The Clio messenger., 1915-05-28

deck. "You say chat the yacht was
called the Lola-painted gray with
black funnel"
mo. dead white. with a yellow fun
nell"
"Ahl or course" he remarked. as
though to himself They would re-
paint and alter her appearance. But
the dining saloon. Was there long
carved oak buffet with q big, heavy
cornice with three gilt dolphins In the
center-and were there not dolphins
in gilt on the backs Of the chairs
an armorial device"
EYES," l cried. "You are right. I
remember them! You've surely been
on board her!"
"The captain. who gave his name to
American of rather low-down type?"
II took him for Scotsman"
Because he put on a Scotch ac-
cent" he laughed. Hes a man who
can speak dozen languages brokenly,
and pass for an Italian, German. a
rTeHCnIudI, dS uc WioHeS'
"And the-the man who gave his
name as Philip Hornby?"
Durnford's mouth closed with
snap. He drew long breath, his eyes
grew fierce, and he bit his lip.
"Ah! see he is not exactly your
friend" l said meaningly.
"You are right, Gordon-he is not
4 T.
sponse.
"Then why not be outspoken and
tell me all you know concerning him?
Frank Hutcheson is anxious to clear
up the mystery"
"Well, to tell you the truth. I'm mys-
titled myself. can't yet discern their
motive"
"But at any rate you know the men,"
argued. "You can at least tell us
who they really are"
He shook his head, still disinclined.
for some hidden reason, to reveal the
truth to me.
"You saw no woman On board?" he
asked suddenly, looking straight into
my eyes.
"No. Hornby told me that he and
Chatter were alone"
And yet an hour after you left a
man and a woman came ashore and
disappeared! All! If we only had a
description of that woman 1t would re-
veal much to us"
"She was young and dark-haired, so
the detective says. She had a curious
| fixed look in her eyes, which attracted
| him, but she wore a thick motor veil,
so that he could not clearly discern
her features"
"And her companion?"
"Middle-aged, prematurely gray.
with small, dark mustache."
Jack Durford sighed and stroked
his chin.
"Ah! Just as I thought" he ex-
claimed. And they were actually
here, in this port, week ago! What
bitter irony of fate!"
II don't understand you," | said.
"You are so mysterious, and yet you
will tell me nothing!"
"The police, fools that they are,
have allowed them to escape, and they
will never be caught now. All! you
don't know them as I do! They are
the cleverest pair in all Europe. And
they have the audacity to call their
craft the Lola-the Lola, of all names!
Gordon, let me be frank and open
with you, my dear old fellow. would
tell you everything-everything-if |
dared. But cannot-you under
stand!" And his final words seemed
to choke him.
l stood before him, open-mouthed In
establishment.
"You really mean-well, that you
are in fear of them-eh?" | whis-
pered.
He nodded slowly in the affirmative,
adding: ITO tell you the truth would
be to bring upon myself swift, re-
lentless vengeance that would over
whelm and crush me. All! my dear
fellow, you do not know-you cannot
dream-what brought those desperate
men into this port. l can guess-I can
guess only too well-but | can only
tell you that II you ever do discover
the terrible truth-which I fear Is un-
likely-you will solve one OF the
strangest and most remarkable mys-
teries Of modern times"
what does the mystery concern?
asked, in breathless eagerness.
| eft concerns a woman"