The Washington times., 1918-08-30


for the sufIerinEs-pTesent and to
come-of her friend who was al
ready 80 heavily burdened.
Against EStheF and Myself.
"That is one OF the points upon
which / cannot enlighten you," he
said els 1t extraordinary how the
old legend has fulfilled itself to-
day. You know how I went down
TO investigate things at Adderley;
II was then that I touched, as l
have said, the fringe of the mys-
tery; found that l was related to
certain matters OF which / already
had some knowledge. and for Miss
Vasselrs sake wished her to have
nothing further to do with the
Borradales. At the time, too, 1
became aware Of the existence. of
this mysterious woman, but / made
no attempt 10 solve the reason OF
her presence at Adderley; l had
already abandoned the chase. But
now there is good cause TO take 1t
up again-and we will take IL up.
II had better tell you my own
experiences" continued Swan. "You
will then know what my discoV-
cries at Adderley meant to me. 1t
will be rather q long story, ! fear,
but / suppose our time is our own.
We can do nothing more at pres
ent to help the lost children nor
can we do anything in the matter
of Basil Fleetwood. By the bye,
Mrs. Willoughby, would keep this
accident that has happened to him
a secret from Mrs. Borradale for
the present"
"Oh, certainly will" sighed
Lillian. "She has suffered enough
without this additional trouble. 'I
think" she added, after a pause,
'if you will, excuse me for five
minutes I will go, and see that
Esther is quite comfortable. Then
/ will return, and we can listen 10
Mr.. Swans story. Guy, you will
see that Mr.. Swan has a glass of
wine or anything he may require
you will find the decanters and
glasses on the sideboard. And, OF
course. you viii both stay to
lunch"
She hurried out, and Guy did the
honors of the house as he was re-
quested. Over his sherry the detec-
tive made a confidence.
81 had to tell that poor lady" he
said, that / did not think the two
children were in any danger OF per-
Sonal injury. Besides, you had
raised her hopes so high by saying
that / could give her news of them.
The fact is"-he shook his head
"that I'm not so sure no I'll will be-
fall them. The only thing am sure
Of is that we have done everything
that mortal man can do to save and
recover them. Perhaps their abduc-
tion may lead 70 the breaking up of
a very dangerous gang OF GRIM
malls"
After a few minutes Lillian re-
turned. Il am glad to give you q
good account OF Esther" she said.
The doctor has been here, and he
thinks that all danger Is past. She
10 suffering from a nervous break
down, and from the want of proper
sleep. He thinks she will be all
right in a few days. / am pleased"
Thank heavens" muttered Guy
under his breath.
And now, Mr. Swan"-Lilian
drew up her chair and settled her
self to listen-"I am quite at your
disposition. Anxious as we all must
be to be up and doing. we cannot
act without being fully in each
others confidence. But IL is weary
lost children.
At last she turned and walked
slowly back to her chair.
81 am more composed now" she
said, land can listen TO all you have
TO tell me. My most pressing trou-
BILE is the loss OF the children.
Can you tell me about them at
once-hefore we discuss anything
else!"
81 have only my suspicious as TO
what has become OF them" said
Swan. in more gentle tones than he
was wonI to assume. And my sus-
picions are very largely founded
upon what Guy Hooking has told
me. You have made enemies, Mrs.
Willoughby, and they are enemies
who are very hard to reach through
the ordinary mechanism OF the law.
/ think the children were taken by
them, either to crafty their spite
against you, or perhaps for some
other subtle reason. I do not think
they will be ill-treated"--he added
this hastily, reading the misery in
her eyes-"and l think II quite likely
that IL the police do not unearth
them you will before long hear
something directly from their cap
tors. But you understand that all
this is merely supposition. II the
children were only lost we would
have heard OF them by now, for
assure you that everything has been
done that can be done. A descrip-
tion OF them has been circulated all
over the country, and there is no
station that has not been warned.
There Is nothing We can do now but
to wait. ] know II seems hard"
Lillian sighed. 'lt is very hard"
she said.
Guy was very pleased when the
subject was changed, or rather
drifted away from the direct topic
OF police investigation into the
whereabouts OF the runsways. It
had been with fear and trembling
that he had given the information
as TO their names and appearance.
He had described them as protoges
OF the late IZrale Won Geldenstein. at
present in the charge OF Mrs. Will
loughby, and he had invented de-
tails as TO their antecedents which
might put the police off the scent
OF their true parentAge while in no
way embarrassing them in their
search. 1t was some moments before
he appreciated that Edgar Swan was
no longer on dangerous ground.
cit was purely by accident" Swan
was saying. that was able to form
a conclusion as to the possible kid
naper II happened like this. Hook
ing told me his story. II was very
long and complicated story. and he
did not simplify il in the telling"
Swan smiled slightly at GUY.
- don't excel at that sort Of thing,
I admit" said Guy, with an aWk-