The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-12-15

ated. when he remembered that he re
manned Mr.. Hugh Morten in the mana
geral comprehension.
He lifted finger; the boy swerve(
toward him, rendered Il blue envelope
accepted gratuity and departed.
/ 1t was a cable message; very prot
ably an answer to his to Grace Petit
Whitaker tore the envelope and un
folded the inclosure, glancing first a
the signature to verify his surmise. A
he did so. he heard his name a secont
| tune.
Pardon me; this is Mr.. Whitaker?
| 4 man stood beside the little tab.'
t-one whom Whitaker had Indifferent
ly noticed on entering as an equal!
lonely lounger at another table.
| Though he frowned involuntarily
with annoyance, he couldn't we'll deny
his identity.
"Yes," he said shortly, looking the
man up and down with a captious eye
Yet it was hard to find much fault
He had the poise and the dress of q
gentleman: dignity without aggressive
ness, completeness without ostentation
He had spare, not ungraceful body, q
plain, dark face, humorous mouth
steady eyes: man easily forgotten OF
overlooked unless he willed it other
wise.
"AIy 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
want to talk to you for few min.
utes."
Accordingly he sat down. Whitaker
glanced at the card, and questioningly
back at Mr.. Ember's face.
II 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!
II happened to have seat near your
box at the theater tonight" Mr.. En-.
Der explained coolly. "From-what
saw there, inferred that you must be
yourself. Afterwards I got hold OF
Max, confirmed my suspicion, and ex.
| tracted your address from him.
81 see," said Whitaker, slowly
"Who the devil are you?" he demanded
bluntly.
Il was," said the other slowly, "once
| private detective. Now-Tm q 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 bust.
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 a 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 Qt RAM private
agency 1435 Broadway, Grace Petit
Whitaker folded the paper and put II
| away in pocket.
"Go on, please" he said quietly.
"In those days." Mr.. Ember resumed
II did such things indifferently 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 Sine
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 week
| before you registered as Hugh Nor
| ten, and in the space of q few hours
| married her, under your true name
and shipped her off to New York"
Fright" Whitaker agreed steadily
"And them
Il traced her to the Hotel Belmont
where she stopped overnight then los1
her completely; and so reported tc
Mrs. Petit. l came into a little money
about that time. and gave up my bus
ness: gave it up. that is, as far rs
placing myself at the service of the
public was concerned. After some time
Mr.. Drummond sought me out ant
begged me to renew my search fol
Mrs. Whitaker; you were dead he tolt
me; she was due to come into youl
estate-a comfortable living for an in
dependent WOMAN