Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-12-23

whom MS hCdrT rnUurned without Goa Al
Ing, he had cared most for Drummond
OF all the men ne had known ami liked
In the old life. Now he felt
alone and very lonely. sick of heart
and forlorn. There was, of course,
Lynch, his partner in the Antlpodes:
Whitaker was fond of Lynch, but not
with the affection that a generous-spir
tied youth had accorded Peter Start
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 hum0r for bed Or
the emptiness of his room. He stroned
into the lounge, sat down at a detached
table in a corner, and ordered some
thing to drink. A page. bearing some
thing On salver, ambled through the
lounge, now and again opening his
mouth to bleat, dispassionately mis-
ia Whitaker, Mista Whitaker"
The owner of that name experienced
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 eyapor.
ated, when he remembered that he re-
manned Mr.. Hugh Morten In the mana.
gerial comprehension.
He lifted a finger; the boy swerved
toward him, rendered a blue envelope,
accepted a gratuity and departed.
1t was a 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 a 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 dony
his identity.
ayes" he said shortly, looking the
man up and down with a 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 ostentati0n.
He had spare, not ungraCeful body, a
plain, dark face, a humorous mouth,
steady eyes: man easily forgotten q
overlooked unless he willed it other
wise.
MY name is Ember," he said quiet
iy. "If you'll permit me--my card"
He offered a slip of pasteboard en-
graved with the name of Martin EN-
Der. sand I'll sit down, because I
want to talk to you for a few min
utes."
Accordingly he sat down. Whitaker
glanced at the card, and questioningy
back at Mr.. Embers face.
Il don't know you, but
What are we to talk about, please?"
The man smiled not unpleasingly.
"Mrs. Whitaker, lie said.
"Mrs. Whitaker didn't send you to
me? Then how What the deuce-w
81 happened TO have a seat near your
box at the theater tonight" Mr.. En-
Der explained coOlly. "Fr0m-what /
saw there, inferred that you must be
yourself. Afterwards / got hold Of
Max, confirmed my suspicion. and ex-
tracted your address from him"
II see" said Whitaker, slowly.
'Who the devil are you?" he demanded
bluntly.
Il was" said the other slowly. "once,
n private detective. Now-rm a per-
son of no particular employment, of in
dependent means, with a penchant-
you'ce 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 minute" sad 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 RAM private
agency 1435 Broadway. Grace Petit"
Whitaker folded the paper and put it
away in a pocket.
Go on, please" he said quietly.
''In those days" Mr.. Ember resumed,
81 did such things indirerenuy well.
had little trouble in following the run
aways from Southampton to Green
port. There they parted. He was want
ed for theft in q 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 q week
before you registered as Hugh Nor
ten, and in the space of few hours
married her. under your true name,
and shipped her off to New York"
Fright" Whitaker agreed steadily.
A