The Washington times., 1913-11-14
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CHAPTER XXI.
next morning was the busiest
since Yorke had first come upon
the Van Rensselaer, affair. He

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was up at dawn and at work In
his photo-developing room. Then, after
a hasty breakfast and a dozen enig-
matte telephone messages, he was off.
Williams recognized the symptoms,
and went about his morning duties with
an air Of suppressed excitement and
elation that threatened at any moment
to get beyond his control. and burst
into torrent Of eager questions; but
he succeeded in holding his peace until
his employers departure.
Yorke seemed to be In a dozen differ
ent places almost at once. now uptown
in the residential section, now down in
the financial district. Until late after
noon he kept up his ceaseless, heart
breaking pace. Then he returned to his
rooms exhausted, but seemingly tri-
! umphant.
Considering the fact that In the course
of his Investigations he had by no means
proved that the Mrs. Bigger" who had
adopted Elvira Corte, was in reality
Mrs. Abbott Bigelow, and the child the
one known to every one in their world
as her daughter Victoria, Yorke seemed
remarkably confident that the end OF
his search was at hand and his quarry
within reach. Indeed, so sure was he
that he telephoned both gentlemen who
had claimed his services for the next
case, W. Sterrett Bradfield and Ma
thaniel Courtney.
Then. after an interval. he called up
the Van Rensselaer, residence, and got
Robin on the wire.
Il got back to town yesterday" he
explained, in reply to the latter's eager
questions. Yes, ] have some results
for you; some rather important mat
ters to discuss with you and your
called you up before, but I've been
very busy working out some details.
How is that dog, Mr.. Van Rensselaer,?
The wolfhound who was injured in the
Adirondacks? Is he in any sort Of con-
dition?'
"Oh! he seems to be getting on all
right. The wounds in his head are al
most completely healed" Robins voice
came back over the wire mildly tinged
with surprise at Yorke's unexpected and
seemingly trivial question.
He seems strange and sulky, though.
l. go to the vets every day or so to see
how he's getting on, but Velsk scarcely
knows me, or won't notice me, If he
does"
rs he in good enough condition to be
taken from the veterinary's for short
timer"
Yes. they take him out every day
Il want you to bring him yourself to
my rooms tonight at o'clock. Please
ask Mr.. Dysart Van Rensselaer, to come
with you without fail. ! will send a
note to Mr.. Hildreth. His presence is
necessary also"
What is it, Yorke? Another confer
ence? Are we to have more revelations?
For Gods sake, tell me; this suspense is
unendurable! Robins voice broke over
the telephone.
II can tell you nothing now. Tonight
I want to make an experiments test,
rather. BY the way, how is your broth
err"
He seems better. He will not break
down again now.
rs he able to withstand a severe men,
tai shock, and possibly very violent
scene?"
"Yorke, in Heavens name. tell me
what you mean! Is 1t the end? Have
YOU found the man who killed Victoria?
Dysart can withstand anything, endure
anything, II it means that he is in our
hands"
II am, as l have told you, merely
making a test tonight. Mr.. Van Rensse,
laer. ! can tell you nothing more noW'
and he rang off.
Later he called up police headquarters
and held a short conversation with
them-a conversation which caused VIII
liams who. not Inadvertently. perhaps,
overheard 1t, to tiptoe out with a smile
of ecstatic Joy wfeathing his excessive
ly plain countenance. He reappeared
minute later, and when his employer
turned from the telephone it was to dis
cover williams standing at the center
table. industriously loading two service
able-looking revolvers.
you're right, Williams. remarked
Yorke. I'VE are going to have little
party this evening, and there may be
display of fireworks but I think not.
expect three gentlemen and a dog to ar
rive about S o'clock.
When they come. show them in here
An hour after, when the two plain