Evening star., 1923-02-12

1T was clear she had the protection
OF some one higher up"
What was the nature OF the cases?'
Il have told you the members OF the
Secret Service have been pledged to
secrecy concerning the Tanager's re-
lation with them. The cases them
selves are well known to you. and, in
asmuch as we have to do with the
Tanager in connection with this one,
think am justified in telling you
the nature Of the others. One was
the attempt to effect an alliance be-
tween Mexico and the colored popula-
tions of our southern states and the
British West Indies. The other was
the breaking up Of that revolutionary
society known as the Jupiterians. 1t
the Scarlet Tanager bore some rela-
ton. 1t Is equally certain that she
was not working in the interest OF
the Secret Service. We virtually got
her with the goods before we were
called off. Both plots were frustrat-
ed. of course. and l always have sus-
pected that you had hand in the ex-
tirpation Of the Jupiterians. In that
case. you doubtless know more con-
cerning the Tanager's relation with
it than I do"
IT did have a hand in it," Rennison
admitted. But. though this Is true,
will confess to you frankly that not
until after the murder of Charming
did l ever have reason TO suspect that
Miriam Warburton was N league
with conspirators or was a govern
ment agent. l never met her before
she did tell me she had done some
service as a confidential agent Of the
government. I believe she spoke
truthfully."
But she did kill channing"
YES"
.t.a ,.,. ,;s 49,. -. .L.-. ...;.
papers directly from her hands?"
NO \ obtained them before / met
her They had been concealed in
StorrowIS cane"
What relation did she bear to Stor-
row.
They were engaged to be married. -
"AIyd Storrow, having lost the pa
pcrs--from his stick-has been slain
Now the woman Is hurrying on, after
Horsford. to this rendezvous in Bal
timore."
Il have told you that she left her
she believed to be summons to meet
shaken"
"All right. captain" Towndrow
sighed. Your shrewdness is beyond
question. But in dealing with this
than mere human shrewdness No
matter how shrewd a man may be. he
can't tell how flea is going to jump
It's a case for the exercise OF a sixth
sense I have a premonition that II
you don't keep on your guard this
woman you are trusting will double
cross you"
Rennison made no reply. Leaning
forward. he lowered the window and
placed a hand on the back OF the
drivers seat.
The car, having left Laurel behind
had NnUarpd than half
the distance between Washington and
Baltimore. The only traces which
remained of the storm which had
passed a few minutes before were
little pools of water in the roadway
the refreshing odors Of moist fields
and woodlands and drops which were
fiicked. from time to time. from
overhanging branches as the night
airs stirred them. SO fleecy and scat
tered had the clouds become that
they failed to dim the light of the
half-moon.
The cab had been speeding onward
at a pace that caused 1t to skid dan
gerously as 1t rounded curves Despite
the serious nature OF his conversa-
tion with Towndrow. Rennison, look
ing ahead. had not relaxed his effort
to discern again the ta.il-light OF the
car which had disappeared when
Delaf1eld had halted them.
No sign Of them yet, eh?" Renni-
son muttered. addressing tho driver
Not yet, ut IL this .paoe keeps
up much longer one OF us Is going
to get the ditch" replied Gulick
There isn't Hold fast hold
fast!"
Again the cab was taking a curve
and 1t seemed plain that the driver
had flung discretion to the winds
once too often. The tires lost their
grip on the mud-spread roadway and
the rear wheels OF the machine
swerved to the left so sharply that
the machine appeared to be about to
overturn.
Look QUIT" Gulick shouted hoarse-
~.
A dark bulk loomed suddenly beside
the road and collision with II
seemed inevitable. Two or three vio-
lent jolts of the vehicle almost flung
Towndrow and Eennison from their
dark bulk passed behind them as
their cab moved on and headed
toward the middle of the road. In a
few moments it came to a standstill.
"Close call-that," Towndrow NUT
tired.
Gulick, shaking his left hand in a
manner which indicated he had
strained his wrist. looked over his
shoulder.
There's your darned limousine
ditched," he, growled. DO you want
to stop-to look it over? Or shall !
keep on--after the other one?"
Well look it over, Sam," said