Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-25

is-well, a few yards behind that cur
TAIN" he said, motioning with his head
toward it. "My task is accomplished,
and consider myself free man."
Duncombe was silent for a moment.
He walked restlessly TO the window
and back again.
"How did you find out that she was
here?" he asked
Spencer looked little Disguised.
"My dear fellow" he said, "any one
with the brains of mouse must have
discovered that. Why. Lord Runton,
without any of the limitations which
l have received, is little suspicious.
That is merely Il matter of A. Il, c.
There were difficulties. | admit. and l
am sorry to say that have never solv-
ed them. l cannot tell you at this mo-
ment how it comes about that a young
lady, brought up in the country here,
| and. from all l can learn. an ordinary,
unambitious. virtuous sort of young
person. should disappear from England
| In search of missing brother and re-;
| turn in few months the companion of.
one of the most dangerous and bril-
liant members of the French secret
| service. This sort of thing is clean be-
yond me, must admit. l will be frank
| with you, Duncombe. have met with
difficulties in this case which | have
never met with before-peculiar diff
culties."
Go onr' Duncombe exclaimed Gag
erly.
II have many sources of information
in Paris" Spencer continued slowly.
II have acquaintances among walters.
| cabmen, cafe proprietors, detectives
and many such people, l have always
| found them most useful | went
| among them making careful inquiries
about Phyllis Poynton and her brother.
| They were like men struck dumb.
! Their mouths We're closed like rat
| traps. The mention of either the boy
or the girl seemed to change them as
| though like magic from pleasant, talka-
| tive men and women. very eager to
make the best of their little bit of in
| formation, into surly idiots. incapable
of understanding or answering the
slightest question. 1t was the most
| eAtldOIuiHdty eApeElSHCt i nave ever
come across"
Duncombe was breathlessly inter-
ested.
What do you gather from it," he
asked eagerly.
Il can only surmise," Spencer said
slowly-"I can only surmise the exist
ence of some power, some force or
combination of forces. behind all this.
the nature of which l am entirely ig-
norant. l am bound to admit that
there is a certain amount of fasciua-
ton to me in the contemplation of any
such thing The murder of that poor
girl, for instance, who was proposing
to give you information, interests me
exceedingly"
Duncombe shuddered at the rccol-
lection. The whole scene was before
him once more, the whole series of
events which had made his stay in
Paris 50 eventful. He laid his hand
upon Spencer's arm. '-
Spencer" he said, you speak as
though your task were accomplished
1t isn't. Phyllis Poynton may indeed
be where you say, but if so it is Phyl
lis Poynton with the halter about her
neck. with the fear of terrible things
in her heart. 1t is not you and | who
are the jailers of her captivity. 1t is
some power which has yet to be dis.
covered. Our task is not finished yet
Tonight l will try to question her
about this network of intrigue into
which she seems TO have been drawn
If she will see you. you. too, shall ask
her about IL. Don't think of DESERVING
US YETI
my dear Duncombe," Spencer said
II may as well confess at once that
the sole interest / felt in Lord Run
, tons offer was that it is closely con
nected with the matter we have beer
discussing"
You shall have my entire conf
dence. Spencer" Duncombe declared
THE man who called himself Fielding
was badly wounded, and he passed
here almost unconscious. He entrust
ed the paper or letter, or whatever il
was. he stole from De Rothes mes
sengcr, to his so called daughter, anC
she in her turn passed 1t on to me. L
is at this moment in my possession"
Spencer looked very serious.
"My dear fellow" he said, 81 con
graduate you upon your pluck, but no
upon your discretion. You are inter
fering in what may turn out TO be {
very great matter-a matter in which
few lives are like the pawns which ar,
swept from the chessboard. Does an,
one know this?'
"She and 1 only. You heard hel
4 shrek"
eyes"
"a man threw up her window ant
climbed in. He demanded the packet
He searched the room. When he lef
ner, he declared that he should return
at u tonight and If she did not hand il
to him then he threatened her."
Spencer smiled and rubbed his hand.
softly together.
Really" he murmured. this is mos
interesting. am with you. Duncombt
with You altogether. There is only
one more question:
"Well?"
''You did not know Phyllis Povnton