The Washington times., 1911-03-05

| shown the frankness 1 presupposed.
| by giving the details of the pistol and
the bag to Mr.. Barker and Mr. Des-
Just for an instant. Barker's face
! clouded. Pell certainly would have
taken any revelations to Wilkes! Had
he-but Rarker smiled. With the most
thorough knowledge of Deston's char
acter possessed by anyone living, he
was nevertheless growing as sus-
plcious of little things as the detec-
| lives themselves!
| PRECISELY" Gray was saving with a
NaWn. And for tonight, we will let
the whole string of puzzles drop right
They We're ready for departure, and
Barker 'phoned to the garage for a
car to take them to the village after
ascertaining that, for the present at
hospitality Of the great. gloomy
house. Burton occupied himself with
| the deep study of a Japanese print as
| they waited. Barrows folded and re-
J each fold with minute care. Gray,
/ who seemed to have popped back 10
his character of prosperous financial
| man, was chatting with Barker of
the client through whom they had
| met tOday-and the distant horn an
| nounced that Fabre was ready for
passengers.
Swift going through chill night air
| In an open machine is not conducive
| to conversation. They sped to the
| railway station first and picked up
The emergency grips which Gray and
Burton had dropped there upon their
arrival They drew up before the Inn
and climbed from under the robes;
gloom, back to the DeSton home and
its mysteries.
Nor did conversation seem to awak-
en- in the warm, light office as the
two newcomers arranged for accom-
modattonS. Barrows secured his own
key and strolled to the stairs. Burton
and Gray. having exchanged a few
perfunCtory remarks as to cleaning
up generally and getting something
to eat, separated. each with his bell
boy.
The two latter met again at the dining
room door little later. They glanced
at one another. They glanced at Bar
rows seated at a table in the far cor
ner of the big, deserted room-and each
smiled rather resignedly as they walk
ed side by side to the younger man.
Seated there, their order given, silence
still brooded over the trio until Burton,
with an abrupt laugh. came to the
well, are we working together or in
dependently?"
Gray looked at him enigmatically.
Speak for yourself, Burton?' he sug-
gested.
"I don't think that this is any one
man job. if we're going TO thrash out
the whole thing"
Nor do l." Barrows murmured.
Gray shrugged his shoulders.
we all seem to have been called in on
the same case. Barker should have
known better than that HOwever-Im
willing to come in on the cooperation
business, gentlemen"
THAT is to say" Barrows said
quietly. I'VE will ali work together to-
ward the same end, each of US con-
tributing whatever he may learn or de-
duce for the common good, and the
three Of us dividing equally If we get
around to the reward stage?"
THAT is my idea" said Gray.
THAT is satisfactory to me-" the spec
tacled investigator nodded. "At that we
are going to have our little hands very,
very full
I'm willing" Barrows said.
And now for tonight, we will let 1t
all drop-absolutely! Well sleep on 1t
and see what It looks like in the morn
ing. But now" Gray cleared his
throat. Have you noticed the steady
trend toward a bear market in" he
began deliberately.
''I see that this monoplane Of
Barrows commenced at the same sec
ond.
Which did not come quite clearly, for |
Burton was saying simultaneously:
Il wonder when this barefaced taking !
of old japanese"
Continuation of This Story VIII BE |
Found in TomOrrOw's Issue
of The TimeS.D