The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-02

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behind his writing table. and
shooting out his right hand he
pressed an elecric bell.
With startling suddenness,
panel disappeared noiseiessly into
the wall. and In the aperture SO
formed q good looking young man
stood Smiling.
My secretary. Monsieur lie Sem
atepr-my secretary. who Is also
my nephew"
The Senator rose and bowed.
Andre? Please say that | am
not to be disturbed till this gem
tleman's visit is concluded" The
young man nodded; and then he
withdrew as quickly. as silently,
as he had appeared; and the panel
slipped nOiselessly back behind
him.
And now tell me exactly what
It Is that you wish me to do for
you," said the Project. We are
not as omnipOtent as our enemies
make US out TO be, but still we
can do a good deal. and we could
do a great deal more were it not
for the newspapers"
Senator Barton nodded gravely.
He wished his son were there to
hear these words.
And now let us return to our
notions" said the Project. lean
ing forward. II understand from
the President of the Senate that
you require my help in a rather
delicate and mysterious matter"
Il do not know that the matter
is particularly delicate, though Il
is certainly mysterious, and then
Senator Barton explained the
business which had brought him
there.
The story you have told me-"
the Project said at last, lis a very
curious story, Monsieur lie Sena-
teur. / gather that the vanished
mans wife is a charming per-
SOM"
Extremely charmingl" said
the Senator quickly. And 1
should say quite truthful-in fact
this discrepancy between her ac-
count and that of the Poulains
has worried and perplexed me
very much"
DO not let that worry YOU"
said the other thoughtfuIly. IF
this young lady be telling the
truth IL is very probable that the
Poulains began to lie in the hope
of avoiding. trouble for them
selves: having lied they found
themselves obliged to stick to
their story. You see. just now
our hotel-keepers are coming
gold, and they do not like this
very pleasant occupation of
theirs interrupted. for even the
best of reasons. / therefore advise
that We put them and their ac-
count of what took place out of
our minds. From what you tell
me, you have already done what
l may call the usual things?"
YES" said Senator Marion
frankly. MY son and have
done everything which common
sense could suggest to us. But
l do not feel quite sure even now
that the missing man did not
meet with a street accident"
81 can ascertain that for you in
a moment"
Again the Project pressed a
pedal. A panel slid back, and
again the secretary appeared.
Monsieur Beaucourt said a
bAtCA WIN VI WV gnu ACW
ments later a tabulated list lay
before him.
Here are all the accidents
which have occurred I'm Paris dur
ing the last ninety hours"
He ran his eyes down the list;
and then. rising, handed the
sheets to Senator Barton.
Il think this disposes of the
idea that an accident may have
befallen your friend in the
Streets" said the Project. THE
best thing you and / can do is to
look at the artists dossier. That
is quite likely to provide us with
a useful clue"
The Senator felt a thrill of an
ticipatory interest. All his life
he had heard of the dossiers kept
by the Paris police, of how every
dweller in the great city, however
famous, however obscure, had a
record In which the most intimate
details of their lives were set
down In black and white. Some
how he had never quite believed
in these French police dosiers.
Surely you are not likely to
have a dossier of Mr.. Dampier2 ?"
he exclaimed "be is British
subject. and, as far as | know,
a perfectly respectable man."