The Washington herald., 1914-07-05
his small feet. In hi, right hand h. held

II 10 yonn Srinen mySciI-on MS olIth-
day.
at is of a common type" Knox re-
marked doubtfulIy. Il have seen many
like it."
Not exactly" she insisted. There
wasn't another like it at Aspreys. You
see what queer color the stone is? Be-
sides that-it's bent at the top. couldn't
mistake it. John Grinen gave me some
dinner in the Carlton grillroom the
evening he disappeared, and drove me
to the theater afterward. He had that
pencil in his possession then"
Knox lit a cigarette carefully. All the
time his brain was working. The girl
was in earnest, he decided, and was
telling the truth. The conviction seized
him that he was actually within a few
feet of the one man who could solve the
mystery which was puzzling all Lon
don.
DO l understand you," he asked be-
meath his breath. that you do not know
who the man is?"
Il have never seen him before in my
life" she murmured.
He is stranger here" Knox con-
tinued. That goes for nothing. Listen
now, Miss Maynard While l am here,
since you have broached this subject at
aldo you know anything else about
John Grinen's disappearance?
The girl looked at her questioner quite
steadily for a moment All around them
were the soft rise and fall of voices, lit
tie peals of laughter, the popping of
corks, the subdued clatter of crockery,
and in front of Knox the girls face,
lifted for once in her life from the COM
monplace, transfgured by some nerve
tearing emotion. Knox leaned closer
toward her. you know" he declared,
with his eyes fixed upon hers, you
know where John Grinen isr
His words, or rather their effect upon
her, seemed electrical.
Don't be ridiculous T. she exclaimed.
IF l knew, what do you suppose l sent
Eugene for you for?" Her voice was
raised. Subdued though II still was, it
sounded almost shriIl. For the first
time the big man glanced toward them.
There is no need" Knox remarked
coolly, as he rose to his feet, TO make
Mr.. Kohn jealous. Perhaps on your
way out you will stop and say good
night. may have something else to
tell you"
She accepted his departure, and the
young man, who had been lowering
close at hand, took his place. Knox
sent for his friend the director of the
rooms, and engaged him in conversation.
All that Alphonse, best informed of
maitres d'hotel, could tell, however, was
on this occasion slight The name of
the large gentleman was Fields. He
was either an American or a South
American. He had a suite in the resi-
dental portion of the hotel, and he was
of the order OF those who understood
which from the maitre d'hoters point of
view meant that he understood how to
order food and wine and the proper
manner in which those who dispensed
these things should be approached.
Nothing morel
Presently, just as the lights were low
cred, the person in question departed
large, opulent, well turned out-passing
the round table near the door without
glance, carrying himself, notwithstand-
ing his size, with certain distinction.
The moment he was out of sight Knox
rose and walked swiftly to the table
which he had just vacated. A waiter
was already commencing to clear away.
Knox slipped half crown into his hand.
"Pick up those scraps of paper from
the floor," he ordered swiftly. "Quickl"
The waiter stopped to obey. Knox
himself commenced to collect some
fragments which still remained upon the
table. Suddenly he was interrupted.
What the devil are you doing, sir"
Notwithstanding the expletive, the
tone of the large man-who had re-
turned so unexpectedly-was measured
and self-contained. a
Knox was not in the least in love with
the situation. The waiter was dumb
founded.
May / ask" the large man continued,
the nature of your interest in my af-
fairs?"
What do you mean2" Knox inquired
DOLLY.
Il mean, sir" the other replied, that
shall be glad of an immediate explain
alton as 10 your presence here at the
table which | have just vacated and
what the mischief you mean by gather
ing up the scraps of paper i left be-
hindu" Il
Knox dropped his eyeglasses. He
looked very young and very foolish.
His drawl was more pronounced than
usual. Sorry" he said briefly. Your !.
fault, all the same, you know. You
shouldn't firt in a public place with a
girl who IS stranger to you" Il
Il don't think you are quite well,
young man." Mr.. Fields declared slowly.
"Oh, I'm all right% Knox retorted,
with the air of one to whom a righteous
cause gives confidence Il saw you look
ing at the young lady to your left when
EVER you thought l wasn't noticing. You