The Washington times., 1911-03-10

"Queer!"
Very queer, Mr.. Barkerw Gray
agreed, acidly. We'll, next on the pro,
sei.h sdni came the hotels. Not a sign OF
elther Of them-and by thunder!
aont think there's a register in New
lork that L haven't looked over per-
sohally for even traces of disguised
!hEanoWrltlng! had pretty strong no.
non mat Forbes left here with a mar
rage license in his pocket, taken out
some time ago. There is no such thing
on record" @'''''e
Then they weren't married in New
Evidently not. Well, I had men go
Nothing at all! However, there's be
nothing to prevent them shooting down
70 Philadelphia or to Connecticut or
massachusetts, and getting back to New
loIk Tor a. steamer For they must
nave started OFF on a steamer So we
tackled the steamship lines, fTnIess
they went so far as to climb into dis
gulses, which they did not, nobody an
sWerlng the description of either has
salleo anyWhere-and make that state
ment after detailed examination Of
everyone from the newsboys around
offices!'
The lawyer inclined his head. Gray
moistened his lips.
Barrows and I have been comparing
work again at Z, you known he OBJ
served lrrelevantly. We'll, then came
the proposition of Miss Amato's friends
and heaven knows she has enough of
them mem We started OFF at the Rodman
mousse OF course. They could tell ms
nothing that We didn't know aIreadv
baTroWs took that confounded maid
ana tried TO force her into rememher-
ing something definite
and she remembers nothing at alIr
NothlnS much, except that she had
an earache in her left ear that night
ana couldn't hear very we'll. She said
that Miss Amato seemed excited or
breathless or hurried she said that
she was calling up from d drug store,
ana that she was going to spend the
met somewhere or other-and when we
consider that the young woman has
wandered about the four corners of tile
earth, that's a trifie indefinite.
=. 50 on the six of us went. eventual
ly, for the rest of the friends. They
told about more possible friends. who
might be in the city, and who were
not on the list, and we saw them Ali
Mr.. Barker-we saw them all, Not one
had heard anything of the girl in two
weeks. Gray shook his head fercely.
suppose that the girl didn't meet
Forbes at all Suppose we discard that
theory altogether for a moment. If
she met travelling people, they must
have stopped at a hotel-and yet they
You still hold to the belief that Ger
aId and Nina left together?" Barker
said, thoughtfuIly.
AS regards them. believe Just this
now, Gray answered. Miss AmaIo
Is an unusually beautiful young worn-
an. The chances are that some one
somewhere. would recall seeing her. NV
idea is Just this: She did not leave here
on the o'clock train at all. She wait
ed, somewhere in Stedmore, for Forbes.
later in the night. Then they took a
train to the junction and headed direct
y away from New York"
IT IS possible" Barker muttered.
AN right. There was this little matter
ot Amato, too, you know. l took a room
at the Altmere and stayed there Mon
lay night and got acquainted. They're
over Amato. It's only once in a cen
Jury that one of their steady guests
walks out and says he's not coming
back! That, essentially. is what Anna
o did. When he went back there last
Wednesday morning, he appeared to be
out of his head. AS he was leaving, n
,ery little while later, having evidently
brown everything portable into two
falises. they asked him when he'd be
1ack. He stammered and suffered and
inally conveyed to them that It would
De long time, If ever. As he was 60
ng out, he told them to give his rooms
o anyone who needed them, If the
'lace happened to crowd up unexpected
Gray drew breath.
There Is no doubt, at least, that he
vas going on journey and doing IT be-
,ause of something ne had learned over {
light"
wait" Barker seemed to have an in
piration. Suppose Nina had been hurt
n an accident Or"
Give ,,rpdit 80
oo!' Gray said shortly. There is no
euord of anyone resembling either of
hem having been injured, either with
he police or the hospitals. Again. had
here been an accident telephone mes I
age would have been sent to the Alt
mere if it happened in the city. Again, !
| telegram would have arrived IL it had |
far out of the city. Again, no +,
nail came 10 Amato later than Tuesday !
morning, first delivery-Which proves /,
hat whatever news sent him of Tues /
lev night was posted the night before. |
again, between late Tuesday night and I
arly Wednesday morning. he would !.
ardly have rad time to leave the city. /
minister to his daughter, supposing it 10 !
ave been an accident, and get back. /,
Tou see, if it had been anything serious,
e wouldn't have been back. II It had |
cen nothing serious he wouldn't have |
cen half-crazy and leaving possibly for |
vert"
True
I'd give q thousand dollars to know |
7hat was in Amatos mail Tuesday
ightr' Gray began, savagely. And then ,
is usual calm returned. A little pause,
little shrug of resignation and he |
poked at Barker with:
"In the end, it all comes TO this, MIR.
;arker. Before we learn anything
bout Young Deston's suicide, we'll have
> locate and talk with the last man who
aw him alive-Forbes. Forbes is some
here in the world and the girl with
irn-and that's all we know. 1t may
AXE days-weeks-months even to get
-ack of him.
II understand
ective pursued, that my three men are
Il looking him up at this moment. They
lay have something to tell ten minutes
'om now Or" .....
The bell on the wall telephone inter-
Ipted him. Gray started to his feet
ith a smile.
e Be a mighty funny thing if that was
hen things look hopeless, and-helloI"
He listened. He turned to the others
nd shook his head. Then:
'Yes-Burton-All right-What are
ou doing, Burton? Having afternoon
"a up there? What? WHAT?"
Mouth open, Mr.. Gray listened for half
minute. After that, Mr.. Gray turned
hich clutched the telephone receiver
'opped Imply to his side.
FORBES is-up there at the house!'
gasped
Barrows and Barker
lot to their feet -..... ,
''WEat?'
''Yes!' Gray said, huskily. "Deadr