Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-29
c e Here Today

ISL 1AtAC 1OAtAg
Sir Charles Abingdon engage Paul
Harley, criminal investigator, to find
out why he is Swallowed by persons
unknown to Sir Charles. While
Harley is dining at the Abingdon
home Sir Charles falls from his chair
in a dying condition. DIR. McMur-
doch pronounces death due to heart
failure. Harley insists that Abingdon
was poisoned.
The last words spoken by Sir
Charles are "Nicol Brinn" and Fire
Tongue" Paul asks Brinn the mean
ing of "Fire-Tongue" but Brinn re-
fuses to divulge his secret. ormuz
Khan, Oriental, is a friend of Phil
Abingdon, daughter of Sir Charles.
Polly Jones, parlormaid In the
Abingdon home, is questioned by
Harley. Detective Inspector Wes-
sex follows Paul to the home of
Polly.
Now Go on with the Story
"Yesl 1 have been wondering
D whatever 1t could be. In fact, [ rang
I up his Office this morning, but
learned that he was out. 1t was a
serviette which he took away. Did
YOU know that?"
sal did know 1t, Miss Abingdon. I
lied upon the analyst. l under
Md you were out when Mr.. Harley
Inc. May L ask who interviewed
m?"
file saw Benson and Mrs. Howett,
he housekeeper."
MAY / also see them?"
Both witnesses having been dis
PISSED, he turned again to Phil
kbingdon.
'The next step is clear enough"
he said, brightly. II am off to South
lambeth Road. The woman Jones
IBIS the link we are looking for
NJ Chartering a more promising-look
bling "a than that in which he had
lsicome, Detective Inspector Wessex
toceeded to 236 South Lambeth
keexoad. He had knocked several times
Hefore the door was opened by the
Noman to whom the girl Jones had
Allied on the occasion Of Harley's
"I am a police officer" said the
Ineffective inspector, and l have call
Yed to see a woman named Jones, for
merly in the employ of Sir Charles
Abingdon"
"She went away last night to a job
In the country"
did she leave no address to which
letters were to be forwarded ?"
mo; she said she would write"
CHAPTER XIV
Nadia
Dusk was falling that evening.
Gaily lighted cars offering glimpses
of women in elaborate toilets and of
their ~black-coated and white-shirted
cavaliers thronged Piccadilly, bound
for theatre or restaurant. The work.
aday shutters were pulled down, and
the night life of London had COM
menced. The West End was in pos
session of an army of pleasure seek
ers, but Nicol Brinn was not among
their ranks.
In" said Nicol Brinn.
Hoskins, the neat manservant, en-
p tered. "A lady to see you, sir"
Nicol Brinn turned in a flash.
"Name?"
"She gave none"
"English ?"
'No, sir, a foreign lady"
I'm"
The door was opened again, and
Hoskins, standing just inside, an
nounced: 1.-THE lady to see you, SIR
He stepped aside and bowed as a
tall, slender woman entered the
room. She wore a long wrap
trimmed with fur, the collar turned
up about her face. Three steps for
ward she took and stopped. Hoskins
withdrew and closed the door.
At that, while Nicol Brinn watch
ed her with completely TRANSPORTED
features, the woman allowed the
cloak to slip from her shoulde-s,
and. raising her head, extended both
her hands, uttering a subdued cry of
greeting that was almost a sob. She
was dark, with the darkness of the
East. but beautiful with a beauty
that was tragic.
"Nasdap' breathed Nicol Brinn,
huskily. "Naida!'
Her cloak lying forgotten upon the
carpet, she advanced toward him.
She wore a robe that was distinct
J w Oriental without being in the
slightest degree barbaric. Her skin
was strangely fair, and jewels
sparkled upon her fingers.
Their lips met, and for a moment
they chung together, this woman of
the East and man of the West, i'm
utter transgression of h a law
which England's poet had laid down.
1t was q reunion speaking of a love
so deep as to be sacred.
Tdfting the woman in his arms
lightly as a baby, he carried her to
the settee, between the W high
windows and placed her there amid
Oriental cushions, where she looked
Like an Eastern queen. ne hA0ie ~
her feet and, holding both her
y hands, looked into her face with that
N wondering expression in which there
a something i~ncredulous and
something sorrowful; a look of great
and selfess tenderness. The face of
Nadia was lighted up, and her big
eyes filled with tears. Disengaging
one of her jeweled hands, h rur-
fed Nicol Brinn's hair.
"You knew 1 would Gomez"
"How was I to know that you
would see my message?" =.
She opened her closed left hand
and smoothed out a scrap OF torn
paper which she held there. 1t was
from the Agony column of that
days Times:
N. November 20, 1918.
N. b. See Telephone Directory.
Il told you long, long g that 1
would come IL ever you wanted me.
He seated himself beside her on
the settee, and held her close. M
Naida!, he breathed softly.
"Ah, no, mo-" she entreated.