 
 209
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 he was still within the cash assets of the Van 
 Mortimer fortune, as magically calculated by 
 his feverishly working corps of secretaries from 
 moment to moment. 
 
 An hour and twenty minutes after the 
 exchange closed, which was twenty minutes 
 after four o'clock, the ticker was still running, 
 despite the emergency use of the most abbre- 
 viated code; it was that far behind, but it closed 
 steady for the last ten minutes on his herculean 
 support. Blankly he stared at the prices which 
 could not go lower that day. Most of the 
 Van Mortimor fortune was spent for securities 
 which must be paid for by fifteen minutes after 
 two o'clock Monday. 
 
 The door of Fletcher's private office opened 
 without formality, and there stood old Wilker- 
 son, the president of the bank. 
 
 " Your requirements here, sir ! " he cut in 
 brusquely, " surpass even your credit with this 
 bank by one half million dollars ! " 
 
 " Get it ! " spoke the young financier coldly. 
 
 " No, my boy ! " answered this staid old 
 veteran of innumerable big loans, " this is a 
 poor time for you to pull your bold authority on 
 me ! I don't have to listen to you ! " 
 
 "Why?" snapped Fletcher. 
 
 " Because the legal limit for your credit with 
 this bank is reached; and there is another 
 reason why you shouldn't ask this of me as a 
 favour ! " 
 
 " Well spring that, too!" demanded Fletcher 
 breathlessly. 
 
 " Because," Wilkerson said kindly, coming 
 around to put his arm affectionately on 
 Fletcher's shoulders, " I have already personally 
 
 210
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 arranged your little deficiency here ! By Gad, 
 it does my heart good to see you working just 
 like the old man, you are, pulling off stunts and 
 running everybody ragged when it's nothing 
 but a blind for you to steal control cheaply of 
 some of your competitors in all this excitement ! 
 I know two or three big corners in stocks will 
 show up soon ! " 
 
 Wilkerson stalked out in high satisfaction 
 before Fletcher could thank him, but this wild 
 young financier went ahead thinking confusedly. 
 Corners nothing! He had not stopped to con- 
 centrate all his buying on two or three important 
 companies in this demoralisation, as he might 
 well have done, so that he could now engineer 
 corners and run the prices up to break even in 
 any event. He was just desperately overbur- 
 dened with his own and all other good stocks 
 a bull on America and that was all ! 
 
 At ten o'clock the next morning prices would 
 move again. If they held or went up, all would 
 be well ; but should they go much lower not even 
 he could support his tremendous line of stocks 
 for many minutes more. This stupendous busi- 
 ness organisation and all its wealth of which he 
 had had sole charge would be wiped out ! 
 
 Suddenly Fletcher clutched his desk with both 
 hands, for faintly but distinctly the weird cry 
 of the blanched face rang in his ears as his true 
 situation flashed upon him. In that instant he 
 painfully saw that the entire Van v Mortimor 
 fortune was threatened with ruin, while Edmond 
 Fletcher, through the commissions accredited to 
 him in the office of Morton, Keene and Com- 
 pany, was a wealthy man ! 
 
 Let Van Mortimor come and give him his just 
 211
 
 deserts quickly, Fletcher inwardly moaned. He 
 deserved the worst that the outraged owner of 
 this fortune could possibly do to him. Scarcely 
 cognisant of his surroundings, he made his way 
 down to the car and was driven home in a daze. 
 
 Fletcher tried brokenly to explain to Gloria 
 the frightful thing he had done, how they might 
 be poverty-stricken through his acts; but she 
 could not understand and insisted on sticking by 
 him in all events. 
 
 " I know," he informed her contritely, " come 
 what may, where I have enough to ensure you 
 a living," and in his heart he thanked Providence 
 for that positive proof of his real identity which 
 was so safely tucked away in a safe deposit box 
 to be opened on his signature. 
 
 " You mean to ensure us a living ! " she in* 
 sisted. " With everything else gone, happiness 
 may still exist for me now, but not without you, 
 my dearest ! " 
 
 " Don't, Gloria," he pleaded, " you make me 
 ashamed of myself, you sweet, wonderful girl. 
 But you don't know what you say ! You are 
 simply repeating the fool ideas that I have given 
 you." 
 
 While they dined, he mustered courage to 
 ask: 
 
 " Gloria, may I make a silly request of you ? " 
 
 " Certainly," she agreed readily, " anything 
 you wish." 
 
 " Would you mind if I had those steam 
 regulating devices taken out of my room at once 
 if possible ? " 
 
 " Not in the least/' she responded, no little 
 surprised, "but don't you like them? The 
 workmen went to terrific pains putting them in 
 
 212
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 a few days ago under a big engineer, who was 
 sent here from Chicago especially to install them 
 in this apartment just for us alone. No one 
 else in the building has them! I don't know 
 how we could get them removed instantly." 
 
 ' Then we can't get them out to-night," he 
 spoke sadly, "but forgive me; it is just a queer 
 fancy which I have taken against them," and 
 they both laughed nervously. 
 
 Fletcher excused himself and retired early, 
 worn almost to the breaking point under the 
 strain. His servant in the next room, sleeping 
 there by his orders, annoyed him moving around, 
 and Fletcher snappishly dismissed him for the 
 night, ordering him to stay away. Before long, 
 he rather regretted this, but his pride prevented 
 him from shilly-shallying before a menial. 
 
 He shut his bedroom up tightly. All doors 
 leading into it he bolted, and he locked the 
 windows securely. Then he tried to sleep with 
 the lights on, but he could not manage to doze 
 off. The light irritated his overwrought nerves 
 and he felt he would suffocate without fresh air. 
 
 In desperation he raised one of the two 
 windows just a little. The steam regulator 
 unfortunately was between them, so that he 
 could not avoid its being near the one he opened. 
 He turned off the lights and- fell like a dead 
 weight into bed, for he was completely worn 
 out. 
 
 Strange to say, sound sleep came to him, the 
 sleep of the exhausted sleep as of the dead 
 who know no worry. 
 
 It seemed, hours later, that from the depths 
 of an all-pervading- slumber he found himself 
 floating on the bosom of a river or out in a boat 
 
 213
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 somewhere, for it was very moist all about. He 
 dreamed that he was proceeding slowly through 
 a murky fog. He was in the tropics, he sup- 
 posed, for it was warm, even sultry. Fletcher 
 was puzzled about where he could possibly be 
 travelling, as he had no boat lines to worry 
 about. He thought he would ask somebody *o 
 explain it all. 
 
 Now all at once, as occurs in dreams with 
 reason and fantasy combined, he found he was 
 alone in some strange sticky hot place. In an 
 effort to free himself Fletcher wandered about 
 blindly, pushing through dank, wet, clinging 
 undergrowth. It was everywhere. 
 
 Suddenly he heard the horrifying notes of the 
 blanched face. Then he stopped breathless with 
 terror. Better to suffer anything than to en- 
 counter the fiend. It was getting dreadfully hot 
 and he felt that he would suffocate if he could 
 not get out of this sweltering and engulfing 
 bog. 
 
 Then, squarely in front of him, loomed up 
 Van Mortimor with a malicious leer upon his 
 chalky face; and he held high in his hand that 
 haunting steam gauge with pipes swinging from 
 it gushing fire and steam. These the fiend 
 turned upon Fletcher, as His Satanic Majesty, 
 Van Mortimor, gave forth a sardonic howl of 
 delight. 
 
 Fletcher crumbled under the pitiless assault. 
 He was being roasted alive as the maniac basted 
 him with the fire and live steam from the 
 gushing pipes, in SL wet and sticky hell. 
 
 The pain seared him right and left as he 
 screeched out in agony, for he was fully con- 
 scious now and this was no dream! His yells 
 
 214
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 were getting fainter, already scarcely audible. 
 He was suffocating. In his anguish he even 
 realised that he had locked his doors on the 
 inside, and that he was powerless to open them. 
 
 Yet just as the burning inferno enveloped 
 him he could hear frantic pounding on the door. 
 With a terrific impact something came crushing 
 in. Air, air, worlds of cool air flooded in; but 
 he was unconscious. He was gently carried out 
 to Gloria's tender ministrations, while the steam 
 was hastily shut off. 
 
 Lying in Gloria's arms, the setting of so 
 many happy moments, he was found to be 
 scalded and burned almost all over his body, 
 for he had been unable to protect himself. A 
 physician was tediously and carefully plastering 
 some greasy balm over his skin. He had to be 
 nearly mummified to live. 
 
 Fletcher revived momentarily as a measure 
 of blessed relief came to him, and with swollen 
 eyelids he painfully blinked at the anxious crowd 
 about him. The sensitive little " sister " was 
 sobbing her anguish. 
 
 "What happened?" he asked faintly with 
 quivering lips. 
 
 " Some wretch broke the automatic control 
 device off the wall and that opened the steam 
 valves. Your bedroom was flooded when the 
 steam came on this morning," they tried to 
 explain. 
 
 " I shouldn't have left the window open," he 
 said wanly. "Any evidence of the intruder?" 
 he mumbled. 
 
 " None," replied a detective, " unless you can 
 remember giving some person this. One of 
 your cards we found it on the window sill." 
 
 215
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 Fletcher beheld across the pasteboard : 
 
 SIGMOND VAN MORTIMOR 
 
 He shrank back from it in mortal terror as 
 they carefully and sadly prepared him for the 
 hospital. 
 
 "Oh, yes ! Van Mortimer," he cried in sudden 
 delirium. " I am sorry I didn't get to see him, 
 but you must get somebody in my place. His 
 fortune is at stake. Get somebody just like me. 
 It's quite the regular thing." He raved on. 
 
 " Poor dear boy," sighed Gloria, tears stream- 
 ing down her face, " and he wanted that horrible 
 thing out last night." 
 
 Day stretched after day, and then weeks 
 passed as he lay helpless, unconscious the greater 
 part of the time, in his suffering from his burns 
 and a general nervous breakdown. Hard as 
 they fought against it, pneumonia set in from 
 the scorched condition of his lungs. 
 
 In an all-consuming service Gloria Van Mor- 
 timor did practical things which had previously 
 been undreamed of by her. She alone must 
 feed him and wash his face. No one but she 
 must be permitted to touch him more than 
 absolutely necessary. What did mere doctors 
 know about how gently he should be handled? 
 Were not her hands infinitely softer than theirs? 
 Theirs might not be tender enough. In her now 
 truly was aroused the eternal feminine. 
 
 Horrible were Fletcher's ravings. He con- 
 tinually feared he would be poisoned. " The 
 Borgias have me ! " he would shout, " but only 
 the brother is venomous ! " 
 
 He examined his food minutely and, holding 
 216
 
 REMOULDING THE WORLD 
 
 a clear glass of water up to the light, he would 
 study it intently for the palest of discolourations 
 before he dared drink it. To please him, Gloria 
 had all his food searchingly examined and she 
 would try to allay his fears by tasting it in 
 advance of him. But this would throw him into 
 paroxysms of fear, and his innate character was 
 vividly shown, in that no matter how much he 
 feared the food himself, he would let no one 
 else, however humble, taste it before him. 
 
 " This is my gamble only," he would hysteric- 
 ally cry. " Do you think I am an ingrate ? " 
 
 But time heals or kills all things, and in 
 Fletcher's instance, slowly the pain from the 
 scalded places abated, the overwrought nerves 
 became firmer, and though he could not move, 
 and still had the pneumonia, his intelligence at 
 last emerged out of chaos. They had kept all 
 news from him; but now that he was himself 
 mentally they saw it would be worse to withhold 
 information than to give it to him. 
 
 Gloria had assured the patient repeatedly that 
 everything was well, that there positively had 
 been no wolves howling at the door which she 
 had noticed ! Bland and the secretaries had 
 often tried to convey to their audacious leader 
 that the market was better, but in his feverish 
 state it had been hard for him to understand 
 how such a thing was possible; for even in his 
 half delirium he knew that they would not have 
 told him the worst if it were true. 
 
 A day came, though, some six weeks later 
 he was permitted to run exultantly over the 
 stock report page of a newspaper. What he 
 found there was too good to be true. The 
 market for his securities was up an average of 
 
 217
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 ten points from the dreadful low at which he 
 had loaded up so heavily. 
 
 He took some gigantic profits on a part of 
 those great purchases and settled back in bed, 
 his mind eased for the time being of his very 
 greatest fear. If Van Mortimer had any interest 
 at all left in wordly goods, Fletcher had cer- 
 tainly garnered an astounding supply of them 
 for him! He did not know how much he had 
 bought on the break, and it would take the boys 
 at the office a long time to compute exactly all 
 he had gained. 
 
 Dr. Bates had practically given his entire 
 time, simply lived with him. By some strange 
 telepathy the good old family physician also 
 seemed to suffer equally with Fletcher through 
 it all. 
 
 So the days ran along as Christmas 
 approached. Gloria's only aim in life, it 
 appeared, was to get Fletcher home for the 
 holidays. How one's view can change. Here 
 was this wonderful brother of hers, one of the 
 most eligible young bachelors in the world, and 
 what a social season she had planned for him 
 in which he would have been lionised ! But now 
 she had dropped all of those plans entirely, and 
 the confusion of the hospital and her anxiety 
 about him had caused her to forget even her 
 personal invitations and engagements. 
 
 218
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 CHRISTMAS was almost at hand, and each day 
 Fletcher grew stronger, as if Gloria's subcon- 
 scious prayers were being answered. Subtle 
 emotions often enter into trivial events and 
 make of them epochal occasions. 
 
 Gloria Van Mortimor had been reared virtu- 
 ally an orphan and her great wealth had served 
 to make her a singular one in some respects. 
 There were some bleak little spots back in her life 
 that must be lived over again, since at the time 
 the circumstances of her childhood had pre- 
 cluded her from ever enjoying them. 
 
 Every recent Christmas since she had settled 
 upon her way of celebrating it, had found her 
 alone with her Christmas tree and surrounded 
 with reminiscences of what this day had meant 
 when she had a dad, and Sigmond was a big 
 playful boy. 
 
 Then, years later, dad left her and Sigmond; 
 and, against her pleadings, they took him, all 
 that she had left, this dear dreamy-eyed brother, 
 far away from her. She always bought him a 
 gift, however, and placed it on the tree, aside 
 from the formal ones which they at first ex- 
 changed across the ocean. 
 
 219
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 She had some of the dolls which her 'mother 
 had given her, particularly " Psyche," a big 
 beautiful bisque one, and these, together with 
 treasured things that she had received from her 
 father, she grouped about her tree and kept her 
 trysting place with memories alone each Christ- 
 mas, looking at the gift for her brother and 
 wishing he might be there to receive it. Then 
 her heart always broke and she cried in her 
 loneliness. 
 
 Too wonderful to contemplate for this 
 Christmas she would have him, her brother ! 
 By every means, she must get him home ! For 
 did she not have a rendezvous with love? 
 Under these circumstances Fletcher came home, 
 making the season real for Gloria. 
 
 The Christmas spirit was upon him also, and 
 he wondered absent-mindedly why Gloria kept 
 so busy away from him, with her door closed so 
 very formally. Finally from his rooms he 
 peeped through the keyhole into her boudoir. 
 On her bed were a dozen dolls of all sizes. " So 
 that is what she likes ! " he smiled to himself. 
 
 Fletcher carefully made his way down below 
 and ordered the car. The servants bundled him 
 up and the ride was exhilarating as his motor 
 nudged through the heavy traffic to the best 
 toy shop on the avenue. A hasty consultation 
 with a magical engineer of toydom produced 
 a good suggestion ! From what he had seen 
 Fletcher naturally wanted the finest and prettiest 
 doll obtainable. This order fairly kindled the 
 toy wizard into a flame of inspiration. 
 
 " We shall make of it a masterpiece," he 
 promised, " a work of creative art ! A truly 
 lovable doll, and a highly complimentary gift to 
 
 220
 
 STRANGE CHRISTMAS VISITORS 
 
 your sister, would be an exact likeness of the 
 young lady! We shall produce a miniature 
 Miss Gloria Van Mortimor ! " 
 
 There were many strange doings in the Van 
 Mortimor playhouse Christmas Eve. 
 
 Snow was gently falling on the window sills 
 before Fletcher closed his eyes. He was con- 
 tent with all the world and to-morrow would be 
 a white Christmas. 
 
 The next morning early, ever so early, for 
 Gloria could not sleep, there came a knock 
 on the door between the rooms, and Fletcher 
 jumped to the entrance, for fear she would look 
 in prematurely. 
 
 " Merry Christmas ! " sang a glad little voice. 
 " Come through this way to our Christmas tree. 
 Just put on a dressing-gown. I cannot wait for 
 you to dress ! " 
 
 Fletcher put on some things quickly, and went 
 through Gloria's bedroom to the parlour of her 
 suite. 
 
 Before him he beheld Gloria in a gorgeously 
 flowered kimono, seated before a fairy Christ- 
 mas tree, resplendent in ethereal frost and 
 sparkling silver. It was not yet dawn, and 
 mellow candlelight from its verdant branches 
 cast a glamorous flickering softness about, which 
 made Gloria the picture of a saint at a shrine, 
 while she again kept her tryst, and this time so 
 rapturously looked upon a true Christmas tree, 
 one which could be shared. Radiantly, she 
 turned to Fletcher. 
 
 " Come sit close to me on the floor and just 
 be foolishly happy. This is so much ours alone 
 that no one else must even see us now." 
 
 221
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Fletcher dropped down beside her and gave 
 her a big hug. Silently, half in awe of what was 
 around him, he had a vision of the innermost 
 workings of her strangely famished heart. No 
 one but himself, who had been partially admitted 
 to her tenderest feelings, could have guessed 
 what lay buried under the cool . exterior of the 
 little heiress. 
 
 " Open up your presents, Sigmond, just as 
 you used to do for dad and me," her soft voice 
 quavered, " and so long ago for for mother." 
 
 Her grateful hand trembled, as she delicately 
 pushed to him in their proper order boxes, each 
 containing a present which she had kept for her 
 brother from one to twelve years. 
 
 " Hurry," she said, while he undid one gift 
 after ano.ther, " you are a little late. I have 
 had merely to look at them for so many Christ- 
 
 mases." 
 
 We are all children at heart and such is the 
 spirit of Christmas. For a little while these two 
 wiped out the callousness and selfishness of adult 
 life and revelled in the mythical existence of 
 childhood. 
 
 Gloria's happiness was complete, except that 
 suddenly there came over her face a slightly 
 blank expression, which Fletcher immediately 
 caught and correctly interpreted. It had just 
 occurred to the winsome little lady that her 
 remarkable brother had not given her anything. 
 
 Fletcher instinctively glanced over his 
 shoulder. They had been so absorbed in their 
 own affairs that they had not noticed the 
 approach of an eavesdropper, although the 
 eavesdropper had had a very hard time getting 
 in. Behind -Gloria and Fletcher, and all rapt 
 
 222
 
 STRANGE CHRISTMAS VISITORS 
 
 attention, but so begrimed and dirty that he was 
 scarcely recognisable, sat a great, big, shaggy 
 dog. 
 
 Gloria had turned around sharply, following 
 Fletcher's startled expression. 
 
 " Heavens ! " she cried. " What is it and 
 where did it come from ? " 
 
 " My Lord ! " exclaimed Fletcher, " that is 
 Belshazzar ! " At the mention of his name the 
 big dog came galloping upon them. He waded 
 into them with such force and scattered their 
 presents so effectually that everything was chaotic 
 for a minute. 
 
 "Down, Bell! Down, Bell!" frantically yelled 
 Fletcher, and at last the big dog subsided from 
 his strenuous greetings, taking up a position half 
 in Gloria's lap with his head cocked wisely to 
 one side at Fletcher. Sometimes all academic 
 discussions about our relationship to animals 
 can be very easily settled by a mere reunion 
 with an old pet. In this instance it was hard 
 to tell which expressed the greater affection, 
 Fletcher or the dog. 
 
