The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-09-10
CHAPTER xV-Continued.

an urgent wire to the address where l
always write? She would then reply
here, no doubt. I've told you practi-
-cally everything, my dear old fellow.
The facts Of the affair can be made
known only by Muriel. tell you, we
must find her."
"Yes, we must-at all hazards" I
said. Lets go across to the -tele-
graph Office opposite Charing Cross.
It's open always" And we rose and
walked out along the Strand, now
nearly deserted. and dispatched an
urgent message to Muriel at an ad-
dress in birmingham road, Fulham.
Afterwards we stood outside on the
curb, still talking, loath to part from
him, when there passed by In the
shadow two men in dark overcoats,
who crossed the road behind us to
the front Of Charing Cross station,
and then continued on towards Trafal-
gar square.
AS the light of the street lamp fell
upon them ! thought recognized the
face Of one as that of a person had
seen before, yet / was not at all GER
tain, and my failure to remember
whom the passer-by resembled pre-
vented me from saying anything fur
Their to Jack than:
"A fellow l know has just gone by,
! think"
I'VE seem to be meeting hosts of
friends tonight" he laughed after
ell, old chap, 1t does one good to come
back to our dear, dirty old town again.
We abuse 1t when we are here, and
talk Of the life in Paris and Vienna
and Brussels, but when we are away
there is no place on earth so dear to
us, for it is home But there!" he
laughed, I'm actually growing roman
tic. All! If we could only find Muriel!
But we must tomorrow. Ta-ta!
shall go around to the club and sleep,
for / haven't fixed on any diggings
yet. Come in at ten tomorrow, and
we will decide upon some plan. One
thing is plainly certain-Elma must
at once be got out of Russia. She's
certainly in deadly peril of her life
there"
Yes" l said. "And you will help
me?"
with all my heart, old fellow" an
swered my friend, warmly grasping
my hand, and then we parted. he
strolling along towards the National
Gallery on his way back to the Jun.
ior," while l returned to the Cecil
alone.
Captain Durnford?" l inquired of
the hall porter of the club next morn.
ing.
Not here, sir"
but he slept here last night" |
remarked. Il have an appointment
with him"
The man consulted the big book be.
fore him, and answered:
Captain Durnford went out at 9:27
last night, sir, but has not returned
Strange, / thought, but although
waited In the club nearly an hour, be
did not put in an appearance.
About four o'clock, as was passing
through the big hall Of the hotel, ]
heard a voice behind me utter a greet
ing in Italian, 1hd, turning in sur
prise, found Olinto. dressed in his best
suit Of black, standing hat in hand.
In an instant ! recollected what
Jack had told me, and regarded him
with some suspicion.
"Signor Commentators, he said ir
a low voice, as though fearing to be
overheard, may be permitted tc
speak in private with your"
Certainly" said, and took hin
in lift up to my room.
81 have come to warn you, signore. ,
he said, when had given him seat
"Your enemies mean harm to you
Look here, Olinto!" exclaimed
determinedly, 1--WE had enough of thi!
COMPOUNDED mystery. Tell me tn,
truth regarding the assassination O
your poor wife up in Scotland"
"Ah, signore!" he answered sadl,
in changed voice, 81 do not know
1t was a plot. Someone represented
me-but he wac killed also. They be
lieved they had struck me down." h,
added, with bitter laugh. "Poor Ar
midas body was found concealed be
hind rock on the opposite side O
the wood. ! saw it-ah!" he criet
shuddering.
The police had, It seemed, sue
ceeded in discovering the unfortunat,
woman after all, and had found tina
she was his wife.
You know q man named Leith
court?" / asked a few minutes later
Now, tell the truth. In this affair
Olinto. our interests are mutual. ar,
they not7"
He nodded, after moments heslta
ton.
And you know also a man namet
Archer-who is sometimes known al
Horribly, or Woodroffe-as we'll as
friend Of his called Chatter"
Isl, signore," he said. II have me
them ALTO my regret"
And have you ever met Rus
sian-a certain Baron Oberg-and hi
niece Elma Heath?"