The Glasgow courier., 1915-06-18

Bangs telephone to the hotel where tn
chief operative Is sta ying--in the g,i,s.
of an American tourist. and he does
very cleverly for an Englishman too
and he assures me that there Is abs"
lutely no danger. Even Mr.. Bangs Is
satisfied" :
%, am forced 20 say that I am By n"
means satisfied that It is a safe or
wise thing to do. Mrs. Titus l said.
with more firmness than I thought =
possessed. -. 80
She, raised her delicate eyebrows In
most exasperat1ng. well bred. adm0nl'
tory way.
II am quite sure, MIR. Smart, that
Dillingham; Is perfectly trustworthy
detective. and"-
But why take the slightest risk2"
1T is necessary for me to see Dill
lingham. that is the long and short OF
it." she said coldly. "One. can't dis
cuss things over telephone. you know.
Mr.. Bangs understands. And. by the
way. Mr.. Smart. have taken the lib
erty Of calling up the central office of
the telephone company to ask II they
can run an extension wire to my dress
ing room. hope you do not mind"
mot in the least. should have
thought Of it myself"
| "You have so much to think Of, poor
man! And now will you be good
enough to have Hawkes. order the man
to row me across the
II am very sorry. Mrs. Titus" said
firmly, but l fear l must declare my
self. cannot permit you to 60 into
the town today"
She was thunderstruck "Are you In
earnest7" she cried after searching my
face rather intently for moment
"Unhappily. yes. Will you let me ex
plain
"The idea!" she exclaimed as she
drew herself 10 her full height and
withered me with look Of surprising
scorn. Am | to regard myself as a
prisoner, Mr.. SmartY'
"Oh, beg Of you. Mrs. Titus !
began miserably.
"Please answer my question"
Her tone cut me like the lash Of a
whip. Ny choler rose.
II do not choose to regard myself as
jailer. My only object In opposing
this
Il have never known anything so alb
surd." Two bright red spots appeared
in her cheeks. your attitude is most
extraordinary. However, l shall 60 to
the city this morning. Mr.. Smart Pray
give me the credit Of having sense
enough to- Ah. Colingraft!'
The two sons approached from the
! breakfast room. where they had beer
!. enjoying a 10 o'clock chop. Colingraft
noting his mothers attire. accelerated
his speed and was soon beside US.
, "Going out, motherY' he inquired
. ficking the ash from his cigarette.
III Mr.. Smart will be good enough
to withdraw his opposition" she sait
J icily.
He gave me sharp look. "What'
y up?"
r Mrs. Titus doesn't seem to realiz'
the risk she runs in"-
0 ''Risk2 Do you suppose, Mr.. Smart
would jeopardize my daughter's"-
whats up2" repeated Colingraft In
), sistently.
q "Mr. Smart calmly informs me that
/. am not to go into the city"
II don't see that Mr.. Smart has any
thing to say about it." said her Sol
coldly. III he''- He paused, glarine
. looked him squarely in the eye. |
e he had possessed the acumen Of pol
}. lywog he would have seen that m
n Dutch was up
"One moment. MIR. Titus" | sait
Y setting my jaw. II have this to 50
|s about 1t. You are guests In my house
le We are Jointly interested in the effol
II to protect the Countess Tarnowsy.
" consider It to be the height of impr,
le dence for any member Of your famil
e to venture into the city now or at an
time during her stay in this castle.
y happen to know that Tarnowsy Is ha'
'f ing me watched for some purpose {
ID other l don't think he suspects th:
re the countess is here. but greatly fes
t that be believes l am interested in h'
r cause. He suspects me. You hay
heard of our recent encounter. e
t. knows my position pretty we'll by tn
ID time Mrs. Titus says that the ma
n Dillingham; assures her there Is I
se danger. Well. can only say that D.
le Iingham is fool. and l don't purpo
S. having my own safety threatened by
tn "Your safety?" exclaimed he. Il Ill
ID that! What have you got to be afra
TT of"
D. You seem to forget that l am ha
= boring fugitive from justice" sa
IN fatty.
Mrs. Titus gasped. How dare you
Ut "The Countess Tarnowsy Is want
a. by the authorities for kidnapping, al
We + think you know the facts quite
ot we'll as l do" went on harshly. &c
&c knows l am doing my best to prote
her. am risking more than you see
us to appreciate. If she is found he
eo my position isn't likely to be an e