 Parkins, very deeply distressed, presently 
 appeared in the doorway. 
 
 " Oh, sir ! Beg pardon, sir ! " he stuttered. 
 " How did that dog get in here ? I have put 
 him out of the house a dozen times ! " 
 
 " Where did he come from ? " asked Fletcher 
 eagerly. 
 
 " I don't know, sir ! He jumped off of the 
 dumbwaiter this last time ! He rode up on the 
 groceries and I was chasing him in the picture 
 gallery when I heard him crash in another 
 direction." 
 
 " Don't chase him any more ! " said Fletcher, 
 223
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 both he and Gloria laughing. " Leave him here 
 with us. I think he has earned a good rest ! " 
 
 The butler limped away in outraged bewilder- 
 ment. 
 
 " I can't guess how he found us," commented 
 Fletcher blankly to Gloria, " but that old rascal 
 you are nursing is my very own dog, Bel- 
 shazzar 1 " The old rascal barked again at the 
 mention of his name. " See how he knows his 
 name? I'll show you all of his circus tricks 
 later. You probably want to get rid of the 
 mud of our early caller and then come into my 
 rooms. I have something for you that you may 
 like ! " 
 
 " Let's take his mud along ! I can't wait ! " 
 said Gloria, but she was inspecting the old and 
 obviously unpedigreed dog thoughtfully. 
 
 Belshazzar, possibly thinking it meant break- 
 fast as of old, joyously led the way. 
 
 Fletcher among other things diffidently pre- 
 sented his small but rather unique surprise, the 
 artistic miniature likeness of Gloria Van Mor- 
 timor. Gloria, all anticipation, undid its elabor- 
 ate wrappings carefully. Then she tenderly 
 brought out the beautiful little reproduction of 
 herself. She fondly held this marvellous creation 
 of her own self in her arms and studied it, 
 nearly overcome with emotion. 
 
 "Little Gloria," she breathed ever so softly, 
 as she held it close to her and looked up at 
 Fletcher, her eyes showing her gratitude, " how 
 sweet she is ! " 
 
 In rapture she carried her gently ever so 
 gently over to the window, straight into the 
 full light of the breaking dawn as Fletcher 
 followed her. He was struck with the new 
 
 224
 
 STRANGE CHRISTMAS VISITORS 
 
 and wonderful softness in Gloria's countenance 
 as she gazed upon her little Gloria in her arms. 
 
 " Sigmond," she perceived suddenly, " she has 
 blue eyes ! " 
 
 Fletcher reddened. That confounded toy artist 
 had worked wonders from pictures, but he had 
 not discovered the true colour of Gloria's eyes 
 and he had taken a chance on their being the 
 same as her brother's. Fletcher's small surprise 
 had proved a boomerang. 
 
 He was so genuinely embarrassed that he 
 would have been forced to leave the room but 
 for the quick assertion of the eternal feminine 
 in Gloria Van Mortimor. Gloria was in every 
 sense a woman and she possessed the full com- 
 plement of the complex emotions of her sex. 
 Every Christmas Day about this time for many 
 long years she had cried in her bitter loneliness, 
 and now, for the very extreme opposite reason, 
 she was also crying. Edmond hurried over to 
 comfort her. 
 
 No explanation could be found of Bel- 
 shazzar's startling appearance, and Gloria, with 
 that usual complaisance with which she shrouded 
 all strange occurrences, asked none. But along 
 in the afternoon she dropped a remark even 
 more amazing to Fletcher than the dog's coming. 
 
 " Sigmond, dear," she said, gently chiding 
 him, " you peeped at my Christmas tree last 
 night." And when he glanced at her in frank 
 astonishment : " I saw you in my room after I 
 had retired ! " 
 
 " Oh, Gloria," he declared, " you are mis- 
 taken ! " 
 
 A look of wild alarm came into her sensitive 
 countenance and quickly spread into one of 
 positive terror. 225
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Don't ! Don't ! " she cried out sharply. 
 " Sigmond, you scare me ! You wouldn't joke 
 with me about a matter like that, would you, 
 dear ? Tell me you must tell me that you were 
 in my room about one o'clock ! " 
 
 A cold chill crept up Fletcher's spine as she 
 gave way to her fears; and he answered her 
 humbly : 
 
 " Yes, dear ! Ye"s, yes ; forgive me, it was I. 
 I couldn't wait to see what you had for me ! " 
 
 The little lie worked wonders and restored her 
 composure nearly at once. But the distressing 
 coincidence left Fletcher unsettled. Was Gloria 
 dreaming or was there some connection between 
 two weird occurrences in the same night and on 
 Christmas Eve? Anyhow, he had Belshazzar 
 again without having to make any apologies 
 about it, and that was something. 
 
 The first time, however, that he was alone 
 Fletcher made use of his private telephone line. 
 He called the kennels where he had left Bel- 
 shazzar for safe keeping and he inquired about 
 him. 
 
 " Don't argue with me," said the landlady's 
 firm voice, which he knew so well, " you took 
 the old dog away yourself ! " 
 
 Fletcher dropped the phone and fell back 
 faintly into his chair. He was curiously dis- 
 pirited after dinner. Only Gloria's cheering 
 presence made the silly struggle in which he 
 was engaged seem worth while, and possibly he 
 paid her a little too much attention that evening. 
 " Isn't it sweet to be home again? " she said, 
 rather late, when he attempted to kiss her good 
 night. 
 
 After being with him so continuously at the 
 226
 
 STRANGE CHRISTMAS VISITORS 
 
 hospital Gloria now seemed to forget the little 
 point of etiquette which had been seemingly 
 emphasised by the weird voice. Grasping him 
 around the shoulders with her soft, clinging 
 arms, she looked longingly into his face as he 
 tried gently to disengage himself. 
 
 " Sigmpnd," she asked pensively, " where is 
 my old Sigmond who was so good and sweet to 
 me, who did not mind sitting up ever so late 
 with me, at Cleborough ? " 
 
 " Oh," he answered considerately, but still 
 trying to free himself, " I suppose your old 
 Sigmond gets caught in the dark of the moon 
 sometimes, where you can't see him so well ! " 
 
 Very close to him, he saw in her eyes a flicker 
 of ecstasy which he felt sure no girl could feel 
 for a brother ! In her gaze was all that ardent 
 rapture which has a way of welling up for the 
 first lucky one of a girl's choice ! Something 
 within Fletcher relented. He realised there was 
 nothing in the whole world comparable to having 
 this exquisite little creature beside him. 
 
 " But, honey," he went on, " sometime, some- 
 where, somehow, the old moon will shine again, 
 ever so softly, for us ! " His voice unconsciously 
 carried far more meaning than the words. 
 
 " On out across the golden Pacific, which is 
 merely a step for us," he mused aloud to her, 
 " are beautiful little tropical islands with pink 
 coral beaches ; and on them there are no tiresome 
 railroads, or banks, or selfish people, or any- 
 thing else that we have to contend with. There, 
 I imagine, the moon would shine the very softest 
 and the sweetest." 
 
 " How wonderful that would be, to run 
 away ! " she whispered. 
 
 227
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 A tumult of thoughts were turning about in 
 Fletcher's tired mind. " Chuck it all ! What 
 a relief it would be and to have her, too ! " 
 The idea was very enticing, indeed, but it 
 occurred to him that as surely as Belshazzar 
 strangely slept in his bedroom, the most sensible 
 thing Edmond Fletcher could do was also to go 
 to bed. 
 
 " All right, honey ! " he answered carelessly. 
 " Life is such a grand adventure that you may 
 be asked to twiddle your little toes in the pink 
 coral sands almost any time now, but it is getting 
 late, and I am tired, too, Gloria, dear," he stated 
 emphatically, " I must retire." 
 
 " Don't ! " she begged. 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " Because I can't give you up ! " 
 
 " Annette," he called out, and the maid 
 appeared. " Miss Gloria wants you. Good 
 night ! " he said as Gloria made a face at him. 
 
 But that was not all of it as he found out. 
 About an hour later Fletcher was awakened in 
 bed. 
 
 " Move over ! " came Gloria's voice in the 
 dark, and he nearly swooned as he felt her 
 delicately lovely, warm body cuddling up to him. 
 
 " Gloria Van Mortinaor ! " he exclaimed. 
 a Suppose the servants see you? Are you crazy?" 
 
 " The servants didn't see me !" pleaded Gloria. 
 " I have them locked out of here, and if you 
 will just keep quiet no one on earth will know 
 I am in here with you." 
 
 " Honestly, dear, sweet little Gloria," he said 
 tremulously, "tell me truthfully from the bottom 
 of your heart why you do a thing like this ? " 
 
 " Because," she answered plaintively, " I can't 
 228
 
 help it! All else there is for me that I can 
 think of is not worth staying away from you 
 and if I am bad, forgive me, I am what I am 
 and I didn't make myself this way ! All I want 
 is to be near you just let me sleep close by your 
 side," she sobbed as she hugged up closer to him. 
 ' There can't be any wrong in this ! You are 
 ill, and I am so awfully afraid in my room! 
 I'll be so quiet and so very good if you will just 
 hold me here in your arms." 
 
 Fletcher dared not move or speak again, but 
 he tried to collect his racing thoughts, for he 
 needed to think fast now, if anyone ever did. 
 Gloria, however, took his silence for consent. 
 She remained with him ! And then, to Fletcher's 
 great wonder, she went happily asleep almost 
 at once ! 
 
 There they were, he realised, locked up 
 together all alone, and no one on earth could 
 know If ! 
 
 Under the bed was a sudden low, sharp growl. 
 Its dismal significance set Fletcher's teeth on 
 edge. Belshazzar had sighted the unseen. 
 Fletcher felt a cold chill leap to his throat. A 
 breath of icy air swept over his face as though a 
 door had been suddenly opened. Across the room 
 stood the blanched face of his other self ! 
 
 Pallid and haggard, like a wraith from 
 another world, it rested in his doorway. Some 
 stray moonlight from the hall framed the 
 phantom in a grey shroud. It was calmly 
 contemplating them. 
 
 Fletcher, in some manner, fell on to the floor. 
 He desperately pulled himself over the door-sill 
 into Gloria's room. He hoped this mad ruse 
 would draw the spectre after him. 
 
 229
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 A horrible tragedy was imminent, and he 
 wanted the gruesome details out of Gloria's 
 sight. 
 
 But the apparition wavered at his hasty 
 retreat silently turned as if disappointed in 
 some particular ! Fletcher, spellbound, watched 
 it sadly fade away. It appeared simply to float 
 down the stairway outside. 
 
 At his feet was only left Belshazzar crouch- 
 ing in fear, moaning pitifully. Fletcher snapped 
 the light on. 
 
 Gloria sat up in his bed confusedly. " Oh, 
 Sigmond," she moaned, " I had a bad dream ! " 
 
 ' Yes, I know," he said wearily. " Let's trade 
 back rooms, Gloria. Would you mind telling 
 me what you dreamed?" 
 
 He eyed her anxiously. 
 
 !< When I came running in I was so happy to 
 be with you ! Everything was delightful, and I 
 was so contented there by you. I reached out 
 to hug you, and something touched me, oh, so 
 very lightly, on the arm. 
 
 " I looked up, and there was a beautiful 
 butterfly playing around over my head. I tried 
 to catch it, but my arm hurt me, and then I 
 saw that the pretty butterfly was an ugly wasp 
 and it had stung me ! Ugh ! " she said. " That 
 wasn't a nice dream." 
 
 " Gloria," exclaimed Fletcher, " your arm is 
 bleeding! Let me see?" And so it was. 
 Fletcher examined it carefully. On the tender 
 flesh of Gloria's white arm was a single drop of 
 blood. 
 
 She was scared speechless. Fletcher brushed 
 away the drop with his handkerchief. 
 
 " Just a tiny scratch," he said. " Put some 
 230
 
 STRANGE CHRISTMAS VISITORS 
 
 
 
 iodine on it! Now, Gloria, is that absolutely 
 all that you saw to-night ? " 
 
 ' Yes ! " soberly stammered his formerly 
 vivacious little companion. " Is that not 
 enough? " 
 
 " Uh-huh ! " answered Fletcher, in one respect 
 greatly relieved. " Gloria, I don't propose to 
 understand such things as have happened to- 
 night; but you would better keep Freeda in your 
 room after this when you are afraid in the dark. 
 Please, whatever you do, don't chase any more 
 butterflies in here ! " 
 
 Gloria went very silently into her boudoir 
 and closed the door ever so softly behind her. 
 
 ' That's a damn good ghost for me in 
 some particulars," said Fletcher aloud, and 
 disheartened, threw himself back into bed with 
 a sigh. 
 
 So ended Christmas Day. 
 
 But, ghosts or no ghosts, there followed some 
 wonderful days for Gloria and Fletcher, 
 between whom a deeper and deeper intimacy 
 continued to develop. 
 
 Always there hung something of the glamour 
 of stolen fruit about his having her now, and 
 possibly that made her appear all the sweeter to 
 him. Fletcher had frequently to restrain him- 
 self from making violent love to Gloria. He 
 wondered daily if he should not throw over 
 everything and take her as his very own. 
 
 She seemed so acquiescent in his every mood 
 now that he believed his transformation of her 
 was about complete. But he did not dare to 
 take the desperate chance of Van Mortimer's 
 vengeance, unless he was absolutely sure of his 
 lovely little ward, Gloria. 
 
 231
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 With the new year Fletcher returned to 
 business cautiously, devoting only a few hours 
 daily, as his strength permitted. Everywhere 
 out on the far-flung stretches of his railroads 
 the men were becoming more dependable as their 
 welfare was becoming more or less automatic- 
 ally assured. 
 
 Nearly all of his people were taking advantage 
 of the savings bonus. The small thrifty element 
 had gobbled up the opportunity he offered at 
 one gulp, and by their quick action had led the 
 crowd. With widely varying enthusiasm, and 
 actually painful reactions among the most 
 extravagant, nearly all were saving the full ten 
 per cent.; for if they did not, they suffered a 
 real cash loss of the bonus from Van Mortimor. 
 This urge to save was all-compelling. People's 
 jealousy, selfishness, and even viciousness were 
 turned to account to make them help themselves 
 against their own weakness. 
 
 A queer part of it, too, was that once a man 
 was in the employ of any of Van Mortimer's 
 companies, and started this insidious thing, 
 every day put him so much deeper into it that 
 only a fool could quit. These earnest workers 
 were now clicking off their various tasks with 
 clocklike precision, and naturally great corpora- 
 tions, so sound at the bottom, went ahead 
 powerfully. 
 
 Nevertheless, a very disturbing factor rankled 
 in Edmond Fletcher's breast while his health 
 returned. It was that he had somewhat lost 
 sight of the more serious phase of his singular 
 position in this eccentric genius's shoes. 
 
 Dr. Martel had said that Van Mortimor 
 would probably act like a snake in alternately 
 
 232
 
 STRANGE CHRISTMAS VISITORS 
 
 charming and scaring a bird, until he was ready 
 to strike the final blow. Van Mortimer was 
 certainly doing just this to him ! But what 
 Fletcher desired more than anything else was, 
 in so far as it was possible, to anticipate in 
 advance specific moves of his phantom master. 
 Thus to some extent he might be able to protect 
 himself. 
 
 Late one night Fletcher locked himself in his 
 rooms and took the history of the Van Mortimor 
 case from his private safe for some careful 
 analytical study on his part. 
 
 Slowly it occurred to Fletcher that love and 
 fear, two greatest of emotions, had struck simul- 
 taneously in him the very first night up at the 
 Cleborough estate ; and that everything else which 
 had happened since then had actually been a 
 variation of love or fear playing in him, while 
 both grew stronger within him all the time. 
 Love and fear were the keynotes of this beast's 
 operations against him, and they ran consistently 
 through everything. There was reason in this 
 madness, after all ! 
 
 Then, as Edmond Fletcher sat there brood- 
 ing, his true predicament dawned upon him. 
 He could see clearly that, though his petty 
 initiative and drive toward business power might 
 at times irritate or even appease his crazed 
 master, for the most part all that was incidental 
 and mattered no longer anyhow. 
 
 The real, the logical stage for love and fear 
 was and always had been set around the ex- 
 quisite little Gloria. Now he could see that the 
 big show, indeed the main event for which Van 
 Mortimor had staged so much, had begun in 
 earnest ! 
 
 233
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Now, indeed, it appeared to Fletcher that 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor had the situation well 
 in hand for wringing out exquisitely morbid 
 thrills from his puppets' actions. Out of his 
 present acute relations with Gloria, Fletcher 
 recognised that some thrill-stuff would arise 
 deliciously morbid enough for even this jaded 
 master. Of course, this human anaconda had 
 no other disposition to make of Fletcher finally 
 than to try to finish him off with a nice thrill 
 murder at the very end. 
 
 234
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 TORMENTING JOY 
 
 As the days wore on the strain of this watchful- 
 waiting attitude on Fletcher's part toward Gloria 
 became almost unbearable to both of them. The 
 holidays had increased their intimacy to such a 
 degree that her solicitude for him and her 
 desire to be with him every possible moment 
 were pathetic. It was hardly fair to her, he 
 thought, to let her go on in this way, continually 
 intoxicated and tormented by strange insuppres- 
 sible emotions which she could not possibly 
 understand. 
 
 Then, very much as if some invisible stage 
 manager in the great wings was pushing the 
 next character upon the scene, Fletcher one 
 evening had a caller. 
 
 Count Rononotski asked a private audience 
 with Fletcher, and he was received alone in the 
 drawing-room of the playhouse. Candidly and 
 honourably he asked Van Mortimer's permission 
 to sue for Gloria's hand. 
 
 Fletcher was stunned by the abruptness and 
 frankness of the fellow in stating his business 
 so openly, but, after a fashion, he was also 
 inclined to admire him at least for his sincerity 
 in the matter. 
 
 "Count," he answered deliberately, while the 
 very thought of what he was saying cut into 
 
 235
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 him cruelly, " I am willing to give you the 
 sporting chance you seem to deserve! It is all 
 up to Gloria, and you have my permission to 
 have her if you can provided that you will give 
 me your promise that you will ever remember 
 who she is ! She is an American girl, and does 
 not by any means fall under the Continental 
 standards for handling women." A dry smile 
 came over his face. " It's a considerable re- 
 sponsibility to which you aspire. If you get 
 her, she'll have to be your sweetheart always as 
 well as your wife, or she won't understand at 
 all and it will be all off with you ! " 
 
 " I promise solemnly," pledged the count, 
 " and you overwhelm me with the liberality." 
 
 They shook hands in a jovial manner as 
 befitted two such high adventurers, but the 
 masked one, Edmond Fletcher, retired at once, 
 in uneasy sorrow, to the seclusion of his rooms. 
 
 Hours later came a gentle rap upon his door, 
 and Gloria was admitted. She sank on a cushion 
 at Fletcher's feet and lifted up her large eyes 
 appealingly. 
 
 " Sigmond," she remonstrated, " you gave the 
 count permission to ask me to marry him ! " 
 
 " Yes," replied Fletcher, not meeting those 
 eyes of hers, " that was the only thing to do. 
 Such decisions are up to you." 
 
 ' You put me in a strange position," she 
 confessed contritely. " I do not suppose that I 
 am capable of loving any man, and yet I want 
 a home " her voice became very low " a dis- 
 tinguished husband, and little children to love 
 me. Money is of no importance in these great 
 things, for I have too much of it. The count 
 has some truly fine points of character, such as 
 
 236
 
 TORMENTING JOY 
 
 are rare in men! That much I have learned 
 from you. The count might give me all the 
 happiness I require, except that I have no affec- 
 tion to return for his. However, even that 
 might come in time but for one insurmountable 
 difficulty I could never leave you ! I admire the 
 count and strangely I should trust him, but when 
 he touches my hand there is no romance no 
 feeling in it. You, my own brother, look at 
 me, touch me even accidentally, and bewildering 
 sensations, ever so sweet, pulsate all through 
 me ! " She dropped her eyes, and her clear 
 complexion flushed. 
 
