The Washington herald., 1914-05-03

showed a bald CROWN fringed round
with dark hair, coarse and wiry. He hac
a heavy mustache, high cheek bones red
dened, and his nose grew. He had two
diamond rings on his fingers. big size
in boots, white spats. gold watch chain
black frocl' coat, gray trousers instead
of the lounge suit built in Saville Row
He had even in his cuff a colored silk
hanGkerchi' exactly like the one he had
seen Israel carry: he wore gold-rimmed
pince-nez His cards were The
cards of John Israel, and the handker'
chief correctly initialcd in silk. He wcnt
out, abou- 4 o'clock. when it was dark
and drove to Chancery Lane. While M
drove lie said to himself: Charles, the
toughest is to coric. You don't know
the gee cgraphy of las place. Israel does.
He went in. nodded to officials he met
and said 10 the manager, in the fat voice
of John Israel. 4; lad bit of trouble
with my key last time"
The manager took it and looked care
fully. Don't see anything wrong, Mr.
Israel. Shall come with you?" They
talked OF the merits of different safe:
while they went TO Israeps strong room
You're not asrd to that combination,
said the manager.
Twenty minutes later-having drop
ped the silk handkerchief at the door ol
the strong room as quiet bit of evil
dence OF identity-M Mr.. Israers proto'
type requested two porters to carry ou
a long. vide, art heavy box to his cab
The night watchman found the hand
kerchief and gave it, in the morning
into the keeping of higher authority
VINO looked at it and said it was the
least thirg gaudy, but like old Israel:
taste. and he wondered if it were Mrs
Israel who had worked those nice ini'
tials.
Mr.. Predells. sbout 4 O'Clock. as he
sat in the lounge of Jenkins Hotel, hay.
ing English tea, received iady's card
Miss limo Stuart
He did not know the lady. The por-
ter, thus instructed, returned to her &c
inquire the nature of her business.
She smiled i'ttle, slowly and with a
hint of mischief. Then she said to the
porter: You cannot read Spanish
No2" Then she wrote few words or
second visiting card and sent it &c
this poor Spanish gentleman. In three
minutes Mr.. Predella was in his private
sitting-room, and the young woman va:
being escorted thitheT.
Mr.. Predella threw on her an intense
regard as she walked with perfect COM
posure into the room. She bowed. He
bowed She smiled, and he wetted hi:
lips.
"Your errand, madam" he begar
courteouSly.
"Mv Grand" said Anna Stuart, q:
entirely concerned with that part OF the
state dinner service of Spain mortgagec
by YOU to John Israel, the money lender
and now in the Chancery Lane safe de-
post"
IF you will sit down, madam" sait
Mr.. Predella, after a very long pause
during which his face stiffened into Z
masklike quiet, "and repeat your very
extraordinary assertion so that | may
try and follow you-"
Sir" said his visitor. showing a slight
impatience. Il hope that you have al
ready fully understood all. l may ex-
plain to YOU that the affair is known &c
one other besides myself"
The affair, as You call il. Predella
exclaimed, ''iS an affair OF your imagina-
ton. 1t would be utterly impossible for
any one. much less one in my position,
he bIuffed haughtily, TO carry any part
of the state dinner service out of Spain.
The visitor gave the address of a GER
tain factory in Madrid, and, with Ia
comic calm, very impressive. linked up
by few facts, her chain Of evidence.
Predella'S face grew ghastly; his lips
twitched: his eyes f1arcd
She continued: Il mentioned that the
affair is known to one other besides my
self. The time is now ! go. We have
come to a certain arrangement to be
made in the event of my not meeting
this acquaintance of mine at 5 O'Clock.
81 am not detaining you, madam, said
Predella
She smiled her slow smile. for which
the Spaniard, in spite of her great per-
scnal charm. could have struck her.
at would be better for you. my dear
sir. if. when meet, took what have
come for"
"You probably expect me, by a mira
Gle, to produce the dinner service?"
His irony was ghastly; his mirth
stopped with one croak of difficult laugh
ter.
Not at all" said she. You will
probably satisfy me with the triAe of
1000 pounds, in which case shall wish
you a good evening. The arrangement
between my friend and myself is that
we should by cable notify the palace au-
thorities at Madrid-if we do not meet
at 5 O'Clock"
Most of the private sitting-rooms in
Jenkins Hotel are fitted with tele-
phone. Predella flung himself toward
the instrument, but:
Stop" she cried, and intercepted
him. Her argument was deadly; it was
none other than little revolver of hand
some workmanship.
Il can shoot said she.
you dare not risk the result" he
snarled.
sns> $4,000