Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30
THE GREAT SECRET
Continued from page 4

| am sorry, Sir" he said, "but Mr.. Blumen-
TEN is engaged Is there anything can do?,
"Nol" l answered him bluntly. Il want
the manager, and no one else will do. If he
| cannot see me now, l shall wait. If he does
not appear in a reasonable time, l shall go
direct to Scotland Yard and lay certain 1nfor-
| nation before the authorities there.
| The clerk stared at me, and then smiled
| in tolerant manner. az will send message
down to Mr.. Blumentein sir" he said; but
| he is very busy this morning"
| l waited with as much patience as could
command. Suddenly gave start and looked
| up quickly
passing so close to that her skirts almost
brushed my feet: She was tall; quietly and
most correct looking maid, who carried tiny
| Japanese spaniel. 1 did not her face,
although l knew by her carriage and figure
that she must be young. That she was
person of Importance it was easy to see by
the attention which was at once paid her.
Her interest for me, however, lay in none OF
these things. l had been conscious, as she
had passed, of Whit of faint, very delicate
perfume, and with it of a sudden sharp recol-
lection. 1t was perfume which l had dis
ting1ished once before in my life, and that
only few hours ago.
She gave her key in at the desk, received
some letters, and, turning round, passed
that 1 was watching her with more than
ordinary attention, and her eyes fell tor a
moment carelessly upon mine. They were
withdrawn at once, and she passed on with
| the slightest of frowns; just sufficient rebuke
| to the person who had forgotten himself so
| far as to stare at a woman in a public place.
| The little Japanese spaniel yawned as he was
| carried past, and showed me set OF dazzling
white teeth.
was unable to desist staring at the woman
fhar nd md he w
| than l had thought her, even, and felt that
| there was something foreign in her appearance,
although of what nationality she might be l
could not determine. Her hair was of a shade
between brown and golden, and, as she stood
| now, with her back to me, l could see that
| it was so thick and abundant that her maids
art had been barely sufficient to keep it within
| bounds. In the front it was parted IN the
| middle, and came rather low over her fore
head Now could see her profile, the rather
| long neck, which the lace scarf about her
| shoulders seemed to leave little more than
usually bare, the soft and yet firm outline
of features, delicate enough and yet full of
| character.
lust then her maid said something which
| seemed to call her attention to me. She slowly
and deliberately turned her back upon me,
| and continued talking to the maid. My cheeks
were tanned enough but l felt the color burn
them as l prepared to move away. At that
moment the lift stopped just opposite to her,
| and Blumentein stepped out, followed by his
| dapper little clerk.
| Hat in hand, and with many bows and smiles,
| Blumentein addressed a few remarks to the
| woman, who answered him courteously, but
with obvious condescension. Then he came
on to me- and his manner was different in
| deed.
Mr.. Courage?" he inquired. "You wished
| to speak to me?"
l handed him the type written communica-
| ton which l had received 81 wish for some
| explanation of this" l said.
He glanced at it and shrugged his shoulders.
~ cannot permit such proceedings as took
place last night in this hotel" he said. Il
can find no trace Of the two persons whom you
described as having broken into your room,
and l am not at all satisfied with the explana-
tons which have been given
| Indeed" / answered. s. can assure you
| that l find the situation equally unsatis-
factory. l came here in the ordinary way as
a casual guest. My room is broken into in
the middle of the night. myself am assaulted,
| and another man, stranger to me, is nearly
murdered. If any explanations or apologies
are due at all, consider that they are due to
me-
Blumentein edged a little away "You
should consider yourself exceedingly for
tunate," he declared. Ito be spared the incon-
| venience of police inquiry. My directors
dislike very much any publicity given to
| brawls of this sort in the hotel, you might
| find yourself in somewhat awkward position.