Fair play., 1920-02-07
CHAPTER Xvi.-Continued.

I'm not at home, and IL he says any
thing more repeat it-and keep on re-
peating 1t till he goes, for won't see
him. But, George"-this I said stern
ly-"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 a quarter on Sunday
morning when he brings the paper up.
He grinned and departed.
"Now, what new dodge is thisT
cogitated, carrying the paper to my
study and examining it in the light.
The writing was distinctly foreign
French or German in the "r's." The
"mademoiselle" also suggested for
elgner.
The bell rang. / sat down. The bell
rang again. I put my feet on has
sock, turned up my nose slightly,
smiled and sat still. The door was
pounded-not furiously, but with evil
dent determination--and the bell rang
again.
At this 1 thought I'd better show a
sign of life, so I went and called
through without opening.
"Stop that noisew l commanded an
grily. Noise stopped.
Both persons waited for the other
to say something. AS the opposite
side didn't I called through again,
"Who Is it?"
"Police detective"
The words were Kissed through in
a stage whisper, and l noticed for
eign accent on "police." 1 thought 1
might as well look at him, anyway
which 1 did through the crack without
removing the chain-bolt. l saw a
rather short, very slight man-pongee
colored, to be accurate-with an intel
ligent. honest-looking face, but very
common clothes-cheap ready-made
overcoat and hat. Yet the man had
very much of an air about him.
"Well?" said I in as unwelcoming n
tone as could.
II wished to see you about Made
moiselle de Ravenol--the young lady
who crossed in the steamer with you"
well" said /.
"She has disappeared"
"Well?" And this last from me left
him quite in the air, as ! saw by his
frown. However, he made a fresh
start:
"Mademoiselle de Ravenol crossed
in the same steamer with you about
two weeks ago, did she not?"
'She may have"
'Her name is on the passenger list
with yours-I have the list here''--hc
produced some papers, but apparently
did not find that he had the list, and
with gesture of impatience appealed
to met am correct, am I 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 ! knew Claire
hadn't disappeared since last night
and If 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
be pleasant. But this Mademosellc
de Ravenol-she crossed in your care
did she not?"
"She did not"
"She did not?" he asked in sur,
prised sort of way, as If he thought
was lying. "In whose, then, may
ask?"
/ merely shrugged, as though to tel
him. Find out for yourself" Seeins
| it he did not pursue that line bu
| tried this: you saw a good deal ot
! her on the steamer, did you not
/ talked with her frequently?"
! ! ignored this last and told him
But / have no information to give
| you'll Nothing at all. She did no
| come over with mel had no charg,
of her-no responsibility for her aC
tions on board the steamer, or for he
being met or not met or anythin
else"
Certainly. ] understand" II,
gave the door little push as a hin
to me. "But do you not see thar 20,
might luIulsH Ule Win u N1luaDi
cluei" He gave the door a harde
push. and as 1t clicked on the chain
bolt he repeated, IF you allow me t.
enter that we may discuss this in prl
vate-"
l thought l saw myself letting
strange man enter with all those dia
monds loose in box with pens An
at the thought of them saw that thi
might be only another plot of NOR
sieur's!
looked at him in way that mad
him think l was considering my RI
sponsibilities, and then I asked as cas
ually as could, "But at what time di
she disappear"
"Ah, that is the question-when I
he cried, giving a tragic-Or what h
meant to be tragic-gesture to sho
how utterly the girl had vanished.
And he stopped to consider what h
should tel. me next. and l, seeing 4
chance to catch a clue for mysel