 Fletcher, yearning for her from the very 
 depths of his soul, could not trust himself to 
 speak. 
 
 "Sigmond! Am I unnatural? Why do I 
 have these uncontrollable impulses?" 
 
 " Gloria," he said, " the count is a gentleman, 
 and I suppose, in my own fool way, I shall 
 always try to be something of the same sort. 
 Do not let me influence you in the least! The 
 way of the heart is weary, but it is not too long; 
 you will find your happiness somewhere some- 
 how ! I do trust, Gloria, you will recognise it 
 when it comes ! " 
 
 " Never with the count," she asserted 
 brokenly. " I admire him, but that's all there 
 is in me for him or any other man ! He is just 
 the latest of a string of men from whom I 
 have fled since you kissed me that first night at 
 Cleborough. I have refused this really fine man 
 he sails to-morrow. 
 
 " Lean over and kiss my hair, Sigmond, just 
 once, to help me forget. How could he know 
 what was wrong with me?" 
 
 237
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Fervently, Fletcher kissed her lustrous hair, 
 drinking in its luscious, natural perfume, to him 
 like fresh red wine. 
 
 Fletcher caught up her hand. 
 
 " Gloria ! " he said. " You have made me 
 promise not to discuss this matter so many times 
 that I do not know how to make you understand 
 me! 
 
 " But when you feel it so strongly, can't you 
 see the simple truth? / am not your brother!" 
 
 Out of her tears, Gloria sat up, one slender 
 arm akimbo, an elbow on his knees and a hand 
 on her face, while she looked up into his eyes 
 thoughtfully several moments without saying 
 anything. 
 
 Then she darted instantaneously to a stand- 
 ing position, her lithe little body taut and erect. 
 The storm of dejection which had swept over 
 her was gone, and her radiant self was brightly 
 shining forth again. 
 
 " I must study that over with ' Little Gloria,' 
 my little Gloria with the blue eyes," she avowed 
 playfully as she hurried away, suddenly bashful, 
 but smiling happily again. 
 
 238
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE REALM OF FEAR 
 
 FLETCHER'S secretaries were shortly buzzing 
 with activity. This Van Mortimer carried 
 knightly adventure and high ideals into business. 
 For the moment Edrr.ond Fletcher was taking 
 men out of themselves and giving them a 
 glimpse of faith in the ultimate good in all 
 things. 
 
 Late one afternoon he sat at his desk well 
 pleased with^the progress he was making. 
 
 " Cablegram in code, sir," announced Colston 
 Floyd, placing a message before him, " which 
 we can't possibly decipher." 
 
 It read : 
 
 3 P.M., 10 Feb. Paris. 
 
 Following my nose. Smell so strong trail not much 
 trouble. 
 
 SKYLES. 
 
 " Personal code, thank you," said Fletcher, 
 remaining, by a great effort, outwardly com- 
 posed. " I'll take charge of it." 
 
 Then he thought hastily as the door closed on 
 Floyd : " Thank goodness, he closed the door 
 sharply ! " If it had been shut softly, Fletcher 
 would have screamed. For the full realisation 
 of what he had done now broke upon him. This 
 message was from Bill Skyles, the scandal- 
 
 239
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 hunter whom in his anger he had crushed and 
 banished from the country. Now he understood 
 Skyles's taunting remark that day about its 
 being very kind of him to help defray the 
 expenses of his banishment ! Skyles knew where 
 to go! 
 
 Would his pitiless revenge on this poor, foul- 
 mouthed news editor prove his own undoing? 
 He thought morbidly : " I have ordered my 
 coffin in advance from Skyles ! " 
 
 Fletcher miserably slumped down in his chair 
 and buried his head in his arms. What a fool 
 he had been ! Right at the very apex of his 
 accomplishments an ugly storm of his own 
 making was brewing close behind him ! Great 
 fear settled down upon him then and made of 
 him a weak, sickly thing. 
 
 Angrily he braced himself disgusted at the 
 fear he could not avoid or conquer. Masking 
 his face as best he could, and pretending a 
 calmness he did not possess, he summoned 
 Bullard Bland. 
 
 " Bullard," he confided, " I need you now 
 desperately ! Read this message from Bill 
 Skyles, whom I drove out of the country. Give 
 me all that stuff you looked up on him before. 
 Get all the personal information you can about 
 him from our old files to help you; then pack 
 your bag for Paris. Sail next steamer and 
 employ any service you need over there to 
 shadow his every movement. Just keep me 
 advised and stand ready for summary action ! " 
 
 " Mr. Van Mortimor," responded Bland as 
 his eyes ran over the surprising words before 
 him, every moment adding to his wrath at the 
 insinuation upon his generous leader, " if you 
 
 240
 
 THE REALM OF FEAR 
 
 should have to ask me to burn down a cathedral 
 over there I would do it rather than refuse you ! 
 There may not be much to me, but you can use 
 me and depend on me just like a dog does on a 
 bone ! Anybody that can get any meat off me 
 after I am through obeying your orders over 
 there, is welcome to it ! " 
 
 A certain grim humour had visited the visages 
 of the two men. With no further discussion 
 they parted. Fletcher knew that in the whole 
 world he could not have had a more trustworthy 
 or formidable emissary for this delicate mission 
 and also he knew that maybe he might have to 
 use him ! 
 
 The thought was so consoling that he turned 
 his mind to Gloria with even pleasurable 
 feelings for the immediate moment. After all, 
 why not live madly, happily, to the utmost of 
 his heart's desire, each hour that remained? 
 
 In all of his more serious moments, however, 
 Fletcher's mind was inescapably focussed upon 
 the unrelenting Van Mortimor; and the long 
 hours late at night grew longer in which he 
 secretly studied the phraseology of "The History 
 of the Van Mortimor Case." This had become 
 really an evil Bible with him, for though he 
 found nothing but hell in it he ever hoped to 
 be able to glean something of positive advantage 
 to himself from this frank medical statement 
 about his invisible master. 
 
 Late one night he had finished reading a part 
 of this morbid record and had just closed its 
 worn covers, when he turned slightly and 
 glanced at a picture of Gloria, placed there on 
 the table by her own hands. 
 
 " Ah ! So sweet," he mused half aloud. " she 
 241
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 is worth anything ! If I but knew I could have 
 her for a little while I'd sacrifice the rest of my 
 life and end this silly torture ! " 
 
 It was getting very late and he was so very 
 tired; he scarcely had the energy to retire. He 
 leaned far back in the soft comfortable chair in 
 which he was sitting. 
 
 Fletcher's attention was arrested nearly at 
 once by a slight movement of the window sash. 
 He was about to give the alarm, thinking that 
 some burglar was jimmying the sill when the 
 window came slowly up, moved noiselessly by an 
 unseen hand ! 
 
 In the opening he saw evolve a conglomera- 
 tion of colours, which gradually took the form 
 of a human being. It moved silently as the 
 wind and was wafted over opposite him where 
 he could plainly discern the blanched face of 
 himself projecting from a dazzling-hued Hindu 
 robe. 
 
 The iridescent colours of the mystic garment 
 played about crazily before him in the dim 
 light. The face was the same one he had seen 
 in his bedroom window at Cleborough, and here 
 at Christmas, only its expression was different 
 now the blanched face was leering at him. 
 On its features was a look of unutterable con- 
 tempt and gloating hatred ! Fletcher felt rooted 
 to his position, and this gloating countenance 
 held him spellbound for a dreadful second. 
 
 The ghastly apparition raised its gaunt open 
 hand. It dashed its palm forward, cutting the 
 air in the direction of the table and the light 
 instantly went out. Dismally now came the 
 harrowing weird cry of this dread thing from 
 out of the darkness ! Low and shrill it was as 
 
 242
 
 THE REALM OF FEAR 
 
 if the thing were exultantly whistling while 
 contemplating some dire act. 
 
 "What are you? Are you dead? Are you 
 alive ? " cried the distracted young man, speak- 
 ing by a mighty effort. 
 
 " You know who I am," answered a sharp 
 voice, interposed between snatches of its weird 
 dirge, " I am Sigmond Van Mortimor, whom 
 you fear ! Whether I am dead or alive doesn't 
 matter, for you, my very counterpart, live for 
 me. But be careful what you do ! " And there 
 was a whistling, sneering interval before the' 
 Thing went on again : 
 
 "You trifle with your petty life. Off the 
 ledge outside the window, the pavement is hard 
 and cold," stated the sepulchral voice oracu- 
 larly. " Beware how far you follow me ! Sit 
 still or run from me as you did at Christmas! 
 Never be so foolhardy as to try to run after 
 me ! I am always with you, my fool, to study 
 you and punish you if needs be." 
 
 "What do you want me to do?" quavered 
 Fletcher, for he knew not how to deal with a 
 thing like this. 
 
 The shrill, dismal notes took on a tone of 
 fiendish glee, after a chilling pause had ensued, 
 and then : 
 
 " You know what I would have you do. Do 
 it or how bitterly you'll suffer! Run this 
 fortune like a man; stamp men down, tramp 
 them down, and make them pay, as the world 
 has ever been run, so that men will say I am 
 dominant, a master on earth. Nasty little spill 
 you nearly had, following your fool bonus 
 scheme, wasn't it? You should have learned a 
 little lesson from that. Fear alone turned the 
 
 243
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 trick for you. Fear of the loss of savings and 
 the little premium you gave your employees was 
 all that made them come across so nobly ! " The 
 ghastly voice chuckled in glee : 
 
 ' Whose word now is worth the more in these 
 affairs? Mine or yours? But play the game 
 more safely. Use fear alone make everyone 
 fear you ! Fear is the master of all men and 
 gets more results than anything else on earth ! 
 Fear of the hereafter ! The masked face ! The 
 hooded power of some secret order ! That is 
 what accomplishes great results the fear of 
 loneliness and desertion ! 
 
 " If you want results inspire sufficient fear 
 and all things will move with alacrity to 
 accomplish your ends. As you fear me, make 
 all men fear you ! Of such is the secret of 
 mighty human endeavour. Thus, too, I shall 
 run it all." The thin queer voice chuckled 
 ghoulishly as it shrilly trolled a few bars of its 
 weird gloating cry. 
 
 " You can supplement your means of fear by a 
 neat little trick ! Marry Myrtle Marbleton ! She 
 even desires you ! " the rasping voice again 
 chuckled. " Ah ! There's a fitting mate for a 
 ruthless dictator. Thoroughly disillusioned, 
 wrung dry of all sloppy sentimentality; shoulder 
 to shoulder, she would apply the social scourge 
 while you cowed them in business. A courtship 
 with her or any other woman is disgusting to 
 me, weak and vulgar since you buy them any- 
 way ! However, it is expected. You might 
 usefully bring your predilection for such philan- 
 dering into play there and if I ever supplanted 
 you, then, even such a snivelling worm as 
 yourself would have been of some service to me 
 
 244
 
 THE REALM OF FEAR 
 
 in return for all I have done for you ! " The 
 voice now came hollow as if from the depths of 
 some desecrated tomb as it went on : 
 
 " You contemptible ingrate, Christmas gift 
 ghoul that you are! The circumstances of 
 your mission places a delicate girl, my sister, 
 near you. Ha ! Ha ! You may play with her 
 much as you wish that's part of my sport ! 
 But touch her and I'll kill you, snuff you out 
 as I would an odorous smoking candle ! " 
 
 The voice blurred. Fletcher was repeating 
 the words. Was he going crazy? Was his 
 other self within him doing the talking? Was 
 he talking to himself ? He could hear the weird 
 notes of the blanched face now receding toward 
 the window ! He heard a slight grating noise 
 was the window going down? He didn't 
 know. Whatever it was, it had passed away 
 and he was so comfortable; such a relief that 
 this monstrous thing had gone and he knew no 
 more. 
 
 Fletcher was awakened by his servant, who 
 shook him gently. " It is nine thirty in the 
 morning, sir." 
 
 Fletcher looked about him, stupefied. By his 
 side on the floor lay the history of the case, 
 which he hastily picked up. The window was 
 down. 
 
 " Did you turn off this light? " he asked, while 
 he tried to grasp the situation. 
 
 " No, sir," answered the valet, " the light was 
 out when I came in." 
 
 Fletcher attempted to turn it on, but found 
 the switch was already on, but the lamp or 
 connection was dead. He pushed the button off 
 and on again in vain. 
 
 245
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 ' Take this lamp out and get another one for 
 the room," he ordered the servant. 
 
 Something on the table caught his eye and 
 held him spellbound. Gloria's picture lay face 
 down. It might have been a dream, but how 
 did that, too, happen? Dazed by his night vision 
 of horror, he made his toilet for the new day. 
 
 Was his mind disordered? Had he seen an 
 apparition or had Van Mortimor been physically 
 present? Was this Van Mortimor working 
 some Hindu magic upon him in this phantasm 
 of fear? He shuddered at the weirdness of 
 what little he knew of the occult. Those sinister 
 dark stretches of the human mind from which 
 could be conjured such black magic, into which 
 it is very unhealthy for anyone to penetrate. 
 Surely he little desired to enter into such a 
 realm, but how else could one defend himself 
 from such a subtle and obviously powerful influ- 
 ence as was now bearing down upon him? 
 
 Consider it as one would, there had been 
 indicated to Fletcher in no uncertain terms what 
 was expected of him; and there was no doubt 
 that to win Gloria, his fondest fancy, would call 
 down upon him swift and horrible destruction. 
 
 " Always shall I be with you. Make them 
 fear you even as you fear me ! Of such is the 
 secret of mighty human endeavour." The words 
 still rang in his ears. 
 
 For several days this held sway over him, 
 colouring all his thoughts, distracting him with 
 strange black moodiness. No matter how it had 
 come, the phantom's message had been delivered, 
 and the words of it were indelibly imprinted 
 upon Fletcher's brain. The very worst of it all 
 was that Van Mortimor might actually have 
 
 246
 
 THE REALM OF FEAR 
 
 been present ! This fellow's life was a drug 
 dream; he was not like ordinary mortals. 
 
 Cue evening not much later, he sat brooding 
 after he had eaten dinner. Gloria was sitting 
 near him pretending to be reading, but he knew 
 she was not. She seemed to partake of his 
 moods and when he felt at his worst he knew 
 she was simply contriving to remain silent, which 
 was a hard thing for Gloria to do at any time 
 with her interesting relative. He was wonder- 
 ing what she might be thinking of him, too, 
 when a servant announced : 
 
 " Miss Marbleton." 
 
 Gloria arose and smiled an apology to her 
 brother, but the man added : 
 
 " To see Mr. Van Mortimer excuse me, sir." 
 
 Gloria stopped shortly as though someone had 
 struck her, arid Fletcher felt as guilty as if he 
 had intentionally hurt her. However, he quickly 
 assumed an impassive countenance and strode 
 out of the room. 
 
 Myrtle was wreathed in smiles when she met 
 Fletcher. In fact, her obvious pleasure proved 
 very alarming to him. 
 
 " Isn't the new freedom delightful which we 
 women enjoy to-day? " she cooed after the 
 exchange of some pleasant remarks. "We 
 women now engage in business, do just as we 
 please, and meet men on an equal footing in 
 every other way, don't we?" 
 
 " Yes, indeed," he politely stammered, trying 
 to guess all the while what had brought her here 
 to-night. He knew Myrtle was not interested 
 in the modern freedom of her sex. Her prac- 
 tices, though as old as the race, gave Myrtle 
 much better than an equal footing with men. 
 
 247
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " May I discuss a matter of business with 
 you?" she begged ingratiatingly. 
 
 " Certainly," he replied, and from him eman- 
 ated very much the attitude of a banker eyeing 
 a customer about to request a loan. 
 
 " We both have large fortunes. They should 
 be united," she said sweetly. " It would put us 
 in an enviable position. I have no embarrass- 
 ment in proposing such a sensible and expedient 
 matter. I assure you, no sentiment need enter 
 into the affair ! " 
 
 Fletcher was studying her with narrowed eyes 
 and Myrtle, who had lighted a cigarette taken 
 from her handbag, was regarding him languidly 
 through little slow puffs of smoke. 
 
 " Pardon me, Myrtle," queried Fletcher 
 breathlessly, " but by any chance did you have 
 a dream? " 
 
 " Oh ! My word, no ! " she gasped, leaning 
 over until her cheek nearly touched his. " No, 
 I did not have a dream about this. But, of 
 course, we shouldn't lose any emotional flavour 
 that we might happen to find, should we ? " 
 
 His senses, it seemed, were being narcotised 
 and deadened as she swayed toward him. He 
 was being lulled into forgetfulness by the power- 
 ful appeal of her voluptuous body, which it was 
 his ghost-commanded duty to take ! If she, too, 
 had dreamed, the spell would have been com- 
 plete. But suddenly Fletcher caught himself, 
 and sprang to his feet. 
 
 " Well if that's the case," he spoke de- 
 cidedly, " I'll take this er business matter 
 under advisement." By his attitude he dismissed 
 Miss Marbleton in the same fashion as he would 
 have terminated an unpleasant conversation at 
 his office. 248
 
 THE REALM OF FEAR 
 
 He shuddered to think of what might have 
 been the consequences if she had not intruded 
 that false note, by admitting that she had not 
 been supernaturally directed to come for him! 
 
 Myrtle left the apartment obviously discon- 
 certed. This man was a perfect enigma to her, 
 and she did not know whether to be elated or 
 depressed at the indecisive outcome of her 
 unconventional venture. 
 
 But Fletcher, turning back upon the threshold 
 of the room, met a young lady of a more positive 
 disposition. It was Gloria,, and her face was 
 livid with anger. It was obvious to him that in 
 some manner she had been listening. She was 
 so badly agitated and he was so nettled that he 
 merely waited coldly for her to say something. 
 He had not long to wait. 
 
 " You have given that awful woman an excuse 
 to invade our home ! " accused Gloria haughtily, 
 her feelings overwrought. "Haven't you guessed 
 that for months I have been keeping her away 
 from you ? " 
 
 " I had no reason to expect this," he answered 
 sadly, " but be reasonable Myrtle is your 
 friend; and if I am only your brother, why 
 should you be so angry? " 
 
 " Myrtle was my friend ! " she corrected him. 
 " But she is one no longer, because you are 
 mine ! And no one else shall have you even 
 though I certainly do not want you now ! " She 
 sulked like a spiteful kitten. 
 
 "Be still or I'll kiss you," he flung at her 
 deliberately; yet he was just a little uneasy about 
 her temper. 
 
 " Just dare try it," she flared hotly, " and I'll 
 scratch your eyes out ! " 
 
 249
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Gloria," he asserted calmly and evenly as 
 his face became very serious, " don't ever talk 
 to me that way again. I mean it 1 " But far 
 down in his heart he thought how black the 
 world would be in the short time he had if she 
 became cold and impersonal to him as she was 
 to most people. 
 
 Gloria, fuming with dislike of his actions, 
 considered even in the depths of her peevishness 
 how terrible it would be if this wonderful 
 brother turned against her, and then he was so 
 masterful she shuddered what might he not 
 be expected to do to her? 
 
 Not another word was spoken, and very 
 formally they left one another at the head of 
 the stairs in the playhouse. Each went to his 
 own broodings, which were only about the other. 
 But it further unsettled Fletcher, this rift with 
 his object of all desire, and he wondered whether 
 Van Mortimer was in the offing again, whether 
 Bland would be able to handle that detestable 
 news-monger, Skyles, whom he had foolishly set 
 on his own trail. His mind raced along from 
 one fear to another. While he tossed about in 
 his bed that night he dreamed that he was on a 
 voyage and a shoal of sharks was following his 
 ship. 
 
