Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28

Good" he appauded. I'm glad to hear
it. However, you have omitted some lmpor-
tant detail. Can you tolerate second chap
teri" She did not deign to answer; so he took
advantage of the proverb and continued, 81
awoke to the pungent odor OIL chlnr"+ so. >ils-
covered two perfectly lCg.cal ia. u aid oiG
my. level best to observ' he ,lle OF dramatic
action. | landed on tie chin of the first
| villain, with t1attering results; but the second
villain inconsideratelv smote me with the butt
of his ugly weapon, and | spoiled the climax
by going peacefully to sleep
1t occurred to Miss Girard that his tone had
assumed a decidedly sarcastic tinge she
took leaf from his book, "Indeedl" she
scoffed And you doubtless wear some
ocular proof of this towards blow
Fortunately, yes" he answered, showing
curly head for inspection. Kindly obge
and honor me by observing that lump.
III MI she shifted, in superior scorn. Any
body can get lump!
crinkmg at their corners. AS a rule, l find it
comparatively easy; yet, for the sake of argu-
ment, let us acknowledge Exhibit A and pass
along. When l regained consciousness, my
belt, as YOU nationally surm1sed, was gone into
the night One burglar. happily, was not.
marked him Exhibit B. and exhibited him
to various sympathetic guests who exhibited
themselves in blushless disarray. l sent for
the police, modestly dismissed the robes de
null, and interviewed the mask alone. 1t con-
mask was even then retreating toward Calais.
where it intended meeting still another mask.
THIS tone of levity, coupled with the cheap
est sort of style from the cheapest novels.
irritated Valda; and still there was something
in the very story that caused her to think,
and think hard. True, the occurrence was
just barely possible; yet it held such glazing
flaws.
Zone moment" she asked. do you mean
to toll, fhoff limo fn bet
his friend and give you the information con-
corning his plans?"
"On the contrary" declared Morson gravely,
"he was absurdly reticent."
Then how" she demanded. did you get it
out of him."
The young man treated her to grim and
Miss Girard, l choked it out of him
"Oh!" said Valda. But how did You
know he was telling you the TRUTH
Because" he informed her, with an air of
unmistakable conviction. the gentleman was
hanging just little bit too far over the ragged
edge of eternity to lie. But to proceed. He
confded in me the interesting fact that his
friends intended embarking upon a private
yacht, which Why, what's the matter All,
pardon me, thought you said something's
private yacht-name unknown-whlch would
leave Calais at an uncertain hour this after
noon. | trussed up my informant with some
heavy Irvine and trunk strap. which the hero
invariably carries upon his person, urged him
to reform. and struck the trail of his con-
federates"
To Miss Valda Girard this creatures man
ner was growing more exasperating every
minute, and. in her excited state of mind it
seemed at times to border upon an insult-an
insult, at least, to her womanly intelligence.
She did not stop to consider that she herself
was in part to blame in forcing this attitude by
her openly insulting disbelief; but who could
listen to this string of absolute absurdities
and not be justly furious? Still, she had her
dignity to sustain: so she gritted her teeth and
determined to hear the rest without comment
You see." continued the indiscreet one,
my objective point was France: but by
unforeseen accident l missed the boat, and"
WATT" commanded Valda. spurred from
her resolve of silence by SO palpable
falsehood. by your own admission. sir, this
robbery occurred sometime during the night,
and yet you have the face to claim to have
missed boat which you had. at the smallest
estimate, eight hours to catch. Ridiculous!"
'Ah." he answered tragically and without
moments hesitation, now you touch upon an
issue battling even to literary Mr.. Holmes;
but here my doubtful lump rises up again
His nearer shifted disdainfully; but he paid
no heed. "When l left my hotel by the back
window. in order. assure you, to prevent the
matter being bungled by the police, my scalp
was bleeding badly. l reached the house of a
r,uc ro,ted hin, oft IF bod and arrapue