The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-09-10
CHAPTER VlI-Continued.

mat night, after calling upon the
oe'ectlVe. Mackenzie, | took the sleep
ing car express to Euston. The res
'aurant which Hutcheson had indicated
was, l found, situated about halfway
up Westbourne Grove, nearly oppo
ste Whiteley's. 1t was soon after nine
O'CLOCK when / entered the long shop
VIA us rows of handicapped tables
anu greasy lounges OF red plush. An
unhealthy-looking lad was sweeping
OUT the place with wet sawdust, and a
Dig dark-bearded. flabby-faced man In
Shift sleeves stood behind the small
counter polishing some forks.
i wish to see Signor Ferrari," said,
addressing him.
There is no Ferrari, he is dead" re-.
sponded the man in broken English.
MY name is Odinzoff. bought the
place from madame"
have come to inquire after a
waiter you have in your service, an
Italian named Santini. He was nv
servant for some years, and naturally
take an interest In him."
"Santini?" he repeated. "Oh, you
mean Olinto? He is not here yet He
comes at ten o'clock"
This reply surprised me. had ex.
pected the restaurant keeper to ex.
press regret at his disappearance, yet
he spoke as though he had been at
work as usual on the previous day.
You find Olinto a good servant. |
SUPPOSE" ! said, for want of some
thing else to say.
Excellent. The Italians are the best
walters in the world. | am Russian,
but / dare not employ Russian wait
er. These English would not come to
my shop if did"
How long has Olinto been with
you?" l inquired.
About a year-perhaps a little
more. trust him implicitly, and
leave him in charge when | go away
for holidays. He does not get along
very we'll with the cook-who is Mi
lanese. These Italians from different
provinces always quarrel" he added,
laughing. IF you live In Italy you
know that. no doubt"
laughed in chorus and then, glanc.
ing at my watch, said "Ill wait for
him, If he will be here at ten. I'd
much like to see him again"
The Russian was by no means non
plused, but merely remarked: He is
late sometimes, but not often. He lives
on the other side of London-over at
Camberwell"
Suddenly a side door opened and the
cook put his head in to speak with
his master in French. He was a typi-
cal Italian, about forty, with dark mus
taches turned upwards, and an easy.
going, careless manner. Seeing me,
however, and believing me to be GUS
toner, he turned and closed the door
quickly. In that instant | noticed the
high broadnesS of his shoulders, and
his back struck me as strangely SINH.
lar to that of the man in brown whom
we had seen disappearing in Rannoch
wood
The suspicion held me breathless,
Presently Odinzoff went outside, car
rying with him two boards upon which
the menu of the "Eightpenny Lunch
con! This Day." was written in
scrawly characters, and proceeded to
affix them to the shop front.
This was my opportunity, and quick
as thought / moved towards where the
unhealthy youth was at work, and
whispered:
"Pll give you half-a-sovereign If
you'll answer my questions truthfully.
Now, tell me, was the cook, the man
I've just seen, here yesterday"
Emilio? Yes. sir
WAS he here the day before"
mo, sir He's been away i'll for
four SaTa
And your master?'
had no time 10 put any further
question, for the Russian re-entered al
that moment, and the youth husied
himself rubbing the front of the coun'
ter in pretense that | had not spoken
10 him. Indeed, had some difficulty
in slipping the promised coin into MS
hand at a moment when MS ihas'ei
was not looking.
While stood there rather thin' re.
specially dressed man entereo anu
seated himself upon one of the plush