 The next morning starting for the office, for 
 the first time that he could remember, Gloria 
 did not appear at breakfast and the food was 
 tasteless. He gloomily sauntered down to his 
 car and just out of habit looked high up to her 
 window. A little hand waved ever so faintly. 
 His heart bounded upward ! 
 
 " Hurry along," he spoke to the chauffeur. 
 " It may be that I am late ! " 
 
 250
 
 Fletcher forgot almost at once about Myrtle. 
 But his mind did dwell upon the dream of the 
 night before. He tried to put such silly things 
 out of his senses, but he worried. " Could they 
 be signposts of my dread? Sharks following 
 me at sea ! " 
 
 On his way down town he felt a compulsion 
 to count automobiles waiting for the traffic 
 signals, to determine if he were riding with 
 units of thirteen or a multiple of the number. 
 Various premonitions, to watch for symbols of 
 superstitious, which ordinarily would not have 
 bothered him, bobbed up in his mind. 
 
 A cat, black at midnight, darted out of an 
 alley and ran along the pavement with the 
 motor. He found himself watching its untoward 
 movement in actual horror ! Would it by chance 
 pass in front of him? Happily it stopped and 
 turning sharply around walked lazily away! 
 " That's the spirit," he soliloquised. " I don't 
 need any black felines to cross my pathway 
 now ! " 
 
 But before he could begin the day's work at 
 the office he had the operator get Gloria on the 
 phone. 
 
 " Gloria, I just wanted your encouragement," 
 he stated, " before I begin talking to all the 
 people that are waiting to see me down here. I 
 saw your hand wave from the window and I 
 concluded I could ask this of you." 
 
 " I did no such thing," she declared indig- 
 nantly. "I did not!" 
 
 " That is all right," he affirmed merrily. " I 
 saw you, you dear little story-teller ! Now what 
 are you going to say to your poor brother who 
 has to carry on world affairs without the en- 
 
 251
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 couragement of his staunch little partner?" 
 
 " Understand, I dislike you," came back 
 spiritedly, " but no one will know it and in 
 business, at least, I am for you to the limit ! " 
 
 ' That's fine of you ! Thanks ! " he answered, 
 and hung up the phone. 
 
 " Another one of those cablegrams, sir," 
 announced Colston Floyd, " in your personal 
 code, sir ! " 
 
 Fletcher opened the missive and read : 
 
 BOMBAY, MARCH 5. 
 
 Pardon me for crowing. This trail leads to a feast. 
 I am going to spread-eagle down soon if I can beat a 
 certain vulture to it who is hovering over the prey. 
 
 SKYLES. 
 
 Things went black before him, and he felt 
 once more the terrible smothering feeling of 
 close places. The next he knew he was faintly 
 drinking a glass of ice water which someone 
 was holding up. He weakly made his way to 
 a window which was pushed open for him by 
 many hands. 
 
 He motioned them back, all these many enthu- 
 siastic assistants. They stood respectfully on 
 the other side of the room awaiting his better 
 disposition while he drank in the cold clean air. 
 It partially refreshed his lungs and cleared his 
 mind. 
 
 For another instant he stood there deeply 
 meditating like some young soldier of fortune 
 who read impending disaster in the glowering 
 skies; and then he acutely realised that if he 
 was to accomplish anything at all he must drive 
 hard before the storm. His shoulders came 
 back and he turned sharply; in an abrupt 
 
 252
 
 THE REALM OF FEAR 
 
 manner he dismissed the respectfully curious 
 crowd behind him. 
 
 But by the time he reached home that evening 
 the full realisation of his misfortune had once 
 more borne down his spirit. He looked pale 
 and haggard. Gloria, reproachful no longer, 
 was half frantic at his unusual appearance. Her 
 recovery from her anger in view of this new 
 development in her brother's " health " was 
 whole-hearted. She simply threw her arms 
 around Fletcher's neck and wept, declaring that 
 she had been petty and that she did not care 
 what happened so long as she could have him 
 well. Then she wanted to know if anything 
 alarming had occurred at the office to-day. 
 
 " Nothing ! Nothing to worry about ! " he 
 asserted, most unconvincingly, as he sat down, 
 clasping her comforting little self close to him 
 for a moment. 
 
 253
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE GHOULISH DIRECTOR 
 
 SINCE her capitulation after the quarrel, Gloria 
 had been exquisitely delightful to Fletcher. Her 
 affection for him had become so ripened, so 
 complete, that at times only the scandal from 
 Skyles which hung like a shroud over him, and, 
 through him, over the whole family, kept him 
 from making a desperate attempt to snatch her 
 out from under her brother's fangs, as dan- 
 gerous to them both as that might have proved. 
 
 Illustrating woman's sweet inconsistency, or 
 stratagem of reason as the case might have 
 been, coincident with her surrender, Gloria had 
 asserted a very positive little proprietorship over 
 Fletcher's most intimate affairs. 
 
 She developed an inclination to talk too much 
 about his being her very own, and to ask his 
 opinion of herself much too frequently. 
 
 She evinced a very keen interest in doing all 
 Fletcher's personal shopping. She read every 
 little thing of his that lay around, and when she 
 would get cuddled up in his lap, as she quite too 
 often did now, she would playfully engage in 
 searching his pockets. 
 
 Inasmuch as Edmond fell more deeply in love 
 with Gloria daily, all these trivial attentions 
 from her pleased him immensely, but then too 
 they accentuated his desire for her and his 
 
 254
 
 THE GHOULISH DIRECTOR 
 
 permanent worries, which day after day only 
 made worse as time passed and nothing definite 
 was heard from Van Mortimer or Skyles or 
 Bland. 
 
 Fletcher realised that he was not fully re- 
 covered from the dreadful ordeal of the steam 
 pipes. He did not dare trust himself under any 
 great strain very long for fear he might break 
 down even go mad. He knew now what Dr. 
 Bates had meant when, so long ago, he advised 
 him, above all things, just to be himself. 
 
 Until recently he knew that he had, for the 
 most part, a very clear mind, but now the 
 agonising suspense of all things, these troubles 
 and unknown perils, were shaking it. After 
 every previous flagrant act of his, Van Mor- 
 timor had evidenced himself in some manner, 
 tut at present, though Fletcher had continued 
 handling the family fortune to his own taste, 
 though Skyles was bearing down upon him, and 
 though Gloria cared so much for him now that 
 she was pathetic to behold yet Van Mortimer 
 did not show himself in the slightest! All too 
 well Fletcher guessed what was coming. His 
 horribly subtle master was quietly coiling to 
 spring upon him. 
 
 He knew that the great climax in this hideous 
 drama was approaching. Everything was round- 
 ing in on him to crush him for the superlative 
 thrill of his drug-crazed ruler, who would cer- 
 tainly manage that affair. The worst aspect of 
 it all was that so many weird things had 
 occurred and such horrible fears were beginning 
 to surround every further effort upon his part, 
 that, like water continually dripping upon a 
 stone, it was telling .on him. He could not keep 
 
 255
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 his senses straight much longer for the big 
 ordeal with his cruel master. 
 
 Soon Fletcher was having impulses to count 
 houses in a row, people in a group, callers at 
 the office, dishes served at the table, and, in 
 short, anything that might total up to thirteen, 
 or a multiple thereof, with the idea of avoiding 
 the Judas numbers. If he started a computation 
 and was interrupted, he did not feel comfortable 
 until he had counted it over again. 
 
 That he should be swayed by such irresistible 
 feelings gave Fletcher much concern; and yet 
 too there was a sense of singular logic about it 
 all. This Van Mortimer would be just the type 
 to play with him and finally dispose of him in 
 some very subtle manner by heinously perverting 
 the very forces of nature to trap him. There- 
 fore Fletcher felt that he must study any 
 apparent evidences of such things which seemed 
 to abet the monstrous phantasmagoria of hope 
 and fear in which he was enmeshed. 
 
 Strange to say, despite industrious efforts, he 
 did not find many thirteens; then again these 
 doleful digits would turn up most unexpectedly 
 in the most uncanny fashion. 
 
 At last some news from Bland pierced the 
 gloom. It was forwarded up to the playhouse 
 one night, and Fletcher avidly read : 
 
 3 16. BOMBAY, 9 A.M. 
 
 Roosting and dining with the crow. Has full know- 
 ledge, but is completing proof by following itinerary 
 which leads to New York. As his co-worker suspicion 
 allayed. He is surely covered. I stand out here await- 
 ing any orders, but watch out in New York. The great 
 danger lurks there. Occultists here secretly communicate 
 with party in question in New York and contemptuously 
 
 256
 
 THE GHOULISH DIRECTOR 
 
 say greater forces than Skyles handle the matter. 
 Weird business. No New York details obtainable. 
 Advise me. BLAND. 
 
 There was some little measure of relief in 
 finding that Bland had the confidence of Skyles 
 and that therefore Skyles lay in his hands at 
 least for the present; but the reference to the 
 occult in the message and its absolute confirma- 
 tion of Van Mortimer's presence hovering over 
 him here in America actually gave corroboration 
 to his worst superstitious premonitions. 
 
 So gently and feelingly did Edmond Fletcher 
 stroke Gloria's hair late that same evening while 
 she out of habit now was cuddling up to him 
 and reading some poetry, that she intuitively 
 glanced up and caught his eyes hungrily drink- 
 ing in her loveliness. 
 
 " Why," she asked, " are you so tender to- 
 night, Sigmond ? " 
 
 "I guess, darling," he answered, "it is because 
 I love you so much ! " 
 
 " Ah ! " she said dreamily, and her hands 
 attempted to close quickly the book she had been 
 reading as if she would hide a page that her 
 thoughts applied to him. 
 
 " Wait ! " he exclaimed. " Give me that 
 book ! " 
 
 It was by Edgar Allan Poe, and opened at 
 that bitter lament, "The Raven." Gloria's 
 fingers rested pallidly upon the last three lines 
 of that poem : 
 
 And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow 
 
 on the floor; 
 And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on 
 
 the floor 
 Shall be lifted nevermore ! 
 
 257
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Don't read such things as that ! " he cried 
 out. " Oh, Gloria, you must not ! " 
 
 Fletcher took the little volume away from her, 
 kissed her, locked his doors, including the one 
 from Gloria's rooms, and wearily threw himself 
 into bed. 
 
 There he lay after midnight it must have 
 been and he could not sleep. Down on the 
 floor below was a large and invaluable antique 
 grandfather clock with cathedral chimes. 
 
 He heard its melodious voice chime one 
 o'clock, softly but solemnly as if it sounded 
 an epochally sad hour in some venerable 
 ecclesiastical pile. Then in the same solemn 
 tone, " two three four " it could not be any 
 such hour ! With his predilection for counting 
 things he counted on, until it sounded, " nine 
 ten eleven twelve thirteen ! " 
 
 Frozen with terror, he sat up stiff and cold 
 in bed. Was some mystic force, associated with 
 his demon shadow warning him and chanting 
 the very end? 
 
 At length some soothing reason came to the 
 relief of his distracted mind and numb, cold 
 body. He would examine the clock in the 
 morning. In any event, come what might, he 
 might just as well sleep. He covered himself up 
 and peacefully dozed off. 
 
 But Fletcher began dreaming immediately, 
 utterly melancholy dreams. No such vulgar 
 terrors as sharks followed him now. No, these 
 were much more poignant and excruciatingly 
 sorrowful. In some strange white country by 
 the sea, he could hear a cathedral booming a 
 vast dirge, while he took eternal farewell of a 
 weeping Gloria, made fantastically beautiful by 
 
 258
 
 THE GHOULISH DIRECTOR 
 
 surrounding blossoms. They were blooming 
 everywhere about her, out of season, and out of 
 reason, for there was snow upon the ground ! 
 
 Later, in the strange changes of his dreams 
 he was floating in the sea all alone, being carried 
 out out and away on the tide to some .bourne 
 unknown. 
 
 The next morning at breakfast he could not 
 get the clock off his mind, particularly because 
 he had not heard it strike after arising. 
 
 "What is the matter with the hall clock?" 
 he casually asked, attempting to appear self- 
 collected. 
 
 " It stopped at one o'clock last night," Gloria 
 replied, nervously avoiding his eyes. 
 
 Something in her manner caused him to 
 inquire : 
 
 " Have you seen it ? " 
 
 " Yes but I knew it had stopped before I 
 looked," she explained uneasily. 
 
 "How?" he insisted. 
 
 " It struck too many times for a clock, then 
 nevermore. I listened all night." 
 
 Half chilled in this sunny spring morning, he 
 went to the office, only stimulated by the kisses 
 of Gloria still warm upon his lips. 
 
 Sitting at his desk and alone, Fletcher took 
 Eland's cablegram of yesterday from his pocket. 
 He read it over carefully several more times. 
 Again he had this scandal-mongering rat Skyles 
 within his hands, and he could do exactly what 
 he wished with him through Bland, if he acted 
 quickly ! 
 
 The public reads of some murder in the 
 newspaper, some tragedy which the police and 
 the press are never able to clear up, and which 
 
 259
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 for ever goes unexplained. Fletcher, from his 
 keen knowledge of life, knew how many of these 
 came about. 
 
 The subject of the tragedy was most often 
 blackmailing someone of importance to a point 
 where life became unendurable. As the sorely 
 harassed victim of the blackmailer made one 
 painful sacrifice after another to appease the 
 unspeakable leech, the blackmailer only grew 
 worse in his demands, until the world became 
 too small for the two people to live upon it. Of 
 the two alternatives to take this rotten black- 
 mailer's life or accept inevitable ruin some 
 powerful men chose practical and expedient 
 measures, and that ended it. Nothing was left 
 but a mystery, a for ever unsolved case for the 
 public. 
 
 Fletcher rather imagined that Van Mortimor 
 in his place would thus deal summarily with 
 Skyles, but, of course, this news-scavenger's 
 yellow tactics were directed against Edmond 
 Fletcher and that complicated the matter. Re- 
 gardless, however, of what Van Mortimor would 
 do to Skyles, Edmond Fletcher's fagged brain 
 concluded .he would handle this as his own 
 private affair. 
 
 He could not conceivably let considerations 
 for the 4 evm 'sh Van Mortimor enter into per- 
 sonal affairs of such paramount importance to 
 himself ! No matter what might be expected 
 of him, and no matter what the necessity for 
 it, the idea of his own snuffing out a life was 
 repellant to Fletcher. In his mind, to kill a 
 man under any conditions was about equivalent 
 to destroying a world, for, as he saw it, each 
 man is unto himself the centre of a universe. 
 
 260
 
 THE GHOULISH DIRECTOR 
 
 The thought weighed so heavily on him, 
 indeed, as to resemble the presumption of con- 
 sidering oneself a god in meting out such mighty 
 extinction. 
 
 " Neither I nor Van Mortimer is so big as 
 all that, regardless of what he may think about 
 it ! " concluded Fletcher. " Maybe I can handle 
 this hound for bad news some better way. 
 Anyway, Til give him a fair chance for his life ! 
 Of course," he soliloquised sadly, " that is more 
 than Van Mortimer is giving me; but such is 
 my decision. It stands ! " 
 
 Then with trembling hand, but firm resolution, 
 he wrote out what he could entrust to no other. 
 There went into his personal code : 
 
 Bullard Bland, 
 
 Bombay. 
 
 Just continue splendid work. Get everything you can, 
 all he finds out, and prepare to warn me against the 
 time when he strikes at me. Above everything, do not 
 hurt him. Some occult signs here. Give me anything 
 available on the subject. 
 
 S. V. M. 
 
 But to Fletcher's amazement and horror, there 
 was no answer to his cable, that day, or the 
 next. As days passed, he cabled again and 
 again, all in vain. 
 
 For a month or so complete silence brooded 
 over Fletcher. He gave no more attention to 
 business than was strictly necessary that he 
 might listen all the better. But nothing was 
 heard from Bland ! Or Skyles ! Or Van Mor- 
 timor ! 
 
 He lived like a wary swordsman ever alert 
 for the first thrust of death, but with him it 
 was worse than that. His sole weapon was his 
 
 261
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 wits, which he must keep ever sharpened against 
 the unseen for his real and biggest enemy, the 
 brilliant Van Mortimor, himself always invisible. 
 
 Fletcher sought light and public places for 
 safety. He became acquainted with life around 
 exclusive clubs where men stare at one another 
 and all things in perpetual boredom. He took 
 his relaxation, if any he found, in solitary 
 splendour at some showy hotel, always alone, 
 but nevertheless in the brightest dining-rooms, 
 where he would be closely surrounded by many 
 people, and guarded by a little army of detec- 
 tives. 
 
 In desperation about this time Edmond 
 Fletcher took up a sport, of sorts. But he did 
 not pursue it around the Polo and Racquet Club, 
 where his presence would have been so highly 
 appreciated. He went secretly to a private 
 snooting gallery which he had purchased, and 
 he employed the best sharpshooters available to 
 coach him. He spent much time at this and 
 became highly proficient. 
 
 But he believed that if he wished to live, he 
 would have to hit a more difficult target than 
 any he found there and that his test would 
 come very shortly. 
 
 262
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 SPRING 
 
 FLETCHER buckled himself down determinedly 
 to strengthening his business machine. He did 
 not see much of Gloria except at breakfast, and 
 he knew this was wise just now, in view of the 
 impending scandal from Skyles, and the proved 
 fact that Van Mortimer was here, no doubt 
 hovering ever closer over them. 
 
 However, one of these days at noon, the warm 
 spring sunshine a little too enticingly flooded 
 across Edmond Fletcher's desk at the bank. It 
 was really too beautiful for him to remain 
 indoors. Although he knew it was not the thing 
 to do, something deep within him called in- 
 sistently for Gloria and the open country of 
 Westchester. He impulsively got the bewitching 
 little lady on the telephone and asked her to go 
 for a drive. She accepted gladly, but just a 
 little hesitatingly, he thought. He supposed he 
 had startled her with his sudden attention. 
 
 When he entered the apartment, Gloria 
 handed him a radiogram, rather timidly, too. 
 It had been forwarded up there, was opened, 
 and was from Bland. He did not care if Gloria 
 had seen this because it was in code. 
 
 The radio informed Fletcher that Skyles and 
 Bland aboard the steamship Latronia were 
 nearing the port of New York, and would dock 
 
 263
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 some time Friday. " Our messages must be 
 intercepted," said Bland, " because I have re- 
 ceived no answer from you for many weeks." 
 
 This jolt would have thrown Fletcher into a 
 sweat of apprehension but for the remarkable 
 change which was manifesting itself in Gloria; 
 and that, on the very instant of his noticing it, 
 turned his attention from anything else. 
 
 Gloria had not happily run up to kiss him, as 
 was her invariable custom. Nor did she ask 
 him the contents of the message, which certainly 
 was to be expected; and when he reached out to 
 touch her, she very shyly drew away from him ! 
 
 " I read the message," she broke the news 
 simply. " I made a copy of your personal code 
 very recently, so that I could find out what was 
 worrying you." 
 
 His concern about Gloria mounted until it 
 effaced all his own apprehension. How cruel 
 it was of him if he had let her into his terrible 
 fears at this late hour ! 
 
 Gloria had turned away and was pensively 
 staring out the window, one small foot tremu- 
 lously tapping the floor. He stepped up 
 awkwardly behind the demure little person and 
 placed his arm around her. As if she had been 
 some beautiful stranger, she darted from him 
 in dismay, only stopping in the doorway to 
 look back very timidly. A crimson flush was 
 spreading over her features and he beheld this 
 new and elusive Gloria in rapt astonishment. 
 
 " Why, Gloria ! " he exclaimed. " What on 
 earth has come over you ? " 
 
 " Don't be silly," she smiled, as if possessed 
 of some sweet and secret knowledge. She 
 turned her face away from him. " Let us get 
 
 264
 
 SPRING 
 
 out in the lovely sunshine. It is so close in 
 here 1 " And out of the room she went. 
 
