Evening star., 1918-06-09
BLowr said Do1lops,
SOn disgustedly, as the tele-
~ ~ phone bell jingled. "A


~ ~ phone bell jingled. "A
~ body never gets a square
meal in this house. now that that
blessed things been put in!' Then
he laid down his knife and fork,
scuttled upstairs to the instrument
and unlocked the receiver. "'Ullo!
wot's the rumpus?" he shouted into
it. "Yus, this is Capt. Burbage's.
wot? No, he amt in. Dunno when
he win be. Dunno where he is. Who
is it as wants him? If there's any
message
The sound of some one whistling
softly the opening bars of the ma
tional anthem at the other end Of the
wire cut in upon his words and filled
him with a sudden deep and startled
interest. ....
'Oh. s'help mel" he said, with a
sort of gasp. "The Yard" Then,
lowering his voice to shri1l whis-
per. THAT you. Mr.. Narkom? Beg
yer pardon. sir. Yus. it's me-Dollops
Wot? No, sir. Went out two hours
ago. Gone to Kensington Palace
Gardens. Tulips is out, and you
can't hold him indoors with a chain at
tulip time. Yus, sir-top hat, gray
spats; same's the captain always wears.
sir"
Narkom, at the other end Of the
line, called back: '1f I miss him, il
he comes in without seeing me, tell
him to wait; I'll be round before 3.
Goodbye" He then hung up the re-
ceiver and turned to the gentleman
who stood by the window on the
other side Of the private Office agi-
fofadIv fviryfnO tho and Af hfa fh{rtS
gray threaded mustache with one
hand, while with the other he drum
med . nervous tattoo upon the broad
oaken sill. Not at home. Sir Henry;
but fortunately know where to find
him with but little loss Of time" he
trio button beside his desk. my
motor will be at the door in a couple
of minutes, and with ordinary luck
we ought to be able to pick him up
inside Of the next half hour"
Bart. to give him his full name and
title-a handsome, well set up man
of about forty years Of age. well
groomed and with the upright bear
ing which comes of military training,
twisted round on his heel at this and
gave the superintendent an almost
II hope SO. God knows. I hope so,
Mr.. Narkom." he said agitatedly.
Time is the one important thing at
present. The suspense and uncer-
tainty are getting on my nerves SO
horribly that the very minutes seem
endless. Remember. there are only
three days before the race, and II
those rascals. whoever they are, get
at Black Riot before then, God help
me. that's all! And If this man Cleek
can't probe the diabolical mystery.
they will get at her, too. and put
al
brutes!"
You may trust Cleek to see that
they don't. ST Henry. 1t is just the
kind Of case he will glory in; and
II Black Riot is all that you believe
in spite of these enterprising gentry
who Halo! here's the motor
Clap on your hat, Sir Henry. and
come along: Mind the step! Ken
sington Palace Gardens, Lennard-
and as fast as you can streak it."
The chauffeur proved that he could
streak it" as close to the margin of
the speed limits as the law dared
wink at. even in the case of the well
more than twenty minutes pulled up
before the park gates. Narkom
Jumped out, beckoned Sir Henry to
follow him. and together they hurried
into the grounds in quest of Cleek.
Where the famous tulip beds made
splotches Of brilliant color against the
clear emerald of the closely clipped
grass they came upon him, a solitary
figure in the garb of the elderly sea-
man, Capt Burbage of Charges
street." seated on one of the garden
benches. his hands folded over the
knob Of his thick walking stick and
his chin resting upon them, staring
nxedly at the gorgeous flowers and
apparently deaf and blind to all else.
He was not. however. for as the
superintendent approached, without
altering his gaze or his attitude in
the slightest particle, he said with the
not, my friend? What a pity they
should be scentless. 1t is as though
heaven had created a butterfly and
deprived 1t of the secret of fight.
Walk on, please, without addressing
me. l am quite friendly with that
policeman yonder and I do not wish
him to suspect that the elderly gen.
tleman he is SO kind to is in any way
connected with the Yard. Examine
the tulips. That's right. You came
In your Limousine, of course? Where
IL it?
"Just outside the gates, at the end
OF the path on the right" replied
Narkon. halting with Sir Henry and
, pointing out the different varieties of
tulips.
Good" replied Cleek, apparently
taking not the slightest notice, "Iil
toddle on presently. and when you re-
turn from inspecting the flowers you
Will hnd me inside the motor awaiting
you"
"Do. old chap, and please hurry:
time Is everything in this case. Let