The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-01-14
CHAPTER vli-ContInued.


setective, Mackenzie. took the sleep
ing car express to Euston. The res
Aurant which Hutchinson had indicated
was, found. situated about halfway
up Westbourne Grove, nearly oppo-
elite Whiteley's. II was soon after nine
O'Clock when l entered the long shop
with Its rows OF Handicapped tables
and greasy lounges of red plush. An
Bnhealthy-looking lad was sweeping
out the place with wet sawdust, and a
dig, dark-bearded. flabby-faced man in
shirt 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"
Il have come to INQUIRE after a
waiter you have in your service. an
Italian named Santini He was my
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.
vected the restaurant keeper to ex-
press regret at his disappearance, yet
ne spoke as though he had been at
work as usual on the previous day.
You find Olinto 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 l dare not employ Russian wait
er, These English would not come to
my shop II l did"
How long has Olinto been with
you!" inquired
About a year-perhaps a little
more. I trust him implicitly. and
leave him In charge when go away
for holidays. He does not get along
very well 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, slanc-
ing at my watch. said: TN wait for
him, II he will be here at ten. I'd
much like to see him again"
The Russian was by no means nom
plused, but merely remarked: He ia
late sometimes. but not often. He lives
on the other side OF London-over at
Camberwell"
Suddenly 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 a Gus
toner, he turned and closed the door
quickly. In that instant l noticed the
nigh 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 "Efghtpenny 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;
III give you half-a-sovereigu II
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?"
No, sir He's been away i'll for
four days"
And your master?"
had no time to put any further
question. for the Russian re-entered at
that moment, and the youth busted
himself rubbing the front of the coun-
Ter in pretense that I had not spoken
70 him. Indeed. l had some difficulty
in slipping the promised coin into his
hand at a moment when his master
was not looking.
While l stood there a rather thin, re-
specially dressed man entered and
.eated himself upon one Of the plush