Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-16
The Spy

iair to nlonopolize the clever brains
Of the authorities for some consider
able period had suddenly become
easy, almost trivial in its solution.
West took no credit for this--hon-
esty on his part. not modesty. He
had supplied just one piece of the
puzzle, which had proved to be the
key piece. 1t was chance, and since
chance had treated him SO well, he
determined to remain for a few days
on holiday. There was a singer at
the opera house he wanted TO hear,
and plays at the Gymnase and Port
ST. Martin theaters he wanted to zee.
He went to the Hotel de rOrient, n
favorite with those travellers who do
not mind paying well, but object 70
senseless and lavish extravaganza.
and in day or two had made one or
two casual but pleasant acquaint-
ances, not English people Out Of
England he preferred associatlng
with foreigners; ii made the change
more complete. One of these ac-
auaintances, N. Houtin, appealed
TO him immensely. He was man of
fifty perhaps. cosmopolitan who APP.
peared to have spent his life travel
ing the world and gathering informa-
ton wherever he went. His knoWl-
edge was solid, not merely skinned
from the surface the result of ex-
pArience not of wide reading, and
his views and criticisms of men ana
manners were his own and often
startling in the freshness Of their
outlook, He was stimulating COM
panion. -.
"Do you write, monsieur" West
asked They were dining together
AT a small table and had arranged to
go to the opera afterward'
,"You should. The world loses
valuable historian by your not put
ting your experiences on paper.
HISTORIAN, Why historian
rs not. history made up o. o. me
growth Of men, of their manners ana
customs?" said West
"I lack politics" Houtin answered,
"and most histories are merely rec
ord OF politics. ! never talk politi1s'
never think them even, II can help II.
Isn't it a marvellous thought that II
every one were honest, If every nation
were bent on acting for the good OF
mankind at large. there would be no
place In the world for politics as we
know them. The first politician was
the man who originally conceived
scheme for claiming that to which he
had no right and defying his fellows
to prove he was in the wrong.
He laughed at his own conceit, DIS
missing the subject as unworthy or
serious discussion
II was a fine night and they walked
tile short distance to the opera house.
they were agreed that the new singer
had been somewhat overprSlSed ana
returned to the hotel soon after mid
night M. Houtin was leaving for
London. the next day,
n m there
West.
CT hope SO. IT is troublesome bust
ness which takes me TO London. Most
Of my time will not be my own and
my movements are uncertain, must
take my chance and let YOU know II
such another pleasant evening as this
can be arranged 1t Is au revoir now,
for leave early in the morning"
Valentine West was. at breakfast
next morning rather later than usual
when a waiter came TO him.
Monsieur is wanted. A gentleman
IL waiting in the vestibule."
West went at once, wondering If II
was NJ. Houtin; instead, he found Lee
rouy or the police. a ferret-faced indi-
vidual, recognized by every criminal
as a most dangerous man to have on
the trail. 1t was mainly to confer with
Leroux that West had come TO Paris.
'Hello! Something. gone wrong at
the last moment, eh?'
MOI Win tildl case. IHtre is an
other"
(which concerns me-"
Leroux nodded
And ] was enjoying holiday"
said West.
"Come with me-" said Leroux. "Oh.
1t Is not far, only upstairs--Room rs.
DO you happen to know the occupant
of Room 2S?"
''Not to my knowledge"
The room was in the hands of the
had been taken not to let the visitors
in the hotel know that anything un-
usual had occurred. I.eroux took
West in.
Found this morning" he said,
pointing to the bed; lust like that.
He has not been moved
Used as he was to surprises of the
tragic sort. West started back
Lying diagonally across the bed
only half covered by the clothes, lay
the naked body Of Houtn. The thin
discolored line round the necS show
ed the manner of his death--stranG1
lation by a thin cord, slipped into its
place possibly while the victim slept,
or al any rate before he had aroused
sufficiently either to struggle for life
or cry for help. There was no sign Of
a struggle in the room, nor was there
any suggestion that hasty search
for yaluables had been made.
do you know him, West?' LeroJx
asked.
I'VE were at the opera together
last night. He told me he was leav-
ing for London early this morning.,
He was An hotel acQuaintancp- th...