The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-23

ana now, sexton, Kindly step 10 that
telephone and call up the chief. He's
bly, back at his Office by this time.
We might as we'll let him know first as
last that he has lost. i had hoped to
discuss the matter amicably with the
captain here. but he has chosen to in
ject force into the argument"
/ did Clarke's bidding, and soon had
the chief on the wire with the word
that he would be there as soon as his
auto could bring him. While we were
awaiting his coming. Graham sat on
his trunk with his face buried in his
manacled hands All Clarke's efforts to
draw him into conversation by which
he might put into play his peculiar tel
epathic powers failed. Never in all my
association with Clarke have l seen
him put victim on the rack in so
gruelling third degree. All his finesse,
all his subtle fathoming of the human
mind, all his delicate irony of conf
dence were thrown to the winds as he
went hammer and tongs for the man
before him.
Through il all Graham was unmoved.
He met Clarkes broadside with a stare
of bulldog pertinacity and had his fea-
lures been carved in stone they could
not have been more sphinx-like. 1 be-
gan to see that Clarke had met his
match. This stolid. practical mind was
not one that his arts might bend and
fathom at will and, but for the one
oralnstorm of temper which was his
undoing, the orchid alone might never
have solved the murder of Hoppington.
Then the coming of the chief relieved
situation that was becoming tense
We'll, Mr.. Clarke" he said, when he
had heard the details, you have your
nerve with you, coming right into a
tal ND eIsx
distinguished foreign guest on the
evidence of a bloomin' flower: but L
never knew you to be very far wrong
yet, and If it works out as you say I'm
free to admit that you have done me-
Won't talk. you say. Well, We'll Just
take him over TO the station and give
him chance to think il over. Maybe
he'll change his mind. And by the
way. there's little matter of a reward,
something like five thousand, / believe.
We don't like to see those things get
away from us. but if you bring me the
woman and keep your connection with
the case quiet give you my word that
your interests will not suffer-"
Clarke's dark eyes flashed in scorn at
the chiefs pompous tone
L am perfectly aware that the Hon
BERTHE Hoppington cabled you to offer
thousand pounds. ! am not in this
case for money. but without me YOU
would have fioundered until the prey
was gone, and when 1 have completed
my work | shall know how to take care
OF my own interests. AS for the credit
with the public, you know how much
L care for that. 1t is yours and well
come. will bring you the woman be-
fore night"
Captain Graham stood haughtily at
the door waiting the chiefs will What
ever battle had been raging in his mind
evidently had ended in mastery, for he
quietly interposed:
"Mr. Clarke, l ask that you take no
further steps. 1t is useless. / alone am
guilty. At the proper time l will tell
ALL
Not a soul in the hotel except the dis
Greet clerk to whom Graham gave some
hurried directions about his luggage
knew that ii was an arrest as the pris-
oner, unmanacled for the occasion. and
the chief got into the latter's auto and
Clarke and / waved them goodbye and
returned to the hotel cafe to get our
long-neglected luncheon. 1t was already
late in the afternoon, and if we made
good Clarke's promise to the chief we
still had plenty of work before us.
How do you expect to locate her?
Has Graham pointed the way?" l asked
Clarke.
You saw / could make nothing of
him. He has a wonderful mind. 1t is
impossible to fathom it, II would not
be hard to trace her by the regular
police routine, but that is too slow. a
matter of days. To pick her I'D in
what is left of this afternoon is a diff
ferent matter. But let's eat now and
then work"
l had mechanically taken from my
No lot
out before me. You know how some
times at glance one item, one name.
stands out on the printed page as if it
was in black face. There IL was be-
fore my eyes, Captain Fitzhugh Ora
ham," Hastily I read the item.
Clarke. Clarke, I've got her." 1 al
most shouted. thrusting the paper at
him.
The item was under the head of So
cietv Notes and read: Among the
occupants of the boxes at the perform
ance of Aida by the Metropolitan Grand
Opera company at the Auditorium last
night were Captain Fitzhugh Graham
and Countess Evelyn Scrymgour of
London"
quick, a telephone" ordered Clarke.
and the obsequious walter set an in
strument on the table and connected
1t with the wall switch He soon had
MY oiu HtNSpdpcI OIIlCe ana asked
the society editor.
Here" he said, handing me the re-
ceiver. ASK her where the countess
is staying
THE Victorian. I believe" came the
answer.
1t was only a step away and we paid
our bill and hurried out 1t was plain
as day. AT the opera together at II.
TO Hoppington's by cab between that
hour and midnight. The countess. who
ever she might be. was too closely con-
nected with the action of the night
before not to know something at least
When we reached the Victorian we
were aware of unwonted excitement in
the neighborhood of that usually quiet
hosiery. A police ambulance and a
patrol wagon were at the door dis
charging their load of bluecoats Sew
eral active young men whom | imme-
diately spotted as reporters were hurry
ing into the lobby. One of them whom
I know, Nevins of the Globe. | gripped
by the shoulder and asked for an ex-
PLANTATION.
Countess of Scrymgour or something
committed suicide in her room. Come
on with me-
Under his guidance we followed the
police and the reporters to the fatal
room on the parlor floor