The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-06-15
CHAPTER III.
A Summons

Craig Rutherford felt as If some one
had struck him a well-directed blow,
driving a terrible and insistent ques-
tion into his brain. 81 must try to
carry it through alone!" What else
did she mean-what else could she
mean, except the smuggling?
The glamour of that beautiful, con-
fiding smile was still upon him, fight
ing back the meaning conveyed by her
last words.
During the succeeding days, as the
steamer neared her port, the young
man grew more and more restless. He
sought other opportunities to speak
to Mrs. Talcott alone, but found none
Meanwhile, the story of the SNUG
glers poisoned the minds of nearly
every one else. Rumors fitted about
among the passengers. Those who had
formed pleasant acquaintances during
the voyage suddenly found chill and
| suspicion spelling them. The entire
first cabin became place of ferment
and discomfort. The few bearded men
lodged about as inconspiciously as
possible, or appeared unwarrantably
brazen in their efforts to seem above
suspicion.
Rutherfords discomfort and uneasi-
ness were not lessened when, on his
return to his stateroom, one morning.
he found many trifiing evidences that
his things had been disturbed. He
hurried into the smoking room and
found other men fuming and fussing
over similar surreptitious searches in
their quarters. This was strange. Ger
tainly, all the passengers could not be
| under suspicion, and If they were. he
knew no legal right for such overhaul
| ing.
Nevertheless, 1t was decidedly an
noying, and Rutherford listened in
| silent sympathy while the men poured
out their walls of wrath upon the whole
situation. Presently voice at his
side claimed his attention.
"Mr Helderman would be glad to
nave you join him in his room, sir"
Craig started up, glad of any dis
traction. The finnnciers valet was
standing respectfully waiting for q
reply.
Very well. Tell him shall be there
In fifteen minutes Iii that's agreeable" :"
On the way thither he passed his
own stateroom.
As he walked nofselessly ahead, over
the rubber carpet, he saw two men
standing between his own door and
that of Mrs. Talcott. They were so
absorbed in their Investigation that
they did not notice his approach.
"The doors always locked!" one
complained.
"She keeps the key" the other as
serted
The two men hurried off in opposite
directions. the moment they glimpsed
Rutherford, but a flash of understand
ing came to him as he saw the square.
stocky back OF one of them. He was
the secret service man, and likewise
the man who had tried to take the blue
buckle away from Mrs Talcott
This put another and very disturb
Ing idea into Rutherford's head Ger
tain1y the man could have no posi-
bic use for the buckle; was that then,
Wndl he Hau fRdity US6n aIter-Or Hau
the girl used the buckle as blind?
Had the man really wanted the dia-
mond necklace. concealed upon her
person
Presently he heard the door just
across the corridor open softly, almost
stealthily His own door stood open
by tiny crack and cautiously he STEP
ped to it and reered through He saw
a slender figure in gray cloak. her
back turned to him, as she tried, evil
IDENTIFY. to turn the key in the lock.
The key stuck, and in turning it she
dropped 1t to the floor 1t struck
against the metal trim with a sharp
clang. She did not stoop to pick it
up; on the contrary, with swift and.
he thought, frightened glance along
the corridor in both directions, she
hurried off.
Eager to aid the girl, he rushed out
into the hall. picked up the key she
had dropped and started after her. At
the turn he saw her figure little way