The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-11-18

ginning. but very near the end, siurring
over what had happened until he
reached tho episode at the inn. When
Maritz heard that Van Cortland and
Miss Warren had been seized by men
In the he'd dress Of policemen. his dark face
But my nephew told you to drive
on. 20 come hsree". he demanded terse-
yes. And 1 came as fast as ! could.
licemen to the rescue."
'Then whore is that which ny,
NEPHEW trusted you to bring to meT
'He trusted me with nothing-ex-
msaninK. But Miss Warren tossed
her mu2ic roll into the car as shot
away from the inn." 80.
That was clever OF her. and show
But, though she thought she was
carrying Something Of Importance.
AZ . matter Of fact she wasn't. She
was q kind Of decoy duck" a..
believe IL a fraud. disguised TO look
like some one else. left his overcoet
behind. very much against hts Will"
mo doubt II was against his Will
10 have had in that overceat which
can Interest me. And for the moment
I'm not interested in this spurious
Jacobs. who was probably, furious at
want is the thing which my nephew,
whom you know as Mr.. van Cortlandt,
must have given you to bring me. or
he would certainly not have sent you
away from him with your car ;s,.v v,
persisted christopher, beginning to
iionaire. III there Is anything Of his
on board w. %s Pc have h The lSsssse
down." said Maritz, land I will look
through II here and now, sitting by
your side. John sonG'---and he rails
ed his tone imperatively-"shut the
The bronze gates closed, and the
courtyard became as private as II II
had been a vast room.
The next order was for Van Cort-
landts suitcase TO come down from the
roof OF the car, where IL had been placed
when the new members Joined the party.
A strange looking. thin little key on
the milllonaire's watchain opened the
case as though It had been made for the
neatly folded az " by n valet lay OK
posed TO view. Peter Mnritz lifted every
thing out, shook each garment. and ran
sacked each corner OF the Handsomely
he searched for was not there. He was
looking very stern and anxious now.
II am as sure az ] am OF my own lie
that my nephew would not have voluli-
tarllg renamed IN Inc UhUuS OF tHltNts'
sending you and your motor on. II he
had had on his person the thing J trust.
ed him to bring back to- me" said
Maritz with grim confidence. He him
self did not know whether he. Miss
Warren. or my old servant Jacobs was
carrying back the real thing or an int
tation; nevertheless as he knew the
chances were one In three that he had
the right one. he would have died rather
than risk breaking faith with me-"
II IT, 10
mystery said Christopher. Is - ..
Now that you are here. In my court
yard, there 10 no reason why ! shouldn'
confirm your suspicious" replied Maritz,
In q moro conciliatory tone. You ought
to have with YOU the New koh;i-Noor,
] have cause Tor anxiety. and have had
had cause enough ever since the truth
about my purchase OF the finest dia-
mond found In a hundred years unfor-
a weii-known gang Of diamond thieves
would be on the lookout FOR the stone
on It's way back from Amsterdam, and
, did my best to guard II. IL was my
car: and knowing your name AMI tho
reputation you made In Dalvania,
approved the notion. As for giving you
q false name. he did nothing of the sort
His middle name is Van Cortlan * -his
last is the same as mine: though he hns
lived much abroad, and. luckily for my
project, Ii scarcely known hero ms yet
You can see why he did not wish to give
his own name, Maritz, on account Of rho
association. II was better for you I,
know nothing. and you need have 10 re-
sentiment II he was not entirely frank
The mission -whs not his own. but nine
though n he succeeded he waa to be
made my private secretary. with such d
salary as to keep, himself and wife
II he chose to take one Mica Wnrre5
for instance-in luxury. Now You nm.
derstand what hung upon success, fol
him. and you must see that he wouiI
not easily fall me. II you are hidinl
anything because you think YOU havon {
| been treated fairly"
Christopher broke In with a protest