The Washington herald., 1914-12-06

Scotland Yard. The maitre d'hoteI, whom
you will see always lowering round his
table, Is a police agent lent by Bulgaria
For the allies are even more anxious TO
stop the leak than We are. We, are in
terested only as their hosts; with them
IL Is a matter of national life or death. A
week ago one Of our own inspectors tip
ped me on to what is going on, and
every night since then I've dined here,
hoping to see, something suspicious"
Have your asked Sam
only this" whispered Forsythe-"on
four different nights I've recognized men
know are on the STAN Of the Times. and
on the other nights men / don't know
may have been there. But after all that
proves nothing, for this place Il resort
Of newspaper writers and editors-and the
Times mems being here may have been
only a coincidence"
And Hertz" asked Sam-"what does
he do?''
The Englishman exclaimed with irrita-
ton.
Just what you see him doing now?'
he protested. He eats his dinner! Look
at him." he commanded. of all in the
room he's the least concerned"
Sam looked and saw the suspected
Adolf Hertz dangling mass Of maca-
roni on the end OF his fork. Sam watched
him until it disappeared.
Maybe that's a signal" suggested
Sam. Maybe everything he does is part
of a cipher code, He gives the signals
and the Times men read them and write
them down.
"A man would have a fine chance to
write anything down in this ROOM" said
Forsythe.
But maybe" persisted Sam. when he
makes those strange movements with his
lips he is talking to a confederate who
can read the lip language. The cOnfed-
crate writes il down at the office and"
Fantastic and extremely improbabIe!"
commented Forsythe. But, nevertheless.
the fact remains. the fellow does COM
municate with some one from the Times;
and the police are positive he does II
here and that he is doing 1t now"'
The problem that so greatly disturbed
his friend would have more deeply in
terested Sam had the solving OF his own
trouble been less imperative. That alone
filled his mind. And when the coffee was
served and the cigars lit, without beat
ing about the bush Sam asked Forsythe
bluntly il on his paper a rising and i'm
pecunious genius could find a place. With
even less beating about the bush For
sythe assured him he could not The an
swer was final. and the disappointment
was so keen that Sam soon begged his
friend to excuse him, paid his bill, and
rose TO depart
Better watt" urged Forsythe You'll
find nothing so good out at a music hall.
This is Houdini getting out Of his hand
cuffs before an audience entirely com
posed of policemen"
Sam shook his head gloomily.
II have a few handouts OF my own to
get rid Of" he said, and it makes me
poor company"
He bade his friend good night and. pick
ing his way among the tables, moved to-
ward the pillar on which the waiter had
hung his hat. The pillar was the one
beside which Hertz was sitting, and as
Sam approached the man he satisfied his
curiosity by a long look. Under the
glance Hertz lowered his eyes and fxed
them upon his newspaper. Sam retrieved
his hat and left the restaurant
His mind imm ediately was overcast. He
remembered his disappointment and that
the parting between himself and Polly
was now inevitable. Without considering
his direction he turned toward Charing
Cross road. But he was not long allowed
to mediate undisturbed.
He had only crossed the little street
that runs beside the restaurant and
passed into the shadow of the National
Gallery when. at the base of the Irving
Memorial, from each side he was fiercely
attacked. A young man of eminently re-
spectacle appearance kicked his legs
from under him. and another OF equally
impeccable exterior made an honest ef-
fort to knock OF his head.
Sam plunged heavily to the sidewalk.
AS he sprawled forward his hat fell un-
der him and in his struggle to rise was
hidden by the skirts of his greatcoat.
That. also. he had fallen heavily upon
his hat with both knees Sam did not
know. The strange actions Of his assail-
ants enlightened him To his surprise,
instead of continuing their assault or at
tempting a raid upon his pockets. he
found them engaged solely in tugging
at the hat. And so preoccupied were they
in this that, though still on his knees,
Sam was able to land some lusty blows
before a rush OF feet caused the young
men to leap 10 their own and. pursued by
several burly forms. disappear in the
heart OF the traffic.
Sam rose and stood .nsteadily. He
found himself surrounde4 by all OF those
who but a moment before he had left
contentedly dining at Pavonrs. In an ex-
cited circle walters and patrons OF the
restaurant. both men and women, stood
in the falling snow. bareheaded. coatless.
and cloakless, staring at him. Forsythe
pushed them aside and took Sam by the
arm.
What happened?" demanded Sam.
You ought TO know" protested For
sythe You started it, The moment
you left the restaurant two men grab
bed their hats and jumped after you:
dozen other men. without waiting for
hats, jumped after them. The rest OF us
got out just as the two men and the
detectives dived into the traffic.
y big man. with an air of authority.
drew Sam to one side.
Did they take anything from you, sir?''
he asked.
I've nothing they could take" said
Sam. And they didn't try to find out. |
They just knocked me down"
Forsythe turned to the big man.
This gentleman Is friend of mine, !
inspector" he said. He is a stranger |
in town and was at Pavonis only by |
accident"
We might need his testimony" sug-
gested the official.
Sam gave his card to the inspector and |
then sought refuge in a taxicab- For
night
And when next we dine" he called to
him in parting. choose restaurant !
where the detective service is quicker"
Three hours later brushed and repaired !
by Mrs. Wroxton. and again resplendent.
Sam sat in a secluded corner of Deptford |
House and bade Polly a long farewell It
was especially long owing to the unusual
number OF interruptions: for it was evil
dent that Polly had many friends in Lon
don. and that not to know the Richest
One in America and her absurd mother,
and the pompous. self-satisfied father, ar
gued oneself nobody. But finally the
duchess carried Polly on to sup with her;
and as the duchess did not include Sam
In her invitation-at least not in such