The Green Forest tribune., 1915-07-30

deck. You say that the yacht was called the Lola-painted gray with a black funnel"
 No. dead white, with a yellow fun nel."
 An! Of course" he remarked. as though to himself They would re- paint and alter her appearance. But the dining saloon Was there a long carved oak buffet with a 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?"
 "Yes," 1 cried. You are right [ remember them! You've surely been on board her!"
 The captain, who gave his name to you as Macintosh, is an undersized American of rather low-down type 2"
 II took him for a 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 Frenchman, as he wishes"
 And the-the man who gave his name as Philip Hornby?"
 Durnford's mouth closed with a snap. He drew long breath, his eyes grew fierce, and he bit his lip.
 "Ah! l see he is not exactly your friend I said meaningly.
 You are right. Gordon-he is not my friend" was his slow, meaning re. 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, Pm mys- tified myself : san4t ret discern their motive"
 But at any rate you know the men" I 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! An! If we only had a description of that woman it would re- veal much to us"
 She was young and dark-haired, so the detective says. She had 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 l 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, a week ago! What bitter irony of fate!" T don't understand you" I said You are so mysterious. and yet you will tell me nothing!" l 'The police, fools that they are | have allowed them to escape, and they will never be caught now. An! yor don't know them. as I do! They arc the cleverest pair in all Europe, Ant they have the audacity to call theil craft the Lola-the Lola, of all names 1 ess5rdpnn Jet me be frank and oper with you, my dear old fellow. l woulC tell you everything -everything-if dared. But I cannot-you under | stand!" And his final words seemed to choke him. stood before him, open-mouthed ir astonishment.
 You really mean-well, that yor are in fear of them-eh?" l whis pered
 He nodded slowly in the affirmative adding: "To tell you the truth would be to bring upon myself swift, re lentless vengeance that would over whelm and crush me. An! my dear fellow, you do not know-you cannot dream-what brought those desperate men into this port. I can guess--I can guess only too well-but l can only tell you that if you ever do discover the terrible truth-which l fear is un likely-you will solve one of the strangest and most remarkable mys teries of modern times"
 What does the mystery concern? I asked, in breathless eagerness.