The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-18
W55 TIME|
- - LOCK
By CHARLES EDMONDS WALK
Author of "The Silver Blade"
"The Paternoster Ruby" etc.

narrowed to mere Sits. He pondered
the text for some time while the two
young men watched him in silent Gu
riosity.
WELL" he breathed at last, return
ing the message, here is one more
link in the chain-not very definite
one, but an additional small detail that
associates Miss Carew directly with
your house Of mystery"
Van Vechten stared in wonder at
the slip of paper. Tom abruptly ex-
claimed: "How the dickens do you
make that out?"
But Mr.. Flint was not to be hurried
while there may be nothing 80
very mysterious about the house It.
SELF" he pursued evenly. nevertheless
1t is by way Of promising us very
pretty problem indeed. Does the name
whirlpool signify anything in partic-
ular to your"
Nothing definite; 1t Is familiar.
that Is ALL"
whirlpool" repeated Mr.. Flint,
musingly. 81 have had occasion to look
it up"
"You have!" shot from Van Vech-
ten in his surprise. What do you
know, Flint? Tell it,"
Its little village in Somerset
on the edge of Exmoor forest-per-
haps one of the prettiest regions in
rural England. Still does the name
convey nothing to your mind? Think"
Here Tom Phinney interjected:
Rudy thought it was confoundedly
familiar when he read the message"
While Van Vechten tried his best to
recall the associations which the name
all but evoked, Mr.. Flint sat shrewdly
contemplating him.
II give it up" declared the young
man at length. go on and tell it
why you jumped so when you read the
message. What's the answer"
Il said that it was pretty spot
the mans deliberation was provoking
IAN ideally desirable location for a
home-regular old-fashioned English
country home, you know-gables,
chimney-pots, ivy, deer-park, hedges,
and all that sort Of thing. For in
stance"
"Confound you, Flint! Out with it,"
"Mr. Temple Bonner's."
For a moment the two young men
sat staring speechlessly at the un-
moved detective. Then Van Vechten
smote the table with his fist.
by George!." calculated he, vehe-
mently but not loudly. That's It.!
The very thing that's been chasing
round in my SKULL" He proceeded
more calmly.
"But, Flint, admitting that one of
the two ladies mentioned here is my
ousin"-tapping the cablegram-"the
fact that you found her purse in a
house which happens to belong to
Temple Bonner, and that also she has
been mysteriously sojourning near his
home in England, presents only a CO.
ncidence-curious, perhaps, but i'm.
material"
Maybe so; but do not lose sight
of the other lady-her companion. She
was a Schuyler, believe"
True"
do you know that before Number
1913 came into Mr. Bonner's posses
sion it belonged to Compton Schuyler
Mrs. DevereauX's father?"
The expression that now fitted
across Van Vechtens face was one OF
bewilderment. He had no comment to
make.
Furthermore" continued Mr., Flint
instead of the present owner being
ignorant that such shabby parcel OF
property is a part Of the estate, its
purchase was prompted by senti
ment growing out of a romance more
than thirty years old. So, you see, the
coincidence begins to assume proper
tons that must signify something
something that would be of value tt
US if we could only grasp its meaning
There is where l hope you may helI
me-"
"This is rather staggering, Flint,
said Van Vechten, as soon as he hat
collected his wits, "but still the cir
cumstances are merely coincidence
to me. can read no meaning init
them, nor are they Informative. | fai
to see where | can render the slight
est help Tom here is in position 4
supply you with something much NOR
to the point, for by the purest accl
dent he stumbled upon our sandy-com
plexioned man--to say nothing OF
ripping adventure. His name is JONI
Calls"
The detective favored Tom with
look of interest, and then his eye
smiled.
zone thing at a time, gentlemen,
said he, zone thing at a time fo
] can't excite me. Let us first ge
through with the point we were dis
cussing."
l ut is entertaining enough for me,
] agreed Van Vechten. Il trust II WI
= prove profitable. You see, while
am acquainted in a general way Wit
Josephine Devereaux' history-as n
is in a way familiar with the uneven
full history of friend-for that Yes
raason am rather ha2y as to details