Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30


ton into the affairs of last night
There was no doubt as to the effect of my
words upon Blumentein. He was seriously
perturbed, and wholly unable to conceal it.
1 supposeah he remarked hesitatingly.
Absolutely" l answered. Look in this
weeks Graphic You will see photograph
of me in the Medchestershire cricket team.
Come into my room, and l will show you
letters and papers as many as you please. DO
you know that gentleman"
Certainly" Blumentein answered, bowling
low. GOOD morning. Sir Charles!"
A young man in flannel suit and straw
hat sauntered up to us. He nodded con-
descendingly to the hotel manager, and shook
hands with me.
"How are you, Courage?" he said. "I'm
coming down to Lords this afternoon to see
the match" He passed on.
Bumentein was distinctly nervous. Twill
you do me the favor to come down to my room
for moment, Mr.. Courage?" he begged. Il
should like to speak to you in private"
l followed him down into his office.
81 have caused the strictest inquiries to be
made, and have been unable to obtain the
slightest trace of either the man whom you
say took shelter in your room or the two
others you spoke of. Under those circum-
stances, you will understand that your story
did not sound very probable
perhaps not" l admitted; "but 1 don't
know what your night porter could have been
about, if he really. saw nothing of them. |
can give you a detailed description of all
three if you like"
lone moment" B1umentein said, taking up
pen and paper. "Now, if you please"
l described the three men to the best of
my ability, and Blumentein took down care
fully all that l said.
II will have the fullest inquiries made" he
promised, land let you know the result In
the meantime, 1 trust that you will consider
the letter | wrote you this morning unwrltten.
You will doubtless prefer to leave the hotel
after what has happened, but another time
trust that we may be honored by your patron
age
l hesitated for a moment. 1t was clear that
the man wanted to get rid of me. For the
first time, the idea of remaining in the hotel
occurred to
81 will consider the matter I answered.
"In the meantime, l hope you will have
inquiries made at once. The man who took
refuge in my room was IN terrible state OF
fright, and, from what | saw of the other
serious affair than you have any idea of By
the by, one of the two told me that they had
engaged every room in that corridor. You
may be able to trace him by that"
Bumentein shrugged his shoulders. That
statement, at any rate, was false one, he
said. "All the rooms in the vicinity of yours
were occupied by regular customers"
Now, in all probability, if Blumentein had
looked me in the face when he made this last
statement, should have left the hotel within
half an hour or so for good, and the whole
episode, as far as l was concerned, would have
been ended. But l could not help noticing
a somewhat unaccountable nervousness in the
mans manner, and it flashed into my mind
suddenly that he knew a good deal more than
he meant to tell me. He was keeping some
thing back. The l watched him, the
more felt certain of it. 1 determined not to
leave the hotel.
"Well," said, 1--WE will look upon the whole
affair last night as misunderstanding. l
shall keep my room for tonight, at any
rate"
The mans face expressed anything but
pleasure. lust as you like, Mr.. Courage" he
said. "Of course, if under the circumstances,
you preferred to leave u.s. we should quite
understand it."
He walked with me to the door. I hest
tated for moment, and then asked him the
question which had been in my mind for some
time. "By the by, Mr.. Blumentein," said,
if it is a permissible question, may l ask
the name of the young lady with whom you
talking in the hall just nova young
lady with a French maid and a japanese
spaniel?"
Bumentein was perceptibly paler. His
eyes were full of suspicion, almost fear. "Why
do you ask me that" he inquired sharply.
"Out of curiosity, l am afraid" l answered
readily. 81 am sorry if 1 have been indis-
Greet"
The man made an effort to recover his COM
7 hot for