Evening star., 1922-08-17

was a striking girl, not merely because
she was pretty or because her gown
was modish. Perhaps it was her SIN
cerity and artlessness that maze her
attractive.
She was the daughter OF Barry
Euston, president of the continental
Express Company. and one could reao'is
see why, aside from the position her
father held, she should be among the
most-soueht -after young women in the
city.
Miss Euston looked straight INTO
Kennedy's ewes as she added. without
waiting for him to ask question:
yesterday | heard something Wa. .
has made me think great deal lou
know, we live at the st. Germaine
when we are in town. I've noticed Tor
several months past that the ioppies
are full of strange, looking peo-
pie.
well. yesterday afternoon | was SIT,
ting alone in the tea room OF the hotel
waiting for some friends. On the other
side of huge palm heard couple
whispering | have seen the woman
about the hotel often. though | know
that she doesn't live there. The man
don't remember ever having seen De-
vile Barnes. treasurer of fathers S COM
pany-
'Is that soH" cut in Kennedy. quickly.
II read the story about him in the pa
perS this morning.
AS for myself l was instantly alVe
with interest, too.
Granville Barnes had been suddenly
stricken while riding in his car in the
country. and the report had it that he
was lowering between life and death in
the General Hospital. The chauffeur
had been stricken. too. by the same IN
comprehensive malady. though appar-
emily not so badly.
How the chauffeur managed to save
the car was a miracle: but he brought
it to a stop beside the road, where
the two were found gasping. a quarter
of an hour later. by passing motor
had them transferred to the hospital
in the city. Neither of them seemed
able or willing to throw any light on
what had happened.
Just what was it you overheard:"
encouraged Kennedy.
Il heard the man tell the woman.
Miss Euston replied. slowly. that
now was the chance-when any of
the great warning powers would well
come and wink at any blow that
might cripple the other to the slight
est degree. l heard him say some
Company. and that was enough to
make me listen. for. you know.
fathers company is handling the big
shipments of gold and securities that
are coming here from abroad by way
of Halifax. Then I heard her men
tion the names of Mr.. Barnes and Mr..
Lane, too. the general manager. She
paused, as if not relishing the idea of
having the names banded about.
Last night the-the attack on him
for that is all that l can think it was
occurred"
help thinking what a tale of strange
plotting the casual conversations sug-
gested. New York, / knew, was full
of high-claSs international crooks and
film Hammers who had focked there
because the great field of their opera
had literally dumped them on US. Was
some one using band of these crooks
for Interior purposes? The idea opened
up wide possibilities.
OF course" Miss Euston continued,
THAT is all I know; but l think l am
justified in thinking that tho two
things-the shipment of gold here and
the attack-have some connection:
Oh. can't YOU take up the case and
look into it?''
II should be glad to take up the
matter replied Craig; quickly, add
"Oh. he must" she cried. Il haven't
spoken to father. but 1 know that he
would approve of it. know he
thinks l haven't any head for busi-
ness, just because / wasn't born A
boy. / want to prove to him that
And Mr.. EaTnes-why, of course. he
will approve"
She said it with an assurance that
made me wonder. 1T was only then
that ! recollected that it had been
one of the excuses for printing her
picture in the society columns so
often that the pretty daughter of the
president of the Continental was be-
ing ardently wooed by two of the
company's younger officials Gran
Vile Barnes himself was one. The
other was Rodman Lane, the young
general manager. l wished now that
l had paid more attention to the So
ciety news. Perhaps l should have
been in better position to judge
which of them it was whom she really
had chosen. AS it was. two questions
hemselves to me- Was it
Barnes? And had Barnes really been
the victim of an attack-or of an ac-
Kennedy may have been thinking
the problems over, but he gave no
evidence of it. He threw on his hat
and coat and was ready in a moment
to be driven in Miss Customs car to
the hospital
There. after the usual cutting of
red tape which only Miss Euston
led by white-uniformed nurse
through the silent halls to the pri-
vate room occupied by Barnes.
It's a most peculiar case" whis-
pered the young doctor in charge, as
we paused at the door. Il want you
to notice his face and his cough
His pulse seems very weak, almost
scope reveals subcrepitant sounds all
over his lungs. It's like bronchitis
or pneumonia--buti it isn't either"
We entered. Barnes was lying there
almost in a state of Inconsistencies
AS we stood watching him he opened
his eyes. But he did not see us. His
vision seemed to be riveted on Miss
Euston. He murmured something that
we could not catch, and. as his eyes
closed again. his face seemed to relax
into a peaceful expression, as though
he were dreaming of something happy.
Suddenly. however, the old tense
snnsd Lines reappeared; ,a pama Sa.n Another idea
"Is-Lane-hiring the men-him-
self?" he murmured.
The sight Of Maude Euston had
the thought of his rival
now with clear field. What did 1t
mean? Was he jealous of Lane, or
did his words have a deeper mean
ing? What difference could it have
made if Lane had a free hand in
the shipment of treasure
for the company?
Kennedy looked long and carefully
at the face of the sick man. 1t was
blue and cyanozed still. and his lips
had violet tinge. Barnes had been
a great deal. Now and then
his mouth was fecked with foamy
blood. which the nurse wiped gently
away. Kennedy picked up a piece
of the blood-soaked gauze.
vnnnont 1ofor xn,{f1 Z, ra1ry fror,