The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-14
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CHAPTER NII.--Contlnued.

Every one turned and stared. There
was no face OF which l had not a
good View. In low voice l asked the
servant which were the new arrivals
of whom he had spoken. He pointed
them out. and added that. though they
had come only that day from England,
they We're old patrons, well known il.
the house.
AS l fingered, deeply disappointed
the elderly proprietor OF the pension.
who superintendent the comfort Of his
guests, trotted fussily up to inquire
the strangers business In his dining
room. ] explained that had hoped
to find friends, and was so polite that
/ contrived to get permission for my
cahman 70 have peep through the
crack of the door When he had iden-
titled his three passengers, all hope
was over. l had followed the wrong
men.
There WAS nothing to do but go
back to the, Care du Nord. and aues-
ton more porters and cabmen. Nobody
could giyeAme any Information worth
having, it Sseemed; vet the little man
must have left the station in a vehicle
of some sort. az he had a great deal
of small luggage. Since ] could learn
nothing Of him or his movements, how
ever, and dared not, because of Maxine
and the British Foreign Secretary. apr
ply to the police for help. determined
to lose no more time before consulting
a private detective. a man whose ac-
lions I could control, and to whom |
need tell only ns much of the truth ns
I chose, without fear of having the rest
dragged out OF me.
At my own hotel. inquired of the man
ager where could find good private
detective, got an address,. and motored
10 a. hra no INV
Fortunately Gas l thought then) Mon
sieur Anatole Girar was at home and
able to receive me. / was shown inta
the plain but very neat little sitting
room OF flat on the fifth floor of
big new apartment house, and was
impressed at first glance by the clever
face OF the dark. thin Frenchnan, who
politely babe rue welcome. 1t was
cunning, as we'll MS clever, no doubt;
but then, / told myself, 1t was the
business of a person In Monsieur
| Girards profession to be cunning.
l introduced myself as Mr.. Sand
ford, the name had been told to give
at the Elysee Palace Hotel This
seemed best. as 1t was in the lfotel
| that | had been recommended to Mon
seur Glrard, and complications might
| arise if George Sanford suddenly
turned into Ivor Dundas., Besides, as
there were q good many things which
| I did not want brought to light. Sand
ford seemed the man to fitsthe situa-
| ton. Later, he could easily disappear
and leav4 no trace.
said that 7 had besn robbed of 4
| thing which was of immense value to
| me, but as 1t was the gift of a lady
whoseYFname8 must not on any account
| appear in the case, I did not wish tc
| consult the police. All asked of Mon
| sleur Girard's. we'll Known ability, was
| the discovery of the supposed thief
whom / thereupon described. | added
\ the fact that we had travelled together
mentioned tho incident at the gang.
way, and explained that ra1 not sus-
pected my loss until arrived at the
! Elysee Palace sHotelS
4 Giirard listened quietly, evidently
realizing that l talked to him from
behind a screen OF reserve, yet no,
seeking to force me to put aside tina
screen. He asked several Intelligent
cushions, very much to the point, ana
/ I answered them--as seemed best
When he touched on points which
considered too delicate ia be handlet
by stranger, even a detective in IN!
4 employ, T. frankly replied that they ha'
nothing to do with the case in hand
Struggling his shoulders almost ! per
i ceptibIy, yet eXpressively, he took m,
refusals without comment; and merel
bowed when I said that, IL the scoun
Dire! could be unearthed within twenty
4 four hours, I would pay n lhundre
4 hounds; If within twelve, n hundre,
4. anu fifty; If within six, two hundred
4 J, added that there was not q second t
4 WASTE, ms the fellow might slip out o
Il Paris at any minute; hut WhateVe
happened, Monsieur q irard was to zee
1.-the matter quiet.