 In a moment she was back. A stunning 
 spring coat, gay-hued, fluttered around her when 
 she tripped ahead of Fletcher to the car. Now 
 and then she was glancing over her shoulder at 
 him diffidently as if she were half afraid of this 
 slender, erect young man with the solemn mien 
 behind her. 
 
 ;< Where to, sir? " asked the gold-emblazoned 
 starter. 
 
 " Give us a long ride along the Hudson," 
 Fletcher suggested absent-mindedly. 
 
 It was May-time. As they swept into the 
 invigorating open country, the scents of the 
 blossoming and budding trees peach, apple and 
 cherry and all the green and growing things, 
 were wafted to them on a warm southern 
 breeze from an ever-changing panorama of 
 colourful landscape. 
 
 Every so often Edmond Fletcher caught 
 Gloria Van Mortimor studying him as some 
 beautiful woman might covertly look upon one 
 when she thought herself unobserved. Oh, how 
 careful he knew he must be with this delicate- 
 spirited girl 1 
 
 Fletcher nonchalantly lay back in the cushions, 
 apparently content with all the world. They 
 must have been quite a distance out now, for 
 they had been speeding on the perfect billiard- 
 table road up the Hudson for over an hour, 
 their motor humming dreamily, musically, like 
 a swarm of woodland bees. 
 
 " Gloria," he suggested casually, " we are near 
 Cleborough. Would you like to see in full dress 
 the woods in which we rode last summer ? " 
 
 265
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 Her eyes met his and wavered uncertainly. 
 
 " Yes," was all she said, and it seemed that it 
 was with a mighty effort that she said so much. 
 
 Fletcher spoke into the tube and soon they 
 were winding gracefully up the parked ribbon- 
 like roadway which led .to the great house on 
 the crest of the hill at Cleborough. His eyes 
 feasted hungrily on the familiar scenes which 
 unrolled before his gaze. Memories crowded 
 in upon him of all the happiness that he had 
 discovered here, of all the high hopes that had 
 been born in these surroundings. 
 
 The car pulled down to the edge of the great 
 woods far behind the house, where Edmond 
 Fletcher directed them to wait. Edmond and 
 Gloria sauntered into one of the magnificent 
 trails over which they had joyously ridden the 
 past year. 
 
 About them clung that fresh clean odour of 
 budding things and reborn life. A little beyond 
 them a long, clear waterfall broke over its 
 precipice and went sparkling like silver far down 
 below to a pool where they could faintly hear its 
 murmur upon the rocks. 
 
 Near them was the great trunk of a fallen 
 tree which made a natural .seat. 
 
 " Come," he called out when he noticed this, 
 and confidently took her hand, which thrilled 
 him with its soft warmth. She did not with- 
 draw it, and her slender little fingers trembled. 
 
 Then they were at the body of the tree trunk 
 and something had to be done. It was much too 
 high for Gloria comfortably to seat herself. 
 Fletcher grasped her firmly, a hand on either 
 side of the lovely slimness of her waist, and he 
 bounced her up there ! 
 
 266
 
 SPRING 
 
 " Don't ! " she cried put. However, it was 
 too late. She was prominently displayed on the 
 big log and blushing profusely. Fletcher vaulted 
 up beside her. He still avoided her eyes, but 
 now it was not from any fear about how she 
 felt for him ! He felt sure she really loved him 
 with a love that knew that he was not her 
 brother. Gloria on her high perch was vividly 
 publishing her mind ! And, it seemed, she did 
 not know what else to do about it! What an 
 exquisite feeling pervaded Fletcher ! What a 
 beautiful and glorious thing it was to live ! 
 
 Here eyes met his and in them was the 
 irresistible soul-offering of this maiden for her 
 lover. Such wholesale self-abandon deserved 
 more attention than he was giving Gloria ! 
 
 As she melted into his embrace, her warm 
 lips pressing one cheek and her tender arms 
 about him caressing the other, some great void 
 in Edmond Fletcher was completely filled some 
 great growing gap in his nature was blissfully 
 healed over. Nothing was said for awhile; but 
 sometimes lips have little use for words. 
 
 From where they were sitting, through a 
 break in the woods, was barely discernible in the 
 far distance the east terrace of the grand house 
 where this idealistic romance had started. 
 
 " My very dearest," Gloria whispered ever 
 so gently as she looked in that direction and 
 her eyes closed. " Kiss me as you did on the 
 terrace the first night we met. I have thought 
 and dreamed of it ever since." 
 
 At last they found time to talk a little, but 
 in view of what she so earnestly said, it seemed 
 trivial for Fletcher to be inquisitive imme- 
 diately. 
 
 267
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " From here," she insisted, " we go as one ! 
 You must never have any more fears, because 
 if you love me, nothing can take me away from 
 you. My love, you can do as you wish with 
 me from this moment on! Unless you tell me 
 in so many words that you do not want me, 
 you will always have me 1 " 
 
 " Don't, don't, Gloria 1 " he exclaimed. 
 
 " Let me say it all, dearest ! This is the last 
 time I wish to assert myself 1 Look into my 
 bare heart. It may help you. Even if you 
 told me to go, you could always have me back, 
 when you wanted me! Why lie about the 
 nature of a woman in love? It seems wrong 
 to say so, but even if you did not marry me 
 I should be the same to you ! You've taught me 
 that one alone, no matter how self-sufficient, is 
 incomplete in this world; and when one finds the 
 missing part, the great thing is to hold together 
 at any cost." 
 
 " Gloria," he said very thoughtfully, deeply 
 moved, " among my many premonitions, some- 
 thing seems to tell me that you are as clever as 
 you are lovely. Such humility usually accom- 
 panies wisdom. When did you really know that 
 I was not your brother ? " 
 
 " Only this morning ! Dr. Bates came up and 
 informed me ! He told me that I was only your 
 adopted sister ! " 
 
 ;< What?" cried Fletcher in astonishment. 
 
 " Look ! " cried Gloria, drawing a letter out 
 of her dress from somewhere near her heart. 
 " Here is what he gave me ! Haven't you 
 yours? Here, read it quickly!" 
 
 In the unmistakable bold script of the grand 
 old man, Phelps Van Mortimor, Edmond read : 
 
 268
 
 SPRING 
 
 MY DARLING GLORIA : 
 
 This letter will be given you by Dr. Bates, in whom 
 I have full confidence, when he feels that you have 
 attained womanhood. Though I have been blessed with 
 worldly goods as few men ever have, there are some 
 elements of evil in passing so much on to my posterity. 
 Yet I wish to act fairly in the matter. 
 
 I very well know what pitiful wasters men may 
 become who receive too much unearned wealth, with 
 nothing to do but spend it, and I do not want to burden 
 an) r man with more than his shoulders are capable of 
 bearing. 
 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor is my only child and as a 
 boy he is fearfully weak. I feel that there should be 
 some check put upon giving him this tremendous power, 
 and I am not satisfied with the ways and means pre- 
 scribed by lawyers for doing this. 
 
 You, dear Gloria, are at least strong, healthv, beau- 
 tiful and, from the time you were born until- this is 
 written, the sweetest little girl on earth ! You ought to 
 have been ! I picked you out myself from nearly all 
 the fine little orphans in the country when my wife and 
 I decided we needed you. The sight of you is an 
 inspiration of all that is fine and noble and we have 
 reason to believe you mav live the part. 
 
 You were our ideal little baby girl ; and in order that 
 our happiness might be the further served in the same 
 spirit and that the welfare of our son, Sigmond, might 
 the more naturally be safeguarded as well as I shall 
 presently explain you were reared as our own daughter 
 in reality. 
 
 However, so that you should have all the rights of a 
 child born to us, you were legally adopted in a quiet 
 little town so very unimportant and so very far away 
 that even our name passed unnoticed there. Dr. Bates 
 alone knows this secret. He will give you all details, 
 will tell you that you are of sturdier stock than our 
 own, and that vou need onlv call attention to your 
 adoption record if you ever wish, or need to do so. 
 
 When you read this you will be possessed by due 
 course of law with one-half of the Van Mortimor 
 wealth. You will, I am certain, have been a good 
 influence upon our beloved son. 
 
 269
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 If and the many dreams my wife and I have had 
 of you seem to promise something miraculous from you 
 if Sigmond should prove worthy and you should fall 
 in love with him, what more wonderful thing could 
 happen on this earth ? 
 
 A copy of this letter will be delivered to Sigmond at 
 the same time you receive it. But decide all issues with 
 your own free wills. 
 
 Your loving father, 
 
 PHELPS VAN MORTIMOR. 
 
 Fletcher was gazing blankly at Gloria. 
 
 " Oh ! " she exclaimed, glancing up at him 
 through moistened Jashes. " Isn't it wonderful 
 for me that you still want me! Now I can 
 breathe again without my throat aching. You 
 see, I had been trying all this time to puzzle 
 things out, absolutely convince myself one way 
 or the other about you and it was only this 
 morning that I succeeded in understanding the 
 whirlpool of my own feelings. When Dr. Bates 
 gave me this letter I realised how simple it all 
 
 was." 
 
 A haunting sadness came into her soft eyes. 
 
 " A year ago when you returned from France, 
 my true love had come to me ! No wonder you 
 affected me so ! 
 
 " You were really that all-wonderful one to 
 whom I should have freshly given every inti- 
 macy in my nature. You understood our love 
 at first sight, without any letters to explain it, 
 as I should have done ! And you tactfully made 
 up fairy stories to prove our true situation ! I 
 am a sorry ideal for you ! " 
 
 She buried her face on his breast. " And I 
 have been so -immodest, that this morning, when 
 I received the letter, I feared that you, my very 
 dearest, would not want me now ! " 
 
 270
 
 SPRING 
 
 " My exquisite little girl," said Fletcher 
 tenderly, " let me tell you how badly I want to 
 get rid of you ! Always have I followed in my 
 day dreams an ethereal little maiden of such 
 surpassing loveliness that her soul matched her 
 beauty ! A golden little sweetheart, gorgeous 
 as a peacock, and yet one who could be implicitly 
 trusted, whose sense of honour and delicacy 
 were so high that I need take counsel from her 
 rather than ever criticise. And impossible as it 
 may seem, wonder upon wonder has brought her 
 to me in you ! 
 
 " Don't worry about those other little things ! 
 As a matter of fact I was still not Sigmond 
 Van Mortimor ! " 
 
 " Ah ! Sigmond," she stopped him ; suffused 
 with happiness, and put her slender pink fingers 
 over his mouth. " I know you were rather wild 
 in Europe, but you have certainly proved worthy 
 of all the love I can give you, so don't spoil 
 my happiness by speaking of Such awful past 
 things ! " 
 
 Rapturously they wandered back to the car, 
 with not a care on earth. Life for them was 
 just to be something better than a reopened 
 Garden of Eden. 
 
 When they emerged out of the woods 
 Fletcher looked up at the clear blue sky. Well 
 he could face heaven with his highest hope so 
 joyously fulfilled. But even as the lightning of 
 their love had so vividly flashed, now came its 
 thunder ! 
 
 Far over Fletcher's head and circling about 
 was one lone vulture. That Gloria was an 
 adopted daughter, had not changed his relations 
 with the true Sigmond Van Mortimor in the 
 
 271
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 slightest. It possibly added relish to the man's 
 fiendish work. 
 
 Gloria, running playfully ahead, was snatch- 
 ing up daisies and wild flowers, which she 
 capriciously tossed, like some nymph of the 
 woodland, in a little path, before Fletcher. 
 
 " What have I done ? " came down the 
 question bursting into his consciousness like a 
 bombshell as his normal senses returned. Of 
 all things that he could have perpetrated, this 
 surely was the most despicable to his other self, 
 Sigmond Van Mortimor ! 
 
 He suppressed his feelings, at least outwardly, 
 and catching up with Gloria, they strolled 
 together hand in hand. 
 
 Before them now lay the big old house, with 
 the east terrace plainly disclosed to their 
 view. 
 
 " Look ! " discovered Gloria, " someone is on 
 the terrace. I wonder who it could be? The 
 house is still closed." 
 
 So there was. Fletcher could easily see a 
 man, dressed in dazzling white, standing by the 
 balustrade. 
 
 " I cannot understand that," he replied slowly. 
 "You run over to the car and have it wait for 
 me. I shall cut across here and see the care- 
 taker about this ! That house, you know, is 
 very dear to us ! " 
 
 There was an added interest in this investiga- 
 tion for Fletcher. Why should anyone wear 
 such brilliant white clothes? It was too early 
 for flannels or ducks, and ihese were too white 
 for them anyway. If foreign strangers were at 
 the house thev might throw some light on the 
 one and only Van Mortimor, and Fletcher dared 
 
 272
 
 SPRING 
 
 neglect no clue now, no matter how trivial, on 
 account of his great new responsibility. 
 
 Edmond Fletcher saw no further signs of life 
 as he approached the mansion. The caretaker's 
 quarters were locked. Evidently the man's whole 
 family was taking a holiday, and Fletcher would 
 have to look about for himself. With the strange 
 tail-dives that his mind took into superstition, he 
 reflected that to-day was Thursday, the 12th of 
 May. Fletcher was glad it was not the thir- 
 teenth, as he gingerly came up the terrace to 
 prowl around the old home of this stock which 
 dealt so potently with the destinies of the living 
 even after they were dead! 
 
 But what pleasurable memories this place 
 could excite in him ! He was visiting the very 
 spot where he had first kissed Gloria. Fletcher 
 ascended some stone steps and was surprised to 
 behold some chairs on the terrace as though they 
 had latelv held occupants. He walked cautiously 
 toward them. On the balustrade lay a powerful 
 pair of field glasses. This was getting very 
 mysterious ! 
 
 In front of him now one of the large French 
 casements leading inside was open. Some intru- 
 ders must be in the house. He felt a vague 
 uneasiness, as though this might have something 
 to do with Van Mortimor, and so not daring to 
 summon his servants and detectives from the 
 car, Fletcher let his curiosity take him into the 
 house. First he peeped covertly through the 
 open French glass window. He could see or 
 hear nothing, and since it onlv went into the 
 main hall, he softly stepped inside. 
 
 Even that near the spring sunshine, it was 
 dark and rather spookv. as all closed houses are 
 
 273
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 likely to be. He held his position for a moment 
 thinking something might turn up, but here was 
 only silence and the silence was deafening for 
 Fletcher. When his eyes had become accus- 
 tomed to the dim light in the hallway, he saw 
 that the door of the library was flung back. 
 Since a heavy velvet rug extended from where 
 he stood to its entrance, he decided his footsteps 
 would be sufficiently muffled to enable him to 
 view the interior. 
 
 Guardedly, stealthily, he moved toward the 
 library door, thankful that the heavy-piled rug 
 deadened his footsteps and that it was so dark 
 in the hallway that no one could see him. What 
 little light there was in the whole house came 
 from the open library door. 
 
 Finally he reached its entrance. First he 
 noticed that the curtains at the top of a window 
 had been undrawn. That accounted for the 
 gleams of daylight. Then, chilling him to the 
 marrow, he saw in a mirror directly across the 
 room from him a half profile of himself ! It 
 was very sallow, haggard, and white in the dim 
 illumination, but it was a horrid caricature of 
 himself ! 
 
 He would have believed that by some optical 
 illusion that it. was himself, too, since it was 
 reflected from his own direction; but this figure 
 was sitting down. Fletcher was still standing, 
 but he did not know for how long that would 
 be ! Even in the paralysing fright which 
 instantly gripped him, he tried to reason. 
 
 From where could the reflection of the 
 blanched face be coming? His eyes painfully 
 surveved every inch of the deeply shadowed 
 library, as they worked back to the doorway in 
 
 274
 
 SPRING 
 
 which he stood. Horrifyingly, it dawned upon 
 him that Van Mortimor was seated with his 
 back to him at a table just inside the door so 
 near Fletcher that he could easily touch him. 
 
 He made his way outdoors in a panic, to the 
 blessed sunlight and fresh air, as fast as his legs 
 would let him ! 
 
 A sickening dread pervaded him. Sigmond 
 Van Mortimor, if not always with him, had 
 now returned in the flesh. He had been right 
 with him, to-day of all days! The binoculars 
 still lying on the balustrade told their own 
 disquieting story. Thus were the beady eyes 
 of this modern demon upon him all the while 
 to-day ! Now Edmond Fletcher understood the 
 figure in snowy-white whom he and Gloria had 
 seen on the terrace; no doubt an Indian servant 
 or conjurer, who always wore snowy- white. It 
 all pointed to the awful mysteries of Indian 
 magic. 
 
 This was no place for Edmond Fletcher. He 
 hurriedly ran from the terrace, closely hugging 
 the side of the house. He made strenuous 
 efforts to compose himself before reaching the 
 motor cars. 
 
 Ah, the old war-horse, Phelps Van Mortimor, 
 had had great vision to see trouble ahead ! But, 
 of course, he could scarcely have foreseen a 
 thing as bad as this ! The benign influence of 
 the grand old man was now for ever gone. 
 Another had taken charge, and what a wretch 
 he was ! 
 
 At the very moment Sigmond Van Mortimor, 
 the last of the line, sat in the old family home, 
 using it as an ambush while he leisurely plotted 
 a final orgy in the torture of a human victim! 
 
 275
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 If it were not so, why did not this living 
 ghost come out in the open and meet his dupe? 
 For the malignant spirit was indisputably 
 present ! With Fletcher's own eyes he had seen 
 him the blanched face in the flesh ! 
 
 At last he succeeded in burying his turbulent 
 emotions, and at least outwardly quieted, joined 
 Gloria in the leading car. 
 
 " Everything is well," he exclaimed bravely. 
 " Friends of the caretaker ! " 
 
 Soon they were putting distance speedily 
 behind them. This was very much as he would 
 have had it, but he knew flight would be futile 
 in their case. Again a different little Gloria 
 sat by Fletcher. She chatted merrily, indeed, 
 about the future, so well was she satisfied with 
 it but her partner in this could only force 
 smile after smile. 
 
 As they neared the city, he declared : 
 
 " Gloria, I am stopping at the National Club 
 to-nisht." 
 
 " Oh, Sigmond ! " she pleaded. " This is the 
 very first time that you have staved out all night 
 since you came back to me ! If you stay away 
 from home I am afraid you will get that queer 
 feeling again that you are not Sigmond Van 
 Mortimor ! " 
 
 " Remember what vou said : ' From now on/ ' 
 he reminded her, smiling nervously. " It is for 
 the best ! Anyway, a brother goes out when a 
 sweetheart comes in ! " 
 
 " Ah, well ! " she agreed resignedly. 
 
 Fletcher talked to Gloria several times on the 
 telephone that night. Although he had other 
 reasons for absenting himself from the play- 
 house, it was rather consoling for him to realise 
 
 276
 
 SPRING 
 
 that it would be difficult for even a Van 
 Mortimor to pull off one of his fiendish stunts 
 at such an exclusive gentleman's club as this 
 which he had chosen to-night 1 However, he 
 slept only fitfully after many stiff drinks had 
 drowned out a stark, blanched face that was 
 staring, staring, for ever staring at him and 
 gnawing its presence into his heart. 
 
 Edmond Fletcher had a distinct premonition 
 that his end was close at hand. He knew by 
 intuition that something monstrous was going 
 to happen the next day, something was coming 
 from which he could not possibly run awayl 
 The mine for this atrocity had been planted 
 squarely within himself ! 
 
 The blanched face with the brilliant intellect 
 had merely been using him as the subject for 
 the most dastardly experiment ever practiced in 
 human emotions! Even as Dr. Martel had 
 predicted, this degenerate human fiend had, like 
 a snake, alternately charming and torturing a 
 bird, simply worked upon him, the gullible 
 victim, storing up within him enormous hopes 
 and fears of course, with no other purpose in 
 view than ultimately to kill him by touching off 
 this accumulation of high explosives and thus 
 completing the weird drama for his superlative 
 thrill. 
 
