The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-07-06

first answer was tnat 1t was one or
both of the men whom he had caught
In his room, after the blue buckle. That
seemed the most obvious clue. They
! had not found the buckle in his safe,
| hence had reasoned that he must have
1t on his person.
In his mail was letter from Miss
Ballantyne.
"Wilhelmina Ballantyne!" An old
| fashioned and somewhat cumbersome
name, he thought, although 1t stood be-
fore him in a gracefully strong hand
writing which did it credit.
Miss Ballantyne wrote to say that
she was inclosing copy for the adver-
tisement which he would please insert
| for her, In the accompanying list of
newspapers. They were all Canadian
papers, as she had said. She begged
him also as favor, to keep memo.
! randum of any and all items of ex-
/ pense.
"Quite businesslike," said Craig, ap-
provingly. Il shall send them off to-
day, II this old head will let up"
More than a week passed by and
during that time, which seemed un-
consciously long to Rutherford, he
neither heard from his client nor her
! advertisement. He was on the point
Of going around to see her anyway,
just to report progress" when at last
letter arrived from Montreal, bearing
| tho addraea of a 1apal firm
Rutherford seized the telephone and
(, called Miss Ballantyne up.
81 have just received letter from
| Canada" he told her, (which has been
/ delayed day or two in transmission.
It Informs m than I am to bring my
/ client that's you-to the Ritz-C Carlton
on Wednesday the third-that's today.
We are to sit down at the third table
from the second window, on the left
| side of the room, as you enter. The
time is 4:30. Can you be therer
Certainly" came back the girls
voice. And she repeated the time and
the place to make sure.
''By the bye" observed Craig. be-
fore hanging up the receiver, "has any
one at your end Of the line by any
chance overhead our conversation"
"Why no." replied the girl, quickly.
There's no one here, except Sophie"
He was waiting in the hotel lobby
| when her cab drove up He saw other
men and more than one woman second
his decision by turning for another
glance at the slight, erect young per-
son in her close, velvet street gown
and the big velour hat Haunting
single white plume which swept
around the crown and ducked Queerly
but attractively under the brim. They
seated themselves at the designated
table and waited. Presently man
crossed to where they sat.
"Ah! SO you are hereis he said;
-'that is good!"
It was ]. Baron Heiderman.
Rutherford was so astounded by the
advent of this man that he did not
move.
perhaps you expected some one
elss, Mr.. Rutherford! and you. my dear
Mrs. Talcott," said the banker suaveiy.
at Is Mr.. Helderman, believe"
she said IN surprise. "Why, you can
not be-
"The person who was to meet you
here at 4:30?" he finished. "Why not?
You see me here at the appointed time.
do you not?"
"Why, yes. but
"Of course, you would wish to sat
isfy yourself" continued Heiderman
quickly. "That is right. 1t is up to
me to satisfy you-to identify myself
with the transaction. To- set your
mind at rest let me suggest that you
are here in the interest of a certain
blue buckle. Am not right?"
EYES," assented the girl eagerly.
slave you the identifying papers or
the other buckle, Mr.. Helderman?"
"Not with me-" said the financier
guardedly. 1.-THE matter is in fact in
the hands of a legal firm at present,
but 1t is necessary for me, perhaps, to
be personally satisfied. 1t Is ! who
must know as well as you. ! wish to
assure myself personally as to the
4 proof. If you care to let me examine
/ your own buckle for moment
i Miss Ballantyne glanced over at
Rutherford and Helderman followed
her glance confidently. But Ruther-
ford shook his head. He had reasons
of his own for not trusting this man.
1--WE will have to make further ap-
pointment with you, Mr.. Helderman," :"
he said, outwardly courteous. "This Is
such public place that we did not
! come prepared with all the proofs"
| The two men regarded each other
! steadily, each seeking to read the
other. And then there came an inter
ruption
.Mr. Helderman-Mr. Helderman"-
:. A page slipped about calling the