Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-06-14


fessed, smiling. 81 didu't know what
to expect--or suspect Certainly, -
with a glance round the anonymously
furnished room-'I never looked for
ward TO anything like this-or you,
in that get-up."
You wouldn't, you know" Laher
touche admitted. grayely. Il might
have warned you in my note; but that
was a risky thing, at best | feared
to go into detail-it might have fallen
into the wrong hands
''Whose?" demanded Amber.
THAT, my dear man, is what we're
here to find out--if we can. But sill
down, we shall have to have quite a
bit Of talk" He scraped a heap OF
gaily-colored native garments of one
end of the charpoy and motioned Am
Der to the chair. At the same time
he flshed cigarcase out of some re
cess of his clothing These arc
good" he remarked. opening the case
and offering It to Amber; Il daren't
smoke anything half so good when at
work The native tobacco is abom.
Unable, you know-quite threefourths
filth"
AT work." questioned Amber, clip
ping the end of his cigar and lighting
1t. You don't mean to say you travel
round in those elothes?"
But do It's business with me-
though few people know it. Quain
didn't; only | had chance, one day,
to tell him some rather startling facts
about native life. This sort of thing,
done properly. gives man insight
into lot of unusual things
Labertouche puffed his cigar into q
glow and leaned back, clasping one
knee with two brown hands and
squirting up at the low, discolored
ceiling, Aud Amber, looking him
over, was amazed by the absolute
fidelity Of his makeup; the brownish
stain on face and hands, the high-cut
patent leather boots, the open-work
socks through which his tinted calves
showed grossly, his shapeless, baggy,
soiled garments-all were hopelessly
babu-ish
And If it isn't done properly
"Oh. theu-i" Labartouche larrhed.
lifting his shoulders expressiyeIy
mo Englishman incapable of living
up to a disguise has ever tried it
more than once In India; few, very
few, have lived to tell of the expert
ment"
You're connected with the police?"
Amber's brows contracted as he re-
membered Rutton's emphatic prohi-
bition.
But Quain had not failed to men.
ton that. Officially, no. said Laber-
touche readily, Now and again. OF
course, ! run across a BIT of valuable
information; and then. somehow, in
directly, the police get wind of It,
But this going fantee in an amateur
way is simply my hobby; I've been
at 1t for years-and very successfully
too. OF course, it'll have its end.
Ones bound to slip up eventually
You can train yourself to live the lie
of the native, but you cant train your
mind TO think as he thinks. That's
how the missteps happen. Some
day ." He sighed, not IN the
least unhappily. some DAY
I'll dodge into this hole, or another
| that l know of, put on SOMEBODY
else's rags-say, these I'm wearing
and inconspicuously become mys-
FERROUS disappearance That's how IT
l.. Ill 90 oh oA in for This
sort of thing. But its like opium, you
know; you try it the first time for
the lark of it; TIE end is tragedy.
Amber drew a long breath, his eyes
glistenlng with wonder and admira-
ton of the man. You don't mean 10
tell me you run such risks for the
pure love of it?"
"Well perhaps not altogeth-
err But we needn't go into detalls'
need WEI" Labertouche's smile ROBBED
the rebuke of its sting. "The opium
smile is a very good one, though say
1t who shouldn't. One acquires taste
for the unbidden, and one hires III
tie room like this from an unprineipleo
blackguard like Honest George, ana
insensibly one goes deeper and deeper
until one gets beyond ones Depth
That is all It explains me sufficient
ly. And" he chuckled, you'd never
have known it if your case hadn
been exceptional"
ut is, think Amber's expression
became anxious. Il want TO know
what you think of it-now guam
told you. And, l say. what dld you
mean by news of the Fs.?
News of the Farrells-father ana
daughter, of course" Labertouche s
eyes twinkled
But how in the name OF all that
strange"
did | connect Rutton with the Far
! rell's? At first by simple inference
You were charged with secret er-
rand, demanding the utmost haste py
Rutton; your first thought was 10
travel by the longer route-which' as
It happens. Miss Farrell had started
upon a little while before, Yon mad
recently met her, and I've heard she