Evening star., 1921-08-28

flowed into his room Charley Burns
and his entourage. all obviously IN
the best of spirits. In the back
ground stood Rogers, with express
sionless face, looking toward his mas
ter.
Malcolm Sage rose and shook hands
with Burns. Mr. DoultOn and MIR. Pap
with. Alf Pond and his assistants.
Sorry, Mr.. Sage" cried Burns, win
laugh, but the boys wouldn't wait.
although l told them calling time was
4 till g." and he laughed again. the
laugh of a man who :,ad not a care in
the world. He also gripped Malcolm
Sage's hand with heartiness that
made him Vince. The others in turn
shook hands in a way that caused
Malcolm Sage to wonder why America
had not long since ceased to be re-
public.
"And now. Mr.. Sage" said Az
found Charley. He won't tell US any
thing. Wonderful. | call it," he added:
ut was not very difficult" said
Malcolm Sage, stuffing tobacco into
his pipe from a terra Gotta jar be-
side him. AZ he applied light to
the bowl the others exchanged
glances.
From the first" he continued. 'it
was obvious that some message or
letter had heen conveyed to our
friend Burns. As he had not men
toned the fact to any of his friends
1t seemed obvious to assume that
there was a lady in the case"
ALI Pond looked reproachfully at
Burns. who = Redeemed beneath the
united gaze of seven pairs of eyes.
THAT the appointment had been
for the evening"" proceeded Malcolm
Burns disappeared in the blue suit
he always changed into after the
days work"
ALI Pond looked across at Mr..
Doulton. nodding his approval of the
reasoning.
burst out Burns. She said some
thing terrible had happened and that
Kitty Graham was shortly to be-
come Mrs. Charley Burns. but dur
ing the period of training she had
tercourse with her fiance by order Of
the autocratic ALI Pond.
THE meeting was arranged for the
further side of the large clump of
rhododendrons. which acted as a
SCREEN" continued Malcolm Sage.
a girl standing little distance
away. He came out quite unsuspect-
lingly, was overpowered and subse-
aunstly taken in Mr.. Goldneschmidts
car"
"How the blazes did you know
that. Mr.. Sage?" burst out Burns.
You are always a quick thinker
in the ring" said Malcolm Sage. land
you were a quicker-thinker then.
You smelt. chloroform. held your
breath and thought. 1t was a sort
of instructive ring-craft."
But YOU" began Burns.
There were no marks Of strug-
gle where you were seized. You
, probably realized that your only
chance lay in letting the enemy think
YOU were losing consciousness. See
ing that there was no sign Of trouble,
stepped out from where he had been
taking cover just at the moment
when Burns broke loose and let out.
Movement has always a primary at
traction for the eye, and Burns got
it. He also sent him clean into the
privet hedge. where he collapsed
"Who was it?" demanded ALI Pond
fercely
"There were. however, too many of
Sage. "rhey had planned the attack
very carefully. each clinging to a
limb. Soon they had him uncon-
scious and bound in the car. Then they
turned their attention to their leader
Yes: but how did you find Burns?''
asked Mr.. Doulton eagerly.
+ X X
ct didn't" said Malcolm Sage. They
showed me where he was. After
half an hours fruitlss effort to track
the car down side roads. returned
to London as fast as my man could
take me, and 1 Immediately set in
quiries on foot as to the betting on
the stock exchange, at Tattersall's 8,
the National Sporting Club. and other
places. By o'clock that afternoon
knew pretty well who it was that
had been laying heavily against
Burns. That simplified matters"
ALI Pond and Burns exchanged ad-
miring glances.
'tAs you know, for more than a week
previously the betting had made it clear
that heavy sums were being laid on JEFF
ferson. In the course of ten days it had
veered round from 5 to on Burns to
to 2 against. AS there were no rumors
detrimental to his condition or state Of
health, this could only mean that lot
of money was being put on Jefferson.
found out the names of the principal
layers and the amounts. ] discovered
that all were extremely active with the
exception of one. That I decided was
the man with the umbrella
who's he" demanded Sandy, whose
mouth had not ceased to cape since
Malcolm Sage began his story.