The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-03-10
CHAPTER xv-contInued.

-15-
quite likely" he answered. But
,ur first object must be to rediscover
Auriel. Would 1t not be best to send
IN urgent wire to the address where
hways write! She would then reply
here. NO doubt. I've told you practi-
:ally everything. my dear old fellow.
Tho facts Of the affair can be made
known only by Muriel tell you, We
must find her"
Yes. we must-at all hazards"
said. Let's go across to the tele-
graph ONCE opposite Charing Cross.
lt's open always" And we rose and
walked out along the Strand. now
nearly deserted. and dispatched an
argent message to Muriel at an ad-
aress in Nottingham road. Fulham.
Afterwards We stood outside on the
curb. still talking. loath to part from
him. when there passed by in the
shadow two men in dark overcoats,
who crossed the road behind us to
the front Of Charing Cross station.
and then continued on towards Trafal.
gar square.
As the light Of the street lamp fell
apon them I thought recognized the
tace OF one as that Of a person l had
seen before. yet was not at all GER
tain. and my failure to remember
whom the passer-by resembled pre-
vented me from saying anything fur
Their to Jack than:
"A fellow I know has Just gone by,
{ think"
I'VE seem to be meeting hosts of
friends tonight" he laughed. After
Ill. old chap. 1t does one good to come
back to our dear, dirty old town again.
We abuse 1t when we are here, and
talk Of the life in Paris and Vienna
and Brussels. but when we are away
there is no place on earth SO dear to
Us, for 1t is home But there!" he
laughed. I'm actually growing roman
tic. All! II we could only find Muriel!
But we must tomorrow. Ta-ta!
shall go around to the club and sleep,
tor l haven't fixed on any diggings
yet. Come in at ten tomorrow, and
we will decide upon some plan. One
thing Is plainly certain-Elma must
at once be got out of Russia. She's
certainly in deadly peril of her life
there"
YES" said And you will help
me?"
with all my heart, old fellow" an
swered my friend. warmly grasping
my hand, and then we parted. he
strolling along towards the National
Gallery on his way back to the Jun
ior." while l returned to the Cecil
alone.
Captain Durnford?" I inquired Of
the hall porter of the club next morn
ing.
mot here. SIR"
But he slept here last night"
remarked. Il have an appointment
with him.
The man consulted the big book be-
fore him. and answered:
Captain Durnford went out at 9:27
last night. sir. but has not returned"
Strange, l thought, but although
waited in the club nearly an hour, he
lid not put In an appearance.
About four O'Clock. as l was passing
through the big hall Of the hotel, l
heard voice behind me utter a greet.
Ing In Italian, and. turning In sur
prise. found Olinto, dressed in his best
suit OF black, standing hat in hand,
In an instant l recollected what
Jack had told me. and regarded him
with some suspicion.
"Signor Commentators, he said in
. low voice, as though fearing to be
overheard, may I be permitted to
speak in private with your"
Certainly" l said. and 1 took him
In a lift up to my room.
Il have come to warn you, signore."
he said, when l had given him a seat
"Your enemies mean harm to you"
Look here, Olinto!" exclaimed
determinedly, 1--WE had enough OF this
COMPOUNDED mystery. Tell me the
truth regarding the assassination of
your poor wife up in Scotland"
"Ah, signore!" he answered sadly
In q changed voice, 81 do not know.
II was a plot Someone represented
me-but he was killed also. They be-
iieved they had struck me down." he
added. with a bitter laugh. Poor Ar
midas body was found concealed be-
hind a rock Oh the opposite side of
the wood. saw tt-ah!" he cried
shuddering.
The police had, 1t seemed, sue
ceeded in discovering the unfortunate
woman after all, ana had found that
she was his wife.
you know \ man named Leith.
court?" l asked a few minutes later
Nov. tell the truth. In this affair,
Olinto. our interests are mutual, are
they not?"
He nodded. after q moments hesita-
ton
And you know also a man named
Archer-who is sometimes known as
Horribly or Woodroffe-as well as