The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-01-04

~Yes. sir" said Wilkins with his
totempole abstraction.
"And what's MORE suddenly cried.
exasperated by that play-acting role
and rising and confronting him as he
stood there, your names not Wilkins,
and you never got that wrist scar
from coach doors.
why not, sir?' he gently and re-
spectfully inquired
Because / cried, stepping still
nearer and watching the immobile
blue-white face, I'm the gang you work
with you're known as Sir Henry, and
you got that cut on the wrist from
a wedge when you tried to blow open
a safe door, and the letters of intro
duction which you brought to the
Whippeny Club were forged by All
expert named Turk McMeekin; and |
know what brought you into this
house and what your plans for rob
bling it arei"
There was not one move of his
black-clad body as he stood there.
There was not one twitch of the mask
face. But out on that face, point by
point, came slow suffusion of some
thing akin to expression 1t was not
fear. To call it fear would be doing
the man an injustice.
For one fraction of a moment the
almost pitiful eyes looked at me with
quick and imploring glance Then
the mask once more descended over
them. He was himself again. And
felt almost sure that in the mellowed
light about us the other two figures
at the table had not seen that face
as | did.
There was, in fact, something almost
as the calm-voiced servant, utterly ig-
nori4g me and my words, turned to
him and asked if he should remove the
things.
You haven't answered the gentle
man. said Beatrice Van Tuyl, in a
voice little shrill with excitement.
What is there to answer, madam"
he mildly asked. IT'S all the young
gentleman's foolishness, some foolish
ness which / can't understand
But the thing can't stand like this
protested the ponderous Van Tuyl.
There must have been something
reassuring to them both in the me
thodic calmness with which this cal
animated factor in their domestic Edrr
moved about once more performing
his petty domestic duties.
Then you deny everything he says
insisted the woman.
The servant stopped and looked up
in mild reproof.
.'Of course, madam" he replied. as
he slowly removed the liqueur glasses
| saw my hostess look after him with
one of her long and distracted glanccs.
She was still pecring into his face as
he stepped back to the table. She was.
indeed, still gazing at him when the
muffled shrill of an electric bell an
nounced there was a caller at the
street door.
Wilkins" she said, almost rumina-
lively, =" / want you to answer the
door-the street door"
"Yes. madam" he answered, with
out hesitation.
The three OF us sat in silence. as
the slow and methodic STEPS crossed
the room, stepped out into the hall, and
advanced to what at least one of US
knew TO be his doom. 1t was Van
Tuyl himself who spoke up out of the
silence
What's up:" he asked. whats he
gone for"
The police are there answered his
wife.
WHAT exclaimed the astounded
husband, now on his feet you don't
mean you've sprung that trap on the
poor devil. YOU"
"Sit down, jim" broke in his wife
with enforced calmness. "Sit down and
wait"
But who's arresting this man? Who's
got the evidence to justify what's be-
ing done here?"
Il have" was the woman's answer.
What do you mean,'
She was very calm about it.
Il mean that Writer was right. My
Baroda pearls and the emerald pen
dant were not in the safe. They're
gone"
They're gone" echoed the incred-
ulous husband.
Listen" | suddenly cried, as Van
Tuyl sat digeSting his discovery We
heard the sound of steps, the slam of
a door, and then the departing hum OF
a motorcar Before / realized what
she was doing Beatrice Van Tuyls
foot was once more on the call bell
A footman answered the summons.
Go to the street door," she COM
manded and see who's there
We waited, listening. The silence
heightened. Something about that ST.
lence impressed me as ominous. We
were still intently listening as the foot
man stepped back into the room.
ITS the chauffeur. sir" he explained.
And what does he want?"
He said Fclicc telephoned for the
car quarter of an hour ago"
Send Felice to me-" commanded my
hostess.
Il don't think can. ma'am. She's
gone in the car with Wilkins"
With Wilkins"
Yes, ma am. Jansen says he can't
make it out. ma'am, Wilkins driving
off that way without so much as a
by your leave, ma am"
The three of us rose as one from
the table. For a second or two we
stood staring at each other.
Then Van Tuyl suddenly Owed for
the stairs, with the napkin full of jew
elry in his hand i, in turn, dived for
the street door. But before l opened
1t | knew IT was too late.
j suddenly stepped back into the
hallway to confront Beatrice Van Tuyl.
How long have you had Felice?" |
asked, cropping impotently about the
hall closet for my hat and coat.
''She came two weeks before VIII
kins,' was the answer.
Then Won dee what this means ~ i