The Washington times., 1911-03-01

That is," Barker said, breathlesslv
They've made some mistaker'
That's the manager of the place that
I've been talking to! He has a good,
strong, clear voice and he didn't hesi-
tate at all, He was handing out facts,
Wilkes, and-goOd Lord Almighty"
Barker rose from the char and crossed
TO DestOn's side. What does 1t mean"
The elder brothers head shook slowly
But this is-this is all crazy" Barker
cried. That's the same old house
that Amato's been patronizing for d
generation. isn't it?'
'Of course"
And he's stayed there a year-two or
three years at a stretch, They ought
to know what they're talking about,
but
Well, they don't-that's aIl!' Deston
said with considerable force. Get the
particulars, Mr.. Barker!"
The connection had been broken, il
appeared. He succeeded in having it re-
established after a little wait, and with
considerable effort he kept the excite
ment from his voice as he resumed the
interrupted conversation.
II was a much longer, Calmer talk
this time. The lawyer asked question
after question, and the questions seemed
TO be answered patiently and thoroughly
enough And they seemed, too. TO lead
TO no satisfactory end.
Ten minutes, and Barker at last, and
very reluctantly, ended the interview.
He rose and found place beside the
table.
That is the fact, Wilkes l know no
more now than ! did before"
when did he go?
"Wednesday morning. The manager
OF the Altmere says that he arrived
late Tuesday evening-WhiCh we pre-
sumed of course. There were four or
five letters waiting for him, and before
he read them-the manager said-he
seemed very much worn out and tired
and announced that he would go TO
bed"
Yes"
After he had read them he seemed
10 hesitate about something, and finally
he left the hotel He didn't return all
night,
But he got back Wednesday morn
ing early and the manager says that
he was in such state of excitement
and agitation that he could hardly tax
Coherently. He went straight TO his
rooms and reappeared within hfteen
and that's when he stated that he was
going away and that he had no idea
when he would return, if ever! Those
are the very wordsZif ever! -,.,..
obviously. They wanted to call
cab for him. He refused. He told them
that his effects and Nina's were already
packed in their suites, and that II they
needed the rooms for anything, not TO
save them for him. Something, the
manager says, that he never did before.
Then, staggering under weight he
could hardly carry, he walked straight
out and out of sight, for they were so
startled that they watched him all the |
way to the corner; He turned 1t and
that's the last Of Mr.. Amato!"
Deston watched the lawyer, silently /
and daZedly it seemed. Barker faced |
linn, minute after minute, in speachless !
wonder-until at last he shot to his feet
and exploded:
me, Wilkes! Nina gone completely-her |
father gone completely-and--, /
He stopped and glanced at the elder !
brother.
"And-Gerald gone completely" he !
finished hoarsely.
Deston Yinced and moistened his lips. |
What is the connection, Mr.. Barker?
lis there and connection?'
Gould coincidence account"
Il don't know" The lawyer scratched |
his head violently. I've seen coinci-
dence account for some mighty remark
able things, Wilkes, but I'll be hanged IL |
accounting for the simultaneous. wholly
unexplained, utterly ineXplicable disap-
pearance of three people so intimately !
connected Immediately after-after a
death like NOrman's, isn't asking too |
much of cOincidenCe!" \
Then there is connection, Mr.. Bar
kerr" DestOn asked very quietly. 4
I'm commit myself to no statement"
Barker SAID. 'Ihere shouldn't I be. HOd II
and l know that there isn't. but" his
voice thinned strangely-"but Is there?"
he strobe to the window and stood
there, staring out into the sunshine, II
biting at his mustache and breathing
hard-and Barker's face was rather a
study.
But after some minutes, Barker turned
quietly enough to the other with a
seemingly irrelevant
You boys never even owned one
valet. did you?"
Never" Wilkes smiled family.
Somebody looked after your posses
sions, IN some fashion,"
'sNhy-either Willis or Pel has at
tended to Normans and Gerald's ward
robes. flor the last two or three years,
believe"
Barker resorted to the interior tcle-
phone.
Send Willis up here" he said.
Deston started a little.
What is the idea of that, Mr.. Bar
ker!
Il want to chat with him a minute.
Something or other may possibly turn
up to enlighten us-a hint-Tm sure I
don't know what. I want to talk to
Willis because Pell seems to be in a
semi-trance these last few days. He
hasn't been himself since Mr.. Deston
died. but he's been altogether off since
SSH"
The second man was at the door
The lawyer motiOned him to close the
door behind him, and the second man
and stood at attention.
"Ah-Wills!" Barker began, thought
fully. You looked after Mr. Gerald