The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-23
By Hairs Breadth n.:$ 3 Co. s'
Thrilling Dealing
Copyright by
Dodd,
Mead CD Co.
By II e d O n Hin

But the garcon was able to oblige mon
sleur without inquiry. Neither the lady
nor the gentleman was staying in the hotel.
put they had patronized the restaurant at
intervals during the last ten days for
deJeuner and dinner
Rewarding the man with a franc, Fortes-
cue ran up TO his room and began TO make
rapid change In his attire. After put
ting spoke in Volborths wheel in the
matter of Dubrowski, he felt that he could
not repay his friend better than by follow
ing the princess when she left the restaur-
ant He was aware of the difficulty of
shadowing her in broad daylight, but the
chance that she might lead him to the
mysterious Number 4 Center'@was too
good TO be missed. Reinforced with
knowledge of their lair, Volborth might be
trusted TO set such d watch on the COM
ings and goings of the miscreants that they
would be powerleSs for evil.
After plunging into a Norfolk jacket and
rummaging an old tweed hat from the
way again to the ground floor-to find that
he was too late. The princess and her
fierce-eyed cavalier had quilted the restaur-
ant, and, a hasty question put to the
same waiter elected, had departed from
the hotel two minutes before. The attache
was not addicted to profanity, but he
hurled a full-havored expletive at his in
formant. a certain SNUG innocence lurking
at the corner of the mans mouth seemed
TO explain why the princess and her COM
panion had curtailed that absorbing con-
Versation.
Realizing that abuse of the waiter would
not mend matters he returned to his ROOM
and, having rehabilitated himself, joined
Lady Metcalf and Laura. The rain still
fell in torrents and there was no question
of going out. Having done his best TO
enliven their afternoon, Fortescue dined
quietly with the ladies in their private
saloon.
Towards the close of the meal, while he
was for the tenth time earning Laura's
gratitude by promising her mother
smooth crossing on the morrow, the garcon
brought him a letter which had Just been
left at the hotel. AT the sight of the
envelope Fortescue needed all his nerve to
repress start, for the bold, free hand
was the same as that in which was
traced the draft telegram reposing in his
pocketbook: He managed to ask care
lessly II the messenger was waiting an
answer and having received a reply i'm the
mission to read his note Ii was in French
and ran as follows:
497 Rue st. Pol, Boulogne.
Dear Sir-You were so good as to do me a
small service this morning, and from your
charming friends l also received much
generous assistance. On these slight
grounds / venture to trespass further on
your kindness. and to beg of you to call ON
me at the above address at O'Clock this
evening desire TO avail myself of your
advice, and, II you are willing to grant 1t.
For reasons which l will explain, / must
| ask you 10 come alone.
| Accept the assurances. monsieur. etc.
| etc. OLGA PALITZTN
Feeling that Laura eyes were on him as
| he read he schooled himself to suppress his
| eation, which was great. At any rate. here
| ready TO his hand to pick up was
| the thread that he had dropped earlier i'm
the day The sense that he owed repara
| ton TO Volborth for depriving him of the
4 clew through Dubrowski TO the conspira tors
/ had been growing on him. and he promised
/ himself TO see this adventure through The
i idea OF personal danger did not occur He
| knew that he had to deal with determined
and resourceful criminals and though
! naturally fearless he would not have
trusted himself amongst them If he had
| believed them TO regard him as an active
antagonist. But beyond the fact of his
| having been seen I'm Melons company there
was nothing 10 connect him with their
natural foes. and he did not think that a
| connection had been made that way The
| English detective had certainly not recog-
nized Olga PalitZin and her companion in
| the restaurant, though sitting where he
had a good view of them, and the presump-
ton that he was equally unknown to them
| All this passed through Fortescues mind
in flash. and by the time he had finished
| up the invitation he was ready TO meet the
| challenge of inquiry in Lauras eyes. This
he did by answering glance that limited
at the postponement OF open curiosity, but