The Washington herald., 1914-07-05
toopyTight, lal)
THE HON. ALGERNoN KNOX
glanced arn.fnd irnnatientlY As he

ance as he surveyed the young MAJ
standing at his elbow-a young mar
with high-colored complexion, Semitic
gorgeously but lily dressed.
"Well?" he demanded.
You're Mr.. Knox, aren't you?" tn,
young man inquired eagerly. ~,
IF / am, you have the advantage o.
me-" Knox replied curtly.
MY name is Kohn," the unconsciou!
offender explained. Eugene Kohn
You wouldn't know anything about me
but Miss Maynard sent me over We've
got a table at the side there"
Knox declined to show the slightest
interest in the information.
What is it you want with me?" he
asked.
Miss Maynard wants to speak to you.
She saw you sitting here and sent me
over. She is very much bothered about
little matter, and she thought you
might be able to advise her"
One of Knox's companions leaned
across the table. Daisy Maynard was
John Grinen's pal" he volunteered.
The young man nodded That's SO"
he admitted. "Daisy's in a great state
about his disappearance l had hard
work to get her out tonight at all. Since
she saw Mr.. Knox, she's been bothering
me all the time to come across and fetch
him"
Knox rose slowly to his feet. The af-
fair now was on different footing. Any
friend of John Grinen's was worth talk
ing TO. Only a moment or two ago,
their conversation had been of this man
and his marvellous disappearance at a
critical moment in the history of the
Anaguta tin mine
Where is Miss Maynard?" Knox
asked
Mr.. Eugene Kohn led the way to the
somewhat remote table at which the girl
was eagerly awaiting their coming. She
was, in her way, pretty, but would have
remained unnoticeable but for her fash
ionable clothes and a panor which was
something more than mere pastiness.
Thank YOU for coming, Mr. Knox"
she said quickly. you must sit down
here for a moment, please have some
thing to say to you"
There was only one other chair at the
table, and Knox took it without hesita-
ton. Mr.. Eugene Kohn, after a word
OF protest which nobody needed, drifted
away into the background. The girl
leaned across the table so that her cheek
brushed aaginst the pink-shaded lamp.
1t was obvious that for her Mr.. Eugene
kohn no longer existed.
You can guess why sent for you"
she whispered eagerly. 1T is about Mr..
Grinen. You knew that he was friend
of mine?"
q heard it a few minutes ago." Knox
admitted slowly.
"He was a dear friend. have been
worried to death by all this-even the
reporters and a man from Scotland
Yard. And now" Her voice was
choked for a moment.
Knox spoke to her kindly. IF you
have any information about the affair"
he said, which has not been made
known, l think that you ought to hand
it over at once to the authorities. You
see, this isn't my show at all. I only
got back from the country this morning,
and have scarcely even read the case
from the newspaper standpoint"
''Authorities!" she repeated, IN a
whisper of hoarse disdain. There
aren't any here in the room, are there?
And it is now-this moment-that I've
something to say, something to tell"
Go on, them"
The breath seemed to be drawn back
between her teeth. She spoke not ex-
actly in whisper, but in an undertone,
monotonous yet emotional.
There is some one here-within a !
few yards ef us-who knows all about |
the disappearance of John Grinen-or is
perhaps his murderer Don't look up. !
He may be watching US at this instant" |
Knox did not remove his eyes from i
the girls face. He nodded thoughtfully. |
BE careful" he whispered. Your |
voice is just little hysterical, you know. |
Please eat two mouthfuls and take a |
sip of your wine. Then go on
She obeyed him, and meanwhile Knox
talked lightly of the show m which she
was engaged, the new songs and music,
and the latest gossip about the leading |
lady. Presently she set down her wine
glass empty. Once more she leaned
across the table. "The big man to my
right-at the table against the wall"
Their conversation for few moments |
dealt once more with inanities. Then,
as it dwindled away, Knox glanced
across at the man whom she had indi- !
Gated He was largely built, with a
pink and white face, perfectly |
beardless, yet with the corpulency of |
man past middle age. He was in even
ing dress, with great expanse of white
shirt front, elaborate studs and buttons,
and he wore pumps with silk bows upon