Evening star., 1922-02-12

mo question about his having abso-
lutte privacy, / guess" Hatton con-
cluded dryly. TITS the loneliest spot
you could pick within . days journey
Of New York"
"Achison q hermit, eh?" Ramsey
laughed. 'Some Of these days when
I'm out motoring, I believe Ill drop
in on old Friar Tuck, and make him
do the honors Of his retreat. Just
where is 1t. Hatton?" Ramsey asked.
concealing his eagerness.
"Out beyond Paterson. You take
that road-or, wait q minute; you'd
never be able to find 1t from a de-
scription. I'll make q map for you"
The secret service man, who was q
methodical sort. took out his pencil,
and. explaining as he went along.
charted the location on the back Of
the menu card. Ramsey, after study
ing the diagram . moment or two.
folded 1t and slipped 1t into his
pocket.
much Of q place, is it?" he inquired.
striving to keep his tone free from
any hint Of cross-examination.
NO. just . cottage. Very charming.
though-and no lack Of creature COM
forts. even to q cellar. which. judg-
ing from the samples we received
Hatton grlnned reminiscently-"mus
be quite up to ante-prohibition stand
ards
|, who does for him." Ramsey asked.
"1t must be quite Job getting serv-
ants in 4 place like that, to say
nothing Of looking after them" s
"He has a man and wife, very
dependable couple. should say. The
woman does the cooking-husband
sort Of combined butler and gardener.
They live over the garage. and the
chauffeur lodges with them; Achison
reserves the cottage for himself.
"He calls It camping out. and says
that now he has got used to 1t. he
has fallen SO much in love with the
peace and quiet that he is planning
to stay on until he has finished q
book on some art subject he has had
in mind"
sently. ''Well'-aEain glancing at
his watch-"if you've finished your
coffee. suppose We start?"
Hatton had always regarded Wall
lace Ramsey as a rather reserved and
silent person, but this evening at the
theater he seemed almost stolidly IN
different to what was beyond ques-
tion an excellent play. AS matter OF
fact, although Ramsey's eyes were
fixed on the stage. the action which
took place there entirely failed to
register en- his brain. Immediately
after the last curtain, he pleaded
press Of work to be finished and bid
ding Hatton good night, parted from
him at the theater door.
But on arriving at the bachelor
apartment. where he lived. Wallace
did not turn to his desk. Instead he
slipped on a loungins coat. filled his
pipe. and throwing himself into an
easy chair with tobacco and matches
close at hand, sat smoking and pom
dering until the gray dawn stole IN
at the windows.
His mind was concentrated on his
conversation with Hatton at the din
ner-table. and he was striving Sc
dulously to recall each remark the
other had made and to fit it to a
theory he was evolving. Yet under
meath his absorption there was also
sense OF ironic amusement at his
late. companions expense.
uATTON was considered one of
the shrewdest and most expert
enced men in the entire secret serv-
ice. and yet. while confessing himself
ing investigation. he had again and
again mentioned the man, SO Ramsay
was convinced. who stood as the key
and solution to the whole puzzle.
1t had been on the tip Of Wallace's
tongue more than once during the
course of the disclosures to enlighten
Hatton. but he had restrained him
self, realizing that to confide his sus-
picions. or even attempt to give his
reasons for them would be only to
raise q question of his own sanity.
never Of the rectitude or high integ-
rity of Haywood Achison.
To Hatton and, the world in general,
Achison was famous criminal law
yer, whose name was one to conjure
with in the courts: a bon vivant and
raconteur who was in constant social
demand; a connoisseur and collector
In many branches of art whose opin-
ions, if not always accepted, were at
least respected by his confreres.
But the Achison whom Ramsey
knew was a very different person. A
guardian Of the law. he was yet Its
most daring and resourceful tres
passer. A social favorite, he was. be-
hind his bland, impervious mask, a
criminal.
For many months these two. RAM
sew and Achison, had been playing a
cat-andlmouse game. each taking the
roles interchangeably. But thus far
every time Ramsey believed he had
Achison cornered, the latter by some
Ingenious twist or quick turn had
managed to wriggle free and bound
away, laughing at his adversary's dis
comfiture. To date, the contest stood
4 draw.
Naturally the temptation had been
strong this evening to link himself
with the powerful forces of the law
III his drawn-out duel. and now as ne
sat considering Achison's subtlety
and fertility Of expedient, It iecurred
aaain. But he shook off the impulse.
"A what avail? His accusation was
rrlsupported by any valid evidence.
Hdtton. or any other OFFICER would DC
Nis Il ho marc