Gilpin observer., 1911-09-14

receive his report. This proved to be
a tolerably lengthy session, for the
clerk, whose name appeared to be
Frank, demonStrated his command Of
a surprising memory. Without notes
he enumerated the callers at the Of
fice day by day from the timo 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. abstractedly tapping
his desk with paper-cutter. At the
end he said Thank you" with dry,
preoccupied air; and resumed consid-
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 nrst he read
and reconsidered for a long time;
then crumpled It up and. drawing to
him a small tray Of hammered brass,
dropped the wadded paper upon 1t
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 document-for
Quain had written fully-as 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 first and went over 1t q second
time with much deliberation and fire.
Quent pauses. apparently memorizing
portions of its contents. Finally he
said. "Humm!" 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. 4 o. schedule" And when Frank
had returned with the articles, he
desired him to 90 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-coms to the bunga-
low at seven" he said. And
again for several days"
'Insects?" snquirsd the clerk.
"Insects," af1rmsd Mr.. Labertouche
gravely.
In the Mofussil!"
There or thsrsabouts, Frank
Yes. sir. presume you don't feel
the need Of 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
~ you leave"
Immediately that he found himself
alone. Labertouche made of Quain'a
letter . second burnt Offering to pre-
5udice upon the tray OF hammered
brass.
This matter attended to. he lost
himself in Bradshaw and the PENN
sular 4 Oriental Steamship company
list Of sailings; from which he de-
rived enlightenment. He was to come
direct" unused Labertouchs. 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. somsw what anx
iously consulting its shipping news
Under the heading Of Due this Day
he discovered tho words. "Poonah
London = Calcutta - Straits Settle
ments." And his face heightened with
concern.
That's short notice. he said
Lucky ! got back today-uncommor
lucky! Still may bs mis-
taken" But the surmiss failed te
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 onices
were located stood upon corner; Al
either end Of the long corridor on the
upper floor. upon which the varfoua
oficss opened. were stairways. one
descending to Dhurrumtollah street
the other to side street little better
than an alley. It may be considered
significant that. whereas Labertouche
himself was not seen either to eneel
or to leave the building At any time
that day. an Attit mendioant 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 "a