The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

himself at bridge or billiards He took
taxieab and drove back to his rooms,
calling. on his way TO see Constance
She looked up at him ominously as he
entered. but he only smiled.
This" he declared. is no idle visit.
Work. Do you know anything about
lDelacher's Hotells
She nodded.
~Goodr Brooke exclaimed There
has been a third dissppearsnee-a
Frenehman this time"
@How did you hear of { s5e asked
quickly.
"a friend of mine" he explained, "a
member Of the government now, has
placed the affair in my hands"
What are you going 10 doa"
81 am going to stay at DelacheFs Ho-
tel" he replied. And you1"
81 am going to finish this typing. Tel
me, before you go, about this man who
has disappeared?"
Brooke impaired to her in few
words all the information he had gained
from Sir William She listened
thoughtfully. When he had finished,
she turned back to her work.
Il wish you luck Don't get into
trouble" she advised him,
Brooke opened his lips, but the click
of the typewriter drowned his words.
He moved slowly away. At the door
he looked back Constance was ab-
sorbed in her work
An hour later he made his way to
Charing Cross and, waiting until the
arrival of the Continental train. min
gled with the little stream of alighting
passengers and took a taxicab to De-
lacher's Hotel. A hall porter received
his bag and ushered him in.
Brooke, whose French was perfect,
asked for room in the name of Mon
sieur Dupoy The clerk stared at him
for moment. The head porter, with
black mustache, also leaned forward
with interest.
Monsieur Dupoyi" the clerk re-
peated, with the pen in his hand
Brooke nodded, and glanced around
as though to make sure that no one
else was within hearing.
"To tell you the truth" he an
nounced, Il come here on behalf of the
family. Only the week before last, a
cousin of mine was staying in this same
hotel He was to have returned to
Paris last Friday week. He did not
arrive. We have sent him many mes
sages and letters. There has been no
reply. It was arranged that / should
come over to make inquiries"
"We have already written" the clerk
remarked, informing Nine. Dupoy
that her husband left here on the Fri
day morning. for the purpose, he said,
of buying her a present He did not
return. He had so little luggage and
we imagined he had been kept until the
last moment and then had. taken the
train without it, sooner than be de-
layed."
Brooke nodded. ......
up till last night" he declared, with
little gesture, my cousin had not re-
turned Therefore, 1 am here. Give me
room. I do not know what can do,
but we shall see. One must try the po-
lice"
The clerk handed him a round ticket
you can have the room which your
cousin occupied, Monsieur Dupoy," he
said-'No 3S7, on the third floor. As
to the police, it is, of course, your sf-
fair, but 1 trust you are satisfied that
nothing happened to Monsieur Dupoy
under this roof?"
Entirely" Brooke replied. "All the
evidence goes to show that he left here,
as you have told me, to buy this pres
ent"
Brooke was ushered to the elevator
Until he disappeared, he noticed that
the head porter was watching him with
ill-concealed curiosity. He was shown
into an ordinary hotel bedroom on the
third floor, with an outlook on the
Thames.
The furniture was of the plainest, and
there was no communicating door, into
any other room. Brooke opened his
bag, took out his clothes, and glanced
at his watch. 1t was quarter to eight
He decided to dine in the restaurant
down stairs without changing, apd ac-
cordingly rang the bell and ordered
some hot water. The chambermaid
wished him good evening pleasantly.
He slipped half crown into her hand.
81 may leave at any moment" he ex-
planned Il give you this now"
She grabbed the money and beamed
at him.
"The gentleman is very gracious" "
she declared, with strong German ac-
cent.
Brooke broke into fluent German.
"You knew the occupant of this
ROOM" he inquired, who was here the
week before last-Monsieur Dupoy%
She nodded.
@He left his bag behind him." she
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