Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-12-08

and forlOrn. There was, of course.
Lynch, his partner In the Antipodes:
Whitaker was fond of Lynch, but not
with the affection that generous-spfr.
tied youth had accorded peter Stark
and Drumnond--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.
1t 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 in a corner, and ordered some
thing to drink. A page, bearing some
thing on a salver, ambled through the
lounge, now and again opening bis
mouth TO bleat, dispassiOnately "AIis-
ia Whitaker, Mista Whitakeri"
The owner of that name experienced
a flush of evaporation. 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
manned Mr.. Hugh Morten In the mana
gerial comprehension.
He lifted finger; the boy swerved
toward him, rendered a blue envelope,
accepted gratuity and departed.
1t was cable message; very prob
ably an answer to his to Grace Petit,
Whitaker tore the envelope and un-
folded the Enclosure, glancing first at
the signature to verify his surmise. AS
he did So he heard his name second
time.
Pardon me: this is Mr.. Whitaker?''
A man stood beside the little table
one whom Whitaker had Indifferent
~ noticed on entering as an equally
lonely lounger at another table.
Though he frowned involuntarily
with annoyance, he couldn't well deny
his identity.
Eyes" he said shortly, looking the
man up and down with captious eye.
Yet 1t was hard to find much fault
with this invader of his preoccupation.
He had the poise and the dress of a
gentleman: dignity without aggressive
ness, completeness without ostentation.
He had spare, not ungraceful body, a
plain, dark face, humorous mouth,
steady eyes: man easily forgotten o.
overlooked unless he willed it other
wise.
my name is Ember," he said quiet
~. IF you'll permit me-my card"
He offered a slip of pasteboard en-
grayed with the name of Martin EN-
Der. sand I'll sit down, because /
want to talk to you for a few min
utes."
Accordingly he sat down. Whitaker
glanced at the card, and questioningly
back at Mr.. Embers face.
4 don't know you, but !,
What are we to talk about. pleaseT
The man smiled, not unpleasingly.
''Mrs. Whitaker" he said.
"Mrs. Whitaker didn't send you to
me? Then how What the deuce 7"
Il happened to have a seat near your
box at the theater tonight" Mr.. EN-
Der explained coolly. "From-what
saw there. inferred that you must be
yourself. Afterwards 1 got hold of
Max, confirmed my suspicion, and ex-
tracted your address from him."
II see," said Whitaker, slowly.
'Who the devil are your" he demanded
bluntly.
Il was" said the other slowly, "once.
a private detective. Now-Pm per-
son of no particular employment, of In
dependent means, with a penchant--
you're at liberty to assume--for pok.
ing my nose into other peoples busl-
ness. Mrs. George Petit once en-
ployed me to find her sister, Miss Mary
Ladislas, who had run away with a
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 I'M
discovered by his words; then, remem-
bering. he looked down at the cable
message in his hand.
Martin Ember lit RAM private
agency 1885 Broadway. Grace Petit"
Whitaker folded the paper and put II
away in pocket. efoe's est
Go on, please" he said quietly.
"In those days." Mr.. Ember resumed,
II did such things indiff erently well. /
had little trouble in following the run
aways from Southampton to Green
port. There they parted. He was want
ed for theft in a former position, was
arrested, convicted and sent to Sing
Sing; where he presently died, I'm
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