Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26

added by the maybe chatter of Polly and the irr
tating serenity of Aunt Mary.
HOWEVER. there much to be done Before
- departure and he was short on time and long On
fermenting rage. Thus, in unenviable mental
state, he returned to his hotel in London, burst
into his apartments, and roared for Torkins The
valet did not appear, and the master answered
only by the echoes of his own roarngs and the voice
of petu1ant guest in the next room. who ham,
mered Oh the wall and told him to shut up.
This was scarcely what the old man needed to
quiet him. For moment he contemplated charg-
ing through the wall and hurting the petulant
out of the window, but fortunately remembered
that he was pressed for tins He must pack his
valises. have them sent on board the Lusitania,
then, hunt up several London capitalists in the
hope-the very slim hope-of raising funds for his
deal in Canadian timber lands. For the present,
though, he strove to put finances out OF his mind.
and began to pack.
His method was simple but effective He ragged
from place to place., examining his belongings into
two large leather cases as though they were wine
presses. When piece of furniture got in his way.
he kicked it into position that barricaded his
progress the next trip, fell over it. and went on
packing. Suddenly he stopped short and took a
swift, savage inventory of his personal effects The
result large balance on the debit side, not to
mention the further loss of self control.
For instant it seemed that Girard had swollen
just a fraction beyond the bursting point; but he
contracted quickly and began to work his business
head. which cold, clear, and searching. Many
articles of value were missing. including clothing;
highly priced morocco cigar case presented to
him by his daughter on his last birthday.
THAT Torkins was directly responsible, there was
not the smallest doubt The Wallets absence
proved it. AS to motive, there was Girard's own
low quarter shoe and certain afflicted nose. The
whole thing simple fleeing a lamb in Wall
Street.
Still there must have been additional
for this criminal conduct on the part Of "a
servant; so the old man looked for it carefully.
and came clue. In the window sill were sew
eraf bits of torn paper. evidently thrown out IN
hurry, and in corner lay crumpled little yellow
ball. This, being unfolded, proved to be a
telegram and read as follows: t-1
MARCUS GIRARD,
Hotel Victoria. London. Eng
once-tobacco " IT,
Now, to the average mind, this telegram would
seem to be an urgent message to the proprietor OF
suicide club; but the mind of Marcus Girard was
above the average. He rummaged through his
pockets, failing to come upon the object OF his
search; then he rummaged through various pockets
in the clothing that had been left at the Victoria,
and finally produced little red book marked
Cipher Code He referred again to the mysten-
Gus telegram, hunting up each word in the code
book and setting it down with pencil. Presently
he produced the following:
explain at once-wil wait. VALDA GIRARD.
Valdas father sat for five minutes with his head
in his hands; then he down stairs and beloved
for cab. The cab took him to the nearest tele-
graph station; and here fortune favored him-for
a time. He was personally known to the manager,
who produced copies of several messages which had
been despatched earlier in the day in the name of
Marcus Girard The old man read with astonish-
ment telegram to James Ormond, giving that
man full charge of his private yacht. He read
with greater establishment another message, intro
ducing said Ormond to his daughter; and still an
other to Captain Larris. ordering him to reach
Sandy Hook by the twentieth Finally the dazed
fnancier came upon the to Valda's gum
shoe grasshopper inquiry, which, being translated,