The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-26
(Copyrizht 1919 By A. c. Acclurg 4 Co
CHAPTER TX.
Un Enfant Perdu.

"QelQer MI. Fl1QL attached any par.
ticular Importance to anything in Tom
Phinney's recital, Van Vechten was
unable to determine, either from the
detectives fixed expression (or abb
sence of expression), or the few ques-
tons he asked when Tom had finished.
These interrogations were aimed sole
ly at aiding Tom to remember the mo-
torboat's occupants; but excepting the
suppositious servant and the sandy
complexioned man-now identified as
John Cal1is-Tom's description was
exceedingly vague.
Before leaving, Mr.. Flint said to Van
Vechten:
Il am liable to be looking you up al
most any minute of the day or night.
l expect to be pretty busy, but it is i'm
possible to foretell precisely in what
way my efforts will be directed. May
l count on you spending as much of
your time here as you CAM"
The young man nodded. eff am
not here 1 shall leave word so you
may know where to find me-"
Tom, after the detective was gone,
reverted to topic which he had
preached earlier in the day.
Are you going to use the motor for
a while, Ruddy? 1 want to take a run
down to Maiden Lane if you're not"
The other reused sufficiently from
his puzzling reflections to give the
speaker questioning look. Maiden
Lane?" he repeated.
Tom amplified.
Chap down there-wealthy dia-
mond importer-was wanting a skip
per for his steam yacht Brownlow's
his name-met him at the Payne
French's last week. He was asking
me about it; suppose he heard that /
was interested in yachting. 1 have
masters certificate, you know; that's
one job Lean hold down.
Tom was moody, and for the time
being Van Vechten laid aside his own
perpleXities.
80" he said, you are still deter
mined to go to work."
Tom nodded. Most of the time you
chaps were talking l was thinking the
whole thing over. It's really not like
ly l shall ever meet that girl, Rudy;
such a thing. Just the same, l mean
TO get busy. l want to get away. |
want to feel that | am doing something
worth while. l can run old Brown
lows yacht just as we'll as anybody
might recommend, if not better, and
I'm going after the berth myself. Can
l refer him to your"
Certainly" said Van Vechten.
"Take the car for as long as you want
it; if have to go anywhere I'll use 2
taxi. Send Mr.. Brownlow to me if he
wants. any recommendations of your
qualifications to handle a yacht, steam
or sail. And you would be safe in men
tioning Fred Carteret, too. Good luck,
Tom"
And Mr.. Tom Phinney departed to
call on the wealthy diamond importer
Left thus to himself, Van Vechten
took from his pocket the key which
Mr.. Flint had given him, and sat con-
templating it for some minutes. By
and by he returned it to his pocket.
then pushing back his chair, rose and
fell to pacing to and fro the width of
the lounging-room. AS he passed each
of the big plate glass windows-they
were screened; however, at this sea-
son-he would glance across the street
at the silent house. At last he halted
and, hands in pockets, stood staring at
the dingy facade, his mien pensive.
Why not?" his thoughts presently
crystailized. "Now is as good as anv
time. It's too late in the day to under
take anything else; besides, there is
nothing to do but wait Lord-wait.
1t would be relief to have the uni
verse come tumbling around ones
ears. After Flint's yarn, it will be IN
teresting to have a squint inside.
Queer, queer"
Now perhaps he forgot his promise
to Flint to leave word respecting his
movements, or else he did not consid-
er brief absence merely across the
street OF sufficient consequence 20 be
mentioned; however that may be, he
left the club without a word to any,
body.
A minute or two later he stood in
the indescribably Uttered and filthy
| backyard of Number 1913. In truth.
the place was no more than a small
brick-paved court. 1t was walled ali
about, and short flight of stone steps
leading downward to a basement door
bore the only evidence OF recent use.
Here, patiently. was the door to which
the key belonged.
He unhesitatingly went down The
half-dozen or so steps, and when he
stopped TO insert the key in the lock
1
received the initial surprise of his ad-
venture
Before he succeeded in getting the
key into the keyhole, the door swung
open at his touch. Besides being IN
locked. the latch was not even caugbt
"Eumph! Shouldn't think Flint
would have been that careless" was
lis immediate conclusion. 1t did not
occur to him that somebody already
might be within, but contented himself
with the holicf ha no