The evening world., 1914-07-21
CHAPTER III.
A Summons,
tContinud.I

door Just across the corrt-
dor open softly, almost
stealthily. His own door
stood open BY tiny crack and eau
tiousiy he stepped TO It and peered
through. He saw . slender figure In
Q gray cloak. her back turned TO him.
~ she tried, evident y. to turn the Key
In the lock. 10 key stuck. and In
turping II she dropped II to the floor.
It struck against .he metal trim with
q sharp clang. She did not stoop to
pick It up: on the contrary, with .
swift ana. ne 1ought, frightened
glance along the corridor In both d.
rections. she hurried on.
Eager to aid the girl. he rushed out
into the hall, picked UP the key she
had dropped and started after her.
At the turn he saw her figure . little
way ahead.
Mrs. Talcotti" he called.
But she either did not hear or would
not heed. He chose to believe the
Grst and Quickened his pace into .
run.
Mrs. Talcott. ono moment
The girl. however. did not pause.
although 'she could not have helped
hearing him. She seemed to be actu-
ally running away from him.
His pride made him pause. then the
thought Of her peril and loneliness
urged him to forget himl II In her.
Obviously she was frightened. 1t wa
enough to scare any woman to have
her door tempered with. In her haste
she was confusing him with one OF
the fellows who had been annoy nS
her.
Rutherford thrust the key savagely
into his pocket and turned the other
way. After all, what concern was II
Of his where the girl was going
Why should he care? But his self
revealing heart told him that, willy.
nilly. he did care. Angrily. he turned
toward Helderman's suite once more.
just as he reached the private cor
ridor leading to the suite, he found
himself attacked by a human cata-
putt. A man fed by him with such
haste that he was dashed back
against the wall. The door from
which the man had emerged slammed.
cutting in two the volley Of German
oaths which had attended the ejoc-
ton. ...e..
Craig pulled himself together. fair-
ly sizzling with Indignation. andjaid
hold of the man who had bumped
into him so unceremoniously. 1t was
the stocky student, the sscret service
man. The man recognized him no
less quickly. and with one Of hts
quick lodges was of again down the
passage. Rutherford's anger Of .
moment before was as nothing to
the rage that now possessed him.
With a quick leap he seized the thick
shoulder and swung the man around.
claimed Craig. You might at least
!, stop long enough to apologize. Be-
\sldes, I have been looking for you
for some time"
The man shifted unsasily. but waA
silent.
"Taik, you sneak!" said CRAIG.
shaking him. Government officer. or
not. l don't believe you have any
license TO search rooms. or attack
young women In the halls!" And
Craig punctuated his remarks by q
q rat.
Curiously enough. the man again
made no attempt to night; but at the
words. Government oficer." he
glanced furtively at his aasailant
Let up!" he growled.
mot till you tell me what want
to knowl What do you mean by
sneaking into my room, trying to get
into Mrs. Talcott's. and nosing around
in Helderman's3 He served you Just
about right! And II ! had caught
you down my way. you'd have come
out just about the way he sent you!
The fellow flashed another quick
glance at Rutherford.
you rich guys think you ought to
be LETT alone" he muttered. but we've
got to stick to our Job. 'Tain't no use
huntin' for diamonds In the steerage.
90 Just took . look In tho royal
In spite Of himself. Rutherford
the blatant, self Helder-
man who believed that his money
could do anyt.linE-being subjected
to surveillance like the others.
ut seems like q mighty bad way ia
30 about IT, observed Craig. momen.
tartly relaxing his grasp. II suppose
YOU want to prove us all. DO you
suspect any one In Particular"
His concern for Mrs. Talbot had
taken the place of his anger. The de-
tectives were searching Aevery one
ana the Iact tnat tney nuu tTicu "
enter her room might not mean any
thing in particular.
"Don't l, thought" the man OK.
claimed with a wink; then prohtina
by the others absorption. he turned
quickly and made Off down the hall.
Craig turned back toward Helder.
mans suite.
He reached the private hall again
The door stood slightly open. givina
. glimpse of the reception room,
luxuriously furnished. A long mir
ror was set In the panelltng directly
opposite the door. Rutherford saw re-
fected therein the entire room.
Helderman. straight, cold, an OK.
pression Of contempt on his face. wal
In the centre. He stood looking down
upon woman whose arms wore