The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-03-06


adding But my hands are SO hope
lessly tied by the utter absence of a
starting point; there is nothing to
take hold Of, nowhere to begin. Why.
haven't evolved even a tentative
theory yet. What the devil does 1t all
mean anyway? Have Paige and Jo-
sephine both lost their minds?"
No answering oracle came over the
wire, and the Man Of Iron uttered his
parting Injunction: Use your best
Judgment; spare no expense"
Van Vechten emerged from the
stuffy booth and shook his head like a
swimmer far out at sea, who, while
not sighting land, despairs not. but
struggles bravely on. The entrance
Of Mr.. Flint at this critical period had
the soothing effect OF a balm. His
manner was so quiet and unobtrusive.
so methodical and unrutfled, and with.
al so. confident. that ones plight must
be desperate indeed for one not to
respond to the inspiriting influence Of
his presence.
We'll, so you have turned up at
last" Van Vechten greeted him sour
ly. Good heavens, man. Why don't
you keep in touch with civilization
when you efface yourself from the
world?"
This is the first opportunity | have
found for communicating with you
since we parted last" was the calm
response. Don't fear but that | shall
keep in touch with you. for the way
matters are shaping 1t begins to look
as though l shall need your assist
ance pretty constantly"
Van Vechten bent eagerly across
the table.
Have you learned anything" he de-
manded.
"Yes-and no. Nothing definite
about Miss Carew. But I have un-
earthed good many facts which may
or may not have bearing on our in
vestigation--for am including the
mystery OF your cousins disappear
ance with the mystery OF Sundays
murder. There's a connecting link
somewhere, although l haven't hit
been established"
Both young men looked an interro-
cation, and Mr.. Flint proceeded.
Nov that we have learned who he
is. the facts tend 10 confuse rather
than to erlighten; there is no hole
where he fits in. 1t would seem that
he was rather a worthless sort, an
expert mechanic, but at outs with his
union and discredited generally by in
dustrious members of his trade. His
name was O'Neill. He never worked
anywhere long, and his quitting Of a
job was invariably the elimination of
trouble OF one sort or another" The
speakers manner abruptly altered. He
asked curiously:
Has Scotland Yards sudden activ-
ity in Miss Carew's behalf anything to
do with your present perturbation"
Van Vechten smiled feebly. Is my
shattered nervous system 80 ruthless
ly exposed" he asked. But, truly.
| don't comprehend your question"
They have cabled Central Office,
Mr.. Flint explained, "a half-dozen
times today for information. The aft
ernoon's extras mention a reward
twenty-five hundred dollars-being Of
fered in London for information Of
Miss Carew. That would account for
their sudden interest"
BY way of answer the young man
handed him the cablegram from Foth.
erlngill. Mr.. Flint glanced at it, then
he sat up with jerk and his eyes
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 a 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 so
NCiy StCt aDOut thO hOube IL
SELF" he pursued evenly, nevertheless
it is by way OF promising us very
pretty problem indeed. Does the name
whirlpool signify anything In partic.
ular to your"
Nothing definite; It is familiar,
that is ALL"
whirlpool" repeated Mr.. Flint,
musingly. II have had occasion to look
it up"
"You havel" shot from Van vech.
ten in his surprise What do you
know, Flint? Tell it,"
IT'S 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 confoundediy
familiar when he read the message.