The Washington times., 1918-10-01

eT. 1nlS was SUFFICIENT, ana IneTe
was no one in tn esmallest de-
gree likely to come forward and
dispute the fact.
Lillian and Esther were discussing
before the fire in Lillian's boudoir
that afternoon. Esther had now
been told everything-even of the
mysterious disappearance of Basil
Fleetwood. to her the greatest
blow of all
Mr.. Swan should be here by
now" said Lillian, glancing at the
clock above the mantelpiece. at
is a little after his usual time"
Swan was accustomed to report
every Afternoon on the general
progress, and to discuss plans.
And Guy said Esther, signing
poor Guy. He has not been here
since that terrible night
Il have been to him, Esther"
was the answer. 81 found him ut
terly broken, poor fellow. He
helped me back home that night,
and did everything in his power
for me and the children. But he
did not speak a word till he left
me. Then he seized my hand and
l felt his tears upon it He NUT
tered:
Lillian. Lillian, cannot ask you
to forgive me-" What could l do
but forgiven" II was not quite his
fault He has the best intentions
always, but in an emergency II
seems he is fated to do the wrong
thing. Beside, that youth. Stanley.
has explained things to me, and
I see now that the task we set Guy
to was too hard for him to carry
out. So 1 have forgiven, but fear
he has not forgiven himself"
Just then the bell rang and in a
few minutes Swan was shown up to
the boudoir. He bid the two ladies
a CHEEKY good afternoon"
Have you any newsT The
question reser to. the lips OF both.
To Esther the words meant. Have
you anything reports of Basil
Fleetwood?"
81 have, as usual. several things
to report" said Swan. 81 hardly
know with which to begin. The
whole matter is so involved-so far,
at least, as we who are conducting
the Investigations are concerned
To the public II is simple enough"
Simpler. Lillian raised her
brows.
Comparatively. They have two
distinct cases-that OF a Chinaman
who is arrested for complication in
the abduction of two children and
the inquest upon an unhappy man
who met his death while searching
the house in which these children
were supposed to be concealed. The
public knows all about the criminal
for whom the police are in search
and about the manner in which the
house was conducted. but there
their Information, ends. We know
a great deal more. but we are care
full, for the present, to keep our
knowledge from the public"
what happened at the inquest
this afternoon" asked lillian
ut has been again adjourned.
Probyn is better, and It is hoped
that soon he will be able to make
a statement Chan-Ling was ex-
amined, but he denies all knowledge
of what took place in the main part
OF the house. He says the opium
den was his sole charge. In this
he is borne out by DR.. French, who
has also been examined"
That rascal?" interrupted Lillian.
Cannot his completely be shown"
He is suspected" said Swan.
but he is clever. and as yet there
is no definite evidence against him.
As soon as he heard of the trouble
he volunteered all the assistance
and information he could give.
You know his plausible manner"
But you-you can prove that he
associated with Valeski."
Certainly, but he does not deny
the fact. He simply maintains
that he was deceived by Valenski in
the same way as everyone else.
All his dealings have been with the
Count Won Schoneheim, and the
lease of the house and all other
documents which he has placed be-
fore the court are in perfect order.
He says that he looked upon his
friend. Won Schonheim. as a man of
science. an original investigator
like himself. and, therefore, when
ever he visited the house he saw
nothing in the laboratory or in the
general conduct of the place to
arouse his suspicious. The skeleton
was his property but he had no
idea it had been put to such mis-
use, and the secret receptacle in
the wall. with all its mechanism
had been constructed without his
knowledge. He did not wholly ap-
prove OF a part OF the house, set
apart for opium smoking, but as he
was the author OF a pamphlet in
which he had set forth that the
use OF opium was not SO deleteri-
Gus as was popularity believed. he
could not very well object to lend
ing his sanction to what was a
hobby on the part of his friend.
Won Schonheim. However, he re-
GREETED having done so now.
French's evidence was very clear
and straightforward, and there was
a good deal of sympathy with him
in the court; people seemed TO look
upon him as a man who had been
dragged into an unpleasant affair
without any fault OF his own"
But so much for French's evil
dence. For the present he is safe.
but / have an idea that he will
overreach himself For instance,
have made this discovery. He has
removed the Curse from Adderley
Grange to his own asylum. OF
course, he has no reason to think
that the police will associate Ad-
derley with this business, but he is
evidently much on his guard. He
knew that thu police are searching
for Tweedledum, and that might
very possibly lead TO the inquiry at
Adderley Grange. SO he took pre-
cautions. ] have been down there.
OF course, l cannot say II anyone
is hide in the secret rooms"
CONTINUED Tomorrow
Copyrighted, w, r Hearst