Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-06
THE SECRET MESSAGE.

My friend. come with me- suggested
| Helderman suddenly.
! craig was about as we'll disposed to-
! ward this blatant fnancier at that mo-
ment as he would have been toward the
! advances of a man-eating tiger.
/ "Oh, come ont" Helderman urged, good
naturedly ignoring the young mans OBJ
vious disapproval OF him. IT'S really
worth your while, Mr.. Rutherford, to join
me. You may hear something that will be
to your interest. Certainly it will be
entertaining"
! What is it," asked Craig.
Come and see."
The fnancier turned. in his usual jeriy
fashion. and led the way. Craig followed
| him, scarcely knowing why. In spite or
| his aversion Helderman held his atten-
| tlon and demanded his consideration. Ihe
man had brains and certain compelling
magnetism which he used to advantage
If he had some sinister hold upon Mrs
TalcOtt. Rutherford wanted to know H.
either for his own protection or for hers.
Without an idea as to their destination,
he followed, interested from the start In
the mannerisms of the tall, eccentric hS-
ure Just ahead. All tho tricks OF motion
which he had formerly observed now
impressed themselves indelibly upon his
mind. II was perfectly plain to him that
the Jerks and twists and turns In the
mans aalt were affected. put on to at
tract attention, Just as certainly as were
the enormous diamonds and the monocle.
However, he had practiced them so as
slduously that they had actually become
a part of the man himself
Abruptly as Heldermau had begun his
Cd for
panIon 10 come up with him; then reached
out a long. thin hand, and rested It on
Rutherford's shoulder.
your are Interested in mysteries"
he asked I'm an undertone.
THAT depends" RutherfoYd answered.
He had feeling that the other was
playing for attention. and also that what
he had in store would justify it. That was
the queer and attractive thing about
Helderman: he unfallingly rewarded the
curiosity that he awakened, by proving
himself constantly diverse and entertain
Ing.
Follow"
He spoke but the one word, yet Craig
experienced a thrill. Into one OF the dlmly
lighted corridors Helderman plunged,
with Craig right at his heels. They de-
scended to the lower deck, the older man
moving quickly but with caution, the
Younger man intently obseryant and
keenly alert His thoughts pursued one
another faster than the quick steps bore
him I'm his companions trail to whatever
mystery might await him
Helderman was indeed a good Snowman.
and Rutherford's curiosity had no chance
10 languish. From time 10 time the
former would glance back, as If to make
sure that the young man was following
and always IN a peculiar way First, he
would steal slow, furitive glance over
one shoulder, then would quickly turn hts
head aud look back stealthily over the
other. Rutherford noted after he had re-
peated the strange action several times,
that he always began the backward
scrutiny by glancng over the right
shoulder He would twitch his head as II
he had the impulse to look, but restrained
It, Then he would turn HIS head slowly
until he caught sight of Rutherford A
few seconds later, he would repeat the
performance over the opposite shoulder.
So, in groups OF two, his singular actions
continued. until Rutherford had ceased
TO be merely interested, and felt that he
had actually come under the spell of some
hypnotic suggestion.
Certainly he no longer weighed or
doubted but followed eagerly. A growing
sense OF the Importance OF the mystery
came over him. Once he wondered II he
were being led to some place where his
freedom or safety might be endangered.
Downward they plunged into the semi
darkness OF the lower decks. Unconscious
ly he was tiptoeng forward, I'm imitation
OF the others step. The great ship
seemed asleep The purring noise OF It's
steady progress through the water was
like its own deep breath IN slUmber.
Amazingly familiar with every corridor
I'm the huge floating hotel. Helderman
twisted and turned with scarcely a pause.
Suddenly he gave up the downward route,
and began ascending TO the upper decks.
Rutherford wondered II. after all. he
had not been made the victim OF some
practical Joke He debated practlcing
some OF the same kind OF feeble humor
on the banker. The corridor which LED
70 his own room offered a convenient way.