Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-22

aid me In. - What a fellow
Sandy isl You people must be starv-
Ing"
utes. Then Hoiderness iimped toward
the stairs with little imprecation.
Lutchester stopped him.
Don't you 60; Holderness." he
down by the scruff of the neck"
He strobe up the stairs on a mission
which ended in unexpected failure.
Presently he returned, a slight frown
upon his forehead.
II am awfully sorry" he announced.
''but can't find him anywhere. I left
him washing his hands. and he said
he'd be down in a moment. Are you
quite sure that we haven't missed
"There hasn't been sign of him."
Molly declared promptly. II am SO
hungry that my eyes have been glued
upon the staircase all the time"
Pamela, who had slipped away a
few moments before, rejoined them
with little expression of surprise.
isn't Capt. Graham here yet?" she
asked incredulously.
mot sign of him." Holderness re-
Psd Way pesr sssSa 'snt III ra Ws
my sister and Miss Van Teyl in, will
youT" he went on. laying his hand ON
Lutchester's shoulder. "Ferrani villa
look after you. I'll follow directly"
The chief maitre d'hotel advanced
to meet them with gesture Of invi-
tation. and led them to a table ar
ranged for Ave. The restaurant was
crowded. and the colored band, from
the space against the wall on their
left. was playing a lively one-step.
Ferranf was buttonholed by an Inn
threshold, and they fingered for a
moment. waiting for his guidance.
While they stood there curious thing
happened The leader Of the orchestra
seemed to draw his fingers recklssly
across the strings of his instrument
most appalling. A half-pained, half
amused exclamation rippled down the
room. For moment the music ceased.
The conductor who was responsible for
the disturbance, was sitting notion
1855 his hand hanging down by his
side. HIS features remained imper-
turbable, but the CLEAN Of his white
teeth and livid little streak under
MS eyes gave to his usually good
humored face an utterly altered, al
most a malignant expression. Fer
RAM stepped across and spoke to him
for moment angrily. The man took
up his instrument, waved his hand,
and the music recommended in a sub
dued note. Pamela turned to the chief
maitre d'hoteL who had now rejoined
them.
What an extraordinary break
down! she exclaimed. us your leader
man Of nerves?"
Never have I heard such a thing
IN all my days." Ferrani assured them
fervently. Joseph Is one of the most
wonderful performers in the world.
His control over his instrument is
marvellous. Capt. Holderness
asked particularly for this table"
They seated themselves at the table
reserved for them against the wall.
Their cicerone was withdrawing with
speak to him.
Your music" she told him, ais
quite wonderful. The orchestra con-
s sists ~. entirely of Americans. 1 sup
sen Eat'rs'y rns mad am r. Tsrran as
darkies. from Joseph. the leader, down
horn" "o ''o'oi
pamela's interest in, the matter re-
mained undated.
Il tel! you 1t makes one feel almost
on. with a little sigh. Ibid they come
direct from the states?"
Ferrani shook his head.
From Paris. madam. Before that.
u I0T q iiItie time, they We're at the
quite European tour of it before
they arrived here"
"And he is the leader-the man
whom you call Joseph" Pamela OBJ
sseIved. "a broad. good-humored
imagine. mug" lnteinsence' should
Eerrani's, protest was vigorous and
gesticulatory He evidently had IDEAS
OK MS own. concerning Joseph.
More. perhaps. than you would
think. madam" he declared. ..IJe
knows how to make bargain. believe
me. It cost. US more than I would like
70 tell you to get these fellows here"
Pamela looked him In the eyes,
= Be careful. Monsieur Ferrani." she
advised, that 1t does not cost vow
more to get rid of them"
She leaned back, In her place nm.
parently tired OF the subject, ana Fer
RAM. little pushed, made his bow
and withdrew, The music was once
more in full swing. Their luncheon
was served. and Lutchester aid his
best to entertain his companions.
Their eyes. however, every few sec
onds strayed toward the door, There ,
was no sign Of the missing guest
@ CHAPTER u.
Molly Holderness, for whom Gra-
hams absence possessed, perhaps,
more significance than the others, re.
lapsed very soon into a. strained and
anxious silence. Pamela and Lutches.
ter. on the other hand. divided their
attention between a very excellent