The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-11-25

A new interest seemed suddenly t
have crept into Hardaway's manner.
Let me see." he said, ~ she lef
Cliford's hotel about two, she woul(
have been at Hampstead about half
past two. She would waste a few min
utes in making inquiries, then she
probably left Hampstead for Wes'
Kensington, say, at 4 quarter to three
Give me Mt once . description of thu
young lady" ho demanded.
Quest drew a photograph from his
pocket and passed It silently over.
Mr.. Quest" hs said, 1T is Just pos
siole that your visit hero has been ar
exceedingly opportune one"
Come along with NO." he con
tinued. We'll talk as we CO."
They entered g taxi and drove Of
westwards.
Mr.. Quest" he went on, for two
months we have been on the track OF
a nan and a woman whom we strong
ly suspect of having decoyed half q
dozen perfectly respectable young
women, and shipped them out to South
America"
THE white slave traffic." Quest
gasped.
Something Of the Sort" Hardaway
admitted. We'll, we've been CLOSING
the net around this interesting couple,
and last night I had information
brought to me upon which we are act.
Ing this afternoon. We've had them
watched and 1t seems that they were
sitting in a tea place about three
o'clock yesterday afternoon when a
young woman entered who was OBJ
viously a stranger to London. You
see, the time fits in exactly, If your as
sistant decided to stop on her way to
kensington and get some tea. She
asked the woman at the desk the bes.
means Of getting to West Kensington
without taking a taIicab. Her de-
scription tallies exactly with the pho
tograph you have shown me. The wom-
an whom my men were watching adj
dressed her and offered to show her
the way. They left the place together.
My men followed them. The house
has been watched ever since and we
are raiding 1t this afternoon. You and
l will just be in time"
He stopped the cab and they got
out. A man who seemed to be stroll
ing aimlessly along reading 2 newspa-
Fer suddenly Joined them.
well. Dixon?" his chief exclaimed.
The mar glanced around.
I've got three men round at the
back. Mr.. Hardaway," he said. Its
impossible for anyone to leave the
place"
Hardaway paused t. consider a mo-
ment.
Look here" Quest suggested, they
know all of you. of course, and they'll
never let you in until they're forced
to. I'm a stranger. Let me 60. I'll
get in all right"
"All right" he assented. I'VE shall
follow you up pretty closely, though"
Quest stepped back into the taxi and
gave the driver a direction. When he
emerged in front Of the handsome r
stone house he seemed to have be-
come completely transformed. There
was a fatuous smile upon his lips. He
tho pavement with din Guilty,
up the steps, and held or
knocker with one hand while he
= slip Of paper. He had
scarcely rung the bell before . slightly
curtain In the front room fell
together and . moment later tho door
was opened by . man in tho livery of
! butler. but with the face and ply
siQue of 4 prixe-nghter.
LADY of the house." Quest demand
ID. Want to see the lady of the
Almost Immediately he was con
'cious Of q woman standing In the hall
him.
You had better como in" she in
rited. Please do not stand in the
doorway"
Quest, however. who had heard the
footsteps OF the others behind him, loi- |
ered there for . moment.
You're the lady whose name II on
his piece OF papcry" he demanded. |
This place II al right. eh?"
II really do not know what you
aean." tho woman replied colby: bat
{ you viii come inside I win talk With
on In the drawing room" ANA
ouest, - though stumbling asainst
- front doos. bad = now wids opsn.
~. ~haasnnmna-HD