Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-15
CHAPTER X-Continued

DAOTL hinched perceptibly under this
II statement His cool indifference took on
sort Of cordaity that repels one more than
open enmity. Bending over the table before
which he was standing, he occupied himself
in elaborately sorting and rearranging some
papers at which he had been working.
"Of course" he said, II know you now
Mr.. Harold Leighton. I didn't place the
name at first which was altogether stupid
of me | have often wanted to meet you.
As a matter of fact, heard of your coming
It's a rare treat in this out -of-the-way part
of the world to run across man who has
advanced cur knowledge of psychology as
have"
The profuse compliment was not relished
by the old savant. IT am not aware that l
have advanced our knowledge of psychology.
as you put it. one iota," he said testify. But
I am here to add to the small stock of what
/ have already learned.
"You must have found David rare prob.
lem" exclaimed Raou
"You know him, perhaps, better than l
do"
Engaging sort of chap. Clever and all that.
Mysterious too. don't you think? So he has
disappeared again. you say?"
"Don't tell me that you have not known
of it! The whole town has been talking
about it,"
"Rumors. only rumors," protested Raoul
IT would like to hear the real facts"
'This gentleman, General Herran. with
whom Mr.. Meudon was travelling, can tell
YOU the facts, such as they are. But
can't see why you should need them
Raoul turned to I.eighton's companion,
who had been trying to follow what the two
men were saying. As they talked in Eng
lish, a language Of which he knew scarcely
a world. he could make very little of it.
Asked, in Spanish. to give the details of his
ride with David, he made an excellent story
of it, relating something of the discussion
that had absorbed them while the road
together, the friendly feeling that had grown
up between them, its touch of convvality,
and their abrupt separation in the midst of
their encounter with the regiment of voun-
teers.
Raoul listened intently to Herran's narra-
tive, his glance rowing restlessly from the
narrator to his companion and back again,
as If to compare the effect on both of
what was said.
"It's a strange tale. Senor" he COM
mented when Herran had come to the end.
"These things with touch of mystery
in them are always fascnating-untl you
stumble on the clew. Then it's very simple.
I suppose you have no theory to explain
our friends disappearance"
None, Senior"
"You have just told me. Mr.. leighton"
he went on. addressing the latter that you
are here to add to your knowledge of
psychology"
IT did"
well. what do you make of it? Here's
what you are looking fora neat psyche
logical problem right to your hand,
II don't see it," said the savant i'm.
patiently
THAT'S always the way with you great
scientists, Butts simple" declared
Raoul, a note of triumph in his voice;
absolutely simple-if you know David as
well as l do"
II said that you probably know him
better l have not known him as long
or as intimately as you have. But-again l
fail to see what psychology has to do with
it."
1T has everything to do with it, David
was not spirited away. as you seem to
imagine. He disappeared of his own ac-
cord"
There Is every reason to think the con-
trary" said Leighton contemptuously.
"Oh. of course l may be wrong in my
theory. But as there is no other evidence,
see only one solution.
Its the cew we are after, you know-and
the clew Is right under your nose"
Perhaps YOU are on the wrong scent
Some investigators have knack of being
cocksure about everything But-expain
your meaning"
VERY we'll Let's talk as one psychologist
to another, them. Meudon has a peculiar
temperae probably know that. But
I xoY nasS. 7ey het tho dual psrsonsNtx