The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-17

conclusion, that 1 had determined to
keep the matter to myself
Il am glad you didn't" was the low
voiced rejoinder.
Flint" said Van Vechten earnestly,
"do You believe that / am qualified to
form a fairly accurate estimate Of
persons character, from study of
that persons features?"
You should be, Mr. Van Vechten,"
was the reply. Your habits of life,
your daily associations, naturally
would develop a certain skill in that
direction. l would attach considerable
weight TO your opinion in such case"
Then" with much positiveness.
nothing in the world could be mere
absurd than to imagine the girl l
saw being engaged in anything crimi-
Dal, or even entertaining a suspicion
that she is surrounded by a criminal
atmosphere. She is young, she is
beautiful, she is refined and gentle:
the stamp of purity and adherence to
right ideals is unmistakable in her
face. Whatever comes of your investi-
cations, you will find to be unquaIf
f1edly true all that l now assert re-
specting her.
Il do not question your judgment,
for it is more than probable that your
estimate is correct. But the fact is
of less Importance than the circum-
stance that the young lady seems to en-
terrain very cordial dislike for you"
But" expostulated the other. ''she
doesn't know me, Flint. never saw
her i'll my life before yesterday. Why
should she dislike me? God knows /
never Intentionally harmed anybody in
my life
"She unquestionably thinks she
knows you-which, as far as her con-
duct is concerned, amounts to the
same thing
II have racked my brain over it"
Van Vechten announced, until l am
| utterly befogged. l have heretofore
accredited myself with some slight de-
gree of berspicacity, but her unmistak-
able animus completely mystifies me.
l am positive, Flint-absolutely posi-
| tive-that our destinies have never
| crossed before in any way
Queer enough" was the others
comment. But the yelled lady; are
you certain she could not have been
| Miss Carew?"
'Ch, no, she was not Paige. There
| was no detail of resemblance. l have
fancy, based upon nothing, that she
and the girl at the window are the
| same"
"But of whom did she remind your"
| The detective fastened him with a
| shreWd regard.
THAT" returned Van Vechten, sis
the one point concerning which | feel
| that | ought to know something def
mite, but which persistently eludes
me. IN fact, the conviction never
crystaIliZed.'
Mr.. Flint fell into a brown study,
from which the other had no inclina-
ton to disturb him. During their con
versation the afternoon had passed,
and now the detective sat Jnotionless
and silent while the dusk gathered and
deepened.
Presently he reused himself with 8
little shake. No one had intruded UP
O4i tAiCll privacy saw AOA IhSAA-o~A' y
| the lounging-room was now empty
He rose and went over to one of tn
windows, taking his hat with hin
Van Vechten followed.
In the shadowy twilight the silet
house across the way loomed sombG
and forbid6ing; its lifeless darkenirg
front might have been Mystery aTi
Secrecy personified. The two stod
abstractedly contemplating it, ead2
immersed in his own reflections, while
the pail of night lowered, bldrring aid
distorting the shabby outlines.
Mr.. Flint broke the silence.
81 am glad we had this talk" sad
he in his quiet way But dear ne.
dear me, what is it leading US to?
trust we are not going to stir up any
mud" He abruptly changed the slb-
ject,. asking:
May I inquire whether you intend
making any move to locate Miss Ca
rew?"
ut was my intention to call upon
my uncle Immediately, lay the case
before him, and then set the cables
to working"
That's right. I was going to sug.
gest something Of the kind
After Mr.. Flint had gone, Van Vecn
ten did not pause to dine. He aIcer
taired by telephone that his uncle
would be at home, then summoned q
cab and sped through the sitting
night-a night that augured storm
to Theodore Van Vechten's huge
dreary Fifth Avenue palace.
tContinued Tomorrow