Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-08

Hello, Dandy" he said cordially
stopping and holding out his hand
IT saw your name on the passenger
t'st and looked for you in the smok-
9ngroom last night, but in vain"
Busy" explained Dandy. He turn
"a and fell into step, and the two
walked on together. II was closeted
sor cabined, 1 suppose you'd call 1t
IN this case-all evening with the
captain"
Must be something important on!'
Achison's deductions were accom-
named by swift, interesting glance.
There is" replied Dandy in his
oolorless. drawing voice.
He was a thin, gray man and his
prevailing impression of grayness
was carried out in his clothes, his
Grab hair, his mournful and reserv-
ca expression-all of which was con-
veniently deceptive, for he was In
9act one of the keenest-witted agents
o. the United States revenue service
las Achison was one of the most as
eute of Americas criminal lawyers.
Achison not only attracted notice.
Ae seemed to compel it. OF a more
mature figure than Dandy, he was
call, but with a quick, light tread and
@ grace of movement that many a
younger man might have envied. HIS
Hon-gray hair was thrown back
from his brow, his eyes were author
&ative, his mouth benevolent and
humorous, and some subtle emana-
Con Of individuality pronounced him
o person of charm and distinction.
"pm glad you're on board, Mr..
Achison," said Dandy; ''you may be
Of help to me. Have you been in
England or France?"
paris for the last six weeks"
"Good. Then Of course you know
q the theft of the kreminoff jewels"
"Oh, yes. I read something of it in
Me papers. A Russian prince
Nreminoff? Is that right? The
1ewels were mysteriously taken from
his house, weren't they. and no clue
left? Are you on the job?'
Dandy nodded.
TT was the work of an organized
sang. the police at the Surete say,
he went on; land they've got tip
that the stuff is on board here to be
smuggled into the States. 1t may be
straight, but I'm far from convinced.
Naturally, though. it got our people
Nusy. had to breaf OF my vacation
and catch this old tub on only TWEEN
ey minuasS notice." he added grum-
olingly.
Achison laughed at his lugubrious
Some.
GOH. cheer up" he rallied. you
may be about to make the catch
IT your career. At any rate, an arrest
with proper melodramatic trimmings
Would liven things up wonderfully.
.Iu leave that to the customs men,"
Dandy shrugged his shoulders. I'm
here merely to find out who has the
Aewels, II tt'v anybody"
"And you have not so far succeeded
On locating your needle in this human
Aaystack, I gather?"
81 have not" Dandy replied con-
oisely; but I've sifted them down."
He halted and drew the lawyer over
10 the rail. "We'n be carelessly talk
ons, and I'll pick out the likely ones
Cor you ~ they come along. Every
oody's sa deck this fine, calm morn
6g:"
"You're cunning among the first
cabin passengers?'
"Just 20. There's class to this deal
all the way through; undoubtedly 1t
Sas engineered by some of the big
Bellows. See. now, il you can spot
my Of ray suspects" Dandy suggested.
The variegated stream flowed by In
groups, In two's. in units. Achison
regarded the spectacle with jaded
eyes. These were the usual passen-
uers OF the East ocean liner.
"civsn Q certain environment he
0urmured. "the types which animate
4 remain constant. He yawned
uightIy. Nothing distinctive yet
ohat I can see. The same old bacon
and eggs crowd"
well, here comes touch of caviar
Or you" There was a faint thrill OF
triumph in Danby's apathetic drawl.
eJoe Snaith. Know him%
s'I've heard of him. but never saw
aim before" Achison was nonchalant-
n lighting . cigarette, but no detail
m the man approaching was lost upon
dim. "And why look further? he
osked under his breath. "A famous
International crook on board; what
0ore do you want?"
The fellow who swung by them ap-
Scared to be a we'll bred, well dressed
englishman Of medium size and with
q ruddy, tanned face under the visor
Of his cap. He might have been about
ohirty-nve years old.
THAT'S the trouble. It's SO obvious
ohat It's sure to be wrong" Dandy
chook his head pessimistically. Be
odes, he'd never try to get by with the
mum himself; he knows jolly we'll that
everything he's got, himself included.
oil Be systematically x-rayed before
oe's allowed to leave the dock. Moth
og I'd like better than to connect him
9th It But just can't see it."
why not?" asked Achison Curl
ously.
well. in the first place. look at the
layout Those Jewels were in safe
h this Kreminoff's house in Paris.
about all the poor refugee had left, I
enagine. He was deep in negotiations
= dispose of part of them, but the
oDllection was so far intact. He en-
lprtained a good deal-Lord knows