Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29


seized his two friends by the arms and
pushed them before him
Laura lost not a second of time. She
retrieved the bundle of clothes. ana.
all was safe. Mrs. Gray opened. dis
playing a very pale and agitated coun-
tenance
You know. don't you?" asked Laura.
slipping into the bedroom.
II recognized his voice" she Yasped.
but l couldn't hear anything they
were saying"
Dress like lightning, Go out
room. 1t will lead you into Tomis
quarters. and he will show you out the
servants way Don't mind about Toni
Once you get down TO the street. there
will be plenty of taxis.
DO you think ! can get home before
he does?'
I'll see that you do" replied Laura.
with determination. TN keep him
here. I'll make him take me out to
dinner"
oh" gasped Mrs. Gray.
you don't mind. do YOU
"Oh, my. no. Mrs. Gray laughed.
Anything to give me a chance to
reach home safely and get to bed with
a headache"
"All right. I'll keep him." and Laura
returned softly to the study, leaving
Miss Phoenix already almost half
dressed for her flight
Laura sat down with fiuttering sigh
and listened intently for any sound
which would indicate that Mrs. Gray
was going. But she heard nothing.
and in what seemed to her perilously
brief period the pantry door opened,
and the men returned. laughing. chat
ting and drying their lips She felt
that her particular job just then was
to keep the conversation from drifting
to the subject of Miss Proenix long
enough to allow of that lady's escape.
and then to get Jack Gray away from
the other two.
But fate was against Laura Leslie
this time The three had hardly come
into the room when Jack. walking to-
ward the table, caught sight OF the
gold and tortofseshell como Of the
late Countess Francesca. He paused
moment looked again. and then pick
ed it up and examined it.
Where did this come FROM" he ask
ed in a hollow tone.
IT'S mine" replied Laura. promptly.
and reached to take it from him.
1T can't be yours, replied Jack, with
a frown. unless there are two combs
exactly alike: and / was led to believe
that this was the only one.
Nevertheless, it is mine" persisted
Laura.
1T can't be- | know to whom it
belongs
1T belongs to me. | tell you" repeat
ed Laura impatiently. Let me have
it,"
Can it be possible?" muttered Jack.
as he stood gazing at the comb. Gould
she have been here"
Gould who have been here?" asked
Laura. What are you talking about?
Give me back my comb
Not until | find out" returned Jack.
almost savagely. Harry. how did this
comb come here"
IT don't know, I'm sure" stammered
TnwnSand a
there; she says it's hers. What's the
Mystery
Harry" growled Jack. that woman
that woman in your room-did she
wear this comb?"
"Woman?' interrupted Laura, before
Townsend could answer. There is no
woman in that room" She hoped. she
felt. that Miss Phoenix must have had
time 10 escape What is the matter
with you. Jack? Are You still as crazy
as you we're this morning."
Fred told me there was woman
concealed in that ROOM said Jack
stolidly.
well" began Townsend, but Laura
pulled him aside.
81 think DR.. Sterling must have been
telling you fairy tales she insisted.
Il am the only woman here, and the
only woman who has been here"
But there" asked Jack. melodra-
matically pointing at the bedroom door.
60 and see for yourself" answered
Laura, calmly. and she wiped the cold
perspiration from her hands.
Mrs. Gray was a neat and methodical
young woman, and before leaving she
had hung the tycoon's robe in Town
sends closet and had wrapped the Slip
pers and the stockings in the papers
they had originally come in. For this
reason. when Jack flung open the door.
there was nothing at all to show that
the room had been occupied less than
FIVE minutes before. The three others
laughed almost Historically when the
vacant chamber brought relief to their
nerves. but Jack Gray remained
solemn. and. after gazing again at the
comb. thrust ii into his pocket and
reached for his hat.
What are you going to do now" in
quired Laura, nerNously.
Il am going to find out about this
comb
But you can't go, Jack she plead
ed. You know we have to meet Col
Crosby in less than half an hour
Il don't care" snapped Jack. I'm
going to see about this matter first
But Col. Crosby"
"Col. Crosby be-blowed!' he cried,
with Impotence.
Now, during these moments of ex-
element. none of the four had heard
the bell again. nor had they noticed
Toni slip quietly through the room to
answer its summons. 1t thus happened
that the Jap ushered a stout, elderly
gentleman into their presence Just as
Jack exclaimed, "Col. Crosby be blow
ed"'
Il am blowed, my boy. l am blow
err replied that worthy. between
breaths. ITS a long pull up those
stairs
To Laura the Montana colonel came
as an angel from heaven. She fairly
fell upon his neck. and maneuvered so
as to place herself, with the old gen.
tIeman, between Jack and the door.
The colonel was all puffs and grunts
and smiles. and did his best to explain
to Townsend that. having a minute to
spare before his dinner engagement, he
had felt that he must come in to see
him.
And / was beginning to think. Jack,
he said turning to the latter. that
might not see you this evening.
Perhaps you won't" muttered Jack,
but Laura drowned his voice with:
Indeed. you shall. colonel And why
did YOU think you wouldn't see us?"
Because when l got back to the
hotel this evening and asked for Mr..
and Mrs Gray the clerk told me there
was nobody of that name stopping
there.
The guilty conscience of Mr.. Gray
here led him to founder deeper into his
own mire.
quite right" he began. briskly.
1--WE left the hotel this morning
quite Unexpectedly. Went back to our
house,
Back home, eh?" said the colonel
YES" continued Jack. glibly. The
paperhangers sent word that the work
was all done, and SO we moved right
in again.