Evening star., 1919-06-29


eyes began TO fail, Never saw her.
] hunted up all the school teachers
who knew her. Not a crumb. tried
the branch post office. with barren
results. Finally happened to think
of the school commits ssioners. That
was the last chance. Here luck was
with me. She was not sure that she
would teach in the fall term. told
them ] was a lawyer and that there
was small legacy. They gave me
her new address. when | got there
she was gone. She had gone that
afternoon. The landtady didn't know
where she had gone. Anyhow. she
wasn't coming back. asked to see
the room she had vacated. Here
was detective. on the floor OF that
room ] found a crumpled ships label
the Ajax. ! left. Later ! learned
that the Ajax was making a tour Of
the world and would sail the follow
ing afternoon. ] took a chance. Two
grips were all l had. saw her go
up the gangplank. All pretty work,
IL you want my opinion. Late that
night ! sent a wireless to you"
ANY detective could have done that
for a hundred, and ! gave you two
thousand as a starter. another thou
sand in Venice with the promise of
Ave at the end of the run. And you
couldn't even get the best of a red
headed Irishman who ought to have
been clay in your hands"
There are various kinds of clay"
replied Camden. moodily. Il tell you.
this Gerry owen is out Of the ordi-
nary. He's as strong as a lion. He
was born and brought up on the
streets. which Is to say he's no mans
fool | stole his letter of credit. /
set thugs upon him in Rome and
Florence; ] packed him away with
a broken head in Cairo; and he bade
me goodbye from the starboard rail
this morning. To this hour ] don't
know whether he suspects me or not.
I've used every kind of trap to
pump him. and never got drop. He's
watching over that girl He's in love
with her"
Colburton got up and began to pace
the room; but this activity proved too
much for him, and he sat down alb
ruptly.
Better call it off," suggested Cam
den.
You have never known me to steer
off. have you?"
mo, Orestes. / have not and some
day you're going to get bumped hard
Keep your hair on. We grew up to-
gether; but you were hard and ] was
soft. You never let cards and wine
get the best of you, nor any woman,
for that matter. Devil bit do
care which way it goes; I'll go on
with it. ] need money. And the job
you offer me is the only kind left
for a polecat like myself"
"Moralizing, eh?"
mo. l used to moralize. | do still
when I've just got over bender. Bad
as I am, there's a white corner or two
sticking around in my soul; and
don't like the looks of this deal. 1t
doesn't look successful"
Leave that end of it to me. III
break your Gerry Owen and then ri
break the girl. Break her like that"
Colburton closed his fists and struck
them against his knees.
Then you only want to break her."
asked the jackal. curiously. You're
not mad about her any more, them"
whats that to you?"
Nothing. m lord. nothing. But you
might lower your tone little. /
don't like it,"
Colburton plucked at his mustache.
Has she made any attempt to dis
pose OF it?"
ably deathly afraid by now. what1l
] do to Grogan?"
Leave him to me. The yacht will
be off the jetty at ten. You go
aboard OF her. Youll find your trunks
in your old cabin. We go straight TO
Ceylon. From there to Perak. where
I'm going to do n little hunting"
That's a long time to wait"
Colburton drank his tea Want
some?"
Had my breakfast on boa I'd" Cam
den smiled at the others sudden con-
ciliatory mood. 80 long as this Pied
Piper of Petticoat Lane had use for
him. there was no need to worry
about the immediate future. Besides,
he had an idea. If it worked out he
could go on his own for several years
to come. When will you come aboard
the Elsa"
About four. Some officers are com
ing. There'll be bridge. I'll drop out