South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-15


thing that this fellow Dupoy should
have disappeared in the heart Of Lor-
Ion Where are YOU going when you
'eave here"
Il am gong exactly where Dupoy
went am going & lunch in a little
restauran; of Shaftesbury avenue.
strongly recommended 10 me BY a per
son whom ! suspect was interested IN
Dupoys disappearance I expect there
to obtain at any rate a hint"
Sir William nodded in an interested
manner.
Anyhow" he suggested, you'd bet
ter let me know the name OF the res
taurant, IN case you do the disappear
ance trick. or anything OF that Sort
Brooke scrubbed it down upon a piece
OF paper Then. with a sealed packet
in his hand which he had the air Of
endeavoring to conceal as much as pos
sible, ne LEI, the building and re-entered
his tsxicab.
He drove first to Scotland Yard
where, for the sake Of appearances. he
made few aimiess inquiries about In
spector Simmons, who was out Of town.
At a quarter to one he was set down
outside the Cafe Hollande.
He entered the place and looked
around him for a minute. A little dark
man came hurHing toward MIN. his
face wreathed in smiles.
Jean Marchand?" Brooke asked.
But certainly, monsieur" the little
man replied 1T is Monsieur Paul who
has sent you here2"
Paul of Delacher's Hotel" Brooke
admitted
Brooke followed his guide down the
stairs into a large and somewhat empty
apartment, in which were set a few
tables only. At the bottom of the stairs
an orchestra OF three musicians was
playing There were only one or two
people lunching
ut is not yet T." Jean explained
Between and 80 this room will be
crowded. There are celebrities who
come he-c. I myself will point them
out to monsieur. l recommend this
table-the one in the corner"
But It is already occupied" Brooke
remarked, glancing with a slightly puz-
lied air at the girl in the corner, who
seemed on the point of raising her veil
The adjoining table, then, monsieur"
Jean begged. Monsieur NAV make
himself comfortable. I myself will re-
turn to take his order fer luncheon"
Jean retreated with smooth haste
Brooke advanced slowly toward the cor
ner OF the room indicated Then he
stopped short The girl had raised her
veil.
Constance he exclaimed
YOU" she echoed.
Brooke took a seat opposite to her.
What on earth does this mean ?" he
cried.
She tore open a letter which lay on
the table by her side. She glanced
through the few lines and passed il
across to him.
"A man called upon me this morn
ing, she exclaimed. He asked for my
aid in a certain private matter. The
first step was that l should lunch here
at table which should be pointed out
by maitre d'hotel named Jean March
and, and that l should open this letter
if a neighbor should take the adjoining
place. Read"
Brooke snatched at the half sheet of
notepaper. Across it was written in
bold, sprawling hand
Good fortune and good appetite to
Monsieur Dupoy from Paris, and
mademoiselle. his charming partnerr'
Brooke looked up at Constance and
met her eyes steadily fixed upon his.
This means" he said SLOWLY.
The wrinkles began to form around
her eyes. She was beginning TO laugh.
1T means that you have run mp
against some one even cleYerer than we
are" she declared. He looked at her
with little Of that old-time cast Of i'm
becility on his face.
"a philosophical attitude" Brooke
insisted at length, is our best role. We
came here TO lunch-we will lunch. We
Will lunch well"
Certainly there was nothing TO be
complained OF in the cooking at the
Cafe Hollande. The service was q little
slow and there was a queer sense Of
emptiness in the room. As though By
mutual consent, neither Constance nor
Brooke talked Ct the disappearance Of
Dupoy. It was only over their coffee.
during the last few moments, that the
subject was mentioned.
q made a mistake, Of course"
Brooke confessed at was foolish OF