Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1915-10-02

ty inquired anxiously.
mo. l must get back"
more than likely he Is waiting for
you in some doorway, right now, sir"
Christy pleaded HE and many of
the others know that 1t is your habit
to go out nights after we close, even
though they have no idea where
you co."
Crewe's reply was a light laugh as
he rose to his feet prepared to take
his departure.
"Don't fear for me, lad. am like
Napoleon in that have work to do
and / know that l will remain un-
harmed until it is done. Good night"
"Just one moment, please. l have
watched that man every time he has
been here. I have studied him as you
have taught me to study all of Them"
Christy said eagerly.
"Well, what of 1t, lad?"
"He will not attack you openly. He
will not shoot or stab. He belongs to
that sect in India which are called
Strangers. He will creep upon you
from behind and use the cord"
II know, Christy; I know! But 1
won't give him chance. Good
night"
Outside in the street, Crewe moved
swiftly and warily, with every sense
alert, for he was well aware that
Christy's fears were by no means
groundless and he had not a doubt
that Sindahr was even then waiting
for his approach somewhere between
the cafe and the square.
In passing along the last block be-
fore arriving at the square he watch
ed every shadowy point narrowly, and
when he was within few doors from
the corner his vigilance was rewarded
there was blacker smudge against
one of the black recesses as he
passed it.
Crewe took two more steps, then
turned swiftly - and the figure of a
man tried to step backward into the
concealment from which it had partly
emerged.
Come out here, Sindahr," Crewe
ordered calmly. II shall not harm
you for what you would have done;
but I want to talk to you"
Sindahr came slowly and reluctant.
ly forward, his teeth cleaning in a
ordnance which was intended to be
an ingratiating smile, but which, in
the fear that gripped him, was only a
contortion of his face.
II was waiting to speak with you,
Crewe," he said, but his voice trem-
bled. He was in deadly fear of Crewe
since the latter had so mysteriously
discovered his theft.
ooh, yes; / know all about that!"
Crewe replied with shrug. you
were waiting here to strange me-
but that doesn't matter. Give me that
cord. know that you can make an
other like it, but I prefer to take this
one as a memento of the occasion;
and some day when you are on trial
for murder, as you surely will be,
shall offer 1t in evidence against you
Give it up"
With hands that trembled in abject
fear now, Sindahr gave the deadly
braided cord into Crewe's outstretch.
ed palm; and Crewe, as If the Incl
dent were forgotten, said:
walk with me across the park"
A moment later, as they walked on,
side by side, he added: "You are
clever man, Sindahr. You live your
daily life in half disguise, and you
do your slickest work without any
disguise at all save the partial whit
ening of your hair and mustache. No
wonder that Muchmore had no
thought of recognizing you when he
saw you for the second time tonight.
What puzzles me Is how you stick
that imperial to your chin so that II
looks SO natural; 1t looks as If it
grew there"
"Ah," the Oriental replied with
pride, ut is preparation of my own;
the result of long study. You could
pull tit would not come off; you
could jerk tit would be the same.
Then. with the imperial gone,
there is preparation of chalk and
bismuth and glycerine and rose-water,
which whitens the hair to a silvery
gray, and which does not rub off,
which is affected by neither comb nor
brush-and with the imperial gone,
with the preparation on my hair and
mustache, behold! I am transformed
at once to the Count Sucini."
Crewe stopped at the north side of
the square.
II shall have other work for you
to do soon as Count Suoini," he said.
Il do not put any trust in you, but
you will not fail me. for your own
sake"
ooh, no, no, no! I will serve you
gladly. But the great cameo, Crewe.
Do you know its wonderful value?"
Certainly"
"You intend to keep 1t all for your
self"
mo. Some day will return 1t to
its rightful owner-we will say be-
cause IL Is an heirloom, and because