Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-08
CHAprnR II-lcontInuedl


sire to connde TO meT'
Helderman nodded again. then beckone,
MS companion to a corner sheltered from
the breeze and offered him a cigar, whilt
ne proceeded to light another.
You will understand that this Is con
ddentialT' he said, after so long a 81
lence that Rutherford was afraid hi
sought 70 divert the conversation into
other channels.
Certainly
THE message was from the Caledonia,
which had II from Liverpool II ran like
this: Ten days ago a diamond necklace,
value 10000 francs, was purchased in the
shop of Kirschwssser in Berlin. appar-
emily for import to America You gather
the meaning OF this, Mr.. Rutherford2 IL
is for the secret service men, and refers
to-emugglers."
Rutherford was frankly interested.
who bought the necklace7 Did the
message give any particuiars7'' he asked.
The details we're few. The purchasers
were people of evident prosperity"
There was more than one person,
then7'
There we're two" answered the banker.
'MenT
"one man" said Heldernnan slowly,
"and a woman"
Rutherford could not suppress the nerv-
Gus haste with which he put the next in
aulry.
How were they to be identihed7'
The information was meager. The
woman was young and quite attractive.
The man was midde-aged and wore
beard"
Craig made no further inquiries. He
was smitten with sense of disaster inn
pending. Helderman. however. continued
10 talk with the freedom of one super
fioially interested.
''The message would not have been sent
fr ~ aI,E I,s.N f1y-
man and woman are our fellow -passen-
gers, and there are secret service men
also here. detailed to watch them"
Rutherford felt that his silence would
seem strange. He forced himself to
speak.
First or second cabin7''
First. of course"
For an instant, as they emerged into
the silver radiance that flooded the upper
deck, the two men regarded each other;
then Craig turned away, with a pretense
OF contemplating the beauty OF the night.
He knew that Helderman had read his
mind, as he in turn had interpreted that
of Helderman; and both of them were
thinking of the same frst-class passen-
gers, an attractive young woman and an
elderly bearded man.
'Well-what do you think?" Helderman
finally asked, twirling upward the points
of his mustache and downward the point
OF MS BOatees DOtN ana DeITaylNB
his age unnecessarily.
II haven't any definite opinion" Craig
began, reluctantly.
BE honest with yourself! You know
you have! You think what Think"
il the financier had expected denial or
surprise from Rutherford ne was disap-
pointed. The young man merely shrugged
his shoulders and kept his own counsel.
you do not, Mr.. Rutherford, happen
to know a secret service man when you
see him?" persisted HeIderman.
mo. do not" replied Craig.
Tomorrow. then. I suggest that you
correct your ignorance Keep your eyes
open and perhaps you will see what
Where do you suggest that look'"
asked Craig.
in the nelghborhood OF Mrs. Henry
Talcott" Helderman answered, turning
abruptly toward the royal suite. II have
the honor to bid you goodnight"
II Helderman had striven all evening
to plant barbed arrow in Rutherford's
mind he should have gone to bed proud
of his success. The arrow was there. and
1t ranked keenly. Craig's mind Travelled
and retraveled the various points for and
against Mrs. Talcott in the short time
ne had known her. How little was his
she appealed constantly to his trust and
loyaityl Here, In one short evening, he
had reason to doubt her motives and ac- |
tons, on two separate occasions. and yet, |
with the blind unreasonableness OF a man |
In love, he was striving to dismiss every
thing except the charm of her sweet and |
buoyant personality.
Granted, however, that her possible in
terview with the banker might be reason
ably explained; granted that she was in
nocent OF smuggling, which was not, in
iced, the most heinous OF sins-what con-
Germ was II OF his-Craig Rutherford's-
hat her charm set even this cynical fnan-
rier ahame?
Craig had never liked the kind of men
who find diversion in AFFAIRS with married
women. and the disapproval that he had
upon them now rebounded upon
himself Could II be that he was Jealous?
He recalled the phrase with which Hell
ierman had described her He had spoken
u her dainty aloofness and the lure of
(. Craig conceded bitterly that the clever
had analysed the secret of her
appeal. From this point the young man
seRsed 10 reason and gave himself over
% his fancy. He saw this girl-for she
vas no more than a girl-moving lightly
llong the deck, the folds OF her gray
lister pressed close against her erect.
lender figure, as she gaily breasted the
yind. He was proudly conscious OF the
.dmiration with which all eyes followed
ler His imagination appropriated her
nd reveled In the possession. He forgot
lis own culpabiIity in thinking OF her at
n. He forgot his stubborn efforts 70
llay his suspicion. He knew only that
t last into his life had come the one in
vltable woman, for whom poets had sung
nd warriors had fought since the foun-
alton OF the world. Forgetful OF all else.
. drew the nimsy veil from his pocket
nd pressed II 10 his lips.
The action, slight as IL was brought
i'm to his senses with start. He cursed
Imself for q fool. Here he stood idly
roaming, while the woman he sought 70
erye vas daily and hourly exposed 10
anger, The hidden menace which lay
ehind Helderman's allusion 10 the secret
erviee men was now clear 10 him, for the
ret time Heldernan was frankly inter-
ated IA hirs Talcott, and might try TO
ut 10 some ulterior use the information
z had gained By wireless. He was ap-
arentiy powerful; he already knew about
he detectives and their mission. Against
nese forces. Mrs. ralcott was practically
efenssless. Culpable or not she should
~ Be without the help that he. Craig,
aiRht give her
Hsre the young mans chin set grimly, |
I'D ne walked forthwith to his room, re-
als4d TO gel the rest that he needed 70
AXE him an opponent worthy OF the Willy
|eIaernan. He must be ready and pre-
ared 70 counter his next move. That
here Heuld Be next meYe. he no longer