The Washington herald., 1914-10-11


( The steamer was within forty yards
tof the dock, and the only open space
around was the space which had been
( left for her to clear. Two sailors dived,
and a dozen boats were in the water
within FIVE minutes. Nevertheless, the
] passengers were obliged 10 disembark
/ without learning what had become of
their, late steamer companion.
I Constance arrived punctually at the
( Waldorf on the following morning.
! Brooke led her to the table which he
had reserved and watched the color
stream into her cheeks as she bent over
tn roses which were lying by her plate.
well" he announced eheerfully.
I've ordered luncheon-all manner of
weird dishes, with Just one or two we
are sure of. / didn't order champagne
because thought you'd prefer that for
! dinner"
What do you mean'' she asked,
half Indignantly.
Never mind" he replied. Il can
see you are bubbhng over with ques-
tons Read the papers this morning.
She shook her head.
1--WE been too busy"
Then I'll have to tell you a few
I facts FIRST" he said. The whole af-
fair hinges around the great struggle
between Gordon Black and Seth Pryor.
Black stepped over the line a bit and
had to leave the country. The doeu-
ments which would have incriminated
him were in England
| ( Blessing went over, as Pryor's agent,
\ to buy them. Our little friend. DR..
Browning, who has a dozen aliases, and
who is more wanted by the New York
police than any other man on earth.
was also on to the game, only what
he wanted was to steal the papers. Very
we'll Blessing gets them Gordon
! Black, acting on a hint he received
from New York, sails for home.
"Dr. Browning-Tim, the New York
police call him-books on the same
steamer. Tim murders Blessing and
gets hold of the documents. Having
got them, he tries to think out the safest
way to make use of them. Blessing
was murdered outside his door. On the
whole, it is safer for him to land in
New York without those documents
IN his possession.
"He pitches on the most ingenious
looking of his feIlow-passengers and
hands them over to me to take care OF.
| One or two little things about the man,
however, during the last few days, gave
me to think, as one says watched
him like lynx for the last twenty-four
! hours and was convinced that he was
shamning. The rest is obvious"
And what about Mr.. Gordon
Black?" she asked.
Therein" Brooke replied, lies the
humor OF the situation, If one can use
such word at all IN connection with
the affair The two great factions
headed by Black and Seth Pryor made
peace one lday last week. The docu-
ments for which our little friend hoped
to. get, SI,oooooo, and for which Mr..
Black had actually bid E2S.ooo, are
vslueless. Quite dramatic little busi-
ness, wasn't it," -
What about the note which you saw
Mr.. Gordon Black receive on deck?"
That was from Browning, although
he didn't sign il" Brooke explained.
1T was just little reminder that those
documents were still in existence"
There isn't anything in life" she
said softly, so wonderful as to realize
these things going on around you; to
watch other people and wonder what
secrets they are carrying about with
them" !
I'm glad you feel like that" Brooke
answered, because that sort of thing
is bit of hobby of mine, too. Found
another post yeti"
Not yet"
81 offer you one," he declared, filling
her glass with hook. Secretary, COM
panion, and"
She put out her hand, checking him,
as if his words had smitten her with
poignant edge.
No, no" she pleaded, her soft eyes
appealing to him sorrowfully; wait
please wait
He lapsed into thoughtful silence.
Perhaps he was pushing the matter rath-
er indelicately, somewhat hastily. So
he reasoned, after a minutes cogltstlon.
Better wait, indeed, than ruin It all.
You had joined Blessing said he
slowly, looking at her with frank d.
rectness, "and meant to help him IN has
detective work"
She nodded. the flush Of excitement.
due to the crisis which she had STAYED
off, Frightening her cheeks and lips.
Brooke wanted to kiss her. He wanted
to tell her So But it might be wiser
of course, it would be wIser-to wait.
He leaned his elbows on the table,
talking across 70 her conhdentially.
What do you say to a partnership
business-with me as the other mem
Der of the firm" he suggested Let's
open a detective bureau IN London
there's a world of work warrington
equal terms.
She shook her head. 'I have no capi-
tai for such a venture" said she. Il
must stay here and fight"
YOU have your brains and your
typewriter" said he, his face glowing
with the heat Of his new idea. you
can't remain here friendless, with no
business connection, you know. Say
that you'll put your typewriter and
business experience against my capital
and join the venture"
There's great feld-with your we'll
known talent as business asset" she
admitted, catching some of his FIRE.
Then let's call it doneP he ex-
claimed. "WeIl return by the next
steamer, and I'll have you near me, at
least, while -" he caught himself,
his face paling, as If afraid.
"While you? she smiled.
Wait" said he.
She offered her hand. "a strictly
business partnership, Mr.. Brooke" she
blushed. And you must promise me
not to mention-not toto" There
was a supplication almost painful IN
L.