The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-05


The landlady stood on the land
ing. There is man to see you,
at the door below, monsieur" she
| said.
''Who is it?"
81 do not know. He gives the
name of Victor Girard."
Very we'll. Send him up"
Grace heard the name-Victor
Girard. A sudden wave of weak
ness swept over her. 1t was Rich
ard! He had used the name fire.
quently, In the past. She heard
him ascending the short flight OF
stairs. There was no escape. She
hastily drew down her veil and
shrunk back into the shadow.
Duvall came in. glanced sharply
about him.
"What can I do for you, mon
sieur?" inquired Valentin.
The detective drew the note
from his pocket-the note which
Mary Lanahan had sent to Valen-
tin, and which Duvall had inter-
cepted. This is for you, mon
sieur?" he asked, then suddenly
paused, astonished. In the dim
light. he caught sight of Grace,
standing on the opposite side Of
the room, watching him closely.
II thought - monsieur -
thought you were alone" he
gasped. II beg your pardon. "
For a moment Duvall would
have been ready to swear that
Grace. his dear who stood before
him in the flesh-and yet the
thing was an absurdity. Grace,
with her golden brown hair. her
clear complexion, was 1000 miles
away! This woman, dark, typi-
cally. French, was quite evidently
an entirely different person.
"Well, monsieur, give me the
letter, since you say it is for me, "
he heard Valentin saying.
In an instant he had recovered
his self-possession. Here" he
exclaimed, handing the note to
the man before him. ut is from
Mary Lanahan. l have read it. y
"By what right do you presume
to read my letters?" He took the
note and hurriedly read it.
"Sacre!" he exclaimed. What
does this meant" Ilrua
cit means. my friend, that l
want that box of gold-tipped
! cigarets." D. sar4.
Grace started. So Richard, too,
was interested in the recovery OF
these mysterious cirgarets. What
on earth, she wondered, could 1t
mean? Ih1
Monsieur, let me inform you
that l have no cigarets, gold-tip-
ped or otherwise. do not smoke. "
"What does that note mean,
them" asked Duvall sternly.G
"That is Miss Lanahan's affair
and mine." rr oBf 49,
Duvall looked about, then turn
ed to the door. His object in
coming had been fulfilled. He
had seen Northumberland him
he hoped frightened him. He
darted a curious glance at Grace,
as he left the room. Her silent
presence filled him with strange
disquietude. He stationed him.
self outside the doorway, deter
mined to learn, If possible, who
she was.
The two left the house togeth-
err, and the man at once called a
cab. Into this he put Grace, all
the while cycling Duvall savagely.
The latter gave up all ideas of
pursuing Grace, and returned,
somewhat disgrunted to his hotel.
Grace, meanwhile, had driven
at once to the bankers and de-
livered to him the message with
which she had been entrusted.
Mr.. Stapleton's face grew more
and moe angry as she proceeded.
He jumped up, as soon as he
learned the purport of it, and,
ringing up Duvall's hotel, re-
quested the detective to come to
his home at once. Then he
turned to Grace.
You have no idea where this
place is located?"
Not the slightest"
"How am / to know that these
scoundrel's will keep their word?"
do you intend, then, to give
them the money!"
Certainly. Do you suppose l
would take any chances for the
matter of hundred thousand
dollars-or twice as much?"
Grace rose. Then I might as
well be going" she said. 81 shall
report the matter to the Project
of Police at once"
AS she was leaving the house,
she saw Richard drive up in a
cab.
CHAPTER VII.
Mr.. Stapleton, standing in the
middle of the library when Du-
vail pnterad turuad IN him az