Evening star., 1917-09-16

Did YOU notice that man I glanced
ato'
YES"
Wen. that's Earl Dexter, the first
crook in America, Ssh Only goes in
on very big things. We had word al
the yard when he landed; but we can't
touch hirl-we can only keep our eyes
on him. He travels openly and in his
own name; always dresses the same
and has Just given me 'good-day, They
call him the Somhrcro Man. We heard
this morning that he had booked two
first-Ciass SailinGs on the Oceanic. leav-
ing for New York three weeks hence.
Now. Mr.. Cavanagh. what is his game?
1t has occurred TO me- before, Bris-
toll. / replied, and You may remem Der
that l mentioned the idea to you. tha t
there might be third party Interested
in the slipper Why shouldn't Earl
Dexter be that third party?"
Because he isn't fool raped Bris-
tot. shortly. Earl Dexter isn't a man
to gather up trouble for himself. More
likely if his visit has anything to do
with the slipper he's retained by Has
san II Co. Museum breaking may be
a b.t out Of the line of hashishin"
This latter suggestion dovetailed with
my own ideas, and oddly enough there
was something positively wholesome in
the notion of the strai ghtforward
crookedness of a mere swell cracks
man.
Then happened a singular thing, and
one that effcctually concluded our whis-
pered colloquy. From the top end of
the room. beyond the case containing
the slipper. one OF the yellow blinds
came down with run.
BRISTOL turned in a fash. 1t was not
a remarkable accident, and might por-
tend no more than loose cord but
when. having walked rapidly up the
room. We stood before the lowered
blind. il appeared that this was no ac-
CGeHt at all.
some four feet from the bottom of
the blind Cor FIVE feet from the fioor)
a piece Of linen foot square had been
neatly slashed out.
Bristol stared n me in perplex.ty.
"W ho on earth did IT," he nuttered-
'and what the blazes forn''
The American gentleman has just
gone out. sir said the sergeant at the
door.
/ nodded yr.mly and raced down the
steps Across the hail in front os me
saw Earl Baxter passing out of the mu-
scum. / followed him-through into
l\ihEsWaY and thence to Fleet street
lie sa"ntered easily along a noncha-
lth' gray figure. had begun to think
tgat ne was hound fer his hotel and
turned sharply into quiet salisbury
square; II WAS almost deserted
Ny f@aft lfaTed into my mouth with
q pf"Se'ttlnent OF what was coming as
! So" an elegant and beautifully
dressed woman sauntering along in
front of us on the far side
MAS IT that / detected something
fanliiar in her carria ge-in the poise
OF her heat-somothing that reminded
me or former unforgetta Bile encounters
encounters which without exception
hiid preSaged attempts upon the slip
per of he Prophet? Or was it that |
recollected how Dexter had booked two
ptSShEeS Tor America" | cannot say:
hRf teit my heart leap; | knew beyond
any possibility of doubt that this meet
l.'t- IN salisbury Sauare marked the
"u"nin% of a new chapter in the his
tory Of IN" slinpe~.
Dexter Slipped his arm within that of
the Ir!El in front of him and paced slow
~ forward i'll earnest conversation. |
suppose my action was very amateur
ish and piece of very poor detective
work, for, regardless of discovery. l
crossed the read and passed close by
the pair.
| am certain that Dexter was speak
ing as l came up. but we'll out of ear
SHOT his voice was suddenly arrested.
His companion turned and looked at
me.
l was prepared for it, yet was thrilled
electrically by the flashing glance of
the violet eyes-for it was she-the
beautiful harbinger of calamities.
/ knew myself helpless and. bending
my head with a curious EN- barrass-
ment. passed on hurriedly
I had work to do in plenty but |
could not apply my mind to it; and
now. although the obvious and sensl-
t!e thing to do .sas 20 go about my
'-,'rir- &c ~lerod o, r;r,llosslv.
brain employed with a hundred idle