The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-27

headed he growled. we must
hurry back to the Hotel Rocham.
beau at once"
when the taxlcab containing NJ.
Dumas and Mile. Mercier reached
the hotel. Dumas quickly mounted
the steps and began 10 pull the
old fashioned doorbell with great
violence.
Presently a tousled head emerged
from one OF the upper windows,
and a voice demanded 10 know the
cause OF the row.
"As you perceive. monsieur
Dumas cried excitedly In French,
II cannot get In. Do you then call
this place n hotel7"
The man at the window began
10 mutter curses on the head OF
the night porter. withdrew his
head and started down the stairs.
Dumas and his companion waited
eagerly in the vestibule. In a few
minutes they heard a great com.
motion within. above which the
voice OF the proprietor could be
hcard-beilowing with rage. Then
he threw open the door.
Dumas entered. Mile. Nercier
followed. The proprietor confront
ed them in his nightrown. BE
hold. monsieur" he cried. and
waved his hands dramatically to-
ward the little office.
Hartmann and his companion had
not only burglarlzed the hotel safe,
but. what was far more important.
had already escaped. The little
office was in condition OF ex-
treme disorder. The safe door
stood open. and the floor In front
OF II was Uttered with papers.
On chair near the window sat
the unfortunate night porter. blind
folded. gagged and bound hand and
foot The proprietor strobe over
10 him and snatched the bandages
from his eyes and mouth. Speak.
you scoundrel," he roared. What
has happenedy"
The porter rose unsteadily.
Il was reading the paper" he
said. There came n ring al the
door bell. opened the door. Then
some one seized me by the throat"
He rubbed his neck lruefully. Il
was choked. messIeurs. could
not cry out could do nothing.
Then they tied me up. as you have
seen. After that ! heard an en-.
ploslon. very faint. and that is all
| know"
They" exclaimed the proprietor.
Who are they,"
"A man and woman. monsieur.
That IL oil know. The man had
short black beard"
NJ. Dumas returned NJ once 70
bis hotel and assembled to the apart.
ments OF NJ Lcfevre. From that
moment VI. Dumas ceased 10 exist
Half an hour later the prefec,
and Richard Duvali were seated
In the latter's room. anxiously
awaiting some word from Grace.
AZ half past nine o'clock the
next morning the two sat opposite
each other. across the breakfast
table. There was still no news OF
Grace. IF we do not hear within
the next halfhour." said Duvali. his
face pale and careworn. Il shall
notify the police"
Al n In answer TO his words, a
bellboy came thru the dining room.
calling his name and that OF NJ.
Lefevre.
Duvall called TO him. The boy
came up and handed him n tele.
graph company's envelope, upon
which was written In pencil. Mr.
Richard Duvall or NJ. Etienne
Lefevre."
He tore the envelope open and
drew out telegraph blank. Upon
II was written:
An aboard Rsehsiieu MAY sail. No
time for more now. VIII report by wire.
less GRACE
Sailing on the Richelieu,
Diabie, What does that mean ?"
exclaimed the project
1T means. monsieur" exclaimed
Duvall. rising. that Grace is ten
times cleverer than both OF us put
together. Come" He hastily
signed his check and they made
for the elevator.
rtra rrun x,rtr