The Washington herald., 1914-03-22
Howl"
an a taxi, sir. l called IT,"

did you hear the address he gave?"
His own address in the Belgrav.
Road, sir"
$50 Ragtar has gone home" mur.
INJURED Mr.. Captain to himself, before
asking for another number. In a few
minutes he was speaking again to thai
interchangeable officer.
Il am coming-to see you"
| Il am delighted, l am sure" replied
the smooth voice.
Mr.. Captain went out, and strolled
leisurely, by way of the Mall, cast Buck
ingham Palace and Victoria, to the
Bclgrave Road.
1t is now nearly o'clock. Ragtar
was in, refreshing himself with a cup
of tea and a caviare sandwich. He
received the visitor suavely.
Il have seen her majesty"
"Of course, since she sent for you. "
"She asks me TO raise a loan"
That is what we are il the service
for"
"You are on an enterprise at the
moment"
Il am on an enterprise" replied Rag
tar jealousy.
"Will you not tell me of it? Explain
your methods? am, as the queen re-
minded me, merely Z recruit"
And he was very humble man.
q never talk" replied Ragtar. You
must do your own work, my friend"
q see" replied Captain, that /
must"
You can draw from the resources
of our army, of our Hundreds and
Thousands, to carry out any idea You
know this. You have only to ask Com
mander Bourbon. at present in con-
troll of the London depot. He recog-
nizes, as l do, that you show great
promise"
Il am grateful" said Mr.. Captain,
holding out his hand. Outside the
house he hesitated but the fraction of
minute-long enough to signal the
nearest taxicab.
Drive to Clarkson's, and drive like
blazes."
1t was a quarter to nine when there
fingered in Belgrave Road a dark
haired young man with a slight mus
tachc, hooked nose, monocle, and
limp. He walked slowly up and down
for some twenty minutes, until short
man emerged from an opposite house,
hailed a taxicab, and drove away. A
second taXicab which had been waiting
in the road higher up, now darted for
ward, cngulfed the man with the mon
oclc, and followed the first cab. They
passed Victoria, sped up Grosvenor
Place. Park Lane, Orchard street. until
the first cab stopped at house in one
OF the turnings off Baker street. The
second cab ran by, then in a few min
utes turned, and also drew up before
the house The monocled man. alight-
ed, dismissed his cab. and rang the bell.
A footman admitted him, and looked
him over carefully, hesitating. The
monocled man did not hesitate. He gave
his hat and coat to the footman, lis
tened acutely but imperceptibly for a
moment, heard the sound of voices
from above the brilliantly lighted stairs,
and assembled with the air of one thor
oughly assured. At the top on the left
was a door, behind which a hum of
voices rose now and again, a sharp
word or two mechanically punctuating
the hum. The newcomer opened the
door. and entering with the same as
sured air, closed it behind him and
came forward.
Roulette was in full swing. There
were two tables.
Ragtar was there, standing behind
the chair of woman who wore ropes
of pearls, and now and again bending
down to speak in her car. She nodded
and smiled to him absently as she
played. A stolid, careful man near
them was now and again placing the |
lowest possible stake on the table. In |
the intervals of play he looked at peo-
pie, and his gaze, with a piercing quail |
ity in it, met the newcomers and was
at once Withdrawn. All these things |
the monocled young man observed, say
ing to himself of the object of Rag
tar's attention: "The Princess of Rad
z;wan and her pearls! Does the prince |
know" And Of the careful player /
Are you here on the straight, my /;
friend ?"-before one of the proprietors,
stepping up to him, asked:
"Sir, we have not had the pleasure of |
seeing you here before tonight"
NO" He took out heavily en-
Dossed card case, and handed his ref
srence. The proprietor read "Sir Will
am Williams" His face broke into
suave smile. |
"Ahl That is all right, Si- William
You will understand that little eau
ion"
as necessary, by Jove!a
Il understood that you we're off on