Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-27


would You like TO know why l have
come here Mt this hour of the night to
tell you this!'
Duncombe nodded.
go on" he said "Afterward I've
som ethng to tell you"
I've come" Spencer said, because
I'm free now, if you like. to help you.
l was Interested in your story before.
| am ten times more interested in 1t
now If you still want me I'll do what
l can for YOU
Want you! Spencer do you mean
it" Duncombe exclaimed. want
you! Why. there's no one I'd rather
interest in the affair than you"
We'll l can promise you my inter-
est is pretty well excited already"
Spencer answered I'm with you
right along. Now tell me where you've
been this evening and what's hap
pened."
of Importance. All that I may see of
Paris now is from the outside. And
| there is no appeal"
But what is the reason of it. Spen
GER? What have you done? How have
you offended all these people?"
Spencer hesitated.
81 don't want you to blame yourself
in any way. Duncombe," he said. You
could not possibly have guessed the
sort of thing you were up against. Bat
the fact remains that my o(fense is in
having sent my friends up to the Cafe
Montmartre on your account and In
being suspected of rendering you fur
| Their assistance in your search for
| those two marvellous young English
| people"
You are not joking by any chance.
are yOuy'' Duncombe asked gravcly.
THE matter" Spencer replied. does
not appear to me to lend itself to any
| thing of the sort"
Duncombe buried his head In his
hands for several moments.
Great heavensi" he murmured. Let
me think. I can't tell you how sorry
l am. old chap. Can't the thing be ex-
planned? AS matter of fact, you were
discretion itself"
81 don't want it explained" Spencer
said even if it would do any good.
Duncombe recounted the evenings
events. His new ally listened and aft
| erward smoked for a moment or two
| in silence.
1T is simply wonderful he declar
| ed. 1.-The whole secret service system
| of Paris is working to cover up the
traces of this boy and girl. Their spies
of course are everywhere and their or
| ganZation perfect. The first one of
| their creatures who tries to break away
| is Mile Flossie. The poor little fool
| lived for only few hours afterward.
| Your bride was high, but she ought to
have known better"
You mean
"Why, of course, The theft of her
| poor little jewels was only blind. 1t
was to deceive the public, for as a
matter of fact her murderer would
have been perfectly safe if he had
| strolled into the nearest police station
| and made his report She was killed
because she was going to give you
certain information
Duncombe shuddered.
Great heaven he exclaimed Tell
me, Spencer. who or what can be at
the back of all this? Guy Poynton
was simply healthy minded. not over
| intelligent young Saxon. unambitous
and passionately fond of his home ana
his country life. He had no friends
over here, no interests. no ties of any
sort. He was abroad for the first time
Of his life. He regarded foreign coun-
tries and people simply with the toler-
ant curiosity of the untravepd British
| er. He appears in Paris for one night
and disappears. and forthwith all the
genius of French espionage seems TO
have combined to cover up his traces.
J 1t is the same with his sister. only rs
she came afterward it was evidently
on his account that she also is drawn
+. into the mystery. What can be the
meaning of it, Spencer?"
"My young friend" Spencer said. IL
will be frank with you. / have not the
least idea. / only know that somehow
or other you're up against big thing
In week. perhaps n day, / may know
: more. Meanwhile / want you to go on
. l had not discussed this matter"
I'VE may not work together, then?'
Duncombe asked.
Certainly not. You are marked
, man everywhere. Every door is closed
, to you. shall nominally stick to my
post You must be content to be thu
actual locker on, though you had bet
ter not abandon your inquiries alto
> gether. 1 will put you up at the Cercle
, Anglais. 1t will serve to pass th.
: time. and you may gain information n
' the most unlikely places. And now
| goodby."
[ The liftman thrust penciled not,
! into his hand as he assembled to his
] room.
: From / do not know whom. mon
sieur,' he announced. ut was lcf
, here by some one. Whom canno
say"
] Duncombe opened it in his dressin:
e room There was only one sentence:
Monsieur would be well advised tt
leave Paris tonight