The Washington times., 1906-02-04


I go with you?"
IF you can be ready In time" he said
10 was past > o'clock when we ar
rived at the old town OF Camdon. 4
carriage met US at the station Five
minutes more and we were clear of The
narrow streets and climbed the first
bare ridge OF the downs Ii was a desc
late prospect enough bare eNpanse Of
Wiud-swept land that rose and fen with
the sweeping regularity OF the Pacific
swell. Here and there a clump Of rag
ged frs showed black against the snow.
cder that gentle carpet the crisp turf
Of the crests ana the broad plow lands
OF the lower ground alike lay hidden. /
shiyered, drawing my coat Ilole closely
about me.
It was half an hour later thar We TOP
nrd a swelling rise and saw TIE gray
towers OF the ancient mansion beneath
us. IN the shelter OF the yaI5y by the
quiet river. that now lay frozen into
silence. the trees had grown into spIen-
did woodlands circl!nE the han on -he
further side. From the broad front t5e
white lawns crepJ down TO the road on
which We were driving Dark masses
OF strawberries and the tracery OF scat
tered trees broke their silent levels. The
park wall that fenced them from the
road stood out like an ink line ruled
upon paper
1T must have been there that he
disappeared" 1 rrlCd, With q specula-
tive finger.
so ] imagine" said Grey. And II
he has spent two nights on the Hamp-
shire downs. lac will be- looking for a
IRE today You have rather more than
rr.e
lips, If you viii excuse my mentioning
it,"
A man Was standing on the steps OF
The entrance porch when We drove UP.
As We uurolled ourselves he stepped
forward to help Us. He was d thin.
paie-faced fellow. with fair hair ana
!ndetermilate eyes.
My name is Harbord." he said
You are Inspector Addington Grey. 1
believe"
His hand shook as he stretched il
out Ia "a tremuIous greeting. Plainly
the secretary was afraid, visibly ana
auNiously afraid,
MI Ransom, the manager OF M.
Ford London office. Is here" he con-
tinued, lie is waiting 20 see you in
the library"
We followed him through a great han
into a room lined with books from floor
TO ceiling. \ stout. dark man, who was
pacing it like d beast in a cage. stopped
at tbc sight OF us. His face, as ne
turned. looked pinched and ggay in the
fun light
Inspector Grey. eh2' he said. .-Wen.
Inspector, II YOU want a reward. name
IT, If YOU want 10 pull the house down,
only say the word But md him for
Us, or, by heaven, were done"
rs # as bad as that?'
You can keep d secret, ] suppose.
Aes-it couldn't well be worse. II was
"a tricky timei be hid haIf MS schemes
iu his own hand; he never trusted
even me altogether. II he were dead,
/ could plan something, but now"
He thumped his hand on the table
and turned TO the window.
when YOU last saw Mr. Ford. was
ne in good health? Did he stand the
s,raine"
Ford haG ro nerves. He was never
better ia his life"
in these great transactions he would
have his enemies. II his plans sue
ceedcd there would be many hard hit.
perhaUs ruined. Have YOU any sus-
picion OF man who. TO save himself.
miEEt make away with AIr. Ford"
NO said the manager. after a mo-
menrs thought. no, 1 cannot give
YOU a single name. The players are
an big men. inspector. 7 don't saw
that their consciences would stop them
from trying such a trick. but it would
Mt be worth their while They hold
of when jai! is the certain punish
ment.'
Was this financial crisis in his own
affairs Eenerally known"
Certainly not"
Who would know Of it2"
There might he a dozen men on
both sides OF the Atlantic who would
suspect the truth. But I don't SUP
pose that more than four people were
actually in possession OF the facts
And who would they be?'
His two Partners in America; my
self. and Mr.. HaToord there"
Grey turned 10 the young man with
d smile and a polite bow.
can Won add any names TO the Iist?"
lie ASKED.
No" said Harbord, staring at the
detective with a puzzled look. as if try
ing 10 catch the drift Of his questions.
Thank YOU" said the inspector;
"ard now. VIII YOU show me the place
where this curious disappearance Oc-
curred?"
We crossed the drive where the snow
lay torn and trampled by the carriages,
and so TO the white. even surface OF
the lawn. We soon struck the trail
a confused path beaten by many foot
prints. Grey stopped for a moment,
and then turned to the secretary with
an angry glance.
Were you with them?" he asked.
Yes"
Then why, in the name of com
mon sense. didn't you keep them OF
his tracks? You have simply trampled
them out OF existence. between YOU"