Evening star., 1922-07-07

Of a supposedly Hypothetical case as
i would be likely to secure an opinion
| from the house man. Dunn narrow
ed his eye thoughtfully.
Kennedy" Dunn remarked when
Craig had stated the case. omittins
all reference to Seabury's name, as
well as his suspicious. "Of COURSE"
he went on, Il know we've got TO
protect the name Of the hotel. And
our woman patrons, doing Ravotte
or two-and then fox-trotting them
into blackmaiL"
Dunn stroked his chin thought
deal to suppress card sharps, agents
for fake mining stocks, passers OF
worthless checks, and confidence men
| of that sort. But 1t is not so simple
to thwart the vultures who prey on
the nc.s;sa Eslbilty d.s ,icS shd passions OF the
There must be something you can
do to get 1T on this fellow, though,
We'll" considered the house man,
hotel secret servics-several men and
women operating entirely apart from
the hotel force OF detectives, who, like
myself. are too well known to clever
crooks. Nobody knows them. except
there dancing with that middle-aged
man who has mail sent here but
doesn't live here. Could they be of
user
"Just the thing" exclaimed Craig
get acquainted-just as a precaution
with that man? His name. by the
| way. 1 understand. is Sherburne."
'Tll do it," agreed Dunn. rising un-
! iostentatiously. Just then happened
to glance across the floor and over
. I, 1P al n q q G
F., at a door opposite US. 1t was my
turn hastily to seize Ksnnsdy's ell
bow.
Good God" exclaimed. involun-
tarily.
There, in the further doorway Of
| himself,
Without a word, Craig rose and
quickly crossed the dancing hoor.
| stopping before Mrs. Seabury's table.
Instead of waiting to be introduced, he
sat down deliberately. as though he
had been there all the time and had
! Just gone out OF the room and come
back. He did it all SO quickly that he
was able in perfectly natural way
to turn and see that Seabury himself
vancing slowly, picking his way
among the crowded tables.
| From around my corner / saw Craig
| whisper a word or two to Mrs. Sea-
bury, then rise and meet seabury less
! than half way from the door by which
| he had been standing.
The tension of the situation was too
much for Mrs. Seabury. Confounded
and bewildered, she ned prscipitately,
passing within a few feet Of my table.
| Her face was positively ghastly.
| AS for Sherburne, he merely sat
\ moment and surveyed the irate hus-
| band with calm and studied insolence
at a safe distance. Then he. too. rose
and turned deliberately on his heel.
Curious to know how Craig would
| and was >. rprised to see Seabury,
after a moments Whispered talk, turn
and leave the tearoom by the same
door through which he had entered.
What did you dor asked, as Craig
rejoined me a few moments later
YOU" added In admiration.
| "Told him I had trailed her here
with one Of my operatives, but was
convinced there was nothing wrong.
after ALL" he returned.
you mean" I asked as the result
Of Craig's quick thinking dawned on
me. that you told him Sherburne was
your operative?"
Kennedy nodded: "I want to see
him. now. If can" he said simply:
I sauntered in the direction Sherburne
had taken, finding him ultimately in
the cafe. alone. Without further in
PRODUCTION Kennedy approached him.
"So-you are a detective?" sneered
sherburne superciiiously. elevating
| inch.
seating himself beside sherburne.
Then. in = tone a. II he were willing
| to get down. without further prelim-
mary. to business, seemingly negotiat-
ho SsMP ShArhnrnA NAV L
ask just what 1t is on which you base
your claim on Mrs. Ssabury? II it
merely meeting her here? II that IL
80. you must know that 1t amounts to
nothing--now."
The two men faced each other, each
taking the others measure.
t'Nothing?' coolly retorted Sherburne.
Perhaps not-in itself. But-suppose
-I-had--
He said the words slowly Is he
fumbled In his fob pocket. then cut
them short as he found what he was
looking for. Safely, in the palm of his
hand. he displayed a latch key. mo-
mentarily. then. with taunting smile,
dropped 1t back again into the fob
pocket.
Perhaps she gave it to me-per-
haps I was welcome visitor In her
apartment" he insinuated. How
would she relish having that told Mr..
Of the key"
moment Kennedy was checkmated.
game and apparently held the key.
however,, he got 1t. a. q trump card.
Thank you" was all that Ken
nedy said, as he rose. II wanted to
know how far you could 20. Perhaps
we can meet you half way"
the way." he said quietly. as wa laft
In silence Kennedy left the hotel
and Jumped into q cab, directing the
driver to the laboratory, where he
had asked Mrs. Seabury to walt for
him. We found her there, still much
Hastily Craig explained to her how
he had saved the situation. but her
mind was too occupied over some
thing else to pay much attention.
IL can't blame you. Prof. Ken
nedy." she cried. choking down = sob
covered.Nhs &C has told me- me that II Is
even worse than had anticipated"
We were both following her closely.
the incident Of the latchkey still fresh
in mind.
some time ago" she hurried on, II
ing Of It ct the tims-thought, per-
haps, had. m telaid 1t. But today he
told me-just after the dance, even
while I was making him think would
pay him the money, because-because
I, liked him-he told me he had II.
The bruts! a;e. He must have picked my
Her eyes were bissing now with
Indignation. Yet as she looked at us
both evidently the recollection OF
what had just happened came Hood
ing over her mind. and she dropped
hes hnn fv. ka~ ~. ~ = ~