The Washington times., 1918-09-16

said. All should so well with
you n you follow the instructions
have already given sou. You can
not mistake the path, though it is
n rough one. Make straight for
the further end OF the valley, and
there you will see the road. You
will find some peasants huts, and
If you have money they will let
you have a cart or conveyance OF
some sort TO take you to Ras-
chatz. But do not say you have
come from the valley of the Va
lepskis, for they will not trust
you. You are not likely to be
followed. for no one will suspect
the manner of your escape. The
gypsies will scoUr the castle for
you, and that will take time
Il seized his hand. You have
been more than good to me- said,
and 1 shall never forget it. What
is your name in case we meet
again?
1T does not seem likely that
we should meet he smiled, but
who knows? Some day l may be
sent to America, and then we may
meet as foes. Ny name is Fried
rich Dietz-and l am Romany OF
the tribe of Valenski.'
"T wish 1 could repay you,' I
said, or give you something as a
souvenir of what you have done
for me- I took a ring from my
finger-it was a diamond ring that
had been given to me a few years
before by a client who was CRATE
full for my assistance I had rendered
in a rather difficult matter. VIII
you accept this ring-not as a re-
ward SO much as a souvenir
81 have never regretted the loss
OF that ring or the purpose to
which ] put IL.
~And though I could not have
guessed it then, 1 was to- meet
Friedrich Dietz again.
81 need not bother you with a
further recital of my AK periences
that day. Tired as / was, ! did not
pause till I was safely out OF the
VaenskI valley and on the compa-
rative safety of the high road-an-
other pass through the mountains
similar to the one by which 1 had
Travelled with valenski the day be-
fore. ate my brown bread and
drank my brandy, and do not
think that have ever eaten a meal
which has been so welcome to me.
n found the peasants huts, and
managed to negotiate for a cart to
take me to Reischatz. I said had
set out on foot-a bold saying. for
I had no idea whence the road
Etarted-and that I had grown
weary on the way. They looked at
me, fancy, with some suspicion,
but the sight Of a gold coin was a
powerful argument in my favor.
And so, late that night, / came
to Reischatz and rested in a mean
inn-but in safety. The next day
engaged another. carriage to take
me to the nearest railway station
not the way by which had come,
though that was for my purpose the
most direct. I could not face the
three days drive again, and the
sights OF the spots which had pass
ed in the company of the so-called
Gypsy king. By the way took
had to travel east before 1 could
turn IN the direction OF home
81 was delayed for some days in
q small town by illness. 7 was
hardly to be wondered at that I Mt
last succumbed. was in a high
fever, and l believe / talked In my
delirum, but nobody took what /
said for anything but irresponsible
rawlings I reached France at last,
and then came home and rrade my
report. I spoke in such a way that
II was hardly likely that the Va
lensllfs would be traced, but I gave
warning of the manner in which the
PRISONERS might attempt to carry
on their traffic in the country.
tngs at Raschatz? No. I had no
to make as to these. 1t
that an old peasant wo-
man had been arrested. and had
made a confessional was she who.
had supplied the drugs which had
been the cause of so many deaths.
A certain innkeeper named Fersko,
who hailed from a village at some
distance from Reischatz. had con-
fessed to purchasing poisons from
her, by means of which he had done
his wife to death. laughted when
[ heard this, for was not that the
same man whom / knew to have
had dealings with Valenski? 1t was
all as the Austrian police had fore
cast, and probably now for a little
while the subject Of wholesale pois-
onings would be dropped.
But in the future? ! told myself
that before very long the subject
would again be to the fore and then
my knowledge would come in use
tuL Therefore ! gave up all at
tempts to convince the chief Of de-
tectives Of the truth OF my story.
and, as a matter of fact, 1t was
then, and because OF this belief. that
I had ended my connection with the
force.
at was about two years later
TO come now TO events that imme-
5iately concern us-that Mr.. Hook
Ing, as he will remember. came to
me with the story OF the danger in
which Miss Esther TasseI stood
Is a result OF certain strange
events which had happened to her !
1t Adderley. This led me. as you
both knew. to investigate the posi-
lion of affairs at that house.
Mr.. HockinG-as ! need not re-
mind him-was mistaken in think
ng at that time Miss Vassell was
N the danger he anticipated from |
lnything to do with Adderley. Her |
danger rose from quite another
yes, yes" interrupted Hooking.
For Gods sake. don't remind me
II that"
The detective smiled. 81 won't
llude TO 1t more than ! can help"
lie said. Il found out the true
Iource Of her danEer-that is all l
reed say-and was luckily able to
vert IL. But at the same time /
vas brought into touch with the
mystery of the Borradale curse. and
Ipon the occasion of my first in