South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-27

advanced 20 meet the man with
a sense OF victory. The Service de
"a surcte had searched the world
Cor him. he had been long con-
ccaled. But my sense or victory
vanished when I saw him.
RE sat On a great chair on the
Ions terrace that overlooked the
sweep OF lawn and the dark. rapid
river. He had been. all the time.
under our very noses. we had
thought OF every other place except
an English country house within a
luEp Of London And he had been
sitting here IN every comfort that
money could assemble.
lie did not rise when I was
brought out 10 him
Tic leaned back in the chair. lifted
h!S heavy face. and laughed!
And so, Monsieur JonQuelle." he
said. you finally wormed it out Of
her"
/ could not keep my voice level
so effectively was the man escaping
Is after ali this search.
Ana I did not know what the
huge creature meant. on the night
before some one had called up the
Service. de Ia Surete and said our
man was here. The long distance
call from some shop In Regent St.
London. could not DO traced-so IL
Mad been a woman I replied as
Enough I were On his secret"
"Shc knew you were safe"
lie laughed again. sure. she
knew e."
He pointed 20 a chair a fey feet
beyond him across table.
"Sit down he said II want to
talk about her-thats the reason
wanted YOU TO come" He laughed
again" You thought you'd sleu. he'd
il out. Ell? Not by a jugful ] sent
her word 20 put you wise I wanted
TO clear some things up before
cashed in. But IL was a clean lie.
What ] wanted was somebody to
lis en- while ! talked about her Sit
down"
II was a strange Introductory. Blu
Il was n mystery that had puzzled
everybody and / was willing 10 hear
all that ne had TO say about it. ]
took the chair beyond him.
He sho' his head forward sudden
~. in n tense gesture.
shes a heavenly angel," he said
81 don't know what God Almighty
meant by Getting her in the game
with the bunch of crooks that He's
got running The world unles He
counted on me" The laugh became
a sort Of chuckle in his big throat
Amt she heavenly angelo"
lie whipped a worn photograph
out OF his pocket and reached il
across the table TO me.
II was tho pho ograph OF a girl
with the face cut out. II had been
taken firm a painting. one coul1
;ell f-om the fst surface, and the
strange background OF beauty and
an indcs--ibable charm in the pose
~ the girl remained even in the
Dmgt'ia picture.
Il cut out the face" he added. $50
she wouldn't come into the case II
YOU caught men: your little West
ridge mus, have been slaughtered
At the loss Of her"
Again ne touched me az an un-
expected point.
Shortly after the thing. for which
we were seeking the man before me.
had as the Americans say. been
pulled OF Lord Wostridge returned
10 England lie had gone to visit
some rich Americans. and there was
a rurnor that some adventure had
befallen him.
Nothing definite ever came to me,
and liked the man too little TO IN
nj hrr-.N fro no ferfr,
al Glasgow solicitor as the British
say. would "b..e shilling" But
again I replied as though I were IL
his secret.
What happened to Westridge?'' I
said
The man twisted around in his
chair
Friend" ne said, You've got
heal full of brains or you wouldn't
be Chief Of the Criminal Investiga-
ton Department OF the Service de la
Surete and the English would not
have you over on this case; now an
swer me Question-Whats the big
gest notion in the Christian Church 20
IT don't know" I answered him
truthfuIiy.
We'll l know. he went on. It's
h the notion that youT git what's a
comin' 20 YOU"
lie looked at me with a big cyni.
cal leer.
That's whct happened to your
little Westridee-and the next time
yoL see him hes agoln' TO get an
other jolt He will be blamed sorry
that on found me. he couldn't