The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-05-04

A flicker of annoyance passed |
across my companions face.
IF that were true, monsieur" he |
rejoined. Il should by now have be |
come their chief I address you. be /
lieve me. as one master craftsman to |
another
Why do YOU imagine that my /
name is Michael Sayers?" I asked !
cautiously.
He smiled.
L take a keen interest" he con |
dded. lin the exploits of my-shall |
I say fellow -adventurers?--in other /
countries. 7 read with much amuse- /
ment-not Unmingled, believe me, /
sir with admiration-of your escape
from the police in Scotland; and the
arrival of Mr.. John D. Harmon from
/ Providence here shortly afterward
! also interested me.
You have your own secret
agents?"
Certainly. monsieur he assented. !
/ but they work for me aud not for
the law
you had some reason for making
/ yourself known TO me?' 1 Queried.
He bowed.
/ Apart from the pleasure OF meet /
/ Ing so distinguished a confrere." ne
said. there is a scheme in which 1
am at present Interested. in which il
might amuse you 10 take part"
Let me hear about it," I begged. +
Ny companion brushed the ash
from his trouser-leg and rose to his
I feet
/ Let us walk 10 my Office he sug-
gested. We viii see whether any
! fresh business has come in. After
ward we viii, if you choose. lunch TO-
/ gether at some discreet place"
/ / could not altogether discard my
suspicious. FOR it seemed incredible
that this man was really the daring
criminal whorn the police OF three
countries had sought for many years
in vain. We visited Il reputable and
quietly handsome suite Of offices IN
the Rue Scribe. where my companion
. conversed for several minutes on
varions matters of business with his
clerks Afterward we walked across /
TO the Place Gallon. where my host
selected a lunch with the skill of the
born gourmet. He refused to allow
me an aperitif but ordered the choicest
Of wine In the course Of our meal he
asked me a most surprising question.
DO YOU hear frequently from your
friend Sir Norman Greyes?"
IF I heard from him al all" 7 re
Piled. Il imagine that the situation
would be. to say the least of it. pre-
carious. What do you know about
him."
My companion smiled
i had little affair ~ tho same f.
nature he confdcd. with the sub .
chief or the police here. Francois .
Dumesnil. his name was"
And where is he now" I asked
He disappeared" was the consld- .
cred reply. "A great many people
disappear in Paris. 1t was a battle
of wits between US. and I was almost
sorry when the end came Self presor- /
walton. however, makes strenuous de. /
mands upon one sometimes
Concerning Norman Creyes?" Il
persisted.
Forgive me- wandered little 7
from the point I mentioned Norman f.
Greyes' name because he is in Paris " I.
In Paris" 7 exclaimed.
He arrived by the Calais train last I
evening. I fancy that later in the /
day ne may probably stroll into the
American bar at the Grand Hotel"
Il take IT," I said slowly, your |
suggestion is that Norman CSreyes /
E L.
Il will be perfectly frank" was my
companions prompt avowaI Il do f.
no tknow that. There's is a distinct
possibility that Norman Greyes has I.
come over here in connection with I.
another affair in which I am indirectly
/ interested. I have proposition to T.
make to you Take d taxicab and |
drive out to Versailles for the after |
noon. On your way back, stop at the |
Taverne Bertain, near the Armenon- /
vile. I viii meet you there at 7
o'clock. 7 propose a perfectly fair
bargain to you. If he is here on your
business viii assist you to escape. !
II he is interested in the other little !
matter I spoke CT. shall claim your !
help"
cit IS a bargain" I promised.
$50 to our chicken my companion /
r1urmured ewing with approval the (
dish which had Just been extended
toward him; and we continued our I.
meal
It was about hah-past five that aft |
ernoon when I dismissed my taxi and /
seated myself at one Of the small |
tables under the trees outside the /
Taverne Bertain. I ordered a glass Of /
tea with a slice of lemon; a packet Of |
cigarettes, and settled down to one /
of my favorite tasks-watching my
fellow-creatures. Every variety of the /
human race was in evidence riding in (
every description Of carriage. A {
rabble I told myself a little contempt .
Uously. Not one of them had realized F.
the supreme Joy of existence
1t was rs though Fate had suddenly /
decided to deal my philosophy a NOR
tai blow. In a handsome limousine /
car, travelling slowly in the trail OF
other vehicles. appeared my enemy
Norman Greyes-and by his side /
Janet, my wife. He wore a light gray
suit and a Homburg hat; his long, lean
face seemed as somber as ever. Janet
was talking while he listened--talking
of something, it seemed, more i'm
portant than the idle fiotsam Of the
moment. The car passed on. re-
,aJ-r