The Washington herald., 1914-12-06
ICnpHrirht. l9li.l

= second when CIeek opened tht
door Of the bar parlor of the Blue Egl
and stepped in, arrayed in boating fan
neIs- and wearing a wig and musti1che OF
Saxon fairness-loOking, In fact, very
much like a varsity student who had
come in from an~hour's pull on the river.
The note which had called him here
was from Mr.. Nsrkom: therefore he was
not surprised at finding that gentlemen
awaiting him; but it must be confessed
that ne was a little surprised at not find
ing him alone, for he had imagined-as
the Superintendent had mentioned that II
was a matter Of extreme privacy and
vet of a most urgent character-that
there would be much to be discussed be-
tween them before the advent of a third
party And 10! here was NarkOm sitting
down to tea in company with an exceed
ingly handsome young fellow of about
five-and-twenty, while a young lady In
fashionable attire-albeit the color and
material were those of mourning-pre-
sided over the teapot, as IL this were a
quiet afternoon social event instead OF
secret council for the purpose OF dis
cussing crime.
Narkom, who was just in the act OF
setting down a filled teacup before the
one empty seat at the little square table,
looked up and nodded as Cleek came in.
See how cocksure your invariable
punctuality has made me, you abnor-
NAL beggar," he laughed. Il was SO
certain you would be here. on the very
stroke of the hour made Miss Arbuth-
not fill your cup. and1here it is, all ready
and waiting for you"
VERY kind and thoughtful Of you, !
am sure, Mr.. Narkom," said Cleek as
he advanced toward the empty chair
which the superintendent drew out for
him. But If | am to make one at
tea party, may / ask the honor OF an
introduction? ! fancy it will put me
more at my case
"As II 1t needed that! never saw
such a fellow; you are at your ease
upon all occasions. Nothing and no
body seems to fiuster you. But. however
let me have the pleasure OF introducing
YOU to Miss Arbuthnot and her fiance,
Lord st. Just. They seek your service
in unraveling a very complicated and
extremely mystifying AFFAIR, Cleck; and
as il is of the utmost Importance that
nobody should know this step has been
taken and nobody has the slightest sus-
picion that\ the authorities have been
consulted and a detective put upon the
case, it was necessary that this inter
view should take place at some out-of-
the-way spot where neither is known:
hence, the Blue Egg and the wilds' OF
Thames DittOn."
i see.' said CIeek, after he had ac-
knowledged the introduction and Incl
dentaIly concluded that he had seen
palmer women who attracted him more
than Kate ArbuthnOt did. for all her
charm of manner and her undeniable
beauty. Still, I am very glad that it
did. It gave me the opportunity OF
spending a day on the river and an eX-
cuse TO hunt malloWs and marsh mari
Colds on its banks instead of moping
about in town. have found some
glorious specimens. The landlady is
packing them up for me to take home
when / return"
Miss Arbuthnot arched her dark eye
brows. looked at him, and looked down
into her teacup. Detectives who spent
their time scrambling ABOUT river banks
in quest of wild flowers did not strike her
as being likely to amount TO much in
their special line. But whether that re-
Election gratified or distressed her II
was impossible TO say. for her face told
nothing. She was either one OF those
women who have a strong hold over their
feelings. a power of repressing all out
ward show Of them, or she was utterly
without any-a mere cold, human statue
as Unconditional as she as beautiful. On
the other hand, her fiance was all nerves
and eagerness like bloOded horse that
had been badly trained. Cleek was not
at All sure lndl ne llhtu II uSN-
ed him, for at closer range his good
looks were marred by the eyes being set
too close together circumstance which
lent themsa sort of foxy look and pro-
claimed a man who was not at all likely
to give two pence for a thing if he could
get it for a penny-three-farthings.
"Hum-mr' was Cleek's silent comment
as he dropped into the waiting chair.
A Scotchman, with all the thrift and
% Of A
to a goosequiIl there will be money at
the root of this case; and his young
lOrdship is deeply interested in that point
if in no other"
He was quite correct In that surmise. |
as he learned moment later; but IT |
must be admitted that he was not pre- |
pared to have the young man SO freely |
and openly admit it.
Il say, you know. Mr.. Cleek, you're |
not a bit like what I had pictured you,"
confessed his lordship. IF 1 were out
cunning for detectives I'd never take !
a shot at you, b'gRd. STILL there's your |
record to vouch for you-can't go be- |
hind that, I only hope you will live
up to it in this case. for there's a pot |
of money at the bottom OF it, and /
may tell you frankly that that means |
all the world to Miss Arbuthnot and
me"
Indeed! May I mcguire how and
why"
Yes; certainly. You see, we've been
engaged for years-ever since We were
kiddies, in fact-but we've both been
too poor to dream Of marriage, much
and deeply as we both have desired it.
But now that there's a chance-now that
Miss Arbuthnot has come in for a life
interest in a whacking big fortune
well, you know how it is; we don't want
to be done out Of the fulfIment Of our
dreams"
Naturally. An is there a chance that
this may possibly occur?'
Yes, a very great chance. So great
that IL you don't get at the bottom of
the mystery and avert that chance for
ever, God knows what mysteries the fU-
ture may hold for US. Besides, there's
another point to be taken into considera-
tion. 1t would be bad enough to lose
my dream, Mr.. Cleek. but it would be
million times worse if-ir'- His voice
sank, the sharp, foXy-looking eyes soft
ened and fixed themselves upon Miss Ar
buthnot with an expression Of alteration.
Il could stand the loss of the money,
the death of my hopes, no matter how
hard and disappointing 1t would be, but
il anything should happen to her, il
her life should be attacked. and sacri-
feed. like those others Good heavens,
it won't bear thinking over; it's too hor-
rible. That's what I dread the most;
that's why / have fought and pleaded,
until have succeeded, to have my way
and get you to take up the case, that
neither her dear life nor my happiness
should be destroyed
Fought and plsaded"' repeated Cleek
Fought and pleaded with whom, your