Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-13

tyne. He had Just tr,ed to interview heI
and had received an icy refusal; yet foi
reasons of his own he was not at all ready
to drop the matter.
! Now that he noticed II, the woman, seat
ed at desk with mirror beside her
was writing slowly and painstakingly
with her left hand. and from right to left
Iensely interested at once, Grant glanc-
! "a around the lobby. There was the usual
| scattered crowd of well dressed people
sitting or moving about. but none of them
/ looked i'll any way suspicious, He brought
| his eyes back to mile. Louise Sroisart.
! Buda- Pes;h," as she was registered. and
saw that she was holding up what she
| had written as though to see it better. At
tho same time he noticed that a slim
! dandy who had just entered and was sit
! ting langudly across from the lady, was
holding out his monocle almost at arm ;
length Then he understood.
With smothered exclamation Grant
jumped up and. hurrying to tho desk,
borrowed a pair of opera glasses from his
friend the hotel clerk. He FASTENED back
to his seat and saw that the woman was
writing again. Presently she held the pa
per up as before. and Grant, masking his
opera glasses with a newspaper focused
them not on the sheet of note-paper, but
on the mirror. And he read:
Meet me in the rustic Park by the
bridge in twenty minutes"
The letters were as lottery though
written by child. The woman had writ
ten her message backwards. using her left
hand to make It easier, and It was COM
prehensble only when read with help OF
a looking glass!
The Immediately dressed man dropped
his monoce and sauntered out, and the
woman arose and gathered up her wraps.
As she did so something fell from the
folds OF her coat to the floor
She snatehed 1t up with a hasty look
around. and Grant smiled to himself. lie
arose and followed her. coming up with
her as she reached the elevators.
Pardon me. Countess he said quietly
as he caught her arm. but I'll trouble
you for what's hidden In your coat
The woman turned in a flash, her face
pale. Sir she gasped, and at that mo-
ment a heavy hand fell OH Grants Shout
der and he was jerked backwards. lie
looked around to see one of the hotel de-
tectives.
1--WE been keepin' my eye on you, young
Teller" Rrowled that worthy. while the
woman, with an exclamation, turned and
hurried out through the front door. "Cor.e
along. now"
you blithering fool.' cried the reporter
in evaporation as he struggled in the
mans clutches. Now she's got away
with II For the love Of Pete, take me
to the desk"
Somewhat taken, aback. the detective
obeyed. and the clerk Identified Grant at
once. In the midst Of the proffered apol
ogies Grant handed back the opera
glasses. you may be on the Job. all
right" he said wrathfully to the detec-
tive. but IT'S the wrong job. That wo-
mans got the portfolio!'' And amid
startled EXPLANATIONS he hurried out.
Outside in the street Grant Strengthened |
his clothes and thought fast. Probably |
the detective had seen him vSth the news |
paper and glasses and. knowing of the |
missing portfolio, had nabbed him on
chance. But what was to be done next? |
The woman had disappeared and there |
was no possibility Of finding the man.
Suddenly Grant started. The rendezvous |
IN the park! II was worth CHANGING any
how. He ran to the nearest taxi stand, |
1rsd cab and was soon speeding ts- :