The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1922-09-13
The Lady OF the Night Wind

say, Julius ?" Clancy demanded.
"Yes, sir-with a satchel-soon
after IL, tonight. He went through
the woods at the south side of the
lake-skulkinglike. I saw him my
SELF"
did you follow him, Julius? 2"
mo, sir"
WAS he alone when you saw him +?
Did that other chap-the one at the
mill-meet him? Did you see anybody
with him?"
Eyes, sir, | saw somebody meet
him, but it was very dark under the
trees, and-well, sir, one couldn't see
more than the outlines of a person.
Julius would have lost his right arm
rather than tell anybody that the out
lined figure of the person who had
met Belknap in the woods was as ia
miliar to him as his own face in the
mirror.)
The three white men of the group
We're silent for a space; then Harvard
spoke.
What julius has told us compels
me to say something that | had in
tended to keep to myself" he said.
You noticed my surprise when julius
mentioned the names of Brainard and
Salisbury. Bruce Brainard is here.
Carruthers is Brainard. Salisbury
brought him first, yesterday, to ask
me ii l would receive him as a guest,
under the assumed name. The man is
a secret service operative. He is on
the trail of a man whom he believes
to be identical with Conrad Belknap.
| refused to receive him, at first. but
Salisbury OVERRIDE my objections.
Ca~rruthers' scar, by the way, is not
a real one, although it is as perfect
as if it were. It is stained on. Sauls-
bury told me that he is wonderfully
adept at Disgusting himself, and is
considered of the best operatives
in Washington. l."
"Say, Mn. Harvard" Rushton inter
rupted, bending forward.
"Well, Rushton?"
Il think that it's about time that
you listened to my report; and, like
wise, | think that you'd better wake
up Mr.. Brainard and bring him here
before | make it. Maybe it will heir
him N his work, and more'n likely he
can help me in mine"
"Very well, Rushton. Since We
have gone to such lengths already, nc
doubt you are right. No, Julius, ]
will go myself"
Brainard, of the Secret Service.
When Harvard stepped into the cor.
rldor on his way to Carruthers' room
ne discovered that gentleman in the
act of ascending the stairs toward it
He turned about when he heard Har-
wards low-toned call.
You have been outside ?" Harvard
asked abruptly.
'On the trail of your MANI"
mo"
"Belknap is gone. I thought pos.
sibly you might know it,"
Gone? Gone, when-and where
MI. Harvard?"
Come with me, please" Bing said
instead of answering the question
We are holding an impromptu con
ference in my den. Mr.. Clancy anC
a detective in whom | have every con.
fidence, are there; also Black julius
who Is a privileged person in this
family. Julius has told us some sur.
prising things about Belknap, anC
Rushton still has something more +,
say about him. He would also like
to hear what you may be willing II
tell. Will you come, p~lease?"
Yes, thank you. | will be glad to
Have you told them who and what
ann"
eyes; and also that you are Brain
ard, instead of Carruthers."
n4x~nL4,14.,- ~ l.
At the last, Harvard added: "AnC
this is julius, Mr.. Carruthers. wv,
will stick to that name, and not us,
Brainard, | Think. He has serve.
IN Mrs. Harvard's family all his life.
1t was the first time that Juliu
had seen Carruthers close up. AS h
turned to face him, the others saw
the negro give a violent start. hear,
him catch his breath in a short, quicl
gasp-saw him lift one hand an,
brush it across his eyes. They sup
posed it was the livid scar that star
tied him so, Notwithstanding that h
had been told that it was not a rea
one-or, possibly it was astonishmen
because the stranger grasped him b,
the hand, as he would have done to
white man.
Il fcresee that julius and I will b
friends" Carruthers said while h
held the negro's gaze for a short mo
ment. Then he turned to the Others
and julius crossed the room on q pre-
tense of bringing up another chair
although one had already been shove
forward.
"You may be seated, julius; Their
is no necessity for you to stand,
Harvard remarked. "Tom, will you
as concisely as possible, tell Mr.. Car
ruthers of what has already bee
said?"
Clancy did so, rapidly; and al
though Carruthers listened intently
he made no comment.
Now, Rushton, we will listen b
you," Clancy finished.
"Minell be short, but to the point,