Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-12
CHAPTER XIX.
The Inexplieable Mr.. Harris.

"Bunner has told me what he
thinks" he said when Trent referred
to the Americans theory. II don't
find myself convinced by it, because
il doesn't really explain some of the
: oldest facts. Butt have lived long
enough in the United States to
know that such stroke of revenge,
done in secret. melodramatic way,
is not an unlikely thing. 1t is quite
a characteristic feature of certain
sections of the labor movement
there. Americans have taste and
a talent for that sort of business.
Do you know 'Huckleberry Finn?
DO l know my own manner? ex-
claimed Trent.
well, l think the most American
thing in that. great American epic
is Tom Sawyer's elaboration of an
extremely difficult and romantic
scheme, taking days to carry out,
for securing the escape OF the mig
ger Jim, which could have been
managed quite easily in 20 minutes:
You know how fond they are of
lodges and brotherhoods. You've
heard of the Know-Nothing move<
inent in politics, | dare say, and the
kr Klux Klan. Then look at Brig
ham Young's penny-dreadful .ty-
ranny in Utah, with real blood. The
founders of the Mormon state were
OF the purest Yankee stock in Amer
lea, and you know what they did,
It's all part of the same mental ten
dency. Americans make fun of it
among themselves. For my part, |
take it very seriously"
1T can have very hideous side
to it, certainly" said Trent, when
YOU get it in connection with crime.
Or with vice. Or even mere luxury.
But | have a sort of sneaking re-
spect for the determination to make
life interesting and lively in> spite
OF civilization. To return to the
matter in hand, however; has it
struck you as a possibility that
Manderson's mind was affected to
some extent by this menace that
Bunner believes in? For instance,
it was rather an extraordinary thing
to send you posting off like that in
! the middle of the night"
about 10 o'clock, to be exact"
replied Marlowe. Though mind
you, if he'd actually reused me out
Of my bed at midnight l shouldn't
have, been very much surprised. 1t
all chimes in with what we've just
been saying. Henderson wasn't
mac in the feast, but he had a
strong streak of the national taste
for dramatic proceedings; he was
rather fond of his well-earned repu-
tation for unexpected strokes and
fer going for his object with ruth
,lcss directness through every oppos-
ing consideration. He had decided
suddenly. that he wanted to have
wcrd from this man Harris"
"Who is Harris?" interpreted
Nobody knows. Even Bunner
never heard of him, and can't
imagine what the business in hand
was. All l know is that when |
went up to London last week to at
tend to various things l booked a
deck cabin, at Manderson's request,
Tor a Mr.. George Harris on the
boat that sailed on Monday. 1t
seems that Henderson suddenly
found he wanted news from Harris
winch presumably was of a char
acter too secret for the telegraph;
aid there was no train that served;
SO / was sent off as you know"
Trent looked round to make sure
that they were not overheard, then
faced the other gravely. There is
enc thing | may tell YOU" he said
quietly, Chat l don't think you
know. Martin the butler caught a
few words at the end of your con-
vsrsation with Henderson in the
orchard before you started with
him in the car He heard him say:
If Harris is there every moment is
Of importance Now, Mr.. MarloWe,
you Know my business here. I am
sent to make inquiries, and you
mustn't take offense. / want to ask
yoa if, in the face of that sentence,
you will repeat that you know
nothing of what the business was. y
Marlowe shook his head. 81 know
nothing, indeed. Pm not easily Of
tended, and your question is quite
fair. What passed during that con-
sersation / have already told the
detective. Henderson plainly said
to me that he could not tell me
what it was all about. He simply
wanted me to find Harris, tell him
that he desired to know how mat
lers stood, and bring back letter
or message from him. Harris,
was further told, might not turn up.
It he did, every moment was of
Importance And now you know
is much as I do"
That talk took place before he
tola his wife that you were taking
! him for a moonlight run. Why did
he conceal your errand in that way,
| wonder"
The young man made a gesture
Of heiplessness, why? l can
guess no better than you"
Why" muttered Trent as if to
himself, gazing on the ground, did
he conceal it-from Mrs. Mander-
SOM" He looked up at Marlowe.
And from Martin the other
amended coolly. "He was told the
same thing ~.
With assudden movement of his
head Trent seemed to dismiss the
subject. He drew from his breast
pocket a letter case, and thence ex-
tracted two small leaves of clean,
fresh paper.
Just look at these two slips, Mr..
Marlowe," he said. did you ever
see them before? Have you any
idea where they come from?" he
added. as Mar1owe took one in each
hand and examined them curiously.
They seem to have been cut with
knife or scissors from a small
diary for this yearzfrom the Octo-
Der pages" Marlowe observed, look
ing them over on both sides. II see
- ,.,~.S.cr IS aoy L;od Nm thew,