The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-06
CHAPTER III.
An Exit.

Alexander!"
A page Fastening cat.footed, after
the manner Of all well-trained pages,
swerved abruptly from his course and
bore down upon the window where the
two friends were seated.
Van Vechten waved in the direction
Of Number 1913.
Alexander" he said, I'VE are going
to breakfast, and we want you to hold
these two chairs for US. Keep an eye
upon that house across the way-thir.
teen-thirteen. Observe whether any.
body departs, or whether anybody ar
rives, and make careful note of them.
If anything unusual happens, come to
me Immediately in the grill. Under.
stand?"
Alexander signifled that he under.
stood, and that he was willing to wait
and watch-for even the clubs ser.
wants shared the general interest in
the House of Mystery-and Alexander
was already seated in one of the va.
Gated chairs, his eyes glued to the
doorway opposite.
There were only two other diners in
the grill. Van Vechten and Tom sought
a secluded corner, where the latter
listened in blinking bewilderment to
an account Of the mornings happen.
lngs. But, after all, he was no more
mystified than the narrator.
He was. however, all at once in.
spired.
i nave It'll" he impetuously an
nounced. Lets hurry and eat-rm
not hungry now. anyway. What say |
to me walking up and ringing the bell |
at one o'clock?"
But Van Vechten's comment was not
encouraging.
Crude" was his word. Il fear you
Will never learn anything beyond
squash, yachts and polo ponies. Those
men are not wandering blindly into
the house; the Indications all point to
z prearranged meeting. They may be
Inc tenants themselves; some sort Of
secret society"
"Anarchists!" Tom yelled. A thought
nad but to enter his head to emerge
u MS mouth. The other two diners
ooked up. startled; but perceiving the
source OF the outburst, they returned
o their meals with expressions of pa
lent endurance.
Yes, anarchists" Van Vechten
agreed; even so. And you would
lave nice. pleasant time getting in
or, once in, getting out again."
"Oh, well, we might try breaking IN
fter dark-jimmy, you know, and all
nat sort of thing" a sarcasm which
7as frankly ignored.
II mas occurred to me-" pursued I
an Vechten. picking daintily at his
melette 'souffie, that a person who
as been at such pains to keen his
lentity hidden from the rest Of the
ORD, is stimulated to do SO by some Z
owerful motive. If he is a person Of :
Indulgence 1t will be no light matter
enetrating his secret; it might be
angerous for the meddler. And It ia
business of ours"
hats!" Tom Phinney exploded in
lsgust. You're losing interest al q
lady,"
The other elevated his brows and
aned comfortably back in his chair q,
Tommy" he returned weariedly.
am willing to try anything-once.
nd, as you know, whatever | under.
Ike see through to the end. what.
'er that end may be. Just now
n TOO depressed by this uncertainty
'out Paige-not to mention its dis.
'reeable consequences-to become in.
rested in anything"
1t is deuced queer you don't hear z;
ON her, isn't it?" Tom felt called II
ION to show polite concern. \
his friend sighed. Since nv cousin
woman" he said, "'queer' is mot
9 word. Her disregard for INV and
lcie Theodore's plans is Just what
ght have been expected: it is so 1
'roughly feminine. as you would
ow wei enough Il you had a win.
Ito Be Continued. 90
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