The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-07-20


toIerably lengthy session, for the
clerk, whose name appeared to be
Frank, demonstrated his command of
surprising memory. Without notes
he enumerated the callers at the Of
flee 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
infinitely describing all others. even
repeating their words with aim ost
Photographic fidelity.
L&bertouche listened intently. with
out interrupting, abstractedly tapping
his desk with paper-cutter. At the
end he said Thank you" with a 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 first 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 it
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-rUr
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 it a second
time with much delberation and fire.
quent pauses, apparently memorizing
portions of its 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 me. please" he said.
/ Bradshaw, the Newsstand 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
l shall probably not be at the office
| again for several days"
Insects" enquired the clerk
Insects" affirmed Mr.. Labertouche
gravely.
In the Mofussil?"
There or whereabouts, Frank"
Yes, sir. | presume you don't feel
the need Of a 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 unused Labertouche. In 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 its 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 | may be mis-
taken" But the surmise failed TO
comfort him.
lie 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 offices
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
descending to Dhurrumtollah street
the other to a side street little better
than an alley. 1t may be considered
| significant 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, a slim Eurasian bow
with a clerkly air left by the stairs to
the alley.
CHAPTER WIN.
First Steps.