The Ordway new era., 1913-02-21


Of intuition regarding world
ly matters in one 30 young. and 10
fresh from conventual seclusion. And
then her judgment seemed to keep
pace with her auguries; for when
spoke of inviting the aid Of detectives
and the newspapers. she begged me
to consider.
II am afraid for him." she pursued
gravely. Publicity might mean death.
II they discover they are being sought.
they may murder him. Somehow.
feel he is still alive: and SO we must
do nothing that will incite them to
further violence"
But" returned, conscious Of the
force Of her argument. yet failing to
see how this caution could very well
be exercised, I'VE can't fnd him with.
out seeking"
mo, but we can seek him in 50
cret. The newspapers must not tell
the world"
1.-THE police would Of course tell the
newspapers" added.
I'VE can do some things. without
the police" was her next assertion.
uSIe are bOulc lulukb luAl SdA W.
and there are more that you can do"
She was thoughtful for a moment. and
then: II am so sorry about Peter
Johnson! You should never have lost
sight of him."
I'VE gave him money and God
speed" I reminded her.
Captain Macleod must go back
there, where you left him. Where
was it? Siasconset? He must trace
him. His trail won't lead to Glouces-
ter, I'm sure Of that"
My self.esteem was not being vigor-
ously stimulated by the young lady
at this juncture. Indeed, I was being
made to feel more and more my stra-
tegical inferiority.
And l." she continued. with tho
methodical expediency Of a command
er.in-chief. SO curiously inapposite in
one SO young and inexperienced as
she: land shall find out about those
letters"
Find out what?" asked in aston
ishment.
wrote Them" she amplified.
But how can your" I inquired.
THAT seems a pretty big undertaking
Of itself. for one SO small"
81 have thought OF a way" she do
clared. noncommittally.
And what am I to do?" was my
next question. feeling miserably small
beside this efficient child.
You must give me the letter you
have, and help me look for the 9th.
ers."
Tho first part Of the command was
easy enough OF obedience; for the
letter was In my pocket at the mo.
ment But my assistance in searching
for the first two communications was
more energetic than successful. To.
gether we ransacked desks. bureaus,
tables, closets, trunks. clothes. In.
deed. every possible hiding place both
at Cragholt and on the Sibylla was
carefully and systematically delved
into and exhausted without reward.
Either Cameron had destroyed the let
tiers. or he had them on his person
when he vanished from the yacht.
At Evelyn's request. however. !
wrote copies OF those two strangely.
couched. malevolent epistles. as near
ly as could remember them: and
save. perhaps. for possibly two or
three verbal errors they were. think.
quite accurate.
And now" asked again. what am
I to do"
It was nearly midnight. and I was
leaving her. my car waiting In the
sopping driveway to carry me home.
You are not to worry any more
than you possibly can help" she told
me, with a brave little smile. for we
are going to succeed. And tomorrow
you must go to your office. and keep
very, very silent about what has hap.
pened. And then you are to come to
me again In the evening. and I will
tell YOU NIL have learned"
With which she gave me her hand
to kiss. In the odd little French way
she had-a way that could scarcely
have been a part OF her convent tench.
ing.
As come to review these matters
now, 1t seems singular that I should
have 80 readily consented to be guild.
ed by this girls will In case OF such
grave Importance: yet ! cannot but
believe there was something providen.
tial both in her assumption Of leader.
ship and in my own unquestioning ac
uuiescence. For the day Of office
work and silence. which she enjoined
was exactly what I needed to restore
my nerves to their normal tension. 1t
was, in fact, a sort OF counter-irritant,
M Jch hroupht mo I'm standing with
revived self-conf1dence and recuperat.
ed energy.
So when, a little before Ave O'Clock
that afternoon. Just as was making
ready to run for my train. l heard
Evelyn's voice over the telephone.
was fairly tingling with ardor for the
game; and her request to call on Pro
lessor Griffin. the expert In Oriental
literature. who occupied n chair in Co
lunbia colleue md lived a mile or