Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-15

man accustomed To speak with people
whose position in the world compelled a
certain regard, He had originally ad-
dressed Luke as 'sir." just as he had in
variably said my lord" To Lord Rad
clyffe. but now he spoke much more curt
ly. There was a note or demand in every
question which he put. a peremptoriness
Of manner which did not escape the OBJ
servation OF his interlocutor.
As the one man became more aggres
sive so did Luke also change his manner.
There had been affable courtesy In his
first reply to the questions put TO him.
desire TO be of help IL help was needed.
but with his senses attuned by anxiety
and nerve strain to distinguish subtle dtf-
ference of manner and of intention, he
was quick enough to notice that he him
self was as ii were I'm a witness box, with
counsel ready enough to bully or to
trip up any contradictory statement.
Not that Luke realized the reason Of
this change The thought that he could
be suspected of a crime was far re
moved from his ken as the desire to visit
the moon. He could not understand the
officers attitude: it puzzled him and pat
him on his guard-but it was just the in
stinct of Misrepresentation. OF caution.
which comes To men who have had to
fight the world. and who have met enc
mics where they least expected TO find
one.
DO yeu remember now resumed
Travers after that slight Pause which
had seemed very long TO Luke. but as a
matter OF fact had only lasted short
minute whether you saw Mr.. Philip de
Mountford speaking with any one when
you left him in the lobby of the eluh?"
II told you," said Luke. impatiently.
that he was alone. except for the hall
porter"
"Aione i'm the whole clubhouse"
Alone, reiterated Luke with measured
emphasis lin the lobby of the Veterans
Club.
How many rooms has the cluh?'
Il don't know: II was the first time I
had ever been there.
Did you know any of the staff?"
No-since | had never been there be-
fore.
You were not known to any member of
the staff?'
Not that l know Of
YOU were shown into the clubrooms
without being known there at ALP
The. Veterans Club is a new one and
It's rules, apparently. are not very strict
| asked IL Mr.. de Mountford was In the
club and was told that should find HIM
i'm the smoking room. and did
How long did your interview with MIR.
de Mountford last?'
About three-auarters Of an hour, I
should say
And it was of perfectly amicable ma
ture?.'
''Of perfectly indifferent nature" cor
rected Luke.
And after the interview what did you
Gog'
Il walked out of the club"
But after that"
Il walked about"
In the fog?" This in an undisguised
tone of surprise
In the fog
I'm what direction"
Really" here rejoined Luke. with q
sudden show Of resentment, ''Mr-er-
Travers, fail to see how my movements
~an be Of concern to YOU"
III
man that he had made his way through
the log as far as the residence of the
Danish minister. and that he had walked
up and down for over an hour outside
that house like a lovesick fool, like a
doting idiot, because he knew that il he
waited patiently he would presently hear
the faint echo Of a well trained contralto
voice. whose mellowness would come To
him through the closed windows of the
brilliantly iilumined mansion, and would
ease for moment the wild longing Of his
heart.
What the man near him said In answer
to his retort he really could not say He
had not heard, for in a moment his
thoughts had flashed back to that lonely
vigil in the .og, to the sound OF her
voice, which came, oh! SO family, to his
ear, and then to the first breath of gos-
sip that came from the passers-by. the
coachmen and chauffeurs who had drawn
up IN long rows along the curb, the iders
who always hang about outside In the
cold and the damp when a society func-
ton Is in progress, the pickers-up of un-
considered trifies. lost or willingly be-
slowed.
From these he had first heard the news
vaguely at first, for he did not-could
not-realiZe that the amaz ing thinH which
was being commented on and discussed
had anything to do with him. The talk
was of murder. and soon the name OF
de Mountford was mentioned. The de-
tails he got were very confused. and tho
open illusions as to seek whom the
crime will benefit never really reached
his brain, which was almost numb with
the violence of the shock.
His first thought after that was to go
and see Uncle Rad; he had for the mo-
menf almost forgotten Louisa. Every
other interest in life sank to nothingness
beside the one clear duty-Unca Rad
would be alone: the awful news must be
broken very gradually to Uncle Rad. He
had hurried to Grosvenor Square. only TO
find that ernissaries of the police hal
fOreStailed him in his duty
All this he could not explain to the man
Trayers. 1t would have sounded lame
and barely plausible. Nowadays men do
not walk outside houses wherein their
liege lady dwells, and, If they do, they
do not choose foggy night for the senti-
mental dalliance. He was thankful, there
fore, that Travers put no further ques-
tons to him. and merely said, with a re-
turn to his original politeness:
l.
don't think l need detain you arg longer.
You said you had an engagement later
on; won't you keep this cab?"
Luke thanked him, but refused the offer
Of the cab.
1t is close by he said.
May call on you tomorrow morning.
sir?'
n it is necessary
Il am afraid SO. You see, we don't like
to trouble Lord Radcliffe. and we must
try and obtain knowledge Of certain facts
and verify others
Quite so. Wei. tomorrow then"
Thank you. sir Your address is-?''
Fairfax Mansions. Exhibition road
Such a nice neighborlIood. No fog
there tonight l thuh.'
II hope not. Good night,
Good night, sir"
Luke made his escape from the cab.
He was afraid Of missing Louisa and her
father. His thoughts were somewhat I'm a
whirl, and-being overburdened with mat
ters OF paramount importance-were in
clined to dwell on trlfles.
I ought" he reflected. ito have taken
that mans cab. 1t might be difficult to
get another and Col. Harris hates waiting
in a crowded hall"
Go be continued tomorrow