Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-09
Hardacre'S
Emerald.
MOS FREE hung up the tele-
phone receiver as If he had
been answering a casual call


11hambers in Br,iton street for week,
tnnd had sent him no message during
tlhat period. Amos may possibly have
jAeen anxious about him, but no one
{6ould have supposed so from ms
(}11anner. and he exhibited no sign OF
lxSlief now he had heard.
About an hour later there was
t&ing at the bell.
IT'S Mr., Valentine West in|'
I The inquirer was Hindu, speaking
English precisely and slowly, He
wore turban, but otherwise was
dressed In European fashion, "hlch
had the effect OF giving him mean
y2ppearance. In his native dress he
Mould have been an imposing figure,
H6Oseibly.
amos shook his head -,
lrEe is not in? When will he return
rs Amos shook his head again, ana
thhrugged his shoulders TO give EN-
xDhasis to his ignorance.
lit lis a pity. l have Il message ior
him most important"
XssWrfte it," said Amos, producing pao
vknd pencil.
.F.Tt Is too important" said the
tHindu, waving them aside with
lxicker of his hands.
ITssTell me- said Amos.
~ The other shook his head slowly.
EFT Is too important; besides, II ne
cSloes not get II at once il will be too
cInte. It Is for his own safety; now
ekhInk again. Is he not in, ana can
Gkee him."
ossTIe is out" Amos answered, and his
snxure was set little more squarely--
Il danger signal. The Hindu seemed TO
Wocognize this. Apparently ne s"ofe
uifa his native tongue ,n
otaIt Is your own affair" he said, put
I, am rather impressed that you are d
lfIHs Missed out the belief quickly and
lcscIttled down the stairs, not waiting
Ofb see the effect of his beiief, 1t WAS
ul9tbe, perhaps. Amos might nave re-
aH1ied physically had the visitor heid
cshis ground. but 1t was nov s %oivi
khile following him down the stars
nSssCne of them balloons, as they cails
YAM" Amos said, as he closed the
p0Ihe Hindu might have been amused
&<ffi6 Ignorance of man who took
him for O. babu. For a moment In
sfcutt1ing down the stairs, he had lost
et1s dignified pose; now he became
Snoro dignified than ever as he went
t6ffyward. He attracted little notice,
nAd evidently he was no stranger 10
rE0ndOn. He presently walked into
hH6nchurch street as man who was
TN0CuDtomed to have business there.
Cat the entrance to q passage lead
ding Into one Of those seemingly quiet
abackwaters Of the city where, as often
hkS not some famous Arm, whose bust
kR6aG activities join east and west, has
pitp of1ces, two men suddenly stepped
c(f front Of the Hindu.
bfssWhere are you going? asked one
t8oliteiy enough, but firmly.
K "On my own affairs"
al This way?" and the questioner
ppolnted down the passage.
atgIhe Hindu shook his head and
hKould have passed on.
oftAI am afraid 1t must be this way"
ccraid the man, and the Hindu went
dS9tfh them, perhaps because two or
cctbree people had stopped to watch
nfheqz- and might prove the nucleus of
n EDfOwd or perhaps because 'compli-
noe would the sooner get him out
n = difficulty.
4llceB of Wilkinson, Brandon e. Co,
iiperchants, well known in the city,
Z Trading with India and the east.
., 5vtdeutly something unusual had
apappened. Two or three men were
vtGlking excitedly in the doorway, and
TIE coming of the Hindu gave them
s{keen interest.
n His captors, for such they virtually
there led him to the rear of the
Hyilding toward private room
p|yhere Mr.. Brandon, the present head
ef& the firm. sat at his desk answer
~ questions OF man who was
6oyI0usly a detective.
ID There 10 nothing more / can tell
tt4ou," said Brandon. "Of course /
n1ee many people during the day
Apome regular visitors, some more or
Boeng strangers-and have Hindu
WpA1lers. This morning the safe was
tlfSund broken open and the stone
s6Tone."
u Had 1t been there long?"
81 -Four or five years Col. Hard
flkore asked me to keep it for him and
cray nothing about 1t. Knowing the
colonel we'll, 1 asked no questions,
hnd. Indeed. thought no more about
Che stone until a week ago, when
rorne one called on me from the for
a%tgn office--a Mr. Valentine West"
HI II know Mr.. West" said the de-
~ kective.
81 X trust the man you know is the
hdeame man who called upon me-" Bran
vQ0n said. His credentials satisfied
S.e. and, as he carried q government
fder, showed him the stone. This
Tmornfng I have wondered whether
=, his visit was not the prelude to that"
md he pointed to the broken safe.
Before the detective could make
wRny answer the door opened and the
bu1indu was ushered in by the two men.
w; I'VE found him by the passage. sir,
Ind thought we had better detain him
Mfor Inquiries" said one of the men
= ND the detective. He seems TO an