Evening star., 1898-06-18

cluded but the first thing is to get hold
of Fowler and the Yoman-they are clearly
confederates. and must have known that 1
WAS WAS in in Singapore pid you detain the wo-
The inspector shook hts head
Then you've blundered nicely" cried
Quin: Both are TrobaRy out of reach by
may as well own up, my man. The woman
will be on hand to give evidence against
you 20
What. do you Still believe that I am
William Fowler? ssDo You discredit my
story?" -
You are William Fowler" the inspector
answered, curtly.'iSc 'anG that settles it.
Come along; we've wasted time enough"
Where are you going to take me-
To police headquarters. You'll have
hearing before 4 IDasisTate at noon
A hearing at noon, And the Hushire
sailed al 10 o'ciocks Quin realized that the
matter had gone beyond a joke-that he
was in a decidedly ugly and awkward fix.
MAX was too badly injured to help him by
making signs of recognition. 1Iofburg was
out of reach. and he was. unfortunately,
not known by sight to the clerk. lie
would certainly miss the Calcutta steamer.
and by SO doing dsappoint his employers
and blast his own career. A single chance
remained and that a slim one.
Il assure you that you are making a
great blunder,' he said. speaking calm
ly as possible. For you sake. as well as
Hotel Duval. The proprietor will vouch
for the truth of my story
The inspector hesitated an instant.
That's fair enough" he replied. The
MOTEL is but step out of the way-I'll
stop thee. We must be off at once,
though
Quin frightened up. believing that now
he was safe to catch his steamer He beg
ged permission to carry MAX over to the
bed. and to his great relief he saw that the
faithful hound was likely to recover.
Then he placed himself between two of the
S:khs and marched from the bungalow.
Rapidly and in silence the little party
threaded the jungle path. After entering
the town they chose unfrequented
thoroughfares. and so but small crowd
attended them when they reached the
Hotel Duval. Hearing the noise, the land
lord waddled to the door-a corpulent
frsnohman. rl1chna putting at a eheroot
made" exclaimed Quin. Have the good
ness to assure this man that l am your
guest-that | am Matthew Quin."
Aiphonse Duval gave one look; then his
eyes opened wide and the cheroot fell from
his lips.
''Sacre! not So" he gasped. you are not
the gentleman. though, indeed, you rese.n-
ble him Monsieur Qun was out all night,
but he returned two hours ago. paid his
account and left with his luggage"
"As j expected" the inspector said, an
grily. What did you hope to gain by
trickne ne in this manner?'
1t is not trick cried Quin. Every
vord of my story is true. Unless you re-
lease me at once you will dearly pay for
the blunder- 1t is of the utmost import
aEce that l catch the 10 o'clock steamer
AS for the Frenchman, he has been de-
ceived himself. 1t was Fowler who came
here in my clothes. who left with my lug
gage! And he and the woman have doubt
less made good their escape"
The inspector broke in with harsh com
mand, and the Sikhs seized hold If Quin
rNd vn6n on u
street. followed by an increasing crowd
hauled him roughly and forcibly along IN
spite of his struggles, his threats and as
sertions; for his rage was so great that ne
lest all self-control Tha steamer would
leave without him. and he would De held in
custody until Fritz Hofburg's return. The
thought maddened him, and he fought
every foot of the way with his captors.
But when the Hotel Duval was block
behind and just ahead was the mouth of a
street leading up from the coast, the TN
expected happened. A duh clamor of voices
was heard, and round the corner poured a
tLrong of people. In the midst of them,
guarded by half a dozen Sikhs, We're two
prisoners-one the woman who had IureI
Quin to the bungalow, lthe other i man
who was the very counterpart Of Quin
himself; he wore the stolen clothes and
carried Quins portmanteau.
What does this 'mean?' demanded the
inspector, as the two parties met.
Hanged if l know, Wilson," replied an
tnSHSHfldn VINO was with the SlknS. Are
there two John TukeS? I've got one of
them-took him off the Hongkong steamer
just now. English Kate, charges him"
And you've got the right one" cried the
woman. in a shrill and angry voice. This
Is John luke. and that" pointing to Quin,
lis an innocent man" She turned like a
tiSress on he- fellow prisoner. TN tell the
truth If I'm Jailed for it," she went on oh
you lying wretch you base deceiver 1 did
1t for your sake You got me to trick the
other man to the bungalow because he was
like you-because you could play mis- part
and escape from Singapore. l was to tell
the police where he was hidden, and then
you were to meet me and take me with you.
And how did you keep your promise? You
gave me the slip, and tried to leave with
out me. But l paid you up for it. 1 saw
you go aboard the Hong Kong steamer, and
| brought the police just in time. That's
what you get for playing me such a dirty
trick. Oh, l wish l could tear your eyes
out"'
'Silcnce the woman commanded the In
spector. Mr.. Quin, I'm sorry for this" he
added. Il don't know how to apologize.
But you free man.