The diamond drill., 1919-05-31


adjoining It. Immediately behind
Jncqueline. He was looking at me
with an unmistakable glance of rec
ognition.
/ knew that had seen him several
times before, but, though his features
were familiar, / had forgotten his
name. ! stared at him and he stared
back at me. and made an urgent sign
10 me.
Keeping an eye on Jacquellne and
not losing sight OF her at any time. !
followed the tall man. As / neared
him my remembrance OF him grew
stronger. When he turned round |
had his name on my lips.
IL was Simon Leroux.
"Dlablel SO you've got herl" he
began In a hoarse, forcible whisper
where dld you pick her up?"
j made no answer, but waited for
him TO lead agaln-and was thinking
hard.
"There's the devil 10 payl" he went
on In his execrable accent. Louis
came on post-haste. as you know. and
he hasn't turned up this morning yet
All, mon Dieu. always knew Tom was
close. but i never dreamed you knew
anything. You know what happened
last nightT
1T was an unfortunate affair" ]
said 'guardedly.
"Unfortunate he repeated, staring
at me out OF his bloodshot eyes. 1T
was the devil, by ~ Who was her"
His face was fiery red. and he cast
so keen a look at me that / almost
thought he had discovered he was be-
traying himself.
1T was lucky ] was In New York
when Louis wired us she had flown."
he continued--I omit the oaths which
puncluated his phrases. Lucky ! had
my men with me, too. | didn't think
I'd need them here. but I'd promised
them a trip TO New York--and then
come Louis wire. put them on the
track. guessed she'd go to Days
old Duchaine was mad about that
crazy system of his. and had been
writing 10 him.
II tell you II was tlckllsh. There
was millions OF dollars worth OF prop
erty walking UP Broadway. and they'd
5 got her with taxi waiting near by,
when that DEVILS fool strolls up and
draws a crowd. II I'd been there I'd
have"
A string OF vile expletives followed
his last remark.
'1hey got on his track again and
followed them 10 the Merrimac," he
continued. "And they never came out.
They waited all night TIL nine this
morning. and they never came out.
thought her a good girl--lt's awful
Who was he7 Say. how much do you
knowf"
His face was dripping with sweat
and he shot an awful look at Jacque-
line as she bent over the suitcase.
could hardly keep my hands Off him.
but Jacqueline's need was too great
for me to give vent TO my passion.
remembered now that. after send
Ing JacQuellne 10 the clerks desk
alone. she had gone to side entrance
and l had Joined her there and left
the hotel with her In that fashion.
gathered from what he had said
that the possession of JacQueline was
vltally important both TO Leroux and
10 Tom Carson and that they had en-.
deavored 10 kldnap her and hold her
till the man Louis arrived 10 advise
them.
How much do you known hissed
Simon at me.
'Teroux," I said, I'm not going tc
tell you anything. You will remember
that was employed by Mr.. Carson
by --i" no swore, "ain't as
good as Carsonf What are you goinl
TO do with herT .--.~s- -.
You'd better 20 back to the Office
and wait. unless you want 10 spoil the
game by letting her see you" said
II don't know whether Toms run
ming straight or not" he said huslxily
but let me tell you, young man. It'll
pay you 10 keep In with me. and Il
y you've got any price name I'll"
lie shook his heavy fs' over rro---l
believe m" cicrte '';a; v.i. ~,
ing ~ sfsils tur 'cs - .an.. = y
rvlng toward "a. go aw ~. gNe
= tins s.f,,tfo str "sslt4 stA sss 80 M ...t4 ,