The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-22

/ plished. and your work is done You
( have done admirably, my little one.
I Good day to you,'
/ / saw him run out Of the room in "a
great state OF excitement, and knew that
| he was making straigh; for that woman
/ in the boarding house in Fulham. How
/ ever, IL didn't concern me; I leisurely
packed up my machine and went down
stairs. intending TO tell porter TO fetch
/ the machine for me aud 10 put e in a
/ cab.
Then a surprising thing occurred. At
( the bottom Of the stairs 1 encountered
/ that one friend to whom I have re-
( fcrred-Mr Philip Esdaile / had been
/ so completely astonished that day that
! there was no room in me for further
| surprise. indeed il seemed the most
| natural thing in the world to see Philip
\ there. Perhaps / ought TO say i'm this
place that Philip Esdaile had had GER
\ tain wild ideas concerning me. and had
/ been anxious that ] should become Mrs.
/ Esdaile. AS he was a young and strug-
Cling journalist. / scarcely thought IL
I would be- a wise step; so. with a little
mutual tanding we had part
{ ed. and now here he was again.
! he beckoned me into the empty cof-
( fee-room: I followed expecting a scene.
I But his first words were startling.
We'll. where have you sent that
/ man.
While l was staring at him in per-
I pleXity ne caught me by the arms and
( began 10 speak rapidly
4 had no idea. till / saw you come
/ business he said. I've been on the
/ track Of it for months; it's the biggest
/ thing I've ever had yet for copy. It's a
gigantic conspiracy This man who
calls himself Penton is the victim OF H.
/ But how on earth are yo1 concerned in
ito
1 briefly explained 10 him the secre-
| taryship / had been fortunate enough 10
] secure; l gave him a rapid outline OF
! the people / had met. and OF my intro
/ duction TO his Mr. Pentcn He listened
} with an eIated face.
This is absolutely splendid" he ex-
| claimed. The gentleman who sent the
/ love letter. my dear Bella. Is no other
| than a certain Penaluna. perpetual
/ president Of the State OF Ancorania-
never mind where. Suffice II that this is
/ matter OF kidnapping and that this
] Madame JevauN is the decoy used TO
! take this man and TO hold him. Your
precious SecretariaI supply Syndicate is
nothing more nor less than the gang
who have organized the whole business.
and YOU have been innocentIy working
! for that gang"
Gradually. as Philip went on speaking
7 arT,- I 10 N
about it, and had. as he had said. been
on the track OF it for months for journal
/ istic reasons. We discussed what was
/ best to be done. and I gave him the ad-
! dress of that fourth-rate little boarding
house in FuIham
I'll go there al once. he said. "and
as you are mixed up with the gang il
might be we'll for you to mistake your
instructions. and 90 there also. Your
machine will be safe here. and can be
sent for at any time
So we started for FuIham again
/ Philip going his own way and engas-
ing. at his suggestion. another cab. and
/ driving of at top speed. When I got
/ TO the house / walked quietly past the
| servant who admitted me. giving her
/ curt nod as / did so. Having admitted
me on the previous occasion. she made
/ no attempt 10 stop me now, and I went
/ Up the stairs 20 the door of the room in
| which ! had found Madame Jevaux
As I reached the door. certain curious
sounds could be heard from within the
| room. II seemed impossible, until re-
membered what Philip had told me. but
there almost appeared TO be a desperate
! struggle in progress Not very loud, but
l heard the tramping Of feet and then the
heavy fall of body Perhaps in that
/ boarding house they were used to dis
notice OF this one After a moment or
/ two, while I stood there hesitating the
/ door OF the room was cautiously opened.
and the face OF Mr.. Crimes little
( heated. / thoughj-loOked out Seeing
me. he came out on to the landing. clos
/ ing the door behind him.
What do you wante" he asked in a
whisper. putting his face close 10 mine
Nothing" 1 reGJied with the most
I innocent look l could assume al that
short notice. i thought 1 was 10 come
! back here"
No. no; entirely a mistake" he said
But now YOU are here 10 may be wen
/ fo- you 10 remain minute or two"
I lie went back into the room. and d
moment later the door opened again
and Madame JCvaUN sauntered out She
was laughing, and seemed in high spirits
Following her came man. thick-set ana
/ powerful looking. with a face of the
most viIlainous type ! ever remember
TO have seen. Grimes came last: he
locked the door on the outside and
handed me the key.
straight back 10 the Office he said,
and deliver mis- into the hands of MI
I-arrard; give il 10 no one else
Events followed so rapidly after that
that ] have only a confused notion OF
what really happened I remember that
the three OF them went downstairs rath-
! OF burTiedly. leaving me alone there: /
remember that as 1 turned TO go myself
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