The Ordway new era., 1920-05-14
CHAPTER xvi.-continued.

peating II till he goes, Tor WONT see
him. But. George"-thls l said stern
Iy-"if you bring that man up-after
what I've said to you-you needn't
say good morning to me next Sunday"
George understood the allusion-I
always give him quarter on Sunday
morning when he brings the paper up.
He grinned and departed.
"Now, what new dodge Is this?" i
cogitated, carrying the paper to my
study and examining 1t in the light.
The writing was distinctly foreign
French or German in the "r's." The
'madcmoiselle" also suggested for
eigner.
The bell rang. sat down. The bell
rang again. l put my feet on n has
sock. turned up my nose slightly.
smiled and sat still. The door was
pounded-not furlously. but with evil
dent determination-andt the bell rang
aeain.
At this / thought I'd better show II
sign of life, so 1 went and called
through without opening.
"Stop that noisc," commanded an
Griiy. Noise stopped.
Both persons waited for the other
to say something. As the opposite
side didn't called through again,
~Wh0 is it,"
"Police detective"
The words were Kissed through in
n stage whisper. and | noticed for
'eign accent on police" / thought
might as wen look at him. anyway
which did through the crack without
removing the chain-bolt. l saw n
rather short, very slight man-pongec
.coiored, 10 be accurate-with an intel
tisent. honest-loolsing face, but very
common clothes-cheap ready made
oyercoat and hat. Yet the man had
very much of an air about him.
"Well" said in as unwelcoming n
tone as could.
81 wished to see you about Made
aOiselie de Ravenol-the young lady
"Well?' said 1.
-'She has disappeared"
,'Well7" And this last from me left
him quite In the mir, as l saw by his
frowh. However, he made a fresh
start:
"Mademoiselle de Ravenol crossed
in the same steamer with you about
two weeks ago. did she mott"
''She may have"
~IIer name Ia on the passenger list
with yOurs-I have the list here"-he
produced some papers. but apparently
did not find that he had the list, and
with gesture of impatience appealed
to me-'I am correct. am not-she
crossed with you on the same
steamer
"What have to do with that"
asked curtly, wondering what he was
driving at for of course I knew Claire
hadn't disappeared since last night.
aud IL she had he wouldn't be asking
me about the steamer. dozens Of
people crossed on the same steamer
with me-"
Naturally" he admitted. trying to
he pleasant. "But this Mademolselie
de Ravenol-she crossed In your care,
did she not7"
"She did not"
-She did not?" he asked in a sur
prised sort of way. as IL he thought
was lying. 'In whose. then. may !
askT'
him, "Find out for yourself" Seeing
II he did not pursue that line but
tried this: "You saw q good deal of
her on the steamer, did you not
talked with her frequently"
L ignored this last and told him.
But 1 have no information to give
you! Nothing at all. She did not
come over with mel had no charge
of her-no responsibility for her ac-
tons on board the steamer, or for her
being met or not met or anything
else
Certainly. i understand" He
gave the door little push as hint
TO me. But do you not see that you
anight furnish me with valuable
ciueT He gave the door harder
push. and as 1t clicked on the chain
bolt he repeated, ''If you allow me to
enter that we may discuss this in pri-
vnte-"
thought saw myself letting
sstrnnge man enter with all those dia-
snonds loose in box with pens! And
at the thought of them saw that this
rnirtt be only another plot of mon
,sieur'Bt
looked eft him in way that made
him think l was considering my re-
sponsi5ilitics, and then asked as cas-
aniiy as could. But at what time did
she disappear?"
"Ah. that is the question-when? p
he cried. giving tragic-Or what he
meant to be tragic-gesture to show
hOw utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stopped to consider what he
shOuid tell me next, and l. seeing no
chance To catch clue for myself
added. "if you are simply free-lancing
In the case should not feel justified