The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-14
<~A~~N~~1 }A WOMAN'S 1 ] ENCHANTMENT> { { By William Le Queux {
 Copyright, 1909, by {
 William Le Queux
(Contipued.)

The day we spent idling about Greek street, Old Compton street.Dee street and the neighborhood. The day was dreary and wet one but CUnliffe. more acquainted with the district than l was, pointed out to me many interest ing things. The foreigners who have settled there have imported with them their own atmosphere in more senses than that of garlic. We lunched 1n tiny restaurant kept / by an Italian, and paid tenpence for the meal. We drank vermouth and bitters in an Italian grocer's in Old Crompton street as good as any I had ever had at Camparis in Iivorno, and our tea we took in a queer little shop kept by a Russian revolutionary, taken from a samovar, served in a glass and accom- panied by an excellent brown Petrof cigarette.
 A dozen times Cunliffe passed Mime. Parrin's laundry. and each time the bright-eyed Me1anie was hard at work. laughing and chattering with her com panions The reason why we kept watch all day was in order to ascer- tain where she lived and who were her friends. We knew not at what hour she would leave her work. therefor. were rnpslled to keep vigilant watch. It was apparent that madame hae quite a large clientele. foreign, of course. At milkshop close by the girl in charge imparted to me the ln- formation that at times madame had bouts of in+oxication, and on sucn oc- casicns created scenes with her work CTS, turning them all out into the street at a moments notice without their hats and coats. Her windows had been sma shed on several occasions by the irate girls.
 There was a distinct element of ad- venture in our undertaking. Cunl1re had agreed to cancel all his other en- agreements and assist me. and as we 1ounged about the streets many were the theories he advanced regarding the mysterious tragedy.
 How I longed to be able to take 2 cab to New Scotland Yard with my journalistic friend, and in that bare businesslike room I knew so well relate to Morton all that Elfrida Maynard had told to me. conjured up DIG ture of a quiet. unassuming man call l ing at the snug house in Boston stree and finding Garshore taking his eas' | among those refined surroundings. and as a bolt from the blue, arresting Ceci Wi,1oughby. alias Arthur Rufford! l That, alas, was not to be. lovet that sweet-faced girl who had reveal
 ed to me such an astounding truth And, loving her. how could I break tn pledge of secrecy [ had in momen Of ecstasy given her?
 | Evening fell at last. after an inter rninable day of watching. The stree lamps were lit and Soho began to as s,1n,e a livelier aspect. The little res taurants were well lit, the interiors some only half hidden by lace cur tains, while others were conceale l from the vulgar gaze by red blinds mostly dingy. The smell of fried ol and garlic-that same odor reminis cent Of the byways of any continents
 city of the south-rose upon the air. Soho was preparing to dine, and 1t complex odors merged into one ap petizing whole caused us to remembe that we. too. were hungry.
 l It was time, we judged, that Melani should now leave her work. Therefor we parted. Cunliffe lounging at tn corner of Queen street and I at tn corner of Old Crompton street. so a
 to keep observation upon her eithe way she turned.
 Near 8 o'clock, while idled up an down. cold. hungry and very tired,
 short, rather stout man. with dar eyes, a small dark mustache, big hat
 by face and double chin, strolled slow lily in my direction. He, too. was ev
 dently awaiting some one.
 T Podgy. with an oleaginous air. couple of large vulgar rings upon h finger, and an obtrusive cameo pin his black satin cravat, I put him dow as an Italian from the south. Neapol tan-or perhaps Sicilian.
 Twice we passed each other. On tf
 second occasion ne darted at me quick look of suspicion. But this wa . not extraordinary. I recollected. beal ing in mind the character of the den
 zens of that quarter.
 I had not, however. long to wait bt I fore something interesting occurre \ ~AO~~- dressed in black with a small blac l toque, emerge from Mime. Perrin's. an
 walk in my direction.
 In an instant. to avoid recognlt1o [ I turned into Old Compton stree l nearly knocking over a poor old won ]. lan in my haste.
 4 Cunliffe had also seen her. and WI
 now hurrying up behind her in ord
 not to lose sight of her. As she can
 to the corner where I stood and eros
 ed the road toward Shaftesbury av
 nue, the fat foreigner approached h. from behind, spoke. and lifted his ha
 She pulled up. with start. 1T
 meeting was evidently unexpected. 5
 next moment they shook hands. ar . after a few words he walked on at h . side in earnest conversation.
 By this time my friend had reacht the corner and I was at his side. That man is an Italian.' I excia1r ed 'I've had a good look at him. F seemed suspicious of me"
 Let's follow. We may learn som thing" he said and together we loun . ed after the pair.