 Fletcher's taking Gloria for his own to-day 
 must surely have signalled the attainment of 
 the height of hope in him in this intoxicating 
 and gruesome test of love and fear. It would 
 surely provoke the fiend to bring up his full 
 forces on the other side to strike the fatal 
 blow ! Had not Van Mortimor himself inti- 
 mated as much? Some things are so plain that 
 
 277
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 they hardly need a ghost to tell us, but Edmond 
 Fletcher had even seen his other self that very 
 day! 
 
 As the well-meaning young impostor went 
 back over all things in retrospect, it was obvious 
 that he had just been led into a magnificent trap 
 with an exquisite and innocent little girl as living 
 bait. 
 
 278
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 
 
 EDMOND FLETCHER lay abed late the next 
 morning, for he slept much more comfortably 
 in the warm sunlight which flooded his club 
 bedroom from the high windows. Light of 
 some kind had come to be essential to his ease 
 and daylight was so much more soothing than 
 the electric light to which he had become so 
 accustomed. He had so much to fear from 
 darkness ! Actually the morning sun shining 
 fully in his eyes only soothed his aching nerves, 
 so far had his sensibilities been distorted in this 
 supersensitive realm of emotion. 
 
 The telephone jangled shrilly by his bedside. 
 It was as if the voice of his strident fear itself 
 were within the instrument. Every noise, every 
 sound now had some distinctive character for 
 him! He must expect to hear the vindictive 
 cry of the avenging face at any moment now, 
 since Gloria was his own. 
 
 All the other sinister signs had been but 
 omens outcroppings of something he did not 
 understand, heralding a greater and more per- 
 emptory warning! What he dreaded most of 
 all now was the depraved hunting cry of Van 
 Mortimer himself, which always came when he 
 was in action that yell from the hidden depths 
 of the occult. This time Fletcher did not see 
 
 279
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 how he could conceivably protect himself against 
 the attacks of perverted natural forces which 
 would surely accompany it. How dangerous it 
 was for him even to stir out of bed this dayl 
 Any step might be toward his end ! 
 
 His nerves were breaking so badly and his 
 resistance to terror was weakening so rapidly, 
 he wondered if Van Mortimer . intended to kill 
 him with violent fear alone 1 Would merely the 
 coming of this murderous warning touch off 
 something already loose within him and plunge 
 him into sudden madness? Indeed, such would 
 be a most subtle assassination and strictly 
 according to the medical prophecy of the case 1 
 
 With all this sunlight, he finally decided he 
 could answer the telephone. 
 
 " Miss Van Mortimer on the wire, sir," 
 announced the club operator. 
 
 Oh, what a relief that was ! 
 
 " Good morning, Gloria," he called. 
 
 Edmond could have smilingly entertained him- 
 self with pleasantries with Gloria, even in his 
 sorely distressed condition, but for something 
 else on the wire a low, dismal howl which set 
 him half crazy. The sound was not mechanically 
 in the wire, but guttural, from something alive 
 or dead. 
 
 ;< What is that, Gloria ? " he asked excitedly. 
 " Can't you hear that awful thing? " 
 
 " Yes, dearest it's Belshazzar ! " she has- 
 tened to speak bravely, but her voice broke. 
 " He has carried on in that wild manner ever 
 since since midnight ! I thought I had him 
 quieted, but when I began talking to you he 
 started again. I have him shut up in your 
 rooms, but he is jumping against the he's 
 
 280
 
 FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 
 
 charging the door now ! And his howl is 
 getting terrible ! " 
 
 " Send him out for for a walk in the park. 
 I cannot bear to hear him ! " spoke Fletcher 
 weakly. He was getting deadly pale. 
 
 While he finished the conversation, he heard 
 old Belshazzar's gradually receding growls. 
 Good old " Bell ! " He was doing his best to 
 tell something which he, too, knew. The work- 
 ings of the perverted forces of nature had not 
 escaped the old dog's love for him. Things were 
 drawing to a close. Even the joy of love in 
 Gloria's voice was blighted by the warning of 
 terror accompanying it. 
 
 Fletcher rushed feverishly to his private office 
 at the bank. On his desk was a radiogram in 
 personal code. He tremulously tore open and 
 deciphered this. Skyles was due and this doubt- 
 less was from Bland. He read : 
 5 13. At Sea. SS. LATRONIA. 
 
 Dock this noon. Give whereabouts to police and bury 
 yourself. See no living creature until I reach you. 
 
 BLAND. 
 
 It was evident that Bland had grasped a part 
 of the true situation and was still striving to. 
 save him, even though his hands too were in 
 some manner tied. Again Fletcher looked at 
 the radio message, but this time minutely. 
 
 " 5 13." The mystic date smote his eye. 
 Fletcher's eyes travelled to a large wall calendar. 
 " Friday, 13," stared back at him ! Something 
 instinctively told him that he need not worry 
 about Skyles's coming; but he did wish that he 
 could see Bland again good old Bland, who 
 had been so faithful and who had worked so 
 loyally for him, even in the dark. 
 
 281
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 It seemed so petty, however, even to consider 
 running away at the very end of everything. 
 It seemed suicidal to start now with such an 
 unevenly balanced baggage of love and fear as 
 he must carry ! Any fight that Edmond Fletcher 
 could put up against his great intangible enemy 
 appeared so feeble that he could not conceive of 
 any better place to face him than in the very 
 harness of his business imposture. Instead of 
 calling the police, he shortly scrawled out a code 
 reply to Bland : 
 
 Bullard Bland, 
 
 SS. Latronia at Sea. 
 
 Come directly to my office. Will remain here until 
 you arrive. 
 
 He sent it, and now he sat inactive and all 
 alone in the very seat that he had been warned 
 to leave. He would see no one. There now 
 remained only a few hours of precious daylight. 
 Yet, upon the use he made of them he knew his 
 life depended. 
 
 Time went on relentlessly clicking off the 
 minutes of the hours, while here he sat inactive 
 and all alone in the solitude of his inner office. 
 For him, no less than the weakest little oriole in 
 the toils of a viper, paralysis was setting in. It 
 was as if he were in a lethargy, but still faintly 
 struggling to formulate some defence against 
 this monstrous unseen thing which was already 
 settling down upon him. 
 
 Come what might, however, he determined 
 he would not communicate with Gloria until 
 this horrid thing was over, and that meant, he 
 was sure, that he might never see her or hear 
 
 282
 
 FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 
 
 her sweet voice again. The more Fletcher left 
 her, the other waif of circumstance, his innocent 
 orphan partner, free from this hideous business, 
 the better was her chance of surviving it ! 
 
 ' What a master is handling me ! " was the 
 best his addled wits could muster up. Now at 
 last he caught a broad view of his whole 
 predicament. The idea came to him that while 
 his situation was cruelly oppressive, it must be 
 intensely difficult for another dead or alive 
 to maintain! Possibly the phantom whip over 
 him was having some trouble, too ! 
 
 It was as if fate itself had rolled all human 
 trials into one all a lifetime's hopes of reward 
 and fears of defeat and of many lives for that 
 matter, rolled into a single supreme test for 
 Fletcher. Now the test squarely faced him, 
 unescapable, demanding that he put forth some 
 superhuman effort as the price of his further 
 existence ! But why did Van Mortimer not 
 strike now! 
 
 Well, with just a little bit more time, maybe 
 he could put up a little fight himself. What 
 was there still left sound and firm beneath him 
 on which he could make his last stand against 
 this monstrous invisible enemy? With what 
 straws could he combat him? 
 
 Fletcher had considerably strengthened this 
 bubble which his namesake had blown about 
 him. He was, in fact, well entrenched in it if 
 he could just get his enemy out in the open, 
 where he could meet him on fair, human terms. 
 Now a great light of reason broke on Edmond 
 Fletcher, routing all fear. 
 
 Why, Van Mortimor himself had not known 
 until yesterday, when he received a copy of the 
 
 283
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 letter from his father, that Gloria was only his 
 adopted sister 1 That must have given him an 
 awful jolt. 
 
 Ah I While Sigmond Van Mortimer had made 
 a vicious tragedy of life, a tragedy in which a 
 human being was now being sacrificed, his 
 father, though long since dead, had placed 
 another living character in this very weird play 
 as a check upon Mr. Sigmond Van Mortimor's 
 enormities. An unseen hand no less powerful 
 than the fiend's very own actually operated in 
 Fletcher's favour! 
 
 Gloria Van Mortimor, not of this doubtful 
 blood, actually owned one-half of the whole of 
 this great fortune, and, though she did not so 
 much as know it, Edmond Fletcher now stood 
 here as her representative and champion 1 In 
 these unforeseen circumstances, such would cer- 
 tainly be the wishes of the founder of the 
 fortune. 
 
 His situation thrilled him to the core 1 Now, 
 by all the powers on earth, he must stand his 
 ground and bring up his best shock troops ! 
 
 Fletcher at once began to think more 
 coherently. First he would wait for Bland; 
 secondly, he would take counsel with Dr. Bates; 
 and, thirdly, he must not let anything conceivable 
 overcome him. 
 
 This was his programme for the moment. 
 And since he could never again for long avoid 
 the beady eyes that were settling down upon 
 him, the next move was up to Sigmond Van 
 Mortimor. Now, while he waited for Bland, he 
 started methodically clearing his desk of the 
 day's work, to give his painfully strained mind 
 more sane employment. 
 
 284
 
 FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 
 
 The sun edged over in the sky. Noon had 
 passed. He knew the Latronia had docked. 
 
 Shortly his inner door burst open, and 
 Bullard Bland slammed it tightly behind him. 
 He was wildly excited, red in the face, puffing 
 desperately to get his breath. 
 
 " Edmond ! " Bland cried, rushing to Fletcher 
 and grabbing hold of him, " for God's sake get 
 out of here ! You haven't a minute to spare ! 
 Come ! Come ! " He begged piteously, trying 
 to pull what he considered his discredited and 
 hopeless leader away by main force. 
 
 " Don't ! Don't ! " exclaimed Fletcher, in- 
 different to his entreaties. " If you want to 
 help me, sit down and quietly answer my 
 questions ! " 
 
 Bland dropped into a seat. 
 
 " Where's Skyles?" demanded Fletcher. 
 
 " He's through ! Got cold feet and crumpled 
 up with fear ! Came to me, told me he knew 
 who I was, and begged me not to mention he 
 had anything to do with this matter ! He 
 wanted to wash his hands of it." 
 
 "What is he afraid of?" asked Fletcher 
 incredulously. 
 
 " Van Mortimor ! " stammered Bland in an 
 agony of impatience. " I got Skyles down on 
 his knees in his state-room and choked the truth 
 out of him ! He sold his stock in the Morning 
 Star twice, and he has been doing this travelling 
 abroad for the real Van Mortimor himself ! 
 Was employed by him all the time. But Skyles 
 is scared to death now. He says he's been play- 
 ing into the most weird game that was ever 
 staged in the world ! Come on, Edmond ! " 
 begged Bland, with hot tears breaking forth 
 
 285
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 from his eyes. " Get yourself out of here ! 
 This is no place for us. You are the subject of 
 a ghastly experiment." 
 
 " I know," answered Fletcher apathetically, 
 " but where is Skyles now ? " 
 
 " A gleaming white yacht came slipping up to 
 our boat at quarantine and took him off. That's 
 the last I saw of him." 
 
 "Was its name the Sylvia?" asked Fletcher 
 breathlessly. 
 
 " Yes ! Yes ! That has something to do with 
 Van Mortimor and the biggest tragedy ever 
 played in human emotions ! Come on, Edmond. 
 For God's sake come on out of here. You 
 haven't a second to lose, and this awful degener- 
 ate Van Mortimor knows everything! He is 
 due to strike at you any instant now because 
 you made love to his sister yesterday." 
 
 " God ! " exclaimed Fletcher, burying his face 
 in his hands, " did Skyles know that too? " 
 
 " Yes I searched his baggage while he was 
 at breakfast. He had a radiogram which said : 
 ' Trap sprung, sister taken, climax on, rush 
 ashore, we'll strike together ! ' Signed, ' Your 
 Host ! ' Do you want anything plainer than 
 that?" 
 
 Eland's voice was choking with terror. " Oh, 
 the horror of what you are doing! Here you 
 are, staying in his identity, in his property, right 
 in his clutches ! He'll knock you off with a 
 thrill murder as clean as a whistle do you want 
 to make it easier for this filthy beast to kill you 
 \vith_some devilish mystic trick? " 
 
 " That isn't it ! " cried Fletcher. " I am 
 trying to figure him out, guess what he is up to ! 
 Where he is now, and how he will strike! 
 
 286
 
 FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 
 
 Don't get rattle-brained," commanded the victim 
 of it all, growing steadier momently, and holding 
 Bland down now to keep him quiet. " Think, 
 Bland, think for me. I've got to think to live. 
 He would run me down anywhere I go ! Good 
 as you are, haven't you a single idea with which 
 to help me face him ? " 
 
 "Here's all!" said ^ Bland limply. "I can't 
 believe that Dr. Bates is a party to all this blood 
 thirst, and if we could talk to him quickly, tell 
 him the Sylvia took Skyles off my ship, that 
 Skyles is at sea with Van Mortimor, and find 
 out what the doctor knows, maybe we can get 
 the jump on this colossal maniac and somehow 
 be ready for him ! " 
 
 " Now you are talking sense ! " agreed 
 Fletcher heartily as he wiped the moisture from 
 his tense face. " I'll go with you ! " 
 
 But even as he spoke the door of the private 
 exit in the rear of his room moved slightly, 
 making a faint noise which instantly caught 
 their strained attention. The ashen countenance 
 of Dr. Wendell Bates was peering in at them 
 through a crack in the doorway. 
 
 " Come in ! Come in ! " commanded Fletcher 
 testily. 
 
 " God forgive me ! " said Bates to Fletcher 
 as he came in, furtively glancing about. " You 
 realise it is not like me to sneak in on you this 
 way, but, honestly, I did not know whether I 
 should find you or your double in your seat ! " 
 
 * What on earth do you mean ? " demanded 
 the young financier, " and let go of my arm ! " 
 he cut in on Bland, who was shaking all over. 
 
 " I'll tell you all I know ! " confessed the 
 doctor. " What a fool I have been ! But I 
 
 10 287
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 have awakened, thank God, to what is really 
 going on here ! We've got to talk fast. Do 
 you know what happened to Skyles, the only 
 other one that knows anything about the truth 
 of what is being done?" 
 
 " Sure," answered Bland at once. " Skyles is 
 on a yacht with Van Mortimor ! " 
 
 " Skyles is dead," said Dr. Bates. 
 
 " Dead!" gasped Fletcher and Bland together. 
 
 " Yes, poor Skyles is dead ! I was called to 
 the Jefferson flying field to meet a sinister and 
 queer airplane just a little while ago ! Van 
 Mortimor stepped from it and, with a great 
 show of frankness, took me back aboard. ' Make 
 out a death certificate for this fellow/ he said, 
 casually indicating Skyles, who was stretched 
 cut on a lounge. ' He died of heart failure.' ' 
 The doctor paused to catch his breath, went on : 
 
 " Not a mark of violence on the body ! Not 
 a trace of poison in his system ! I made a 
 thorough examination. He did die of heart 
 failure, but the heart failure was from " 
 
 " Fright ! " said Fletcher, taking the word out 
 of his mouth. 
 
 " Yes-s-s," stuttered Bates. " How did you 
 know?" 
 
 " Never mind ! " he shot back. " How did 
 Van Mortimor do it? " 
 
 " I don't know ! " cried the doctor. " But in 
 some infallible way that leaves no trace of 
 evidence. Van Mortimor killed Skyles in that 
 way and you are next I Then it is Bland, and 
 myself, I know, for he said " The doctor 
 gulped. 
 
 Bland was clutching both Fletcher and Bates, 
 huddling them closer to him as if in clinging 
 
 288
 
 FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 
 
 together there might be some little measure of 
 protection. 
 
 "Ah! What did he say?" exclaimed 
 Fletcher, earnestly, with a cooler, saner light 
 breaking in his face. " That's what I want to 
 hear! What did Van Mortimor say?" 
 
 ' Now, Bates ! ' he told me confidentially, 
 'you see what happens to people who inject them- 
 selves into my affairs ! You have been a pretty 
 bad offender yourself, by keeping secret until 
 yesterday the information that Gloria is my 
 adopted sister.' I gave him a letter " 
 
 " Yes, I know ! " cried out Fletcher. " Go 
 ahead with exactly what he said ! " 
 
 " ' That little matter of withholding that 
 knowledge from me,' he said, * might have 
 spoiled all my plans ! But as it is everything 
 has just turned out perfectly. The big bubble 
 that I have been puffing up in my place is almost 
 ready to burst anyhow. And fortunately he has 
 the girl so anxious to marry me that it won't be 
 any trouble at all after I finish with him. Then 
 I'll have eaten the whole 'cake of life, and still 
 have it, too ! The fortune will be reunited, I'll 
 have a good reputation everything just as my 
 very d-e-a-r old father so ardently wished 1 
 The girl is rather a nice fresh young trick, isn't 
 she ? ' He ended, laughing uproariously." Dr. 
 Bates was white. 
 
 Fletcher was leaning rigidly across the desk. 
 His face had gone livid with anger at the 
 mention of Gloria's name. Would he stand by 
 Gloria ! Gloria, who had stood so unquestion- 
 ingly by him through everything! Before Dr. 
 Bates had finished speaking, his passion had 
 become a cool white heat that glowed in his 
 
 289
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 eyes, pervaded his whole person. His hands 
 unconsciously reached out before him. They 
 were writhing and twisting in agony as if he 
 were grappling with something intangible. 
 
 " That beast marry Gloria? " he said hoarsely 
 as if he were talking to himself. " Why if he 
 dares to touch her " and his hands and throat 
 became strangely quiet. 
 
 " But wait ! That's not all ! " exclaimed Bates. 
 " * A little something more will happen to-night,' 
 Van Mortimor said ; ' a little loose end in my 
 new plans will be cleaned up this evening, some- 
 thing, Bates, which it would be better for you 
 to know nothing about; and then, doctor, you 
 will have no more trouble at all warding the 
 public off me ! I'll have a reputation splendid 
 enough for anybody and I'll live up to it or at 
 least so everyone will think! You're like all 
 doctors,' he flung sarcastically at me. ' How 
 silly you were to have believed that you were 
 smarter than I ! That you could " cure " me ! 
 I have more brains than anyone else in the whole 
 world; I do absolutely as I please and the law 
 can't even suspect me ! While you fooled around 
 trying to work your cure, I have simply been 
 using your crazy scheme to play God over 
 another, and build him up to suit myself and the 
 dear public ! That's vastly more amusing than 
 all the things you've told me to do ! Now there 
 only remains the supreme thrill of puncturing 
 the big bag of wind that is tottering in my place, 
 and I'll step forth in his shining character ! 
 Doctor,' he said, ' actually in the passing of my 
 dummy, though the means may be somewhat 
 the same, there is not going to be a fraction of 
 the evidence of disaster as you see before you 
 
 290
 
 FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH 
 
 on Skyles ! My dummy's old clothes are all 
 waiting for him, and he is going to kill himself, 
 literally! However, be careful no interference 
 from you, Bates, or there will be an extra death 
 certificate in my collection ! ' ' The doctor gazed 
 piteously at Fletcher. 
 
 " An undertaker was removing Skyles's body, 
 and during the confusion of that, Van Mor- 
 timor simply disappeared as he has done many 
 times before ! I was talking to him one moment 
 and then he was gone just vanished behind my 
 back ! I searched all over the airplane for him. 
 Ah, me; at last he is a raving maniac, and I 
 have lost all control over him ! I don't know 
 where he went or what he is up to; and finally I 
 got up courage to come here and tell you ! " 
 
 291
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 HIS INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 
 
 " LET'S all get out of here ! " said Bland 
 sullenly. " This will be his next stop ! " 
 
 " Where can we go ? " asked Bates hysteric- 
 ally. " Van Mortimor is everywhere ! He is a 
 brilliant roving lunatic with a fiendish sort of 
 insight into men's mind ! I never heard of 
 anything like him in all my medical career." 
 
