The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-09-21

temporarily to call his clerk IN and
receive, his report. This proved to be
a tolerably lengthy session, for the
clerk, whose name appeared to be
Frank. demonstrated his command of
q surprising memory. Without notes
he enumerated the callers at the Of.
tice day by day from the time when
Labertouche had left for the Mofussil
with his specimen box and the rest
OF his bug-hunting paraphernalia; nam
ing those known to his employer,
minutely describing all others. even
repeating their words with almost
photographic fidelity.
Labertouche listened intently, with
out interrupting. abstracte6ly tapping
his desk with a paper-cutter. At the
end he said Thank you" with dry,
preoccupied air; and resumed conald-
Grafton Of his letters. These seemed
to interest him little: one after the
other he gave to his clerk, saying:
File that" or Answer that so-and-
thusly." Two he set aside for his
personal disposition, and these he
took up again after the clerk had
been dismissed. The first he read
and reconsidered for long time;
then crumpled 1t up and, drawing to
him a small tray Of hammered brass,
dropped the wadded paper upon 1t
and touched match to 1t, 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 document for
Quain had written fullyas probably
Of scant Importance, to be dealt with
at his absolute leisure But as he
read his expression grew more and
more serious and perturbed. Finish
ing the last page he turned back to
the frst and went over 1t a second
time with much elaboration and fire.
Quent pauses, apparently memorizing
portions Of It's contents. Finally he
said, "Hum-ml" inscrutably and rang
for Frank.
HE left New York by the Lusitania,
chr said Mr.. Labertouche aloud. The
clerk entering interrupted his solilo-
guy. Bring me, please" he said,
Bradshaw, the News--and the latest
P. & o. schedule" And when Frank
had returned with the articles, he
desired him to go 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 Office
again for several days"
'InsectsY enquired the clerk.
insects" affirmed Mr.. Labertouche
gravely.
I'm the Mofussil?'
There or thereabouts, Frank"
yes, sir. presume you don't feel
the need Of capable assistant YETI"
Not yet, Frank" said Labertouche
kindly. BE patient Your time will
come: you're doing famously now"
Thank you"
Good afternoon. Lock the door
as you leave"
Immediately that he found himself
alone, Labertouche made Of Quain's
letter a second burnt Offering to pre-
JUDGE upon the tray OF hammered
brass.
This matter attended to, he lost
himself in Bradshaw and the PENN
sular & Oriental Steamship 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's 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
luckyl Still / 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
ly and with great care.
The building in which his ofices
were located stood upon corner: at
either end Of the long corridor on the
upper floor, upon which the various
Offices opened, were stairways, one
to Dhurrumtollah street.
the other to side street little better
than an alley. 1t may be considered
that, whereas Labertouche
himself was not seen either to enter
or to leave the building at any time
that day an Attit mendicant did enter
from Dhurrumtollah street shortly
after Frank had gone to lunch--and
disappeared forthwith; while, in the
dusk Of evening, slim Eurasian boy
with clerkly air left by the stairs to
the alley.