The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-09
CHAPTER VIII (COntinued.)

Copyright 1906, by the Frank A. Munsey Coz
T., LAIN prosaic. practical business.
perforce, absorbed the whole
of the following day. Save
n for single telephone CONVEX
sation. Penrose and Fayles had no
communication until evening When
the latter arrived the blue room was
quite empty except for Penrose. sitting
moodily in one corner. The row Of
empty chairs seemed almost uncanny.
One by one, since the night OF Malt
by's narrative. their little gathering
had dwindled. Fayles sighed suddenly
Weldon, Carr, Dunfrey. Sellers, all
gone! He was aroused by Penrose's
sharp:
"wen?"
Hello. Penrose. No sign Of any Of
them?"
NO. They've disappeared abso-
lutely, Sellers as completely as the
rest. All day l have had some notion
that he, at hast, might have managed
10 send some communication, bu5 IL
seems not. 1 stopped at his place on
the way here; it's a swell boarding
house. you know. and they seemed
rather worried over him. IL is the
first time in ten years that he has been
away without leaving any word. He
had an engagement for this evening
with somebody or other there. too
"Umm,'' Fayles took the chair
beside him. Have you hit upon
scheme? It's very evident now that
We're facing a condition and not
theory. and a mighty bad condition at
thatr'
1t couldn't be worse" the other
said crisply. My scheme remains the
same-we1l have to call in the authori-
sies. and do it mighty soon toor'
Fayles smiled absently.
why not have a try first with one
Of the private detective agencies o.
something OF that sort?'
They'd accomplish absolutely moth
-us."
If I'm man was the right sort he
might accomplish a great deal more
Ian a storming party OF only reason
,JlY Intelligent officers"
Granted; but if he were 10 survive
that awful place, the right stuff would
be- iron-nerves. skin. and all
Then I've got the mani" Fayles
answered triumphantly. IF his skin
isn't bullet proof. AT least nobody mas
succeeded in puncturng it. And for
nerves you may rely upon their iron
qualities"
who is hep
Captain Reeves. the retired detective
chief"
Yes said Penrose slowly. i've
heard good deal about him, although
i don't know him. He might do
Not only that. he will do. He's a
queer sort I'm one way. Secretly.
think and perhaps with a good deal of
justice. he considers himself in a class
all alone. Even after lifelong expert
ence. he has little faith IN she police
detective methods; for that matter. !
believe he retired in sheer disgust. and
today viii fly out at any one vino so
much as hints that he's detective in
the ordinary sense OF the word"
But"
But ne is the best and the quickest
criminal catcher alive in this city. and
il there's one man who can enter that
house and emerge with the secret in his
possession that man is Reeves"
Wen see him"
Yes. 1 think we shall" smiled
Fayles. 'I sent for him. and he's due
heye nowr'
The entry Of one OF the club servants
stopped Penrose's reply Fayles
glanced at the card and nodded briskly.
and minute or two later the short,
muscular form OF a man OF sixty APP
peared 10 the doorway. He came smu-
Ing TO Fayles, and the latter Introduced
him TO Penrose.
Did I understand from your note
u r.