The Raymer enterprise., 1911-08-24
luR OF TliE BRASS BOWL" EfC.
SDlRd]0OHS by NENY N601I[3NS

wv " VV8 o00 1U8ol0x y V02'
dAyI accumulation oe corrsspondsnss,
IN occupation which hs suspended
temporarily to call his clerk In and
receive his report This proved to b
tolseably lengthy session. for the
clerk, whose name appeared DO b
Frank, demonstrated his command Of
. surprising memory. Without notss
hs summarized the callssS st TIE q.
nee day BY day from the time vhsa
Labertouchs had left for tie Nofussil
With his specimen box and the rest
Of his bus-hunting paraphssnaliA; nam
Ing those known to his employer.
minutely describing an others. even
repeating thsir words with almost
Photographic fidelity.
7 Labertouchs listened intsntly. with.
out intsrrupdng. abstractsdly tapping
bis desk With . papsrcuttsr. At tho
snd b ssid Thank you" With . DRY,
prsoeeupisd air: and resumed consid-
Grafton oe bis letters. These seemed
to interest him little: one altar the
other he gave to his clerk. saying:
File that" or Answer that soand-
thusly." Two he set aside for his
personal disposition. and these he
took up again after the clerk. had
been dismissed. The nrst he read
and reconsidered for q long time;
then crumpled It up and. drawing to
him small tray Of hammered brass.
dropped the wadded paper upon II
and touched . match to It, thoughtful
ly poking the blazing sheets with his
paper.cutter until they were altogeth-
er reduced to ashes.
Quain's was the second letter. Hav-
Ing merely glanced at the heading and
signature. Labertouche had reserved
the rather formidable dooument-for
Quain had written fully-as probably
Of scant importance, to be dealt with
at his absolute leisure. But a. he
read his expression grew more and
more serious and perturbed. Finish
ing the last page he turned back to
the 1rst and went over 1t second
time with much deliberation and fre-
quent pauses. apparently memorizing
portions Of it, contents. Finally he
said, "Hum-m!" inscrutably and rang
for Frank.
He left New York by the Lusitania,
eh!" said Mr.. Labertouche aloud. The
clerk entering interrupted his solilo
guy. Bring mo, please" he said,
'Bradshaw. the Nsws-and the latest
P. L o. schedule" And when Frank
had returned with the articles, he
desired him to 60 at once and enquire
at Government house the whereabouts
Of Col. Dominick James Farrell, and
further to search the hotels Of Cal.
cutta for . Miss Farrell, or for infor.
nation concerning her. Have this
for me tonight-come to the bunga.
low at seven." he said. And
shall probably not be at the once
again for several days"
"Insects!" enquired the clerk.
Insects" affirmed Mr.. Labertouche
gravely.
In the Mofussil?"
There or thereabouts, Frank"
"Yes, sir. I presume you don't feel
the need Of 4 capable assistant yet?''
Not yet, Frank" said Labertouche
kindly. BE patient. Your time will
come; you're doing famously now"
Thank you"
Good afternoon. Lock the door
a. you leave"
Immediately that he found himself
alone, Labertouche made Of Quain's
letter . second burnt Offering to pre-.
judics upon the tray Of hammered
brass.
This matter attended to, hs lost
himself In Bradshaw and the Penin.
sular Z Oriental stsamship company's
list Of sailings; from which he de-
rived enlightenment. He was to come
direct" mused Labertouche. I'm that
case he'll have waited over In Lon.
don for the Poonah." He turned to
the COPY Of the Indian Daily News
which lay At his elbow. somewhat anx.
iously consulting it, shipping news.
Under the heading Of due this Day"
he discovered the words: "Poonah.
London - Calcutta = Straits Settle
ments." And his face heightened with
concern.
That's short notice." he said
Lucky got back today-uncommon
lucky! Still I may be mis-.
taken" But the surmise failed to
comfort him.
He drew . sheet Of paper on which
there was no letter head to him and
began to write. composing deliberate.
" and with great care.
The building In which his of',ces
were located stood upon q corner: at
either end Of the long corridor on the
upper floor. upon which the various
omcss opened. were stairways. one
descending to Dhurrumtollah street
the other to . side street little better
than an alley. It may bs considered
significant that, whereas Labertouche
himself Was not seen either To enter
or N IAavA tha h,,tiA,r. =.