Evening star., 1898-08-06

other work on hand. But I will look into
the matter at my leisure, and will give you
reply in four days"
THAT Is a long delay
81 can't shorten il, sir"
| '1n the meantime the police may find the
| animall'
Which would sadly spoil your little
game" Quin said to himself. Aloud he re-
| piled: II don't think you need have any
! fears on that score, Capt. Yermalon."
In four days, then. 1 shall expect your
answer"
| With that seeing the interview was
! closed, the Russian bowed and took his
| leave. Quin laughed softly as the door
| closed, and when the ratreating footsteps
died away he lit his pipe and paced up and
down the room.
There is little doubt that 1 am on the
right track" he reflected. It's deep and
cunning trick, but the captain was not clev-
er enough to hide his hand, or, apparently,
to keep the winning card; he has fallen into
his own trapl And a game of diplomacy.
That's something new for me. Ha, hal l
was to be a catSpaw for the Russian bear!
Well, I'm going to back the British lion to
win; W: II see who gets the Chinese chest
nuts. II a stiff task, though, and / must
feel my way carefully. Yes, I'll accept Ii
Sings brief. SO to say. And I have four
days to hold off the Russian with. AS for
| the first step. that is clear enough"
Quir ooked at his watch, and found that
| It was nearly / o'clock. He Iunched in the
| put on a well-worn and disreputa ble-look-
| ing suit of clothes, that he might pass
| the moe readily for a stable hanger-on. He
| took a cab in the square, and was deposit
| ed fe v minutes later at the upper end of
! Park street. near the marble arch. A short
| walk brought him to Eresby News, which
was within the uitra-fashionabie precincts
| of Mayfair, and, as he noted, was easy OF
access from the rear of Dorchester house.
Down the long, cobble-paved vista, as
| Quin entered, he saw blanketed horses be-
| ing led about, men handling forks and
! Cleaning horses ard carriages. With
] wisp of straw in his mouth he lounged to
| No. 2 and glanced at 1t carefully: 1t was
dingy little brick house, apparently unoc-
cupied. At that moment a lad of fourteen
| or so, with shrewd but dirty face, came
out of the adjoining dwelling
Does Bill Jacobs work here?" Quin
asked.
NO, e don't; and I ought to know"
| Joe Martin them"
| why 'e lived there" said the boy, point
| ing to No. 2, but e went away five dyes
ago sudden like. You want to see imp
/ Hes a pal Of mine" replied Quin.
| ''Krow where he went?'
| No. 1 sye, guvnor, you amt a detec-
tive?"
Certainly not"
| Then you know who Joe Martin was. I
| knew II all along
| WHO was hep
THAT bloke was Gentleman Jem," said
! the lad. winkins one eye.
| bcUtleIlal JtIIl. N(u1u KNEW fliE1 Dy rep
| utation as an ex-prlZefighter. a sharp char
I acter and sporting man in his way. And
| a month before he remembered. the papers
! had stated that Gentleman Jem was keep
ing out of the way OF the police, who want
| ed him for a shooting affray. Eresby News
had doubtless been his hiding place.
! you know too riuch," said Quin. Keep
| your mouth shut. Here's bob for you.
! Did Jeul have dog?"
| No. replied the Had, as he pocketed the
| coin.
| ANY visitors?'
| 'Only one as 1 know ola bleke named
| Jonks. that works for that Chinese swell
| been here for a fortnight"
| Alfred JoRks, the man who slept with the
Eonessi The scent was getting hotter!
! Further questioning drew nothing of i'm
/ Iortance from the lad ne had heard no
roises in No. 2; had seen nothing taken in
| or out by day or night. However Quin
was we'll satisfied with his afternoon s
| work. and on his way back to the city in a
cab he evolved the next step in the pro-
ceedfngs, one that he 1attered himself
would lead to quick results. Reaching his
den he wrote and posted short note to Ii
Sing.
AT IL o'clock the next morning the
4 princes secretary turned up at the em-
porium. and his establishment was great
when Quin told him that he had decided to
/ take up the case. and that he suspected