New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-05

man cheerfully. eve haven't come for
you but it'll be the worst nights work
you've done yet, If you don't act with
instead of against u.s."
As he spoke, the bright ray of his
lantern shone full on the man who had
opened the dOOr-a big. hulking fellow
with the face and sbuild of a prize
fighter.
Then Tim Birkett mumbled a tale
of a pal Of his" who had ONE to him
from II gentleman who wanted a strong
chap to pay out" a bad man this gen.
tleman was too old and weak to pun
ish himself. Instructions received
through the pal" with the advance,
were to wait neal the front door with
Il lamp, from a quarter to eight till the
arrival of a motor car, on rearing
which he was to open the door part
way, and not allow himself to be seen
until the visitor was inside, and the
door locked behind him. Then he was
to "lay OUT the newcomer in f~rst-rate
style-nothing serious, but enough to
"knock him silly" and keep him in
that condition for several hours.
Scarlet Runner was left standing
before the house door, to give the i'm
preston that her master lay uncOn-
scious within; but hour after hour
passed on, and Birkett's mysterious EN-
plOyer neither came nor sent.
Christopher at last drove Scarlet
Runner rapidly back to London, the fog
having lifted with a hint Of breeze. He
was tired and hungry; and knowing
that he would get nothing to eat at his
lodgings, when he had put up the car
he went to his club. The dining room
was almost deserted when Christopher
walked in. Two men sat at u table in
a corner, talking earnestly and hear
ing him enter, they looked up, as If not
too pleased to have the room Invaded.
Both were young, and strangers to
Christopher; yet the face of one
seemed curiously familiar to him.
Then, suddenly, the answer sprang
into his mind. This was the original
of the photograph in the gold cigarette
case.
A wave of excitement swept over
Christopher. In a low voice he asked
the waiter who took his order If he
knew who were the two gentlemen at
the other table.
"Why, SIR" replied the old fellow,
don't you know by sight the celebrated
MI. Fergus O'Brien"
"Oh, I've heard Of Fergus O'Brien,
of course" said Christopher-"the pri-
vate detective; which of the two Is
heY"
1.-The one at the head of the table,
sir. 1 don't know his guest. Not a
member of the club, sir, unless a brand
new one"
Christopher determined that neither
he nor his neighbOrs should leave the
room without his finding out what he
wanted to know. He took the gold Gig
arctic case from his pocket and laid it
on the table, where its diamonds
flashed in the light of a red-shaded can
| die. Three minutes later its CLEAN
| caught Liz NSC Va lAO youA6 Auh "HO
was not Fergus O'Brien; and Christo-
pher saw his face go through the
changes from establishment and incred-
ulity to intensest eagerness.
what will he do now" was the
question in C~hristopher's mind. But it
was almost instantly answered. What
the young man did was to jump up and,
ON pretense of going to the fireplace to
warm his hands, pass close to the table
where Race sat. He paused and Chris
topher's eyes and his met.
"YOu will think it very strange" said
the young man, but l must beg you to
tell me how you got that cigarette
case"
Il don't think it strange returned
Christopher. "When l recognized
your face, l put the case there hoping
you'd ask me that question. I'll answer
it with the greatest pleasure; and
there are also some questions l trust
you'll answer me-"
Fergus O'Brien got up and came
across the room. you're Mr.. Race,
aren't you?" he asked.
+ Christopher %assented, and added that
he had just learned who the other was.
"This is my friend-indeed, my dis
tant relative-Mr. Maurice NaylOr,"
said O'Brien.
IN. NJ" exclaimed Christopher i'm
pulsively.
"Will you gentlemen come to my
rooms?" asked Christopher. you'll
understand why. perhaps, when we've
had a talk about the cigarette case.
| You won't have far to go"
And they did understand, in a way
that was a surprise to all three; for,
on arriving at ChristOpher's lodgings,
they came upon a scene of wild cOnfu-
sion in his sitting room.
"This act is also IN account of the
cigarette case," said Christopher.
There's a man who wants 1t badly. I
don't know who he is yet, but"
II think I can tell you," cut in Maui
rice Naylor.
Can you also tell me who is v. L.
H.?"
"She is Violet Hardcastle, the niece
Of the man who probably paid this
room a visit while you were out. She
didn't give you the cigarette case?"
I'm a way, she did-pr0bably to keep
1t out of her uncle's hands, as it looks
now. Can you tell me where she ISL"
II wish I could. I've been advertis-