The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-09


 Paddock speS up. the stairs to his and Minot turned toward the elevator. At that moment he saw approaching sim through the deserted lobby Mr.
 i'm O'Malley, the house detective of the De la Pax.
 Can we see you a minute in the of fee, MT. Minot?' he asked
 Certainly Minot answered. "But I'm soaked through--was out in all that rain''-
 '"roo bad,'' said O'Malley, with sympathetic glance. "We won't keep you but minute"- 7
 He led the way, and, wondering, Minot followed. In the tiny office of the hotel manager bullet headed man stood waiting.
 My friend, MT. Huntley of the se- cret service" O'Malley explained. ''tw- full sorry that this should happen, Mr. Minot, but we got to search you.'
 Search mel For what?' Minot cried
 And in a flash he knew. ThrSugh that wild night he had not once thought of it. But it was still in. his inside coat pocket, of course. Chain Light nings collar!
 "What does this mean?" he asked.
 That's what they all say" grunted Huntley. Come here, my boy. Say, you're pretty wet. And shivering! Better have warm bath and drink. Turn around, please, Ah"-
 With practiced fingers the detective explored rapidly MT. Minot's person and pockets. The victim of the search stood limp. helpless. What could he do? There was no escape. It was all up now. For whatever reason they de- sired Chain Lightning's collar they could not fail to have it in another minute.
 Side pockets - trousers pockets = now! The inner coat pocket! It's con- tents were in the detectives hand. Minot stared down. A-little gasp es- caped him.
 The envelope that held Chain Light nings collar was not among them!
 Two minutes longer Huntley pur. sued; then, with an oath of disappoint- ment, he turned to O'Malley.
 Hasn't got itr' he announced.
 Minot swept aside the profuse apolo- gies of the hotel detective and some how got out of the room. In daze, he sought. 389. He didn't have it. didn't have Chain Lightning's collar! Who did?
 l rry1,i 1n e,+n jprr f,> hot bath that an idea came to him. The struggle on the deck of the Lileth, with Martin Wall painting at his side! The tug on his coat as they all went down together. The genial spirits of Wall thereafter. The sudden start for New York
 No question about it-Chain Light ning's collar was well out at sea now. And yet why had Wall stopped to take the occupants of the launch aboard?
 As completely at sea as he had been that night, which was more or less at sea, Minot returned to his room. It was after o'clock. He turned out his lights and sought his bed. The sun was bright outside his win dows when he was aroused by knock.
 ''What is t?' he cried.
 "A package for you, sir" said bell boys voice.
 He slipped one arm outside his door to receive it, neat little bundle, se- curely tied, with his name written on the wrappings. Sleepily he undid the cord and took out--an envelope. He was no longer sleepy. He held the envelope open over his bed. Chain Lightnings collar tumbled, gleaming, upon the white sheet! Il l Also in the package was a note, which Minot read breathlessly: Dear MT. Minots
 have decided not to go north after all, and am Lack in the harbor with the Lileth. As I expect Trimmer at any moment l have sent George over to Tarragona island in charge of two sailor1nen for the d. y. . Cordially, MARTIN WALL. P. S-You dropped the inclosed in the scuffie on the boat last night. At 10 o'clock that Saturday morning Lord Narrowly was engrossed in the ceremony offbreakfast in his rooms. For the occasion he wore an orange and purple dressing gown with floral design no botanist could have sane tioned-the sort of dressing gown that Arnold Bennett, had he seen it, would have made leading character in a novel. He was cheerful, was Harrow by, and as he glanced through an old copy of the London Times he made | strc 5e noises in his throat, under the l impression that he was humming a musical comedy chorus. There was knock, and Narrowly cried, Come in.' MT. Minot, fresh as the morning and nowhere near so hot. entered.
 Feeling pretty satisfied with life, I'll wager" Minot suggested. My dear chap, gay as-as-a robin, '' Narrowly replied.
 Snatch your last giggle,'' said Mi not Have one final laugh and make it good one. Then wake up' Wake up? Why, I am awake''- "Oh, no, you're dreaming on a bed of roses. Listeni Martin Wall didn't