United labor bulletin., 1914-01-17


Rudolph assured him on this point,
adding: But my-hands are SO hope
lessiy tied by the utter absence OF
starting point: there is nothing to
take hold of. nowhere to begin. Why.
I haven't evolved even a tentative
theory yet. What the devil does It all
mean anyway? Have Paige and 10
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 unrufiied. and with.
al 30 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
iy. Good heavens. man, Why don't
you keep in touch with civilization
when you enace yourself from the
woridr'
This 10 the frst 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
~, fs
as though ! shall need your assist
ance pretty constantly"
Van vechten bent eagerly across
the table.
Have you learned anything be de-
mandcd
-Yes-and no. Nothing definite
about Miss Carev. But ! have un-
eArthed a good many facts which may
or may not have a bearing on our In
vesuEation--for ] am including the
mystery OF your cousins disappear
ance with the mystery OF Sundays
murder. There's a connecting link
somewhere. although / haven't bit
upon H. The dead mans Identity has
been established"
Both young men looked an interro-
CATION. and Mr.. Flint proceeded.
Now that we have learned who he
Ia. the facts tend to confuse rather
than TO enllghten. there is no hole
where he fits In. II would seem that
he was rather q 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'Neiil- He never worked
anywhere long. and his quitting OF n
Job was Invariably the elimination OF
trouble o; one sort or another" The
speakers manner abruptly altered. He
asked curiously:
ity In Miss Carew's behalf anything to
do with your present perturbation"
Van Vechten smiled feebly. 10 my
shattered nervous system so ruthless
iy erposedr" he asked. But. truly.
don't comprehend your question
They have cabled Central ONCE
Mr.. Flint explained. "A haif-dozen
times today for Information. The aft
ernoon's extras mention a reward
twenty-five hundred doIlars-being Of
fcred 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.
eringill. Mr.. Flint glanced at II, then
he sat up with n 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" hcs breathed at last, return.
ing the message. here 10 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 vcchten stared in wonder At
the slip OF paper. Tom abruptly ex.
claimed: How the dickens do you
make that outi"
But Mr.. Flint was not to be hurried.
while there may be nothing 90
very mysterious about the house Il.
SELF" he pursued evenly. Nevertheless
II 10 by way OF promising Us q very
pretty problem Indeed. Does the name
whirlpool signify anything In part,c-
ular to your"
Nothing definite: 1t is familiar.
that is ALL"
whirlpool" repeated Mr.. Flint,
musingly. Il have had occasion to look
it up"
You have." shot from Van vech.
ten In his surprise. What do you
know. Flint? Tell III"
IT'S little village In Somerset
ON the edge of Exmoor forest-per.
haps one OF the prettiest regions In
rural England. Sull does the name
convey nothing TO your minds Think"
Here Tom phinney interjected:
Rudy thought II was confoundedly
familiar when he read the message"