South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-22

Wells was seated I'm his study and
there seemed TO be an added grim
ness about his mouth as ne greeted
the detective.
II was expecting you"
Mr.. Drake telephoned?"
NO"
Then you know what has oc-
cured Do you mean that you
have heard from Miss Patricia Drake
herself?"
Exactly" Wells nodded and. TAX
ing from the drawer a crumpled
twist Of paper he held II out 10 the
detective. See what you can make
of that while read what Hobart has
TO say about the matter"
The paper was OF poor texture,
limp and grimy and as ne smoothed
IL Miles saw that II was lined not
only across the page but vertically
at each side II appeared to be a
fragment torn from a larger sheet
and the few sentences hastily
scrawIed upon il in SOFT blue crayon
were so blurred hnd smudged as 70
be almost flleKible
Dear Mr.. Wells.
Have promised man who brings
this that you will give him I'VE dol
lars and ask no questions. You will
home but am safe. Don't look for
me. will explain when can. Tell
NJ keep at work without fail but
no one else must know you have
heard from me This is vital for
everyone's sake. Warn NJ look out
for tattooed arm. Pat"
What time did you receive it and
what did you do when it came, Mr..
Wells?"
What she asked The attorney
shrugged. about ten o'clock this
morning the man presented himself
and | went out TO the vestibule 10
give aim the money personally and
have a look at him. He was a rough
looking character but respectful
enough"
What did he say?" Miles asked.
Was his manner furtive and did he
appear in a hurry to be gomez
ION the contrary. He was brisk
and business-like as II he had come
exhibited neither curiosity nor hest
tation. Did Eou get the young lady's
note, sor?" he asked IF you're Mr..
Wells, she said there would be some
thing coming TO me- / admitted my
identity. handed him a five-dollar bill
and watched him go off down the
street. On snap judgment he might
have been a porter, mechanic-yOu
know the type. But what do you
make of the letter."
The letter was not written under
compulsion: that is self-evident." re-
piled Miles. "She left the house OF
her own free will, without taking me
into her confidence Indeed. I have
reason TO think that she had an APP
pointment with someone who waited
outside the gate TO aid her In her
flight and it could not have been the
young man who is In love with her,
fer his presence elsewhere has been
tablished"
What can be the meaning of her
reference to a tattooed ARM"
when we have learned that. Mr..
Wells" responded Miles. I'VE will be
on our way toward dispelling the
nightmare of grotesque horror which
hangs over the Drake family. Our
young client has stumbled upon the
path TO the truth"
CHAPTER NJ
The result OF a brief conference
was that Sergeant Miles shouls
engage a friend. Zorn private
detective. to work out the disappear
ance OF Patricia. This would enable
Miles TO remain at Brooklea in his
capacity OF houseman and, unknown
TO Hobart, keep in touch with Patri-
cia's disappearance.
Before Zorn arrives, Mr.. Wells.
remarked Miles. Il wish you would
tell me sometEng about the early
history OF the family. What was
the original sum which each OF them
inherited? From whence did II
Gomez
From a distant cousin OF their
mother in England. He had owned
or been interested in a South Afri-
can diamond mine, il | remember
correctly. and died leaving no other
heirs. was not the attorney fol
the family at the time but later
when Hobart and then Jerusha
placed portions Of their inheritance
in my hands for investment.
learned that they had never seer
this cousin but had kept up a desul.
tory sort OF correspondence with hin
since their mothers death and I dc
not know whether they all shared
alike under hfs will or not"
But what has all this 10 do with
the test you propose making? What
has il 10 do with Patricia's warning
about ,attooed arm ,"
Miles was saved the necessity 81
a reply by the entrance of the ser
want who announced Mr. David Zorn
The latter proved 10 be a fair-haireC
Immediately alfred young mar
with an expression % polite bore
dom in his sleepy blue eyes.
Sorry could not get here before
Sergeant You mentioned a-er-
little proposition over the phone -
To be brief. Mr.. Zorn. a youns
lady OF eighteen who lives with her
father. a maiden aunt and twc
bachelor uncles In a Long Island SUI
burb has left her home under mys-
terious circumstances IN which. how
ever. we are satisfied no romance ID
involved Her father has asked me
10 engage a private detective 10 To-
cate her, but we are. az the request OF
the young lady herself and without
his knowledge or that OF siis sister
or brothers. investigating a certain
matter which threatens them. The
D0sfffor urhich GsrReaof NfIee and