The Red Cloud chief., 1907-06-28

II was always on MS heels.
absence Of any attempt ut concealment
convinced him that 1t was the author
lied police who had thus suddenly
showed their interest In him. The sus-
picion was soon to be confirmed. The
manager called him on the fourth
morning into his private office.
Monsieur will pardon me, l trust"
he said, 'if l take the liberty Of asking
him q question"
Certainly" Duncombe answered.
GO ahead!'
Monsieur Is aware that he has been
police?'
"The fact" Duncombe said, has
been borne in upon me during the last
few hours. What of IT."
The manager coughed.
This Is II cosmopolitan hotel, Sir
George" he said. land we make no
pretcnsc at ultra eXclusivcnesS, but we
do not care TO see the police on the
premises"
"Ncither do l." Duncombc answered.
'Can you suggest how we may get rid
of them:"
Monsieur does not quite under
stand" the manager said smoothly.
Clearly he has done something TO
bring him under the suspicion of the
law. Under these circumstances it
would be more agreeable to the man
agcment of the hotel If monsieur
would depart"
Duncombe did not wish to depart.
The hotel at which Phyllis Poynton's
trunks were still awaiting her return
was the hotel at which he wished to
stay.
Look here. NJ. Huber" he said. 81
give you my word of honor that | have
broken ne law or engaged in any Grim
inal action whatever since ! came to
Paris. This game of having me watch
ed is simply n piece of blum. | have
done nothing except make inquiries in
different quarters respecting those two
young English people who are st,ll
missing. In doing this | seem TO have
run up against what is nothing more
nor less than n dlsgraccful consp,rlcv.
Every hand Is against me. Instead Of
helping me to discover them the police
seem only anxious to cover up the
tracks of those young people"
The manager looked down Mt his
desk.
1--WE hotel Keepers" he said. 'are
gerry much In the hands Of the police.
We cannot judge between them and
the people whom they treat as suspect.
ed persons. | know very well, Sir
George, that you are Il person Of re-
spectability and character. but If the
police choose to think otherwise l must
adapt my views to theirs. | am sorry,
hut we must really ask you to leave"
Sir George turned on his heel.
Very good" he said. II will go and
I take rooms elsewhere"
He left the hotel and walked toward
the Ritz. At the corner of the Place
Vendome III automobile was pulled III
with n jerk within n few feet OF him
"A tired looking boy leaned over weari
" toward him from the front seat.
"Sir George" he said, can you give
me five m%inutes?'
with pleasure" he answered. 81
was going into the Ritz. Come ant
have something"
'To MaXim's, II you don't mind" tn,
vicomte said. ut will take us only {
moment"
Sir George stepped in. The vicomte
= IN whose fingers the wheel seemed
scarcely to rest, so light and apparent
ly careless was his touch. touched
lever by his side, released the clutcl
and swung the great car round the cor
ner ut a speed which made Duncomb,
clutch the sides. At a pace whicl
seemed to him most ridiculous the,
dashed into the Rue de Rivoli an,
with another sharp turn pulled up be
fore Maxim's. The vicomte rose wit
a yawn as though he had just awok
from a refreshing dream. His servan
slipped off his fur coat, and he dc
scended to the pavement faultlessl
dressed and quite unrufIied. The con
m~issionaire preceded them, hat in hand
10 the door. a couple Of walters usl
cred them to the table which tn
yicomte intimated by n gesture.
II myself" he remarked, drawing o.
his gloves. take nothing but absintl
What may l have the pleasure of Of
dering for you?"
Duncombe ordered a whisky an
soda.
II think" he said, there Is one thin
which | ought to tell you at once.
am being Swallowed by the police. Tn