, 1915-07-08

overt act. He selected as his agent in
his the detective, who had been scru
tinizing the butler with professional
~closeness.
May ! venture an observation. sir?'
Wainwright nodded assent. Its only
this, sir. that the next time Mr.. Mar
shall sees me he will be sure to know
me-" With the saying he ven softly
out Of the room. while the detective
sat staring. agape with indignant sur
prise at the impertinence.
Wainwright spoke in a low tone. yet
most emphatically:
MARSHALL" he said. the next time
your brother officers boast of their ac;
Quaintance with prominent men you
may say that. face t. face. you have
met the Master Mind"
Marshall said not a word, only re-
garded the speaker with amazement
He threw a quick glance toward the
doorway through which Andrew had
disappeared.
you don't mean-himT" he exclaim
ed.
Precisely"
In a second Marshall was on his
feet, his eyes swapping with eagerness.
all energy and alertness.
"It's the chance of my lifer" he ex-
claimed gleefully.
what do you intend to dor"
The detective grinned triumphantly
what do 1 intend to do?" he repeat,
ed. "Why l intend TO slip the brace
lets on hin inside of two minutes"
Permit me to ask. on what charger"
His eagerness dropped visibly.
"on what charger he quoted help
lessly. why He halted, at a loss.
Yes; on what charger Wainwright
snapped "oh, come. many' he exhort-
ed. Just sit down and think it over
a bit AS a matter of fact, we're help
less against this fellow. If you have
anything else to suggest
The detective threw up his hands in
a gesture eloquent Of despair. His
voice was angry:
~ don't know"
Wainwright walked slowly up the
stairs and along the upper hall to the
door Of his wife's boudoir, where he
knocked gently. he entered in re.
Spouse to her call, Come in." and
went to her where she was standing
expectant and took her hands. She
was dressed In a blue neglige that EN-
phasized the purity of her pearly skin
and enhanced the sapphire radiance of
the eyes. Now she looked at her hus-
band intently as he approached her.
INT 1t seemed to him hat a faint
trace of anxiety lay beneath her sur
face greeting He had need to put
forth the full strength of his will to
conceal the w~retchedness of his
thoughts.
I'm sorry If l disturb you, dear"
he regarded her searchingly. "You
are looking a little tagged"
II have a right to be tired Lucene
answered brightly, for I've been help
ing-mother with her packing
Now, what Ices that mean?" the
husband inquired, surprised. Are your
estimable parents planning to leave
usY'
Yes" the wife replied. 81 didn't
know that you hadn't heard the sad
news"
Wainwrights lips frightened. To
him, mindful of the symbolism of the
black card, this swiftly arranged
partial breaking up of his household
appeared as a confirmation Of the worst
fears.
"And Andrew
~Oh, yes; he goes with them, of
course since lie was really only loan
cd to u.s.
Then he added, curiously: Its all
a bit sudden, isn't it2"
yes" Lucene said contentedly, at
all came up and was decided-like
that" She snapped her fingers airily.
BE spoke very gravely:
-Lucene, / came to you to say some
thing Of a certain important matter"
The wife drew her hands from his,
and moved a little away from him, de
5ectedly.
~Piease, Cortland" she pleaded,
cant you wait until tomorrow? l am
30 tired"
"Lucene." he said very seriously, 81
have an enemy-one In particular, l
mean a man who is powerful"
IAN enemy-your' she cried, hcredu-
ously. To her, who w~orshiped him, the
bare idea seemed preposterous, absurd
" impossible.
ITO be C~ontinued.)