The Red Cloud chief., 1907-06-07
CHAPTER VII.

the arts n left to DuncOmDe the mo-
mcntous question of red wine or white.
Finally he leaned back In his chair and
looked thoughtfully across at his com-
panion.
"Sir George" be said, you have
placed me in a very painful position"
Duncombe glanced up from his hors
d'oeuyre.
"What do you mean?"
81 will explain Spencer continued.
"You came to me last night with a
story in which | hope that l showed a
reasonable amount of interest, but In
which, as a matter of fact, | was not
interested Mt all. Girls and boys who
come to Paris for the first time in
their lives unattended and find their
way to the cafe Montmartre and such
places generally end up in the same
place. 1t would have sounded brutal
If | had added to your distress last
night by talking like this, 80 | deter
mined to put you In the way of finding
! out for yourself. | sent two of my
most successful news scouts to that
place last night, and | had not the
slightest doubt as TO the nature of the
information which they would bring
back. 1t turns out that / was mis-
taken"
"What did they discover" Dun
combe asked eagerly.
Nothing
Duncombe's face fell, but he looked
a little puzzled.
Nothing; don't understand. They
must have heard that they had been
there, anyhow"
"They discovered nothing. You do
not understand the significance of this.
| do. 1t means that I was mistaken,
for II thing. Their disappearance has
more in 1t than the usual significance.
Evil may have come to them, but not
the ordinary sort of evil. Listen. You
say that the police have disappointed
you in having discovered nothing. That
Is no longer extraordinary to me. The
police or those who stand behind them
are interested In this case and in the
withholding of information concerning
it,"
you are talking riddles to me, Spen-
cer,' Duncombe declared. "Do you
mean that the police in Paris may be-
come the hired tools of malefactors?'
mot altogether that" Spencer said,
waving aside Il dish presented before
him by the head waiter himself with a
little gesture of approval. Not neces-
sarily malefactors. But there are other
powers to be taken into consideration,
and most u~naccountably your two
young friends are in deeper water than
your story led me to expect. Now, not
another question, please, until you
have tried that sauce. Absolute ST.
lencc, if you please, for at least three
or four minutes"
DuG"0mbc obcyed with an i'll grace.
He had little curiosity as to its flavor
and Il very small appetite ut all with
the conversation in its present position.
He waited for the stipulated time,
however, and then leaned once moro
across the table.
spencer"
"I'irst | must have your judgment
upon tie sauce. Did you find enough
mUsSclsI'
Cd the sauce" Duncombe an
swcrea. "Forgive me, Spencer, but
this affair is, after all, Il serious one &c
me. You say that your two scouts
rs YOU call them, discovered nothing
Well, they only had one evening mt 1t
VIII they try again in other directions
Can | engage them to work for me-
Money Is absolutely no object"
Spencer shook his head.
"Duncombe," he said. you're coins
TO think me II poor sort of friend, bu'
the truth is best. You must not coun
upon me any more. l cannot lift ever
my little Gngey to help you. l can onl!
give YOU advice If you want it,"
and that?"
eco back to England tomorrow
Chuck it altogether. You are VI
against too big Il combination. YoI
can do no one any good. You are
, great deal more likely to come to harm
yourself"
Duncombc was quite quiet for sew
: eral moments. When he spoke again
his manner had n new stiffness.
you have surprised me n good dea'
! l must confess, Spencer" he said. "W
will abandon the subject"
7 Spencer shrugged his shoulders.
II know how you're feeling, oil,
chap" he said. 81 can't help it. Yo
understand my position here. l writ
a daily letter for the best paying an
= most generous newspaper in the world
= and it is absolutely necessary that
y keep hand in glove with the people |