The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

ne looks IKE porter of some sort
at an hotel or elub,P she answered. .Ele
has on dark blue trousers, an ordinary
Ieoat, and cap He is rather aorid--"
Brooke gently guided her down a
narrow street which they were passing.
1T is the man / wanted to see" he
declared softly. IS he still following
fusr
/ She nodded. Almost directly he
stepped up.
%You want to speak to me. Fritz?"
Brooke inquired.
"Yes, sir" the man replied, but not
here. If you pieasei-
( He plunged through the door of
public house. Brooke and Constance,
without hesitation. followed him. 1t
was an ordinary little place. half cafe,
half public house, almost empty. They
sat at small table away from the win
dow. Brooke ordered something to
drink Fritz leaned forward.
This morning" he announced, -after
you left, / was dismissed That man
Paul, he thinks that all are fools. He
thinks that one sees nothing. He is
wrong Monsieur Dupoy ! am here
10 speak Of your cousin"
1T is good" Brooke said, nodding
! Go on"
l Fritz looked around him.
Brooke brought out his pocketbook
You are an exceedingly sensible fel-
low, Fritz" he declared. Nov tell me
what information you have to offer,
and we will talk business"
| Fritz nodded.
Directly" he said, but first, mon
sieur, what were you doing so long in
the Cafe Hollande?"
Il had lunch there" Brooke told him
dryly.
The face of Fritz seemed suddenly
blanched. He stared at them both.
Monsieur lunched thereT he re-
Ipeated. Down stairs;"
Down stairs" Brooke admitted.
Fritz took the glass of brandy which
had been offered, and drank it of.
You have the good fortune, mon
sieur," he muttered. at was not so
with your cousin when he lunched there
down stairs"
What happened to him?" Brooke
asked quickly.
| Fritz shook his head.
There are things" he derlared
which, il knew, would not dare to
speak OF. Indeed. I do not know. This
pounds I will take him to his cousin
Brooke placed the money without hes
itation upon the counter Fritz but
nfq GnderstSnda "a a. ms monsisar sGsnS She he @ ssid in
the doorway, that when I point to the
house where you will ind Monsieur Du-
me, it will be useless. know nothing
| l keep my bargain when I show you
the house which shelters Monsieur Du-
ut Ia agreed" Brooke assured him.
They walked out into the street. Fritz
kept about dozen yards ahead. They
crossed Shsftesbury avenue, traveTsed
another narrow street for short dis
tance, and then turned abruptly TO the
I right There Was a news agents shop.
/, with q notice in the window-'Rooms
TO let for single gentlemen Fritz
There, monsieur
Almost as he uttered the words he
stepped aside to avoid a passing dray.
When il had gone, Fritz, too. had dis
appeared. He had plunged once more
into the throng Of people.
Brooke apd Constance entered the shop.
A French Woman was behind the counter.
stout. untidy, with black hair all over
her face. Brooke took OF his hat.
Have you, madame" he asked, "a
IL
She stretched out her hands.
But, monsieur she said, 7 have
lodger here whom I do not know His
name is as likely to be Dupoy an any
thing else. Monsieur would like to see
7 him."
I Brooke followed her up the crazy
stairs. Constance came behind. They
we're ushered into a tiny bedchamber.
A man. partly dressed, IaySupon a sofa
his head propped up BY two or three
pillows. He stared at them eagerly as
he said nothing. His clothes hung about
him shapelessly. He had a beard of a
week or SOS growth upon his chin. His
head was tied up with bandage.
] "Dupoy?" Brooke exclaimed.
The man stared at him but remained
speechless. Madame shook her head.
He talks only =, nonsense: SCI she de-
is. But listen. it is the doctor who comes.
You shall speak with him yourself
The doctor knocked at the door and
entered; He bowed with a little HouE-
AM he exclaimed, lit is perhaps the
friends of the unfortunate monsieur"
Tel me what has happened TO him -
The Frenchman stretched out his
! hands
Madame can tell you as much as L.
I he said. Last Friday week he tottered
into the shop, very much as he IS now,
his head bound up, desperately i'll. She
I fancies that an unseen hand prope!led
! him That may or may not be So His
| pockets were cut open as though he had
I been searched. She brought him up
/ stairs and sent for me. Since then
/ have attended him every day. He was
| suffering from a terrible blow on the.
/ head, which has unfortunately produced
as you see, complete losS ot memory
| There was a brief silence in the room.
] "He had money!" Brooke asked
Tbs yyornau's eyes were suddenly
! ooIJstous- She exchanged a rapid glance
! win the doctor. who coughed and look
e!.Es had money" she admitted slowly
! There is little left now, though We
have taken for his board and the doctor
! has taken for his bills. There is little
hEsin there was silence. The worn-
I an had sided out of the room They
| could hear her heavy footsteps upon the
/ stairs. The doctor was bending over
his patient Brooke turned back TO
I'VE have found Dupoy." he said.
after all, but there are other things
within a week, several things hap,
! aA