Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-25
CHAPTER XII.

-AAA ~~oAANoAA nit" VI lHc StiohSS NAS1PPNNA
ance of the body of Sir Charles Darryn. OF
course, the widest rumors were af1oat, the
cheaper newspapers had details that had
been evolved from the brilliant imagination
of creative reporters; score OF them had
already besieged the manager of the Royal
Palace Hotel, and were making his life
burden to him. The thing was bad enough
as it stood; enough damage had been done
to the prestige of the hotel without making
matters worse in this fashion.
There was nothing further to say at pres
ent. except that the news was true. and
that the police had no clue whatsoever for
the moment.
Not that it is the slightest use telling
them anything of the kind" Field muttered.
Whenever there is a mystery the press
always gives us the credit for the posses
sion of clue. In that way they very often
succeed in soaring our game away alto
gether. don't say that the papers are use
less to us, but Il ey do more harm than
good"
All the same Field was not quite at loss
to know what to do. Beatrice had given
him a full and accurate description of the
two Adventures who had vanished, leaving
no trace behind them. They had suggested
that all their belongings were at the Euro
pean Hotel. but question or two asked
there had proved that such was not the
case
And yet they have gone and covered up
their tracks behind them Field said.
"Why? Miss Darryll-I should say, Mrs.
alarm either of them. Then why did they
disappear like this? Perhaps they were
spotted by somebody else over another mat
ter. Perhaps the gentleman who SO scared
our general in the drawing room of this
hotel had something to do with the matter.
We shan't get much further on the track
of this interesting pair until I have had
talk with some of the foreign detectives.
Won 1o<>1y %Lr,v toe
ing hotel servants, Mark suggested.
But that was already being done, as Field
proceeded to explain. 1t was just possible
that they had been the victims of foul play.
Most Of the newspaper men had been cleared
out by this time, and there being nothing
further to learn. the hotel resumed its nor
NAL condition. People came and went as
they usually do in such huge concerns; the
mystery was discussed fitfully, but the
many visitors had their own business to at
tend to, so that they did not heed the half
score of quiet and stern-faced men who
were searching the hotel everywhere. At
the end of an hour there was no kind of
trace of anything that would lead to the
whereabouts Of the missing men. Col. Ber-
rington came to the head of the grand stair
case presently, holding little round object
in his hand.
II have found this" he said ct is
button with the initials r. p. II. on 1t, evil
IDENTIFY button from the uniform of one of
the servants: AS there is scrap of
IDENTIFY been wrenched Off which points to
struggle having taken place. Don't you feel
inclined to agree with me. inspector?'
On the whole Inspector Field was inclined
to agree. Would Col Bennington be so
good to take him to the exact spot where
the button was found? The button had
been discovered on the first landing, and
had lodged on the edge of the parquet floor
ing on the red carpet. They were very
thick carpets as befitted the character of
the hotel
Inspector Field bent down and fumbed on
the floor He had touched a patch of some
thing wet. When he rose his fingers were
red as if the dye had come out of the car
pet.
Blood" he said. as if in answer to Ber-
ringtons interrogative glance. "N cry stu
before. But these carpets are thick and
of dark a color. Beyond doubt some
deed Of violence has taken place here.
See"
along the carpet The red patch was very
large. A little further along the wall there
We're other patches, and there the mark
of a blood stained hand on the handle of
door which proved to be locked
us anybody occupying this room at pres
ent?" Field asked hotel servant.
Not exactly, SIR the man replied. THAT
door gives on to one of the finest suites in
the hotel. 1t is rented by the Rajah OF
Ahbad. His hignness is not here at present,
but he comes and goes he likes. He
keeps the keys himself, the door is only
opened by his steward, who comes along
day or two before his royal master"
'AIl the same they are going to be opened
now" said Field grimly Go and tell the
manager that l want him here at once. 1
suppose there are master keys to this"
But there were no master keys to the
royal suite; the locks had been selected by
the rajah himself. 1t was an hour or more
later before a locl1smith from Miners man
aged to open the door. They were thick
400 ck1 If,,aI lnnl. Is>X
TOM Field switched UP the electric lights
and made survey of the rooms. The
blinds were all down and the shutters up.
Suddenly Inspector Field gave grunt of
We've got something here at any rate"
he said. And the poor chap seems to be
badly hurt. Carry him out gently and see
If the doctor is still here
A body lay on the floor; the hands and
arms We're secured to the sides by straps; a
tightly rolled pad of black cloth was fixed
in the poor fellows mouth There was a
CHASTITY wound on the side of his head from
which the blood was still ooZing; great
deal of it had CONCEALED on his collar. A
slight groan proved that the victim was still
alive. IT'S the hall porter the manager
cried. TITS poor Benwort What horri
BILE thingr'
Looks like conclusion of the brain' Field
said. Thank goodness, here's DR.. An
drews. We will make further search of
these rooms, for it's pretty certain that the
other fellow is here also. All, / felt very
sure that we should find him."
second man, also in the livery of the
hotel, lay by a sofa. He seemed to have
Jared better, for there was no blood on his
face, though great swelling over his
right ear testified to the fact that he had
been severely handled He was not insen-
sible. but he hardly knew what he was talk
ing about as lie was placed on his feet
Tell us all about it," the inspector said
encouragingly. What really happened"'
Don't ask me-" Cation, the night watch
man said, as he held his hands to his head.
MY brain feels as If it had been squeezed
dry. Somebody hit me on the head after
lady in gray came and fetched me. A
little lady in gray, with a sad face and
gray eyes,"
Bennington started violently, and Mark
looked up in surprise. The gray lady
Beatrfce's Slave of Silence-seemed to run
through this mystery like the thread of a
story. 1t was an entirely interesting mo-
ment, but unhappily the night Waterman
could say no more.
Don't worry me SOL he whined PUT
some ice on my head and let me Sleep I
dare say shall be able to puzzle it out in
time Somebody carried something down
the stairs; then the big door opened and the
night porter whistled for cab. That's ALL"
The speaker lurched forward and appear
ed to fall into a comatose state There
was nothing for 1t but to put him to bed
without DELAY, Field looked plzzled