The Washington herald., 1915-01-24

was quite certain that he was not blind
by the twitChing of his eyes as the sun
light blazed on them. That made me
think. Then when l found Hanuman.
pneumatic figure on movable pedestal
What" cried Nikolai-and with one
leap was at the base of the monkeys
. throne.
Yes" said Cleek, '1 soon saw that by
this little knob and tube fitted Just under
the tail. to say nothing of feeling the
stuffed animal for myself. That
! proved to me that some one had fitted
il up so that the debated skin on the
black marble would be invisible. leading
the superstitiOus to believe il they saw
this young gentleman in his monkey
disguise that 1t was indeed the god come
! to life. OF course. it was easy enough
to blow it out again with a good bellows
! afterward. And, added to this, l saw
! that the solid stone pedestal swings
round on a pivot and is partly hollow.
When the followed out side is against
the wall it is easy for a youth of COM
/ paratively small statute, such our
amiable friend here. to crawl into it.
From that convenient cupboard just out
side. and through which, as you see,
he has taken away the panel, to con-
/ ceal himself in the marble-and, hey,
prestO.-rOund it goes. The treasures
were at his mercy. and his blindness
made him practically invulnerable
against suspicion. But this time I should
! say he has failed" He darted back
to the table and opened the cases. dis
/ closing. not only the great Emperor
diamond. but the string Of pearls which
generally hung round Hanuman's neck.
( A sort of groan. half angry, wholly
afraid, broke from Sergiovitch's lips
Cleek turned upon him like a flash.
You were certainly blind this time, my
! friend" said he with A little laugh
"Ar your careful drugCing Of the cigar
and the changed whiskey-all went for
nothing.
| ''Ah. but IT'S easv to reconstruct what
! happened that night. I take II that Mr..
ParavetCh was about as brave a man
as is to he met with in London, and he
guessed human wiCkedness to he at the
bottom Of those monkey tricks Prob
ably it occurred to him that any min
ute he might he shot at from above
and that the thief could make of with
the rings before help came. even though
he risked breaking his neck for them.
Looking all round. he must eventually
have thought Of burying them in that
Ma jOliCa pot Of earth so that they should
he safe. and when the gladioli was re-
pOtted-they would turn up. How do I
know, Mr.. Narkom? Firstly, there were
.
where his fingers had obviously held il,
and some scattered mold on the floor
behind-that and Mr.. Nikolai's scrap OF
paper did the rest.
He must have finished his task and
sat down to a cigar-and was only half
drugged by the opium in it, when round
swung our friend Hanuman and his ped
estal. and in comes our grateful friend
here" His voice stopped and he stood
a moment pinchlng up his chin. Then
Quite a tragic little surprise for both
l parties" he went on quietly. "and 7
don't suppose ii took Monsieur Ivan two
minutes to complete the drugginE OF the
man who had done so much for him.
for this cushion smelt abominably Of
chloroform."
But before he could speak further, Mrs
Paravetch had started forward with
little anguished sob.
But where is he? Where is my nus
band?' she bleated, with a little wall
of despair.
Cleek's face grew little grave. "Ah.
dear lady" said he gently. II told you 7
had not solved all the riddle yet. All I
can tell you at present is that his un-
conscious body was drawn up through
that skylight by the aid of an accom-
plice. and hoisted into a balloon"
Yes. yes-I found the balloon-it had
come down the other side Of Croam-
hurst woods. but absolutely empty.
every one swears to that" struck in the
superintendent agitatedly. his eyes on
Cleeks face.
For moment that gentleman stood
stock still, Pinching up his chin. evident
" under the stress of some emotion.
Then he swOoped down upon Sergiovitch.
and despite his frantic struggles, search
ed the mans pockets. finally uttering
a little yap OF delight like terrier who
H-r FhA 1F - -. t.
tracking. and drew forth a little blue
phiaI marked with the familiar red
label.
That would do IT," he muttered au-
dibly-''blitherinG idiot 7 ami might
have known-Mr. NiSolai. it's just a
chanCe-a faint one. Come Mr.. Narlom
to the limousine. We have work before
us and not too much time to do ii in
With that resistIcss energy 50 thor
oughly characteristic OF him he plunC-
ed down the stairs followed by Mr.. Mark
ON and the almost dazed NikolaI Para
Vetch.
"Forty-two Old Bond street. as fast as
you can streak IT, Lennard." was the
order, and "streak it." Lennard did.
There was no possibility OF speaking 4
word, in the swiftly moving limousine.
and il was considerably under half an
hour when it drew W painting and thrOb-
bing at the curb outside the great fur
riers known as the "AngIo-Russian Fur
Stores" and young ParavetCh's face
took on a mystified look.
This is where my father used to work
when We first came over from Russia
he said quickly. speaking in an excited
tone. they won't know anything about
him now"
But Cleek had swept on TIL he reach
ed the room labeled "WorkroOm." and in
which were several benches. filled with
furs of all animals and all sizes and
shapes.
In one corner Of this strangely fur
nished room, sewing for dear life upon
strip Of black fur and clad IN a leath-
or apron that covered his knees. sat an
old man. needless OF the whispered COM
ments Of his fellow workers. seeing moth
ing. hearing nothing. with his head bent
low over his work.
Nikolai gave sudden cry, broke
through the crowd Of amazed workers
and pelted toward the old man with his
heart in his thankful eyes.
Father
The old man looked up at the sound
Of it. smiled namely. passed a hand
across his forehead as though cropping
back over the hills of memory for some
thing he could not find. and with a half
sti1ed CRY stumbled to his feet and
reached out his trembling old hands.
But CIeek made answer for him. Step
ping up to him he laid a gentle hand
upon the old mans arm and drew the
tired old eyes unconsciously to his.
Quite safe Mr.. Paravetch," said he
softly. Quite safe. How did you come
here? Why. you lost your memory. due