The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-05-31

miSnC DeSln your inquiry by learning
al you can about this little trip" he
suggested. And he departed.
Several months went by, and John
Steele saw nothing further. although
he heard often, Of Miss Jocelyn Wray.
His business to the continent, what
ever its nature, had seemed sufficient
ly Important to authorize from him to
her I'm due process of time a short, per-
functory message regretting his in
ability to present himself at the ap-
pointed hour at Strathorn House.
number of supposedly prospective
clients had called to ask for him at
his office during his sojourn on the
other side of the channel. That was
to have been expected. But one or two
OF these by dint of flattery or possibly
silver lined persuasion had succeeded
In gaining access to his chambers.
II should like to have a look into
john Steeles library. I've heard it's
worth WHILE" one had observed to the
butler at the door. "Only a bit Of a
peep around!" His manner of putting
his desire, supplemented by a half
crown, left the butler no alternative
save to comply with the request until
the peep around began to develop
into more than cursory examination,
when his sense of propriety became
outraged and the visitors welcome
was cut short
HE was that curious, q regular
Paul Pry," explained the servant to
John Steele in narrating the incident
on the latter's return to London
sEeemed specially taken by the re-
ports of the old trials you have on the
shelves, sir What an interesting col
kction of causes celebres" he kept re-
marking. 4 suppose your mister
makes much of them He would have
sbeen handling Of them. too, and when
showed him the door-trusting 1 did
lght sir. even if be should happen to
s5efol = assesse4s. ss..eda.aaare. que
s.What questions?" quietly.
..Personal-like. But l put stop to
that"
For a few moments John Steele SAID
nothing. His face on his reappearance
In London had looked slightly paler.
more set and determined. not unlike
that of a man who. strongly assailed,
has made up his mind to do battle 10
the end With whom? How many?
"You will admit no one to my cham
bers during my absence i'll the future,
said Steele at length to the man stern
ly, mo one, you understand. under
any preteXt whatever, even'-a flicker
Of grim humor in the deep eyes-'if
he should say he was client OF
mine
The butler returned d subdued an
swer, and John Steele. after mo-
ment's thought, stepped to large safe
in the corner and, applying a some
what elaborate combination, swung
open the door. Taking from COM
partment bundle of papers carefully
rolled, he unfastened the tape. spread
them on q table and examined them,
one after the other. They made
voluminous heap. Here and there on
the white pages in bold regular script
appeared the name Of woman. Her
life lay before him, the various stages
Of an odd and erratic career-at caba-
ret at Montmartre, at casino IN the
Paris bohemian quarter. In LONDON
at a variety hall Of amusement. ana
afterward-wastrel nomad! Through
out the writing in many of the docu-
ments another name, too, a tltled
name, a mans, often came and went,
fitted elusively from leaf to leaf.
The reader looked at this name,
wrote a page or two and inserted
them. But his task seeped to AFFORD
him little satisfaction. His face wore
an expression not remote from dis
eouragement None knew better than
he the actual value, for his purpose,
of the material before him-the chaf,
froth. bubble of the case! Almost con-
temptuously he regarded 1t. Had he
sought the unattainable?
He drew himself up suddenly as II
to shake off momentary doubt or de-
preston. Replacing his documents IN
the safe and locking it, he walked into
room adjoining. In bare. square
place on the wall hung foils and broad
swords, and the only furnishings were
the conventional appointments OF
home gymnasium.
Here, having doffed his street
clothes and assumed the scant costume
of the athlete, for an hour or more he
exercised vigorously, every muscle re-
sponding to it's task with an untiring
ease that told of perfect system OF
training, which proved Of service to
him and his we'll being, for one night
not long thereafter he was called upon
/ to defend himself from a number OF
| footpads who set upon him.
The episode occurred in his own
| street near a corner, where the shad-
!