Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-01
CHATTER XVII.
A ADVENTURE.

MT. |Fritchafd, however, was not cash
to be shaken off.
80 you've been palling up to the oil
man, eh?' he remarked, in friendly fash
lon.
II came across the professor %unexpect
edly," Tavernake answered, coldly
what do you want with me, please?
I'm on my way home.'
Pritchard laughed softly to himself.
Say, there's something about yot
Britishers l can't help admiring!' he de
clared. You are downright. aren't your
II suppose you think we are too CLUMSY
to be anything else" Tavernake replied
This is my bus coming. Goodnight
Pritchard's hand, however, frightened
upon his companions arm.
Look here, young man" he eaid, don't
you be foolish. I'm a valuable acquaint-
ance for you, If you only realized it.
Como along across the street with me.
My club is on the Terrace, just below,
stroll along there with me and I'll tell
you something about the professor, If you
like"
"Thank you" Tavernake answered,
II don't think | care about hearing gos-
sip. Besides. l think l know all there
is to be known about him"
Did you give Miss Beatrice my mes
sage?" Prltchard asked suddenly.
"If I did" Tavernatc replied, II have
no answer for YOU"
''will you tell her this Pritchard be-
gan
NO, l will tell her nothing!" Taver-
make interrupted. You can look after
your w affairs. / have no interest in
them and 1 don't want to have. Good
nightl'
Pritchard laughed again, but he did not
relax his grasp upon the others arm.
Now, Mr.. Tavernake," he said, sit
won't do for you to quarrel with me. l
shouldn't be surprised If you discovered
that am one of the most useful ac-
q%uaintances you ever met in our life.
You needn't come into the club unless
you like, but walk as far as there with
me. When we get on to the Terrace,
with closed houses on one side and n
palisade upon the other, | am going to
say something to you"
Very WELL" Tavernake decided reluct-
antly. 81 don't know what there is you
can rave to tell me, but I'll come as far
as there, at any rate.'h
They crossed the Strand and turned
into AGam street As they neared the
corner, Pritchard stepped from
the pavement into the middle of the
street, and looked s%earchiuElv around.
Say. you'll excuse my being a little
careful" he remarked. This is rather
a lonely part for the middle of London,
4 tNN DNNAi - HNA 49, $780, 49,
by people whose company | am not
keen about"
Followed? What for?" Tavernake de-
handed.
ooh. the usual thing!' answered the
with 4 shTuG Of the shoulders
THAT company of crooks I showed you
night don't fancy having me around.
a good many grudges up against
Pritchard. | am not quite so safe
over here as l should be in New York.
Most of them are off to Paris tomorrow,
hank Heavens!"
And you?" Tavernake asked. Are
you going, too?"
Pritchard shook his head. ,
IF only those fools would believe it.
m not over here on their business at
Ill. / came over on a special commission
time, as you know. / have a word
# warning for you, Mr.. Tavernake. I
;uess you won't like to hear it, but
ou've got to-"
Tavernake stopped short.
Il don't want your warnings he said
I don't want you interfering
n my affairs!'
The detective smiled quietly. Then a
Jew expression suddenly frightened his
Ups.
"Never mind about hat Just now!" he
See here, take this police
thistle from my left hand, quick, and
low it for all that you are WORTH"
1t was charac teristic of Tavernake that
e was prepared 10 obey without a sec
nd's hesitation. The opportunity, how
yer. was denied him. The events which
came and passed like a thought.
. blow on his left wrist and the whistle
into the road. A dark figure had
up. apparently from spacc, A long
rm was twined around Pritchard's neck,
him backwards; there was a
of steel within a few inches of his
nroat. And then Tavernake saw a Won
.-N,rT IN,- VNTtNA "a kt,r,, - he Y.Fr4rR '
suddenly seemed to lift the
orm OF his assailant into the air. Tav-
caught a swift impression of a
white face. the head pointing to
le street. the legs twitching c~onvulsive-
Head over heels Pritchard seemed
, throw him, while the knife clattered
armlessly into the roadway, The man
" crumpled up and moaning before the
cor of one of the houses. Prltchard
1rang after him. The door had been
autiously opened and the man crawled
Pritchard followed; then the
nor closed and Tavernake beat upon IL
vain.
For several s~econds-it seemed to Tav-
make much longer--he stood gazing at
he door. breathing heavily, absolutely
nable to collect his thoughts. The
hole affair had happened with such
celebrity! He could not bring
imself to realize IL, to believe that II
as Prltehard who had been with him
lly a few seconds ago, who in danger OF
Is life a performed that marvellous
lex Of iututsu, had followed his un-
assailant into that dark. mys-
,riOus house. from nc single window or
hich was a single CLEAN OF light visi-
e, Tavernake had led an uneYentful !
OF the passions which breed murder
nd the desire to kill he knew nothing. !
e was dazed with the s~uddenness of IL
4. How could such a thing happen In Z
le mids Of London, in a t~horOughfare :
Ny momentarily deserted. at the further !
I'd OF which, indeed, were many signs
life! Then the thought OF that knife Z
AIDE him shiyer-blue glittering steel 4
ltting the air like whipcord. He remem- !
'red the look IN the assassin's face :
an epitnme of the passions, 4
hieh seemed to reveal 10 him in thai +
oment the existence OF some other. I
unknown world, about which he had Z
'ither read nor dreamed. :
The SOUND OF footsteps came as an i'm q
relief. A man came round the d
rner smoking a cigarette and hummtn :
fly 70 himself. The presence Of ans !
human being seemed suddenly 10 +
ing T~aYernake's feet back upon The 4
nth. lie moved toward the pavement i
d addressed the newcomer. !
Can you tell ms how to get inside thar
ne asked quickly. :
fhe MAJ removed the cigarette from his