The Pulaskian., 1916-12-29

HI lllt Q1u ikIG. NUN Ie IEAh alone and very lonely, sick of heart and forlorn. There was, of course Lynch, his partner in the Antipodes i; Whitaker was fond of Lynch, but not with the affection that a generous-spir- tied youth had accorded Peter Stark and Drummond-a blind and unreason- ing affection that asked no questions and made nothing of faults. The ca pacity for such sentiment was dead in him, as dead as Peter Stark, as dead as Drummond.
 It was nearly midnight, but the hour found Whitaker in no humor for bed or the emptiness of his room. He strolled into the lounge, sat down at detached table i'll a corner, and ordered some thing to drink. A page, bearing some thing on a salver, ambled through the lounge, now and again opening his mouth to bleat, dispassionately "Mis- ta Whitaker, Mista Whitaker !''
 The owner of that name experienced flush of exasperation. What right had the management to cause him to be advertised in every public room of the establishment? But the next instant his resentment evapor- ated, when he remembered that he re- mafned MT. Hugh Morten in the mana gerial comprehension.
 He lifted finger; the boy swerved toward him, rendered a blue envelope, accepted gratuity and departed.
 woe o ably an answer to his to Grace Petit. Whitaker tore the envelope and un- folded the inclosure, glancfng first at the signature to verify his surmise. As he did so, he heard his name second time.
 Pardon me; this is Mir. Whitaker?"
 A man stood beside the little table -one whom Whitaker had indifferent ly noticed on entering as an equally lonely lounger at another table.
 Though be drowned involuntarily with annoyance, he couldn't well deny his identity.
 'Yes," he said shortly, looking the man up and down with captious eye.
 Yet it was hard to find much fault with this invader of his preoccupation. He had the poise and the dress of gentleman: dignity without aggressive hess, completeness without ostentation. He had spare, not ungraceful body, plain, dark face, a humorous mouth, steady eyes: man easily forgotten or overlooked unless he willed it other wise.
 My name is Ember," he said quiet ly. "If you'll permit me-my card" He offered a slip of pasteboard en- graved with the name of Martin En- Der. And I'll sit down, because I want to talk to you for few min utes."
 Accordingly he sat down. Whitaker glanced at the card, and questioningly back at MT. Ember's face.
 T don't know you, but :. What are we to talk about. please?"
 The man smiled. not unpleasingly.
 Mrs. Whitaker" he said.
 "Mrs. Whitaker didn't send you to me? Then how What the deuce-i'
 T happened to have a seat near your box at the theater tonight" MT. En- Der explained coolly. 'From-what I saw there, I inferred that you must be yourself. Afterwards I got hold of Max, confirmed my suspicion, and ex- tracted your address from him."
 q see," said Whitaker, slowly. "Who the devil are you?' he demanded bluntly.
 
 T was," said the other slowly, "once. a private detective. Now-rm a per- son of no particular employment, of in- dependent means, with a penchant- you're at liberty to assume-for polk ing my nose into other peoples busi- ness. Mrs. George Petit once en- ployed me to find her sister, Miss Mary Ladislas, who had run away with chauffeur named Morton"
 Just minute," said Whitaker sud- denly-"by your leave"
 Ember bowed gravely. For thought longer Whitaker's gaze bored into his eyes in vain effort to fathom what was going on behind them, the animus un- discovered by his words; then, remem- bering, he looked down at the cable message in his hand.
 Martin Ember Git ran) private agency 1435 Broadway, Grace Pettit."
 Whitaker folded the paper and put it away in pocket.
 "Go on, please" he said quietly.
 ''In those days" MT. Ember resumed, T did such things indifferently well. I had little trouble in following the rum aways from Southampton to Green port. There they parted. He was want ed for theft in former position, was arrested, convicted and sent to Sing Sing; where he presently died, Pm glad to say. Miss Ladislas had registered at the Commercial house as Mrs. Morton. She was there, alone, under that name, for nearly a week before you registered as Hugh Nor ten, and in the space of a few hours married her, under your true name, and shipped her off to New York"
 Right" Whitaker agreed steadily. "And then-2o