The Tomahawk., 1916-02-24

1T seems to me-" Helen Bertel ad'
dressed her chief, that mysterious
footsteps in a corridor at midnight
are little enough cause to invoke the
aid of the worlds foremost detective
agency"
The chief shrugged his fat shout
ders.
my dear Miss Helen" he rejoined
with the air of Difference that marked
all his discourse, "the footsteps alone
are relatively unimportant. Here
the point: of what are they mani
testation? What do they mean? That's
what you are supposed to discover
Besides, P. D. Davenant, as head OF
the Transportation and Trust com
pany, is one of our most valued
clients; he must be humored. If his
Invalid wife fancies the house Is
haunted and he believes we can lay
the ghost, why, it's up to us to do 1t. "
"Chief, please tell me specifically
what is expected of me. dislike act
Ing in the dark; it is like trying to
travel a strange road blindfolded.'
Helen Bertel was one of the most
capable operatives of the Sutherland
Detective agency, and the relationship
between herself and her principals
was correspondingly close and conf
Dental. While her chief pondered
heavily she sat motionless and silent,
her handsome gray eyes, half yelled
by their long dark lashes, steadily
watching him.
Presently the chief reused himself
and fastened his regard upon her once
more.
Here is the situation as Mr.. Dave
nant made me understand it" he be-
gan. For more than a year Mrs.
Davenant has beeu on the verge OF a
nervous breakdown, ard something
like six months ago she went to a
place belonging to her-dOwn among
the hills near Lambeth, where | want
you to go-hoping to benefit by the
quiet. From what Davenant says 1t is
quiet enough; there's nothing else
there. It's an old stone house over
looking the Illinois river, away of
from any main travelled road, and with
no near neighbours; an isolated,
gloomy, cheerless spot, l gathered.
She is alone there except for an old
woman servant who was with her be-
fore she and Davenant married.
During the past six or seven
months Mrs. Davenant has been the
victim of what her husband, for a
time, thought was merely a peculiar
hallucination. Every night-no, not
every night, but frequently-she hears
strange footsteps in the house. Their
source has not been ascertained, and
they have the effect of terrifying her
to the verge of hysteria. She is i'll
for days after every visitation"
The girls relaxation all at once was
erased by energy and resolution.
when do you want me to start?''
she asked decisively. "I'm already
packed" and she indicated a travelling
bag and suitcase over near the door.
you may suit your own conven-
lence"-the chief was no martinez with
Miss Bertel-"but Mr.. Davenant, OF
course, wants the mystery cleared up
as soon as possible"
IL
mind, I'll take one of the machines
the new roadster, by preference. l
may have use for it later on
"You are welcome, Miss Bertel; help
yourself. But first go get the best din
ner you can find in Chicago and charge
it to expenses; you need to be fortl-
fled against the long ride. All,
and by the way, don't forget that Mrs.
Davenant will regard you merely as
companion. The idea Of detectives
presence in the house doubtless would
be repugnant to her, possibly alarming
in her nervous state, and the object
of your errand be defeated
81 understand" returned the girl.
She gathered up her traveling-bag
and suitcase, carrying them as cas-
lily as if they were empty. With a
brief word of farewell, she passed out
and walked down the long hall to a
door opening upon a front room, a
room past whose windows the ele-
waited railroad roared all day and all
night. Here, a tall, loose-jointed man
with a keen, hawk-like visage was
working at a desk beneath a shaded
electric drop. Before him was high
power microscope and q paragraph
and several large sheets of bristol
board upon which were drawn, in in
dia-ink, engagements of various let
tiers in script. The desk was Uttered
with papers. The mans hair was
rumpled and he had the appearance
of one who has been absorbed for
hours in an engrossing task.
The girl raped lightly and entered.
"Why this fine frenzy, Felix?' she
said softly.
The man looked up quickly, his
dark, intense eyes agleam.
by jimminy crickets!" he ex-
claimed, 'it isn't forgery"
What isn't?" calmly asked Helen.
Felix Hazard tipped Cancelled
check across the desk toward her.
1.-THE signature is all right he sup
plemented, "but the check has been
raised
1or "a