The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-31


that l was mistaken"
What did they discover" Duncom6e
asked eagerly.
"Nothing!'
Duneombes face fell. but ne looked
little puzzled.
Nothing? 1 don't understand. They
must have heard that they had been
there anyhow"
They discovered nothing You do
not understand the significance of this.
l do! IL means that / was mistaken
for one thing. Their disappearance has
more in il 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
You are talking riddles to me, Spen-
GER" Dunc0mbe declared. DO you
mean that the police in Paris may be-
come the hired tools of malefactOrs?'
Not altogether that" Spencer said,
waving aside a dish presented before
him by the head waiter himself with
a gesture of approval Not necessar-
lily malefRctors. But there are other
powers to be taken into consideration,
and most unaccOuntably your two
friends are in deeper water than your
story led me TO expect. Now, not an
other question, please, until you have
tried that sauce. Absolute silence, if
you please. for at least three or four
minutes"
Duncombe obeyed with an i'll grace.
He had little curiosity as TO its flavor.
and a very small appetite at all with
n
He waited for the stipulated time, how
ever, and then leaned once more across
the table.
Spencer"
First l must have your judgment
upon the sauce. Did you find enough
mussels?"
Damn the sauce!" Duncombe an
swered. Forgive me, Spencer, but
this affair is, after all. a serious one
70 me. You say that your two scouts,
as you call them, discovered nothing.
Well, they had only one evening at il.
VIII they try again in other directions?
Can I engage them to work for me
Asney is absolutely no object"
spencer shook his head.
"Duncombe," he said, you're going
TO think me a poor sort of friend, but
the truth is best. You must not count
upon me any more. l cannot lift even
n
only give YOU advice if you want it,"
And that?"
Go back to England tomorrow.
Chuck il altogether. You are up
against too big a combination. You
can do no one any good. You are a
great deal more likely to come to harm
yourself"
Duncombe was quite quiet for sew
eral moments. When he spoke again
fG no
You have surprised me a good deal,
] must confess, Spencer. We will aban-
dOn the subject"
' Spencer shrugged his shoulders.
7 know how you're feeling, old
chap" he said. Il can't help it. You
understand my position here. I write
q daily letter for the best paying and
most generous newspaper i'm the world,
and it is absolutely necessary that I
keep hand in glove with the people in
high places here My position abso-
lutely demands it, and my duty to my
CHIEF necessitates my putting all per-
sonal feeling on one side in case like
this when a conflict arises"
But where" Duncombe asked, does
the conflict arise?''
Here" Spencer answered. II re-
ceived a note this morning from a great
parsonage in this country to whom l
am under more obligation than any
other breathing man, requesting me TO
-efrain from making any further in
quiries or assisting any one else 70
make them in this matter. I can as
sure you that I was thunderstruck. but
the note is in my pocket at the present
moment"
Does it mention them by name?"
The exact words are" Spencer an
a1ered. " respecting the reported dis
appearance of the young Englishman
Mr.. Guy POynton, and his sister This
will Just show you how much you have
20 hope for from the police, for the per-
son whose signature is at the foot Of
that note could command the implicit
obedience Of the whole system"
DuncOmbe's cheeks were a little
flushed. He was British 10 the back
bone, and his Obstinacy was being
stirred.
''1'he more reason" he said quietly,
''sO-far as 1 can see. that I should con-
tinue my Independent efforts with such
help as I can secure. This girl and
boy are fellow country-peOple. and 7
haven't any intention of leaving them
in the clutches of any brutal gang of
Frenchmen into whose hands they may
have got. I shall go on doing what
can. Spencer"
The journalist shrugged his. Shout
Ioers.
Il can't help sympathizing with you
Duncombe,' he said. but keep reason
able. You know your Paris well enough
10 understand that you haven't a thou
sand 20 one chance. Besides, French
men are not brutal. If the boy got into
scrape, it was probably his own
fault"
And the girl? What Of her? Am I
20 leave her 10 the tender mercies Of
whatever particular crew of black
guards may have got her into their
power?"
you are needlessly meiodramatic."
Spencer answered Il will admit. Of
course. that her position may be an un-
fortunate one, but the parsonage whom
] have the honor 10 call my friend does
not often protect blackeuards BE rea-
sonable. DuncOmbe! These young peo-
pie are not relatives OF yours, are
they?"
mo"
"Nor very old friends? The young
lady for instance? ."
Duncombe looked up, and his face
was set i'm grim and logged lines He
felt like Il man who was mailing his
colors TO the mast
''The young lady" he said. sis. I
L..