Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-22

"a fishy. clever little crook" con.
fided John Bruce to himself. II wen.
der what's the gamc?"
He continued to sip his wine in ap.
parent Indifference to the passing min.
gether assumed. His. mind was quite
otherwise occupied. 1t was rather neat.
that-a trip to Persin. The expression
In itself held lure which had probably
not been overlooked as an nsset. II
suggested Bagdad, and the Arabian
Nights. and a Caliph and a Grand VI.
zier, who stalked about in disguise. On
the other hand. the inebriated gentleman
had evidently had his fill OF 1t on one
occasion, and would have no more Of
1t. And the other gentleman who had,
as 1t were, Endorsed the proceeding,
had, at the same time. taken the occa.
sion to throw out n warning to beware
of the conductor.
John. Bruce smiled plea sanity into his
wine glass. Not very difficult to faith
ON, perhaps. after all!
1t was probably some shrewd old rep.
rebate with usurious rates in cahoots
with the sleek Monsieur Henri de La
vergne. who made side split on the
said rates in return for the exclusive
privilege accorded the other of acting
as lcech to the guests of the house when
In extremity.
1t had been perhaps twenty minutes
since he had left the roulette table. lie
looked atehis watch now as he saw the
doorman coming toward the supper room
with his hat and coat. The night was
still carly. 1t was quarter to eleven
lie went out into the hall.
'Nassuh,' said the gray haired ant
obsequious old darky. as he assisted
John Bruce into his coat. "if yo'll will
just come with me. Mistuh Bruce. yo'al
will be 'commodated right prompt"
John Bruce followed his guide TO thu
doorstep.
The darky pointed to a closed motor
car at the curb by the corner, few
houses away.
"Yo'all just say Persia to the shut
"All right John Bruce smiled hi'
interruption, and went down the step
to the sidewalk.
JOHN Bruce approached the waiting
Car leisurely. scrutinizing it the while
and as he approached, 1t seemed to tax
on more and more the aspect Of ven
erable and decrcpit ark. The body o
| the car was entirely without light tn
glass front, II there were one. behind tn
man whom he discerned sitting in tn
chauffeur's scat. was evidently closel!
curtained; and so, too. lie now discov
cred. Us he drew nearer. were the win
dows and doors Of the car as well.
"The parlor looks little ominous.
said John Bruce softly to himself. -
wonder how far 1t Is to the spider
dining room.
lie halted as he reached the vehicle
I "I'm bound for Persia. believe.
he suggested pleasantly to the chauffeur
The chauffeur leaned out. and job
Bruce was conscious that he was under
going a critical inspection. In turn h
looked ut the chauffeur. nut there wa
; very little light. The car seemed t
| have chosen a spot rs little disturbed b.
the rays of the street lamps as possible
and he gained but vague imprcssio
, of n red. weather beaten face, clca
shaved. with shaggy brOws under griz
, zled hair. the whole topped by a
equally wcathcrbcatcn felt hat Of non
, lescript shape and coor.
p The inspection. on the chauffeur par
at least, appeared to be satisfactory.
5 "Ycs. sir" said the man. "Stcp in
sir. please
The door swung open--just how. job
Bruce could not have explained. III
stepped briskly into the car-on'y t