The Washington herald., 1914-04-19

Charles had reached the door and saw
on the floor near it a scrap OF paper-s
| leaf torn from a notebook.
He bent down quickly, picked it up
and went out.
Only outside the door did he examine
it. thus showing the acumen of more
than novice at the game. On one side
il was addressed simply to:
"CHARLES"
in large letters to catch his eye. That
side had lain uppermost. On the other
side was scribbled:
Tell the manager Anna Stuart wants
you to use private telephone. Telephone
to HILBERT, Ritz Hotel. hat picture he
wants can't he bought from van Kiet.
hut only from people who won't touch
dealers. Tell him MaXim's private room
at five o'clock. and ask there for Anna
Stuart"
The young man ran downstairs and
sought the manager When he had de-
livered the message. answered various
questions OF the millionaire at the other
end. and confirmed the appointment, he
ordered a bottle OF champagne, and
carried a tray upstairs himself. Anna
and van Kiet still sat at the table and
never had the young woman, in Charles
experience, looked more alluring. She
cried:
Goodness. what a time you've been
You've brought champagne. haven't
YOU? We've settled the business. He
buys the Damsel at 10000 and a cheap
thing she is, too. He knows she Is
cheap"
Van Kiet did He counted out the
notes. rolled up the picture again in
brown paper. and drank Anna's health.
They all drunk each others health. 1t
was a cordial affair.
They went downstairs together. One
taxicab was passing at the moment. and
Charles hailed it for Annas benefit. \
loaicr. hollow faced and blear eyed.
stole up. hoping to open the door, and
kept lowering near on curious encOur-
aging glance from the tail OF Anna's 5
eve Van kiet said he should walk 10
Piccadilly Circus and take the tube to
Dover street. He was going straight
to the Ritz. He saw Anna and Charles
into :heir cab, and she pressed his hand
with her little lte-gloved one.
"Good-by. You have made one good
bargain and | hope you make another" ="
Il hope so. miss, thank you.' replied
the dealer, striding away Anna leaned
over her side OF the cab-which was
open-and beaming with kindliness.
dropped a coin into the ready hand OF
the loafer who had hoped to open the
door. And she also said to him, very
low and swiftly:
You saw the gentleman who has Just
walked away with a brown paper roll in
his hand II that parcel was stolen
from him he could not raise any fuss.
He is obliged to keep quiet. And If YOU
get il before he reaches PiCcadilly Cir
Gus tube, and drop It into this cab which
will come along shortly. you shall have
& handed to YOU instantly
She opened her hand for one second,
showed gold. leaned back. and gave the
order through the speaking tube:
Drive very slowly toward the Cir
Gus.
The loafcr had melted away. They
drove very leisurely into Coventry street.
Her eyes darted right and left. and in a
few moments. during which they Crawled
a long. she saw coming at smart walk
that approached a run as nearly as was
safe. a Iank and ragged form that. espy-
InC them suddenly, dashed at their cab.
\ roll OF brown paper dropped on her lap.
a painted: Quick. Idly. for Gawd's sike,
Two or free people soT - burst from
him. Five sOvereiEns changed hands
All this in the thick crawling traffic at
the corner with other pedestrians ven
turing into the road and dartinG back,
was hardly remarkable.
Anna gave a sharp order through the
tube.
Down the Haymarket-along the
Mall
Traffic moved on with a rush. and she
pointed out TO Charles the tense figure Of
van Kiet hurrying back in his tracks. in
tent on pursuit He did not look into any
Of the many taXiCahS that fed by him,
but scanned the pedestrians on the pave
ment.
Anna leaned hack comfortably.
Now" she said. as they turned into
the Mall. there is the sale to arrange
with Hilbert
And then asked Mr.. Captain.
The picture should. morally. be re-
turned TO the Louvre. The reward is a
fairly good one. II is not by despising
the small things that one gets on in
life" And again Anna StUarts virtuoUs
expression was very piquant. What is
the time
Nearly ; o'clock"
Take me To tea somewhere"