The Red Cloud chief., 1907-08-09
Continued from Page Three.)

person. should disappear from England
In search of n missing brother and re-
turn in n few months the companion of
one of the most dangerous and bril-
liant members of the French secret
service. This sort of thing Is clean be-
yund me, | must admit. | will be frank
with you, Duncombe. | have met with
difficulties In this case which | have
never met with before-peculiar diff
culties."
GO onI' Duncombe exclaimed Gag
erly.
IL have many sources Of information
In Paris" Spencer continued slowly.
81 have a|cquaintances among walters,
cabmen. cafe proprictOrs, detectives
and many such people. l have always
found them most useful. | went
among them making careful inquiries
about Phyllis Poynton and her brother.
They were like men struck dumb.
Their mouths were closed like rat
traps. The mention of either the boy
or the girl seemed to change them as
though like magic from pleasant, talka-
tive men and women very eager to
make the best of their little bit of in
formation. into surly idiots, incapable
of understanding or answering the
slightest question. 1t was the most
extraordinary experience | have ever
come across"
Duncombe was breathlessly inter
ested.
What do you gather from it," he
asked eagerly.
Il can only surmise," Spencer said
slowly-'I can only surmise the exist
ence of some power, some force or
combination of forces. behind all this.
the nature of which | am entirely ig-
norant. | am bound to admit that
there Is a certain amount of fascina
ton TO me in the contemplation Of any
such thing. The murder of that poor
girl, for Instance. who was proposin"
10 give you Information, interests me
exceedingly"
Duncombe shuddcrod ut the rccOl.
lection. The whole scene was before
him once more, the whole series of
ven which had made his stay in
Paris so eycntful. lie laid his hand
upon Spencer's arm.
Spencer" he said. you speak as
though your task were accomplished.
1t isn't. Phyllis Poynton may indeed
be where you say, but If so il Is phyl-
lis pOynton with the halter about her
neck, with the fear of terrible things
In her heart. 1t is not you and | who
are the jailcrs of her captivity. 1t Is
some power which has yet to be dis
covered. Our task is not finished yet.
Tonight | will try TO question her
about this network of intrigue into
which she seems to have been drawn.
If she will see you, you, too, shall ask
her about ii, Don't think of deserving
us yet"
"My dear Duncombe,' Spencer said,
IL may as well confess AT once that
the sole interest l felt In Lord Run
tons offer was that 1t Is closely con-
nccted with the matter we have been
discussing"
You shall have my entire conf
dence, Spencer" Duncombe declared.
THE man who called himself Fielding
was badly wounded, and he passed
here almost unconscious. He entrust-
ed the paper or letter, or whatever it
was, he stole from De Rothe's mes
senger, 10 his so called daughter. and
she In her turn passed it Oh to me. 1t
is AT this moment in my possession"
Spencer looked very serious.
my dear fellow" he said, 81 con.
graduate You upon your pluck, but not
upon your discretion. You are inter
ferlng in what may turn out to be a
very great matter-a matter in which Il
few lives are like the pawns which are
swept from the chessboard. Does any
one know this?
"She and l only. You heard her
shriek?"
Yes"
"A man threw up her window and
climbed in. He demanded the packet.
He searched the room. When he left
her, he declared that he should return
at II tonight and if she did not hand 1t
20 him then he threatened her.
Spencer smiled and rubbed his hands
softly together.
Really" he murmured, this Is most
interesting. ! am with you, Duncombe
with You altogether. There is only
n more question"
"Well?"
you did not know Phyllis Poynton.
You took up this search for her out of
your friendship for Pelham. You are
n rich man, young, strong, with every