The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-18

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voice came over the wire. He also had
received the cryptic message, but GER
tain portions Of it obscure to Rudolph
were more or less clear to him.
The surmise respecting Fotheringill
had been pretty shrewd one. That
gentleman, it appeared, was member
of the firm of Hirschfield & Sons, bank
ers, the Man Of Irons principal Brit
ish representatives. He had been in
structed to send all messages in dupli-
cate-one for the elder Van Vechten's
information, the other for Rudolph's
guidance. The latter learned further
that all other information likewise
was to be sent to him.
Lord, Uncle Theodore!" Rudolph
lamented into the mouthpiece, "the
newspapers will now be justified in
stirring up whatever scandal they may
conceived"
Are you afraid Of them?" demand
ed his uncle sharply.
mo, no; of course not. It's Paige I'm
thinking Of Think what her feelings
must be when she sees all the rot
that's being printed about her."
He heard the older man grunt. "A
precious lot Of consideration she has
shown for our feelings" he said. But
you are mistaken; the newspapers
may be our best allies, and it is not
good policy to antagonize them at this
stage.
FRANKLY the incisive voice went
on, II am now exceedingly worried; If
there were not SO many vital business
matters exacting my personal atten-
tion-things l can't neglect because
they involve the welfare of others-I
would drop everything and take up
the search myself. But l must leave
that part of it to you; l know you will
be diligent."
Rudolph assured him on this point,
adding: But my hands are so hope
lessly tied by the utter absence of a
starting-point; there is nothing to
take hold of, nowhere to begin. Why,
l haven't evolved even a tentative
theory yet. What the devil does 1t all
mean anyway? Have Paige and Jo-
sephine both lost their minds?"
No answering oracle came over the
wire, and the Man Of Iron uttered his
parting Injunction: use your best
judgment; spare no expense"
Van Vechten emerged from the
stuffy booth and shook his head like q
swimmer far out at sea, who, while
not sighting land, despairs not, but
struggles brayely on. The entrance
Of Mr.. Flint at this critical period had
the soothing effect of a balm. His
manner was.so quiet and unobtrusive,
SO methodical and unruffled, and with
al so confident, that ones plight must
be desperate indeed for one not to
respond to the inspiriting influence Of
his presence.
well, SO you have turned up at
last Van Vechten greeted him sour
ly Good heavens, man! Why don't
you keep in touch with civilization
when you efface yourself from the
world?"
"This is the first opportunity have
found for communicating with you
since we parted last" was the calm
response. Don't fear but that | shall
keep in touch with you, for the way
matters are shaping 1t begins to look
as though l shall need your assist
ance pretty constantly"
Van Vechten bent eagerly across
the table.
Have you learned anything?" he de.
manded
"Yes-and no. Nothing definite
about Miss Carew. But I have un.
earthed a good many facts which may
or may not have bearing on our in
vestigation-for | am including the
mystery of your cousins disappear
ance with the mystery of Sundays
murder. There's a connecting link
somewhere, although l haven't hit |
upon it. The dead mans identity has |
been established"
Both young men looked an interro-
cation, and Mr.. Flint proceeded.
Now that we have learned who he
is, the facts tend to confuse rather
than to enlighten; there is no hole
where he fits in. 1t would seem that
he was rather a worthless sort, an
expert mechanic, but at outs with his
union and discredited generally by in
1ustrious members of his trade His
name was O'Neill He never worked
anywhere long, and his quitting Of a
Job was invariably the elimination OF
trouble Of one sort or another" The
speakers manner abruptly altered. lie
asked curiously:
Has Scotland Yards sudden activ-
ty in Miss Carew's behalf anything to
10 with your present perturbation?
Van Veehten smiled feebly. Is my
shattered nervous system so ruthless
y exposed?" he asked "But, truly,
don't comprehend your question"
They have cabled Central Office"
sIr. Flint explained, "a half-dozen
ines today for information. The aft
3rnoon's extras mention a reward
twenty-five hundred dollars-being of.
cred in London for information Of