The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-17

I re-entered the sitting-room; but in
stead Of taking the blue envelope I
resumed my seat by the fire and tried
to concentrate upon the old women's
tea-time chat. 1t seemed pretty hor-
ribie leaving that visitor down there,
under the water-spout: but I had my
instructions. II anything went wrong
Tredways must blame himself.
Fifteen minutes later the phone bell
nay nerves by making me jump. Twas
enormously relieved to hear my friends
voice noat over the wire.
THAT you. Francie? Yes, I'm Tired
ways. I ind cannot return tonight.
Am making a hurried railway journey
up north. Thanks awfully for waiting
up, but there is no further need. Yes;
go home. by all means. What do you
say? Did 1 send that wire re Bennett?
Certainly 1 did. 1t is quite o. x. old
man. The affair slipped my memory.
He has called You sent him away?
Botheri It cannot be helped. Am
afraid he will not come again. Never
mind. Am in the deuce Of a hurry.
What's thst? You remember my strict
instruction. not to admit anyone or to
go away? OF course you do. But they
are cancelled now. VIII see you to-
! morrow about midday. Goodbye.
Francie. Best OF thanks"
hung up the receiver. Ten
twenty minutes passed. The man Ben
nett did not come back. He was Of
Tended. and who could deny his reason
for being so? 1 fetched my hat and
coat. The rain was slashing the panes.
The wind howled with a forbidding
sound
Ny nerves were Jared. and could
not racify them. Was I satisfied?
Yes. nine-tenths- But nine-tenth is
not a whole. Tredways' eeders. deIiv-
cred with all the emphasis he could
command would not be dismissed. I'm
easiness increased. I decided not to
leave, and that made me feel better
for a time. Then a vague. gnawing
anxiety made me start at every shout
Of the wind. at the fall OF every cinder
from the exhausted fire. Somehow i
| could not bring into line my friends
cancell.ng Of his more than earnest
Instructions. Was something wrong
Yes. by heaven, felt 1t in my bones.
Fifteen seconds later I was in com
| munication with the Criminal Invest
CATION Department at New Scotland
Yard. Tredvays was hand in GLOW,
with the leading lights there, and
got one of them. In a few CAREFUL,
chosen sentences I spoke Of his visit I,
the house at Hampstead. I said tina
I feared something was anniss. Nor,
meagre information could not hav,
impaired, but It was enough. inspector
Reeddish's suave voice saying: we will
look into the matter instantly, Mr.
Francie." seemed to push weight of
my heart.
l. I hung UP the receiver. ] waited.
knew Reddish-good. old Reddishi II
my minds eye I saw him choose on
of his sleushs; In a mental vision
saw his taxi streaking Hampstead way
Fifteen minutes past midnight
heard footstep in the silent street. /
fsounded like Tredways'. 1t stopped be
fore the house. My heart thumped ex
citedly. There was click Of key,
football on the stairs. flung back tn
door and Trcdways came in.
"Well?" demanded.
"Wcll, whnt?" said he going to tn,
fireplace to warm his hands.
Nothing, except that you phone,
you wouldn't be home tonight" 1 re
piled with compelled carelessless. per
haps I should have left here instead
instead
"Lcft'" he echoed. incredulously
After my positive. my emphatic in
structions? cannot believe that
Francie. will not compliment you o,
carrying out wishes so expressly de
tlclared: but stand in your debt 70
your message to Reddish. That wa
one of your inspired moments. Francit
but for which ! should have tested tn
truth Of your teachings. As it is.
am still on the right side OF life. =
do not deserve It. possibly, FOX I aske
for trouble. Ny first visit to the hous
!. at Hampstead showed me. in the per
, sons OF the present tenants, the yer
Jewel sharks was fishing for"
Tredways sat down wearicdly.
"They took tho place over. Furnished
9 when Mrs. Harboard went to ITALY" h
) continued. ''It seems daring. but wa
really a good stroke il the police near
to look widely about for the Lady {
: Sharon. The woman is unknown to M
j but 1 spotted [the man. He is a
e Austrian who plotted to rob the Gree
n Vaults at Dresden. went out tl,cr
o just to see him. for the scheme scir
tillated with genius. He was a ia
! man. with a dark mustache."
d How is that?" I questioned. ".Aii
Bassett distinctly said he was short
stumpy. with a long. fair n1ustache?"
d "Oh, She said so." answered Tired
r ways. easily. But thea Miss Basse
s He'd
WHAT" almost shouted.
v Lied. Were you so readily guile
n by that charming female. -Francie? Di
e you not really see that she came TO n
$ with a most palpabIe invention"
I For a few moments speech failed m
: was never so astonished. DO yo
II mean to say that she hasn't fianct
who is Just out OF prIson?" / stan
mered.
), Certainly she has. And Artht
wrayson his name. But he was II.
duped by the other two. He was or
G Of them. SO wns Hilda Bassett, I hay
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