The Crittenden press., 1920-05-07

daring and clever
We were nearing a gateway where
his cur waited, aud ! saw several Of
the guard hanging about at u discreet
distance. "Look here, Singleton" he
said angrily. "y0u don't seem to take
this business very seriously. You don't
wnnt 10 make the mistake Of letting
pretty girl pull the wool over your
eyes" He lowered his voice and added
tensely: "rhOse women Hre under sus-
plcIon Of something more serious tbdn
an attempt tn rob un estnte. An agent
0f the state department called or me
yesterday and asked embarrassing
questions about Mrs. Bashford. Not
secret service man, you understand, or
anything Of that Kind, but an in.por-
tunt man In the state department"
"Of course you knew nothing to
tell" suggested.
IL took II chance at lyirg 10 him
about her expected arrival. thought
Il only decent tn have look at the
woman first. lie told me nothing ex-
ccpt that the British embassy had
made Inquiries. and that the matter
was delicate and must be handled
carefully"
WAS this inquirer lamc-a small
dark man with black mustachei" |
asked, suddenly Interested. "Suth n
person has been hanging about here,
so the boys tell mei'
"Not at all! may rs well tell you
II was Raynor-you probably remem-
Der him. He's specialist In internn-
tional law. and they took him into the
state department just after the Lusl-
tnnia business. He's gentleman and
good feilow-Ive played golf with
him good deal-and | hated to lie TO
him. but thought I'd see this woman
before telling him she had reached
America"
confess that / was trife dis
mayed by this. Raynor knew slight.
ly. Professionally and socially he
stood high, and even without the pres
tige of his official position he was not
Il chap TO sneeze at but didn't want
Terrence to know had any doubts as
to the perfect authenticity Of my un-
cle's widow.
"Oh. every transcontlnental pilgrim
Is probably scrutinized closely these
days" | remarked carelessly. Mrs
Bashford has lost brother in the
war, and | haven't heard anyone talk
more bitterly against Germany. And
her companion certainly has no illu-
slons about the kaiser"
~ don't like the business" he de-
clared stubbornly.
Let's do nothing foolish" insisted.
IF Raynor has reason to suspect
either or both of these women, we'll
hear further from him."
"rve put myself in hole" he said.
angrily. "Of course I've got to advise
him Immediately that Mrs. Bashford
is here"
"Just wait few days; undertake
to keep them UNDER surveillance; you
can put the whole responsibility on
me. If they attempt to leave, I'll warn
you and Raynor instantly, but they
have settled themselves as though
they expected to spend the rest Of
their lives here
told him of Mrs. Bashfords adven-
lures in reaching the house without
convincing him that there was any
thing funny in her experiences, and he
left on my promise to report TO him
daily at n given hour and instantly If
anything unusual occurred. l was on
my way back through the grounds
when Antoine arrested me.
Pardon me, but I'd like to ask what
YOU think of II, sir" he asked hoarse-
ly, falling into step.
"If you mean what do | think OF
Mrs. Bashford," l replied sharply. Il
think she's quite charming and de-
lightful and all any one could ask In
every way"