The Washington herald., 1915-01-03

] QlNlne QlSOTQer WnlCn Is always SuppOSCu
to indicate the proximity of the artistic
| temperament Music was scattered about
on every chair. every table, and in ono
| of the deep armchairs sat a man, his
dark head bowed on his massive shoul-
| ders. his eyes gazing out almost Vacantly
across the wide eXpanse OF sky visible
| through the long window, while up and
down the center of the room, lighter and
more effeminate in build. with fair hair
and long curling mustaches, paced an
] other man-restlessly.
Il thought you were never coming. Mr..
! Narkom,' the man exclaimed vehement
| ~. Then. as he looked at CIeck. he
! Growncd and this gentleman, here?'
One Of the Yards best men, NJ Para
dine-Mr Headland," interposed Mr.. Mar
kom. "Headland. this is Mr.. Paradinc,
Pcrhaps-M. Boronoff would speak to US"
4 look OF intense worship overspread
the mans face. 1t was veritably trans
figured.
Il will see," said he. and took a step
| forward. his hand resting on BoronOff' s
shoulder.
..Sascha," His tone was infinitely ca
rcssing. infinitely tender Sascha, the de
teCtive has come. Can yOu-will YOU
The man in the chair sat up suddenly
and pulled himself together with an eff
fort
Gentlemen" said he, in a low. broken
voice. you must pardon me. that l do
not notiCe-I-am brOken-heartCd, desc
late. My violin. it is dearer TO me Zan
my Country-anything-n child could be
more precious. | cannot, will not play a
note on any ozzer. not note. messieurs
and now. ii is gone-gone.-and the poor
Young man who guarded it-dead. No
doubt life was sweet to him. too" He
made a gesture with his hands. as of in
finite despair and Cleek could not help
looking in silent sympathy at the pale,
Clear-CUt face and high white forehead.
''Wherc is the safc?'' put in Cleek quiet
ly the great artist sank down again
in his chair and picked idly at a piece
of blank music.
Paradinc led the way to a small ante
room which stood at the end of the suite
Against the wall. facing the door, stood
a steel safe. 1t had evidently been scaled
up once upon a time. for pieces of seal
ing wax still adhered around the edges
of the door and there was more wax
trampled into the thick carpet.
Cleck leaned forward and ran his fingers
over the smooth bright surface. The
door was closed but the key swung
idly in the lock. Then his fingers caught
at a piece of broken wax hanging like
scarlet pendant from the side. He twirlcd
it idly between a finger and thumb.
Nice strong safe" he said, looking
vacantly round the room. Had it put
in here on purpose I suppose"
Yes" said NJ. Paradinc. sadly. M.
Roronoff thought it would be better here.
so Mr.. Mantoinc--'
And who may Mr. Mantoine be-" put
in CIeek with an uplifting of the eye
brOws
oh. the manager Of the hotel. /"
he 10 off ar1, 4
cd upon the door. Come in said he.
1t swung back to admit a somewhat
foreign-loOking gentleman in an immaCu-
late morning suit and waNed mustachC.
adding a false fierceness to his genial
face. Paradine clapped his hands
oh. here is Mr. Mantoine himself. 'ust
the very man We want. Mr.. Mamt, lc-
Mr.. Narkom and Mr.. Headland. OF Scot
land Yard" he made the necessary in
Productions. Il was just telling Mr..
Headland about placing the safe in here
instead of leaving it in the strong room
as usual.
Monsieur Boronofr insisted" put in
the manager with a shake of his head.
much against my will I assure you.
That was why I had a guard set over
the door at night, but'-he shrugged his
shoulders and threw out his hands with
a gesture altogether foreign-''it was in
vain"
CIoek turned swiftly upon Paradine He
had tho look Of a suddenly reused terrier:
h" fairly quivcrcd with excitement and
interest.
Monsieur Paradinc," said he sharply.
at exactly what time did you Consign
the violin to the safe or don't you
know
YES. monsieur. it was o'clock. for
IN" gong had just sounded. and I re-
member comparing the time with my
watch. Monsieur BoronOf put the violin
away for tho night and we went on into
the cafe together for late supper"
CIeek took his chin between a thumb
and fOrciinG"r and ninChed it hard
Been using it. I suppose? Must take
a lot of practice violin playing. doesn't
it. monsieur? Never tried myself"
1T does said Paradne eagerly.
And when, may I ask did you seal
the safe up? Before You went to sup |
per or after"
Paradinc made a little gesture Of dis
sent.
''Reforc It seemed as If some premo- |
milton Of evil must have been in the air |
then. I felt afraid afraid. I don't know |
why, but | persuaded Sascha-M. Boron |
of-to do so. and the seals were quite !
intact when Mr.. Mantoine and I opened |
it this morning. after the discovery OF |
the murder, in tho presence of Mr.. Mar
kom here"
That is 50. m'sieur." asscntcd the
manager sadly. when the servants told |
me Of the shocking affair I kept it as
quiet as possible and sent for the police. |
Of course. then came to Mr. Paradine |
who was sound asleep in his room. Nat
Urally he was horror stricken at the |
murder and the loss Of his priceless vio-
lin. but when we found the safe had
not been so much as tampered with. and
the seals were unhroken, we did nothing
until the police came to investigate" !
Mr.. Narkom nodded vigorously. HisJ
eye met Cleek's with a mute look of un-
derstanding. That's right enough" said
he emPhatiCalIy. 1T was I that asked
whether the violin was safe or not and
Mr.. Paradine and Mr.. BoronOff broke
the seals in my presence"
Ohio said Clcek. Il see. I sec. and
Mr.. Paradine here That gentleman
shut his hands together and brearhed
hard like a spent runner.
Mon Dicu''' he bleated despairinsly.
his eyes fixed on Cleek's impenetrable
face.
Forgive my anger. Mr. Headland. but
you cannot know what that man inside
has been to me-The good God bless him.
I'd have starved like dog but for him.
and when ! think of anything being
done TO hint nearly drives me mad"
Il can quite believe IL, NJ. Paradine"
said Cleek serenely. But let us not be so
sure that the thief has escaped our
just yet. Believe me. NJ Para
dine, / am hopeful Of recovering that
violin. Now, il you will try and tell me
Just a few more facts It would greatly
facilitate matters. If. as you say, these