Evening star., 1923-02-02

storrow nodded. Rennison went on:
We'll. SO far as you and that pre-
cious stick of yours are concerned,
the relationship with the crime be-
gan az the time you entered Hen
neshaw's. You have said this was be-
tween noon and 1 O'Clock this after
noon"
Yes"
You also told me that you left your
companion alone in the dining booth
for four or five minutes, while you
went to q telephone, and that your
cane remained in the BOOTH
True. Rennison, but you have ad-
mitted that this was at least two
hours before the crime was commit
ted"
Quite right. But also have said
the ,cE CRIME Eva, was ca carefully premeditated
worked out. The brief period you
were out OF the booth gave to your
companion an opportunity to loosen
the head of the cane, draw out the
sword it contained, hold tho lower
part of the blade under her foot-or
under one of the legs of the table.
perhaps-and snap il off. lnasmuch
as the edges of the blade were fairly
sharp, she used q table napkin to pro
tect her hands. l have the napkin.
you see"
Thus speaking Rennison drew from
hip pocket of his trousers the nap
kin he had found behind the bathtub
in room 412. In the Weymouthshire
As he spread 1t out, Storrow saw the
parellel cuts in the fabric. and Hon
neshaW" stamped on the corner.
Where did you get that" demand
ed Storrow, breathlessly.
Within hundred feet Of where
the crime was committed" Renni-
son replied. Il found it in the bath
room adjoining the room in which. I
edge Of a CARPET"
1T is not clear to you now: Her
purpose was TO lave in the orifice
thus cleared a place in which to put
the sheets of paper which. in ac-
cordance with her plan, were to be
conveyed to her confederate IN your
cane
"Ycu nean-:"
Il mean that she designed to meet
der should have been committed
and slip into the orifice the sheets
which were to be taken from the
cane by her confederate at the Gull
fords' reception"
'Rennison."
Trembling violently, Storrow had
risen. The cold gaze Of the Army
man slowly chilled his blood.
Inasmuch as I have taken the
sheets from your cane, the purpose
hdS pSeH deleateo, RennfSon said,
calmly.
Painting heavily, storrow sank back
into his chair
The proof is positive" Renn.son
went on. Are you for our country
or the woman?"
Storrow hid his face in his shaking
hands.
Are you for our country. or the
woman?" Rennison persisted.
Half rising, the idler faced his
questioner def1antly.
For BOTH" he cried. Miriam War
burton is innocent"
But you have seen for yourself
the sheets 1 took from your cane
There can be no doubt concerning
their Identification. Confronted with
such evidence as this. do you still
hope To-
"Rennison."
"Involuntarily, you have become in
volved in a serious crime against the
government. In the circumstances,
there is only one course you can
take to make clear your good faith,
and this I Will indicate to you. For
the next three hours you must act
In accordance with my directions.
First, you must introduce me to
Miriam Warburton, and leave me
alone with her. Second. you must go
TO the Guilfords' reception and take
your cane with you"
There are no butts Our friend
ship has run its course. You are
talking now with a United States
Army officer who is engaged in the
performance OF a duty Of the most
serious and imperative nature. I
must have your decision-quickly
Make your choice. Will you prove
YOUR loyalty to your country or to
this woman? Now is the hoI;- of
sacrifice. You must take ME TO Mir
lam Warburton. There is no alter
native"
Rising, Rennison crossed to where
Storrow sat huddled on his chair
You Will take rne?" the Army man
asked.
Yes" gasped storrow.
CHAPTER XIII
THE INTERLoPER-
Putting hard at his cigar, Rennison
turned from his agitated friend.
Call a taxi" he directed.
Storrow, moving unsteadily, Cross
ed to the telephone on the wall. He
called UP garage and ordered his
limousine.
Meantime Rennison stepped TO the
desk Of his host, and, opening one OF
the drawers Familiarity, ho took out
wrote several minutes, then he thrust
one sheet into the envelope, which
lie. sealed. Next, taking a large
envelope from the drawer, he placed
the smaller one within 1t. with the
remaining sheets. The large enve-
lope he addressed to Capt. Merschon,
Room AK, War Department.
Rennfson now went over to the
telephone teh and and called up Nerschon,
ie ID
explained. rs there anything new,
captain?"
Merschon hesitated Rennison
heard him speaking IN a low voice to
some one who was with him IN the
room. He was unable to distinguish the
Nothing of Importance" Merschon
replied. We are looking to you for
that. Kennison. How are you making
outc"
"All right" Rennison responded
What do you mean by that?'
Il mean things are we'll In hand-at
my end of the case"
Family Rennison heard a voice
addressing Nerschon. He recognized
the shaking accents of Horsford
Cant you be little more specif1c?'
Merschon asked over the wire.
No
You have a lead?"
There was more muttering, then
Merschon spoke again.
'Towndrow is here. Do you want to
speak with him."
Not unless he has something of
Importance to say to me./ I'm in
something of a hurry. am sending
to you by a messenger q letter for
Coughlin and one for yourself AS
soon as Coughlin reports TO you by
phone tell him to drop anything he
may be doing and get to your office
at once. When he appears give him
my letter. It contains instructions