Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-24

the man who read you wireless mes
sage right Off the reel"
Rutherford nodded. He noticed the
other man hitch his chair nearer the bed.
Crowder evidently was keen upon the
scent
THE banker told you that this message
was for the secret service man on
board?" Crowder continued.
That's what he said"
We'll, Sims here was a special detail,
on board the Gothic, though l didn't
know it at the time"
Sims shook his head.
II never got the message or any mes
saEe like it-and II there was one there
ought to have been more about this neck
lace-and never heard about such a mes
SAGE until | got to headquarters.'
you sure of that7" Rutherford de-
manded.
Positive" was the reply.
Rutherford looked at Crowder What
do you make OF it7" he asked.
"Why, It's easy" affirmed Crowder
"Ilelderman invented that message out of
the whole cloth; that's what l told you
at the time. And Sims Is right. SO long
as Sims didn't answer, Berlin would have
sent another message to be sure, Helder-
man invented It,"
What for?" exclaimed craig.
wasn't suspicion directed pretty
pontedly at a couple OF passengers on
that ship?"
Rutherford was silent. He seemed to
sense danger that was creeping up on
Miss Ballantyne. The very fact that he
distrusted her made him the more wary
of letting any chance word escape that
would incrminate her. Mistaking his
silence for natural bewilderment'
Crowder continued:
II have since learned that n Mr.. and
Mrs. Talcott we're generally believed to
be the smugglers. AS 1t turned out. they
had nothing about them that suggested
an evasion of the customs
Rutherford was secretly rejoiced that
their skirts were at last clear of any lin-
gerlng doubt in this respect, but new
cause for wonder presented itself.
"But why should such report have
been circulated at all-and who could
have been interested in IT," he ques-
toned.
"ft was all part of a shrewd scheme
by your friend Helderman. He was
afraid the Secret Service men might
have just such n message, and he started
It on his own account-to divert suspi-
clon--from himself!'
"Then Helderman's a smuggler?" quer-
led Craig.
II DelleNc you, WAS lne piliS ltPiN wv
Secret Service man Vouchsafed. Then he
turned and asked. unexpectedly "Who
did you up, Mr.. Rutherford?'
"Helderman"
1t was Crowders turn to jump. He
looked at Rutherford quickly, to see II
this undue excitement were going to his
head But the sick man looked sane
enough, and very much in earnest.
You don't mean that" said Crowdcr,
quietly.
"I lust do!'' Craig affirmed
"You fly off. one minute. because we
suspect Hederman of a big smuggling
Eame-and in the next breath you accuse
him of common. low-down burElary-for
that's what the clerk downstairs said 1t
was How do you make that out. Mr..
Rutherford"
"It does seem queer and Inconsistent,
but don't accuse Helderman of burglary
in the common sense OF the term. I
think he's after something he thinks l
have-but he didn't get it,
"He entered secretly?'
ives. He chloroformed my man, and
probably took his key"
"Your man?' Crowder leaned over to
whisper his question.
Mikes as true as steel" Rutherford
asserted.
what time was this?"
"At 2 o'clock in the morning" an
swered Craig.
"At . o'clock. night before last?' re-
peated the Secret Service man. in un-
disguised astonishment.
q oIr