 " He is still on that airplane, at Jefferson 
 Field or no matter where it is, even in the sky; 
 he will try to come on it to-night ! " spoke up 
 Fletcher firmly, with a desperate look in his 
 eyes. " Thank God I now know where to lay 
 my hands on him ! Til be there to meet him 
 and I don't neeJ any further invitation from 
 anybody to come aboard on my business ! " 
 
 " For the love of ^aven ! " wailed Bates, 
 both he and Bland panic-stricken at the thought 
 of what had been said. " Don't go aboard that 
 plane! I forgot to tell you what an incredible 
 death plane that is ! It goes up white and 
 comes down black ! When I first saw it, it 
 was a terrible black thing swooping down out of 
 the sky and then it touched the earth and 
 tarried a gleaming white ! " 
 
 " Please be reasonable ! " was all Fletcher 
 said, and that quietly. 
 
 " But it did ! It did ! " protested the doctor 
 292
 
 HIS INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 
 
 obstinately. " I'm not insane though God 
 knows how long I can say that. If you set your 
 foot in that plane of death, you'll change, too ! 
 You'll go up alive and you'll come down dead 
 like Skyles!" 
 
 " Bates, I am surprised at you," Edmond 
 declared, even smiling dryly now. ' You are 
 the one who has always told me to 'keep my head 
 clear ; now look at the foolishness you are trying 
 to put into it! My mind is functioning per- 
 fectly and you are simply afraid of one of your 
 own patients ! " 
 
 The door opened abruptly and they all 
 jumped. Colston Floyd, the secretary, entered, 
 vastly surprised at the commotion he had caused. 
 
 " A message for you, sir ! " he explained to 
 his chief. " Wouldn't have disturbed you, but 
 it's urgent and from home," and he beat a hasty 
 retreat. 
 
 Fletcher tore open a dainty envelope and in 
 neatly typewritten script read: 
 
 Meet me at Jefferson Flying Field at twilight for 
 an airplane ride. 
 
 GLORIA. 
 
 " Here is a nice little invitation, too, much 
 as I expected," commented its recipient, and he 
 idly tossed it across the desk to the others. " Of 
 course, that is from Van Mortimor. Gloria 
 never saw it. It is plainly a decoy message, and 
 he knows I am one goose who will come ! " 
 
 " You aren't going to accept that invitation 
 to die, are you? " asked Bland. 
 
 :< I may have to ! " he mused aloud. " Some 
 way or another that I can't prevent now, he may 
 have Gloria coming on that airplane this even- 
 
 293
 
 ing; and then Van Mortimer understands as 
 well as I do that I will sail with him to-night. 
 Wait a minute ! " he exclaimed sharply, and he 
 quickly telephoned home. 
 
 He spoke to the butler for a moment and a 
 twitch of pain flickered across his brow. 
 
 :< Too late ! " he said sadly, and he hung up 
 the receiver slowly. " Parkins says they are 
 searching everywhere for her. Gloria has dis- 
 appeared ! " 
 
 " Oh, Lord ! How awful ! " moaned the 
 suffering Bland. 
 
 " Can't we do something to find her," 
 demanded Bates spiritedly, " and stop her before 
 she goes on the plane ? " 
 
 " I doubt that very much ! " said Fletcher 
 coolly and deliberately. " But what a mistake 
 Van Mortimor is making now ! He already 
 has Gloria in charge in some manner that we 
 could not possibly find out, but I am sure he 
 will not harm her in any way until he finishes 
 with me this evening. She's safe until nightfall, 
 and that part doesn't bother me; for the poor 
 little thing is simply bait to get me aboard that 
 airplane to-night. But Van Mortimer's a good 
 fisherman only up to that point ! There's where 
 he errs, badly! He expects. me to wear myself 
 out searching for Gloria the rest of the after- 
 noon and then come on the plane exhausted, still 
 looking for her. Our time is far too precious 
 for any wasted efforts ! I'll come aboard, 
 willingly enough; keep the appointment to the 
 minute; but I am saving all my strength for a 
 rendezvous with life not death ! He little 
 guesses what he is inviting aboard ! I am just 
 beginning to grasp things clearly now and I am 
 
 294
 
 HIS INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 
 
 coming on that plane to fight ! This dope fiend, 
 or I, dies to-night ! " 
 
 " Oh ! What a pity ! " wailed Bates again. 
 " You haven't a ghost of a chance with that 
 fiend ! " 
 
 Bland, though listening . intently, had given 
 up all attempt to talk. 
 
 ' You two can quit thinking altogether if you 
 wish/' Fletcher snapped, " but you must obey 
 me ! Your lives depend on how well you do it ! 
 This fellow is almost a perfect criminal," went 
 on Fletcher. " And he nearly had me to-day ! 
 Without one touch of physical violence he could 
 have murdered me, this morning! I don't 
 know how he killed Skyles; but I do know that 
 only a few hours ago he had me worked up to 
 such a pitch of frenzied fear of him that his 
 sudden appearance in this room would have killed 
 me outright. All that, he could have done 
 through the tremendous power of the unseen, 
 in which he has worked so skilfully upon me ! 
 But for me he is no longer an unseen terror." 
 
 " You haven't faced him yet ! " objected Bates 
 pointedly. 
 
 " No, doctor," explained Fletcher. "The brief 
 time in which he could have killed me with mere 
 fear is for ever passed. As they say in salesman- 
 ship, the psychological moment for getting the 
 order has passed ! He has overplayed his hand 
 by letting you two through to scare me further 
 with your tales; and he has made a lot of other 
 wholly unnecessary arrangements for scaring 
 me to death, that seem positively silly to me 
 now ! Therein he has proved to me that he has 
 no supernatural ability whatsoever, and I am not 
 in the least afraid of him ! " 
 
 295
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " Let me tell you about those occult powers " 
 begged Bates. 
 
 " No. Not now," he answered. " I must 
 hurry with anything I intend to do. Van Mor- 
 timor thinks he has set a trap for me to-night, 
 but he has really set a trap for himself ! I am 
 going to catch him in it just like the dirty snake 
 he is ! His greatest power has been that he has 
 worked altogether in the unseen. I have learned 
 a great deal about that in serving my appren- 
 ticeship under him; and now I am going to give 
 him a taste of his own vile medicine, that will 
 lay him out cold so that we can deal with 
 him sensibly ! Out-think him in his own field. 
 Doctor, what kind of an airplane has he, and 
 how many are in its crew ? " 
 
 " It's a big Fokker," said Dr. Bates in 
 surprise, " has dual controls, seven or eight 
 compartments it's a sort of air-going hotel, a 
 flying yacht. It has two pilots, a mechanic, a 
 steward and two or three other men who all go 
 with it. But it has changed so it goes up 
 white and " 
 
 " Fine ! " cried out Fletcher, wryly smiling 
 much to the amazement of the others. " Now 
 where was this air yacht situated on the field 
 when you saw it to-day? " 
 
 " There was a storage shed for housing planes 
 not far from it. I think there was an old office 
 and a reception room in one end of that. In 
 between the building and the plane were some 
 trucks and a fueling station." 
 
 " Splendid ! " exclaimed Fletcher. " Quick 
 now, Bland ! Think of the old days when we 
 were hungry ! What we have before us is 
 nothing compared to that we are fighting on 
 
 296
 
 HIS INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 
 
 a full stomach now. Quick " Bland was 
 already out of his chair. " Can you hurry 
 down to that rlying field, if possible catch a 
 glimpse of that air yacht, but by all means dupli- 
 cate that whole crew Bates has described?" 
 
 " On my way ! " Bland answered, fired with 
 his old enthusiasm. 
 
 " And Bullard, old boy ! " said his old friend. 
 " Don't let Van Mortimer see you or anything 
 you are doing." 
 
 " Not liable to," he growled. 
 
 " Come to think of it, don't duplicate the 
 steward ! We'll leave him on the ship to allay 
 our ' host's ' suspicions and to lead me to him, 
 wherever he is hidden, when he sails down for 
 me to-night ! " 
 
 " Boy ! " declared Dr. Bates suddenly. " I 
 don't know where we are bound for it's 
 probably across the bar but I got you into this, 
 so count me in on the last act ! " 
 
 " That's the spirit ! " cried out Fletcher. 
 " Now we sound like three live men, instead of 
 three dead ones ! Bland, work carefully down 
 there. Don't let anyone at all catch on to what 
 you are doing this time ! By sundown, have 
 your men out of sight, but instantly ready in 
 that shed ! You must have two pilots, a 
 mechanic, and at least two others, five alto- 
 gether, but don't take them near the plane ! 
 I'll show up with Dr. Bates and two secretaries, 
 each a plain-clothes man ! Post a man to delay 
 Gloria if she arrives much ahead of me and then 
 wait for me ! I'll take charge ! " 
 
 Bland rushed out and Dr. Bates fell back 
 weakly in his seat. 
 
 " If it were anyone else but Van Mortimor ! " 
 the doctor gasped. 297
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 " No matter what you say," objected Fletcher, 
 " you have heard the only way for me to tackle 
 him! I propose to cut the whole earth and 
 everything else that he can use, right out from 
 under his feet. He will have to operate in very 
 thin air to beat me to-night ! " 
 
 " That's his speciality ! " cried the old 
 physician. " I beg you to let me warn you about 
 that ! His father before him had great fore- 
 sight ! He always had his way while he lived, 
 but he died with a big worry. The grand old 
 man wanted badly to leave a living monument 
 behind himself and his efforts, yet he only had 
 one child and the blood of that heir was tainted 
 with insanity through his mother's family ! That 
 accounts for Gloria's adoption and the two 
 letters which were entrusted to me for delivery 
 to the children. But who could tell that all these 
 horrible events would follow ! " The doctor 
 shook his head dolefully, then continued: 
 
 " I saw your face first in a newspaper picture 
 of a group of people, noted your remarkable 
 resemblance to the present Van Mortimor, and 
 kept tabs on you just for the romance of it ! 
 When Van Mortimor returned from his long 
 residence in Europe such a mental and physical 
 degenerate that he could not appear publicly, I 
 took him off the boat near Sandy Hook to avoid 
 notoriety. It seemed then that Providence had 
 sent you ! I suggested to Van Mortimor that 
 you be substituted for him until I could get him 
 straightened out, and he readily agreed to the 
 whole affair and arranged it himself. He did it 
 superbly, too; but as you know, from the most 
 sordid of motives, though I thought he was very 
 liberal at the time. I had him in the lodge in 
 
 298
 
 HIS INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 
 
 the valley below the house at Cleborough and he 
 behaved very well outside of yelling." 
 
 " Don't mention it ! " said Fletcher with an 
 uncontrollable shudder. 
 
 " Well, he didn't bother you much at first, 
 did he?" 
 
 " I haven't time to tell you about that. Go 
 ahead ! " 
 
 " I didn't know there was to be a brain 
 operation and when all those foreign specialists 
 landed here, Van Mortimor simply disappeared ! 
 I couldn't find him anywhere ! However, he 
 turned up at an opportune minute, said he was 
 very sorry that he had taken an overdose of 
 dope and slept for three days in a strange haunt, 
 and he wanted to do the right thing for you by 
 giving you a general power of attorney to act 
 in his name and stead for awhile. He did, 
 too ! " 
 
 "When and how?" asked Fletcher unbe- 
 lievingly. 
 
 " It's a fact. You have actually had the 
 authority to act for him up your sleeve all the 
 time, so that everything you have done for him, 
 if it were ever really contested, is perfectly 
 legitimate from the very first day you went to 
 business for him ! He put the instrument of 
 your authority inside the covers of the ' History 
 of the Van Mortimor Case/ and that is the way 
 he made me give it to you ! " 
 
 " Smart as his father ! " exclaimed Fletcher. 
 
 " Smarter, in his perverted way," said Bates. 
 " If I told you, he could revoke the authority 
 instantly, and in the meanwhile he did not have 
 you violating the law. It was better for him, 
 too, than if I had tried to have him put in a 
 
 299
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 lunatic asylum. However, I let things run 
 along; I was so anxious to keep you in his 
 place ! I hadn't taken seriously Dr. Martel's 
 prophecy that he would start this fiendish 
 playing on human emotions; I thought I had 
 everything in hand and was serving everyone's 
 best interests. Van Mortimer promised not to 
 touch you and he never did but, of course, as 
 I now see too late, he doesn't have to touch you 
 to kill you ! He made me believe you scalded 
 yourself in your sleep with the steam pipes; but 
 I suspect now that he did that ! " 
 
 " Absolutely." 
 
 " What a fool I have been ! This whole thing- 
 is just a cold-blooded experiment in murder on 
 Van Mortimor's part ! He is a sadist, one who 
 delights in cruelty. When you stepped in that 
 car last summer on lower Broadway, no one in 
 this world but this fiend himself knew just how 
 thoroughly he took you in charge. Your very 
 thoughts have scarcely escaped his attention 
 since then. And I encouraged it ! I wanted to 
 show him how splendidly you were living and 
 cure him by example and he's been trying to 
 kill you ! " 
 
 " I have known that a long time," said 
 Fletcher wearily, and he did not appear to be 
 giving close attention. His thoughts were flying 
 with the man in the airplane! 
 
 From then on only snatches of Bates' talk 
 registered in his mind. Van Mortimor, no 
 doubt, had keys to the playhouse. He was often 
 hidden in that second car which always followed 
 Fletcher ! 
 
 " He must have tortured your dog and then 
 returned him to you," said Bates, " for the 
 
 300
 
 HIS INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 
 
 animal goes wild at the sight of him." 
 
 " And that," Fletcher checked up, " explains 
 the howl on the phone this morning ! " 
 
 " I have seen weirdly contorted little dead 
 animals lying about," stated Dr. Bates with a 
 shiver, " on which he must have experimented. 
 But have you any idea why he has been keeping 
 a few buzzards in a coop on the roof of the 
 house at Cleborough ? " 
 
 " I know what he did with one of them ! " 
 answered Fletcher grimly. " He must have been 
 turning some of his buzzards loose yesterday, 
 for one of them circled over Gloria and me just 
 after I made love to her in the woods up there !" 
 
 " A man who would do that has lost all 
 human feeling," spoke the doctor solemnly. 
 " You may expect something so gruesome to- 
 night on his new airplane as to be unbelievable ! 
 I never saw this great plane before Skyles's dead 
 body was removed from it, but you can rest 
 assured that this air boat has a special death 
 trap aboard for your last torture ! How do you 
 propose to catch him?" 
 
 " When we sail to-night," said Fletcher 
 grimly, " he can't get off the plane, and I am 
 confident of my own hands ! " 
 
 " But, man, whatever you think of, he'll think 
 of something better ! He is everywhere at once 
 and he seems to know everything! If you 
 should catch him, God help you ! He is slimy 
 and poisonous ! He would slip right out of your 
 hands and leave you to die in agony ! " 
 
 " Not these hands ! " spoke Fletcher slowly. 
 " Not these hands which have held Gloria ! " 
 
 " The real reason you can't possibly win, I 
 haven't told you yet ! " and the good doctor 
 
 301
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 hesitated a moment as if he were deliberating 
 whether he should speak of it at all under the 
 circumstances, but he proceeded at last : " The 
 reason I myself am so deathly afraid of this 
 degenerate is that I know something about him 
 that only his physician could know ! He has 
 developed some damnable occult power which 
 he picked up in India; it transcends all our 
 knowledge of life and medicine. He is some- 
 how supernatural ! As surely as you go on his 
 airplane to-night you will find that no living 
 man can combat him ! " 
 
 The doctor's next words trembled in a queer 
 falsetto : 
 
 " You'll find Van Mortimor can't die ! 
 Neither you, nor all the ravages of disease, nor 
 all the poisons on earth, can kill him ! I swear 
 he has conquered such things and death in all 
 its forms, and he uses them on other living 
 creatures! He is sort of a moral cancer, a 
 social leper, an evil genius among us. He has 
 dissipated enough to kill ten normal men and 
 he still lives ! Sometimes he has taken me in 
 a big dim room about twilight and while he 
 has sat in a chair by my very side, he has tossed 
 his head over on the mantel, and laughed at 
 me! 
 
 " He says it is only a trick that he learned in 
 India, but I am not so sure about that now ! 
 He can take a thousand drops of laudanum in 
 wine at one sitting; and he positively seems to 
 thrive on all of his dope ! Though his system 
 is so heavily saturated, I have seen him take 
 doses of strychnine and cocaine that I know no 
 ordinary mortal could stomach and live ! If 
 you put a bullet or a knife through his heart 
 
 302
 
 HIS INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE 
 
 to-night, he will laugh at you and go on 
 murdering you, without even needing to use 
 violence." 
 
 But Fletcher had quit listening to all this 
 morbid description. He was completely en- 
 grossed in something he considered far more 
 important. It seemed that Gloria was now 
 mutely and dumbly calling to him for help ! 
 
 He sat there before Bates, oblivious of his 
 immediate surroundings, with a mighty effort 
 striving to achieve the impossible. Behind the 
 blank expressionless curtain of his face, 
 Fletcher was tediously weaving a noose for a 
 neck which he believed would hold upon any 
 man or ghost ! 
 
 " Now, doctor," he finally said, " just come 
 with me to-night, and do not be surprised at 
 anything I may say or do ! I can't talk further 
 with you now ! I am really sort of a coward 
 at heart, and at times I have to be left severely 
 alone ! If I saw very much more of you, or 
 good old Bland, or even Gloria, before my boat 
 arrives, I feel that I'd fall all to pieces ! We'll 
 go to Jefferson Flying Field by different routes. 
 You start out now and slam the door hard 
 behind you ! I want to test my nerves." 
 
 The door closed behind Bates with a crash, 
 which went resounding up and down the 
 deserted corridors of the great bank like a burst 
 of artillery, and Fletcher was alone ! 
 
 303
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 A LONG shed, such as is common at airports, 
 ran along one side of Jefferson Field. Fletcher 
 appeared there just as the shadows of the day 
 were falling. He was immaculately dressed in 
 a new flying uniform, as punctilious and con- 
 ventional as Sigmond Van Mortimor himself 
 could have been. 
 
 Two prize-fighters, lately sworn in members 
 of the police department, accompanied Fletcher, 
 as secretaries. 
 
 Bland and Bates nearly fell upon his shoulders 
 at sight of him. He was taken to the rooms, 
 with which he had been so pleased when he had 
 first heard of their existence. There were three 
 en suite, in the end of the shed, and Bland already 
 had his new crew coralled in the end room. 
 Fletcher's face was set and impassive and 
 showed no signs of the terrific strain under 
 which he actually laboured. 
 
 " Have you see the airplane or Gloria? " was 
 all he asked. 
 
 " Neither ! " whispered his confidential wizard, 
 Bland, " but here are pictures of each of the 
 airplane's crew. They were all hired here and 
 I hastily borrowed their tin-types from the files 
 of the office of the commandant of this field." 
 
 304
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 " Fine," complimented Fletcher as his eyes 
 devoured the photographs, without recognising 
 anything familiar in them. 
 
 " Field records," said Bland, " show that this 
 airplane is a huge Fokker biplane recently 
 brought over from abroad. There in the room 
 I have two good Fokker pilots who have flown 
 all types of these big planes, and one of them, 
 a man named Koebel, has taken up this very 
 machine of Van Mortimer's in a test flight. 
 Two mechanics and an expert are with them 
 and altogether they will just about roughly fill 
 the places of the men in the pictures with 
 helmets and make-up. They are all old army 
 men, good fighters when trouble starts ! " 
 
 " Thanks ! " answered Fletcher feelingly and 
 he stepped in the room among them. 
 
