The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-01

months ago. u speaks lot ltbtH,
except that II h the first lntlmation
ever had that any such person
existed a"
She handed me the envelope
across the desk. bidding me read
It's contents
/ noted. first Of all. that IT had
been mailed at Colombo, Ceylon.
,ook ouf the enclosure and with
some difficulty deciphered the let
ter.
Afer apologizlng In an awkward
nanJer for addressing "A young
lad, who was stranger 10 the
wTer. the latter then said he was
OF steamship en- route from
ggapore 90 Gibraltar.
1.-THE writer's purpose Was re-
tesled In a declaration that n Lois
Fox was the young lady he had
4 numerous reasons for suspecting
her to be. II would be 10 her great
advantage 10 communicate with
| him at once. II had been only
during the preceding month (No-
yember) that he had heard OF her
existence. together with sufficient
OF her history 10 prompt him to
write at all. and II she proved 10
b. the right person the matter was
OF enough importance for him to
make the long journey 10 Los
Angeles expressly 10 see her.
He gave an address In London
where a letter 10 him would be
held pending his arrival there.
The named signed TO this curious
epistle was James Strang."
You answered IL. OF course?"
Certainly" Miss Fox returned.
The second letter was post
marked London. and had followed
Miss FoX's reply. II was no more
definite in imparting information
that Il categoricaliy laid down a
| number Of questions, all OF which,
with one important exception, re-
lated 10 her infancy. a period Of
which she knew nothing.
The exception referred 10 seemed
to me to be one which should de-
termine the question Of identity
definitely.
Why. bless you" exclaimed
when II fell under my eye. This
ought TO settle IL. Listen" And |
read aloud from the second letter.
Have you anywhere on your body
crazy-looking design tattooed?' -
| looked sharply at her. with kind
ling establishment.
Have your" asked.
My bluntness. realized too late,
was embarrassing to her. alto
gether too personal
began an awkward apology.
adding: You need not answer, OF
course. can only plead that this
muddle makes me forget myself"
She smiled forgiveness. and lay
INK hand upon her bosom, re-
piled
4 have such a mark-right here.
But II is not a tattoo-mark: II is
too irregular and purposeless in
design TO be that Besides. Aunt
Lois has assured me that II is a
birthmark"
There were only two moro let.
tiers; second written from Lon
don. saying that the writer would
sail for New York soon.
The last letter was written at
New York. and merely mentioned
his safe arrival and the train he
was TO take for the West.
The telegram. which had been
sent from Denver. read: Arrive
Los Angeles Saturday afternoon"
II bore the date OF April 18th.
Why" observed !. that was
only last Thursday. Did he show
up Saturday."
NO. He has not showed up at
all. and don't know what to think.
There has been nothing since the
telegram"
At this instant Stub knocked and
entered
Boss" he interrupted. in an ex.
cited undertone, there's a gumshoe
out in the office right now wanting
TO see YOU"
Miss Fox rose hastily. as IL to
retire
Wait" charged her. This
might have TO do with the very
thing We have been discussing |
cant imagine otherwise why a de-
tective should favor me with n
call"
She moved over to window.
turning her back to the room. and
at a nod from me Stub sprsng at
the door.
So promptly as to suggest that
he had been waiting not far away,
hatchet-faced man entered.
Sorry to bother yuh, Mr.. Fer
ris." he began. but want to ask
yuh a few questions on an import
ant matter. I'm a city detective;
( Struher's my name
He laid on my blot;ingpad a
small strip OF white pasteboard,
shaped like a carpenters square.
Can you identify that?" he
asked. regarding me shrewdly.
For the life OF me. could not
restrain a start. Right at the
angle. in small type that was UNI
mistakably familiar, appeared my
office telephone number. On the
instant knew that this fragment
OF pasteboard was the remainder
of the card from which had been
cut the address on the parcel en-
closing the diamond
CHAPTER Nv.
introducing Mir. Struber
elannad nm from tho hif pf 90 r1