The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-28

II Continued From Our Last issue)
II With characteristic energy, Grace
cast about her 10 see how her eH
cape might be- accomplished. She
drew from her purse n small. gold
handled penknife Richard hat
given her as n birthday present
The panels of the doors. sh,
knew. were not over n quarter oI
an inch thick.
She went To the door by which
she had entered and cautiously
pressed the point OF the tiny blad,
into one Of tho panels at a point
about six inches above the locb
She realized ioyfully that the pane
was composed of soft wood.
/ Very carefully she began 10 twirl
the knife about. borlng n tiny hole
as II went. Tier progress was pain
/ fully slow. After long time she
found she had enlarged the open
ing 20 the size of half.dollar
She was just beginning TO loss
hope when an object on the fur
Their side OF tic room caught hei
eve. II was long iron poker
with n heavy brass handle. which
stood at one side of the old.faHh
toned fireplace IN the further wall
! The brass head OF the poker
varying In size from the end up
she wedged into the opening with
out difficulty. II fitted tightly
She began TO bear down upon the
other end. And then. with splin
tering crash. the panel gave way
and n section OF Il aa large as her
hand bent slowly outward.
She dropped the poker 10 the
floor and thrust her arm thru the
Jagged hole. then. reaching down,
her fingers closed upon the key,
Even as she turned Il she heard
sounds coming from the hall at the
rcar-the opening OF door. then
rapid footsteps.
She flung the door wide and
tore at breakneck speed down the
stairs. She sprang into the yesti.
bule. opened the outer door. stun.
BLEED panic stricken 90 the side.
walk. then ran at full speed to
ward the corner
IL was broad daylight. She had
not realized the length OF time she
had been In the house.
II was fully an hour before the
woman she had followed appeared
To Grace II seemed like six. The
woman stood for several moments
on the steps. cautiously watching
to see whether or not she was oh
served. then walked 10 Sixth ave.
and stood waiting for south
bound car.
Suddenly Grace observed that
tho woman carried. In addition 20
the Aatehel. large bundle secured
In n shawl strap. And the cover OF
tho bundle. OF bright yellow and
green plaid. was unmis,akahiy a
steamer rug. She Immediately 70.
mrmbered the word "Richelicu'
which Hartmann had used 40 Wig.
orouhiy when she had passed him
and the woman on the corner the
night before.
She watched the woman board
tho car and then hailed a taxi
When she got TO tho pier Grace
took up an inconspicuous position
and waited for the woman 10 ap
pear.
At las, Grace saw the woman
coming down tho pier. She was
alone. Grace was greatly disap
pointed. Yet tho woman had
Hartmann's baggage. II seemed
certain that the latter must ap
pear. even tho at the last moment
And then a sudden resolution
caused Grace to send for teie
graph blank and seribbie tho hasty
message TO Richard. Sho dared
no, leave her post even for a mo
mcnt. Hartmann might appear al
any time. He might oven nov, shs
reasoned. be already on board. She
prayed that Richard might get hot
message In time to Join her. fol
she had made up her mind TO sal
on tho steamer rather than lose
track OF the two abe had no per
sistentiy followed all night.
The gangplank was Just about Il
be cast off when NJ. Lefevre rush
ed across II and reached the Rich
elieua deck.
f.efevre at once sought Capt
Bonnet and had a short Interview
with him In the latter's cabin. =
require n stateroofn." he said. and
for a young woman who is actins
for the time being as one OF my as
sis,ants. wish 10 have one adjoin
ing.
1T win be necessary for VIZ q
confer frequently unknown TO nnJ
one on board. In public. you vii
understand. We appear not to know
each other"
Bonnet nodded And why al
this secrecy" he asked.
Because. monsieur. the mystery
connected with tho death OF the
purser. George Vernon. is by ne
means solved. and unless am very
much mistaken. the solution OF II
will be found aboard your ship"
He refused to commit himself
further and repaired Mt once TO tbs
stateroom assigned him. A few
moments later. hearing sounds n
the adjoining room, he knocked on
the door. Grace opened II and
looked I'm.
She had no sooner assured her
self OF the identity Of the passen
ger In the room next to hers thar
she burst out laughing.
AuE,cy Woyfo