 " Mr. Koebel ! " he called out, and a stocky 
 airman, with gnarled hands that seemed 
 especially dependable, stood forth. 
 
 "Mr. Koebel," Fletcher said, "we are 
 changing crews when my plane descends. 
 
 " How soon can you have her back in the air 
 again, after I remove the present crowd?" 
 
 "Less than ten minutes," he answered smiling, 
 " with the help of these boys ! " 
 
 " Very well ! Then you handle the flying 
 part." 
 
 Now he called everybody around him and 
 announced : 
 
 "We may be carrying a stowaway to-night. I 
 believe an assassin is hidden on this plane and 
 these elaborate precautions are necessary to 
 catch him. As soon as the plane comes down, 
 one of you meet it and tell the first member of 
 the crew you see that I want him to come over 
 
 305
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 here. Then, one at a time, send them all over 
 here to me, all except the steward ! As the 
 places are vacated, casually fill your men in to 
 them, Mr. Koebel; and be ready to take off 
 again, the moment I step aboard! 
 
 ' When we are in the air, everything is 
 to proceed as naturally as possible and as if 
 nothing at all were expected to happen. There 
 will be, including my sister let me figure it 
 out exactly twelve people aboard ! Twelve 
 people are to be accounted for and every one 
 of us is to be alert, and on a still hunt for the 
 extra passenger all the time ! If we do not 
 find him we'll all retire early and lights will 
 be dimmed; but the signal for the alarm will 
 be for the lights to flash on, in any part of the 
 plane. Then we'll all rush to that spot! 
 
 "Understand me?" 
 
 Heads were nodding in assent. 
 
 An inspiration came to him. He thought of 
 all the brokerage commissions that were credited 
 to his account in the office of Morton, Keene & 
 Co., and which were his in any event. He 
 said : 
 
 " I'll personally pay a reward of twenty-five 
 thousand dollars to anybody who catches the 
 thirteenth passenger who rides with us to- 
 night ! " He wondered how Van Mortimor 
 would like that! 
 
 An electric tension gripped the atmosphere 
 about them. He called Dr. Bates aside and 
 quickly told him : 
 
 "You get in the middle room of the three, 
 and receive the old crew for me as they come 
 off the plane! Have each man strip to the 
 waist for a physical examination as he comes 
 
 306
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 in, and then pass him on into that empty room 
 beyond. 
 
 " Tell them it's by my orders ! My policemen 
 secretaries will help you, and take care of any 
 resistance on their part. When you have stolen 
 the last man's clothes, come aboard the plane ! " 
 
 For Bland and Bates, the tension in the air 
 about them had taken on the tautness of a piano 
 string. They listened fot the least unusual 
 sound. 
 
 Now Fletcher swung boldly out on to the field. 
 
 When he first sighted the plane it was coming 
 like a tiny speck in the distance. Soon with a 
 mighty roar it loomed up like a black cloud in 
 the sky. Suddenly it was describing huge circles 
 over him. It seemed alive : with its great, dark 
 wings and naked head, it appeared a giant 
 buzzard hovering over him. Well he knew that 
 the beady eyes of Van Mortimor were looking 
 down upon him now. 
 
 The cold sweat broke out on Fletcher's fore- 
 head and he retreated to the shed, wiping this 
 from his brow. He was glad Bland and Bates 
 had not seen what he had. 
 
 The ghastly thing landed not far away and 
 the noise of it was quieted as it came racing up 
 by him and the shed. Fletcher nearly fell over 
 backward when he gazed upon the big buzzard 
 again. It had stopped just a few hundred yards 
 from him and it had turned a gleaming white 
 all over ! It was resplendent now in its swan- 
 like innocence, to receive its passengers. 
 
 However, events moved so fast that his mind 
 could not keep up with all of them. Men were 
 passing into Dr. Bates's room in the shed on 
 the one side behind him, and different men were 
 
 307
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 coming out of Eland's quarters on the other side 
 of him. Some of them coming out had on the 
 clothes of those who had gone in. 
 
 A small hand waved from the plane and he 
 stared at Gloria, spellbound. What a slim 
 chance he would have had of finding her this 
 afternoon, for she had been up in the air ! 
 
 He heard a scuffle behind him in Bates's room. 
 A fist shot out, and now one man would need 
 some real medical attention. 
 
 He touched the doorway of the shed by his 
 side. Its wood felt moist and chilly, clammy to 
 his fingers, like the railing of the terrace on the 
 house at Cleborottgh that first night when he 
 had heard the weird yell from the valley. 
 
 Bates and Bland now rushed out of the shed. 
 Fletcher grabbed an automatic pistol from one 
 of his strong-arm secretaries, stuck it in his 
 clothes, and together they ran for the plane. 
 
 Just as Fletcher reached the big air boat, he 
 dived down and peered momentarily under its 
 lower plane. The whole bottom of the craft 
 was painted black. It was a simple trick after all. 
 
 With his heart a little lighter he jumped 
 aboard the huge deceptive bird of prey. Its 
 engine roared, and they were off. Fletcher and 
 his insatiable shadow were on their w r ay to keep 
 a rendezvous with death in the sky. 
 
 There were many places he could have poked 
 into aboard this great luxurious air yacht as 
 they went thunderously ploughing into the 
 heavens. But he left the searching to his men, 
 who were eager for the task. They moved 
 quietly about now, apparently attending to their 
 duties while they -thoroughly searched the ship 
 for their extra passenger. 
 
 308
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 Fletcher knew it was better for everyone to 
 act naturally; in this way they might more 
 easily draw the prince of horrors out of the 
 woodwork or the wings or wherever he might 
 be hiding. For his own part, Fletcher went 
 directly to Gloria, whom he found in a dainty 
 rosewood panelled compartment, forward in the 
 ship. 
 
 " Isn't this lovely? " she wrote on a litte pad 
 after she was through hugging him. !< Where 
 are you taking me? To one of those South 
 Sea Islands you once talked about?" 
 
 " Anywhere you say ! " he scribbled back after 
 a moment's reflection. He answered her just as 
 if this big white plane with its seamy under-side 
 could take them there. Evidently Gloria had 
 not the slightest conception of the true situation. 
 
 However, since they had to have some 
 destination for the time being and he wanted to 
 please her all he could, he wrote out directions 
 for the pilot : 
 
 " Take us over the sea to Bar Harbour." 
 
 He hoped Van Mortimer would see that; but 
 not certain other things. He had a feeling that 
 he was being watched, even while his men were 
 searching. 
 
 " I have been on the plane riding about since 
 two o'clock," Gloria informed him, "just getting 
 acquainted with this beautiful surprise that you 
 have had built for me, as you told me tOydo in 
 your message ! " 
 
 Fletcher smiled faintly, for other eyes than 
 hers. He thought sadly that she must have 
 arrived just after poor Skyles's body was taken 
 off of this " beautiful " flying barge of death, 
 and now it was on another such little errand ! 
 
 309
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 It was agonising that all his men should not 
 be finding anything ! 
 
 He excused himself and went back to Dr. 
 Bates. 
 
 "Who fell so hard at the examination?" he 
 asked. 
 
 " The former pilot of this infernal craft ! " 
 wrote the doctor tersely. " He questioned my 
 instructions, and we didn't argue with him." 
 
 Eland's face was pathetic. He and Bates 
 were now only wooden men, like automatons 
 they had performed their parts in this mad 
 drama which had no reward but death for them. 
 And now they were simply waiting to be 
 scrapped ! 
 
 The steward served a generous lunch, which 
 was not enjoyed by anyone but Gloria; if the 
 servant was surprised at all by the new faces 
 aboard, he did not in any way show it. 
 
 That was the dreadful part of everything 
 nothing at all unusual occurred! Though 
 Fletcher had taken the ship, his men could 
 not find the thirteenth passenger; and the 
 merciless eyes watching Fletcher were still in 
 control of it all. It was just the same for him, 
 in a racing airplane, up here in the sky, as it 
 had ever been ! 
 
 Finally Fletcher began to believe that since 
 the life of this man over him was a drug dream, 
 not like an ordinary mortal's, he was also 
 capable of making his victim live the same thing. 
 Or worse, he might even be all that Dr. Bates 
 thought of him. In any event, Fletcher saw 
 that if he caught Van Mortimor, he would have 
 to catch something as elusive as a ghost! 
 
 About eleven o'clock, he cautioned everyone 
 310
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 to retire, but remain on the alert throughout the 
 night. Then he kissed Gloria and called the 
 steward to conduct him to his berth. 
 
 Fletcher was led down an aisle to a small 
 cabin in the tail of the plane. 
 
 The steward remarked : " You are looking 
 unusually well, sir." 
 
 Fletcher passed into an oblong room, about 
 ten feet in length by seven in width, which was 
 the last one on the passageway. Anyone who 
 had ever read " The History of the Van Mor- 
 timor Case " would have promptly recognised 
 the owner of this. The floor, the woodwork, 
 and such little furniture as there was, was all of 
 polished ebony, black as midnight. 
 
 A little porthole window had lavender silk 
 curtains. 
 
 The bed was an ordinary double-decked affair, 
 such as is common on ships, one section below 
 and another directly above, and both supported 
 by simple iron rods or standards. Each berth, 
 however, conforming to the room, was of black 
 wood with its surface highly finished. There 
 was an outside door across the room, but 
 Fletcher did not think Van Mortimer could 
 come from outside this speeding plane; both the 
 top and bottom of it had been inspected since 
 they left the ground. 
 
 There was panelling all around the room. 
 Fletcher would have sounded this panelling, but 
 the noise of the motors made such a thing im- 
 possible. 
 
 He believed more than ever now that invisible 
 eyes were upon him and from behind these 
 panels ! He was very careful, however, not to 
 appear nervous or suspicious. He undressed 
 
 311
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 nonchalantly. But in changing to the pyjamas 
 which had been provided for him, he kept his 
 revolver well out of sight when he slipped it 
 into his nightclothes. 
 
 Then he acted as if he were locking the door 
 into the passageway, but in reality he left it 
 unlocked; then snapping out the lights, he 
 jumped in bed. 
 
 By some little moonlight that flickered into 
 the room, he was startled to find that the sheets 
 were of black silk. Yet he pulled them over 
 him with the thought he could stand even that 
 suggestive touch for to-night. Then he glanced 
 up, to discover that the bottom of the upper 
 berth was lined with white satin. 
 
 This bed was just like the infernal airplane; 
 black below, white above. 
 
 Nevertheless, he worked his pistol around 
 under the sheets so that it could not be observed, 
 and yet be free for his use; and he waited for 
 the ghost to appear. 
 
 It must have been nearly an hour later that 
 Fletcher realised that his body was getting 
 numb. All the lights were out on the great 
 lumbering plane. The noise of the motors, 
 deafening at all times, now reigned supreme. He 
 was very sleepy, his eyes drooping repeatedly; 
 but he had no intention of going to sleep here, 
 and now ! 
 
 It was nearing the last minute of the day of 
 Friday the thirteenth, ~ for which Sigmond 
 Van Mortimor had made so much unearthly 
 preparation. Fletcher believed the phantom 
 of him, at least, was due before the day was 
 over, even if he had to hop the plane in 
 mid-air to become the thirteenth passenger ! 
 
 312
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 Suddenly a panel in the rear end of his room 
 flew open ! His other self, Sigmond Van Mor- 
 timor, dimly appeared in the grey moonlight. 
 He must have had some secret control of the 
 machine, for the engines went off for a second. 
 Fletcher's heart stopped; for in that single 
 second came softly one plaintive note of the old 
 cry of the hashish eater ! 
 
 At the same instant the upper berth began 
 slowly slipping down its iron rods upon 
 Fletcher ! Then he knew how Skyles had died 
 of fright, and under what sheets. He was 
 sleeping in an open coffin that Van Mortimor 
 was closing up ! 
 
 Fletcher was paralysed as usual in the 
 presence of that half -seen, blanched face. The 
 ghastly visage of himself was leering in upon 
 him now. The stuffy white satin cover above 
 him was so gently and so steadily creeping down 
 to envelop him! The apparition was delighted 
 it stopped leering, and now laughed contemp- 
 tuously. 
 
 Was Van Mortimor actually infallible, om- 
 nipotent? The lid of the coffin came down, 
 nearer and nearer to the life-breath of 
 Fletcher, who was held so very securely by the 
 fear of this evil power. None of Fletcher's 
 men could suspect his plight or hear his cries, 
 above the roar of those engines. 
 
 But now Fletcher made a tremendous effort 
 to stir. He realised he was not altogether being 
 held by fright, for he smelled the odour of 
 crushed peach pits. He knew now that there 
 were fumes in the funeral room. 
 
 If he only had a little fresh air, he believed 
 he could move, even in the face of this 
 
 313
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 inhuman white thing, his double. But how could 
 Van Mortimor stand this same air that was 
 choking him ? There was a secret chamber back 
 where the fiend was, but the panel between the 
 two of them was open. 
 
 Fletcher could see the cruel face of his other 
 self in that other little room. Van Mortimor 
 was bringing out Fletcher's old clothes now, the 
 very ones he had worn up to Cleborough on that 
 first memorable night so long ago. 
 
 The lid of the coffin was within a foot of 
 Fletcher's face. Each breath seemed his last. 
 Yet his hand was still clenched upon his re- 
 volver. He had succeeded in weakly raising 
 it about an inch under the black sheet. If he 
 could just get the muzzle of the pistol a half- 
 inch higher he could clear the foot of the berth 
 and take one dying shot at the pitiless Van 
 Mortimor. 
 
 With an effort that brought the blood 
 pounding in his ears he gave the pistol a 
 desperate jerk that raised it a little higher. 
 His deathlike grip held it there, and his numb 
 fingers fired point-blank ahead. The bullet nicked 
 the wood at the foot of the berth, but it also 
 went through the open panel-way ! 
 
 There was a shattering of glass which he 
 could not hear, drowned out by the sound of 
 the motors, but he felt the flood of fresh cool 
 strength-giving air that crept in upon him. He 
 quickly put another bullet through the little 
 window in his own room and wiggled out from 
 under the falling coffin lid. He hit the floor in 
 the throes of the 4ast life of a cat. 
 
 Van Mortimor had ceased his preparation of 
 the burial wardrobe at the first shot. Now he 
 
 314
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 turned upon his victim, haughtily incensed, and 
 advanced through the open panel in a maniacal 
 fury. But Fletcher had nimbly sprung upon his 
 feet and braced himself against the wall. 
 
 He had a straight bead down the barrel of 
 his automatic on the demon's heart but the 
 fiend kept coming, his hands raised in gloating 
 malediction. Just as he plunged into the room 
 Fletcher blazed away. A streak of fire cut the 
 darkness straight to its goal. Then Fletcher 
 understood what Bates had feared. 
 
 That bloated white face was laughing at him 
 and still advancing. Leisurely, triumphantly, 
 now. Fletcher pumped the contents of the re- 
 volver into its breast, but he knew now that not 
 even the shots could be heard. Resistance was 
 futile. 
 
 But now his hands found and touched the light 
 switch. The gloating face showed up in the 
 light with the pallor of a sickly spider, as it 
 closed in upon him. Fletcher threw the empty 
 pistol at its head and missed. Then he flew 
 desperately at the Thing's throat with his bare 
 hands, and failed in his grasp his fingers only 
 tore feebly against a vest of solid steel. 
 
 People were pounding on the door. The 
 lights were blazing, and the door from the 
 passage-way moved. With a sudden burst of 
 diabolical strength the phantom slipped from 
 Fletcher's hands and lunged across the cabin. 
 
 The outside door flew open, and for an instant 
 Fletcher saw a patch of pale grey sky. Then 
 the air pressure had closed the outside door 
 and Van Mortimor had vanished. 
 
 In the open doorway from the passage were 
 crowded the white faces of Dr. Bates and Bland. 
 
 315
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 They stood there obstinately blocking the aisle, 
 obscuring the view of those behind them, push- 
 ing the others back up the passage. 
 
 Now Bates turned and made frantic signs for 
 all the others to look elsewhere. Then he pulled 
 Bland into the room with him, shut the door 
 behind him, and locked it. 
 
 Fletcher was still so terrified he could not 
 believe the spell was broken. It took Dr. Bates 
 to prove it to him. 
 
 " Bland and I alone actually saw him go out 
 into the sea," scrawled the old doctor, and he 
 stuck that under Fletcher's eyes. 
 
 "My God!" answered Fletcher. "He had 
 on a steel vest, and he went into the sea." 
 
 " So much the better," Bates scribbled below ; 
 " his body will never float up." 
 
 Running to the nearly closed black bed, Bates 
 examined it with horror. He pointed out that 
 three of its innocent iron corner rods were 
 solid; the upper berth had simply been loosened 
 so that the top section could creep up and down 
 its own legs. The fourth post or support, how- 
 ever, which appeared to be identical with the 
 others, and was hidden in the corner, was in 
 reality an electric jack for raising and lowering 
 the heavy upper berth. 
 
 Concealed wires ran from this bed to the 
 secret chamber where the control switch was 
 located. When they attempted to close the 
 coffin-berth completely, they found that the top 
 lid of it could go no lower than it had stopped 
 now. 
 
 "You see," Bates informed them, while Bland 
 methodically prowled about the cabin for traces 
 of the disaster, " after Van Mortimer had a 
 
 316
 
 THE KING IS DEAD 
 
 victim prepared for death he didn't need to 
 touch him to kill him with this contraption. 
 This is how poor Skyles went ! " 
 
 They discovered a little rubber tube running 
 from the secret chamber, still oozing some faint 
 fumes. The shattered glass told how Fletcher 
 had broken a pane there to get the fresh air that 
 saved his life. 
 
 The good old physician had a happy idea next. 
 He fished a prescription pad out of his pocket 
 and scratched his head, thinking for a moment. 
 Then he wrote : 
 
 There's no one left but yourself. Van Mortimer is 
 dead. Long live Van Mortimer! 
 
 And he solemnly handed it to Fletcher, while 
 he held a finger over his mouth. Both Bland 
 and Fletcher read it and nodded their heads. 
 
 Then Bland and the doctor quickly collected 
 all the simple evidences of the phantom's 
 unnatural practices, including Fletcher's old 
 clothes. Then Bates tore into small bits their 
 present conversation, and dropped that, too, 
 upon the little pile. He made a neat bundle of 
 everything in one of the black sheets, and, 
 opening the outside door, he threw this baggage 
 out after its master far down into the deep. 
 
 Thereupon he locked and barred the outside 
 door, snapped the secret panel: shut, pushed the 
 dark upper berth up into its normal position, 
 heaved a vast sigh, and waved the two others 
 from the room. 
 
 When Fletcher finally emerged from the 
 vulture's nest he was confronted by Gloria, 
 waiting by the side of his door. 
 
 He gathered her up drunkenly in his arms, 
 317
 
 THE PHANTOM IN THE RAINBOW 
 
 and weakly reeled up the passage-way which 
 was so swiftly speeding on to Bar Harbour. 
 All the boat was now aglow with cool moonlight; 
 his black cloud truly had a silver lining. 
 
 They stopped in the observation salon which 
 was a part of this luxurious sky yacht. 
 
 He was handed a message reading: 
 
 CAPTAIN VAN MORTIMOR : 
 
 False alarm ! Have had the whole plane gone over 
 again. There are only the same twelve of us aboard 
 this ship. 
 
 KOEBEL, Pilot. 
 
 Impulsively, Gloria, standing beside him, 
 seized a pad and wrote in her charmingly 
 delicate hand : 
 
 " There's something awe-inspiring about 
 having been * hand-picked ' and then reared 
 like a little princess, for a great purpose. But 
 somehow, with your help, I feel that I have 
 accomplished it." 
 
 Edmond Fletcher answered eagerly : 
 
 " You have ! You have driven the phantom 
 out of the rainbow." 
 
 318
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed.