The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-10-12


bearing Britisher to account
TIE new visitor, General Sir Charles
Collirgham, as l presently heard he
"vas called. was the first in the room
and he went straight to the bureau or
oscritolrc, at which | expect Captain
Wood did his writing business. The
general fell upon the papers and turn
cd them over with much haste and OK
citemcnt. Then he turned to Savory
ana said IN the same pcrcmptory tone:
Where is the dispatch box from my
Office sent here last night? don't see
1t. Fetch it, will you?'
But it went to the captain this
morning. Sir Charles, with his port.
m0nteau and other things"
Great powers! How could it when
you don't know whore he isY'
"If you will permit me to explain" I
mere put in, although | wonder | went
on, for saw clearly on his face that he
thought me an interfering noncntity nj.
together beneath his contempt. But as
| told my story his manner changed,
his look Of utter incrcdulity and amaze
ment gave way to one OF absorbed in.
tcrest, and by the time | had finished
he had thrown himself into the nearest
armchair with loud anh prolonged
whistle. an evident let of to bis dis
turbed feelings.
Then he sp"ang to his feet and walk
ed up and down the room like a mad
man, talking to himself aloud
Its not possible. It's too prcposter
Gus. cannot, ought not, to believe it.
But yet, by the Lord Harry, strange
things do happen"
Then he pulled up short and faced
me as If were q criminal and g tough.
IL suppose you are to be trusted?
Who and what do you call yourself?
You haven't dreamed all this? You
weren't drunk last night?"
II am water drinker, Sir Charles
CollinSham, and take 1t from choice hot,
according to my physicians rule" re-
piled severely. You, conclude. from
your title, arc British army officer,
but do not consider YOU are q gentle
man to make such aspcrsions"
Come, come, don't lose your temper.
| never do-it's a mistake-in business.
and you haven't told me yet who YOU
are and what you have to do with Cap
tain Wood"
Inc shortest way was to give him
one of my cards. He was not unac-
Quainted with the name Of Saraband
and said so courtcously enough. In
deed, he became now so civil that
judging lin 10 be really II person OF
Importance. l gave him brief outline
of the plot to which we believed Cap
tain Wood had fallen victim.
you think it is the money, do you?
Nothing elseT" he asked sharply.
"Why, what else could there be?'
He hesitated for moment, but said
at last:
I'm not at liberty to tell you exact
ly. They are confidential matters con-
nected with the service. But there
might be reasons to induce designing
Rff9el6G Rffd9te fri f f6t fGrhTt t26c 26 c4PttabD9 4tta M99Q Nq
tain information OF the highest value
to Well, l must not tell you. But
the disappearance OF these papers, Of
the dispatch box, III short supports me
in that view."
"There are public grounds, then, for
instituting q keen search for Captain
Wood"
every much So indeed, and we must
instantly call in the police. l shall go 1T
once to Scotland Yard and set the de-
tectiyes in motion"
"Guess I've been there already, and
they only laughed at me-"
"By George, they will not laugh at
me. Why, this might become a cabinet
question. If those papers have fallen
into the wrong hands, there may be the
devil Of a row. Wood or no Wood,
must have them back this very day,
and can't stop talking here"
Zone minute, Sir Charles. My-our
interest in Captain Wood is hardly sec
ond to yours. Anyway they are identi
cal. 1t would be best, l submit, to
work together"
"Quite so. That is very sensible.
Have you any plans? What would you
proposes" He was as sweet as milk
by this time.
"Wcll, obviously one thing presses
urgently. A descent should be made
by posse Of police upon that house in
the Strathallan road"
"In any case there shall be no more
delay. Here, you, sir"-this was to
Savory-"hail the first cab. I'm off to
Scotland Yard. Will you come with
meY
'I'd rather meet you, Sir Charles, out
yonder, for suppose you'll go yourself
with the policeT''
Certainly l shall, possibly ahead OF
them, so au revoir."
"Stay. Sir Charles. had forgotten
this letter which came an hour ago. il
Is addressed to Captain Wood. and il
might throw some light OF this mystc
rious affair. TO be sure, 1t is liz wo
mans hand, but l was just about t.
open it when you appeared. NO yor
think darc?"
"By all means. Every scrap Of intel