Evening star., 1923-02-06

paid the chauffeur and entered the
building. As 1t was a little too soon
for after-theater suppers, the big
room was almost deserted. Rennison
ordered q meal and ate deliberately.
When he was done he strolled tc
and, through Lafayette square. and
| thence to the department building.
AS the young officer entered Mer-
schon's office he saw. sitting around
the table, Horsford, Col. Hawks
hurst. Capt. Merschon and Town
drow. All seemed to be laboring un-
der suppressed excitement. They
were listening to To ndrow, whose
race was grim and white as he spoke
with quiet earnestness
Upon seeing Rennison. Towndrow
| the newcomer sharply. The gloom
on ms features misled them.
| It's all right, L think, Rennison. y
| Merschon said, reassuringly. "It
looks as II we were in fair way to
get our man"
Thanks to Towndrow and his
cnief, growled Horsford, flashing a
glance Of disapproval toward Rem
But do not forget. Mr.. Horsford,
that part Of the credit goes to Capt.
Rennison." Towndrow corrected, quick
~. Then, addressing Rennison, the
secret service man went on: 'I for
those suggestions you made In the
Motel. He found that Capt Reif-
snyder had called UP Charming on
the telephone at Loudenleid, and had
told him his friend Enderbrook would
not accompany him to washington,
but that he would find room ready
Tor his own occupancy at the View
| mou uthshire"
"Reifsnyder. eh?" Renuison NUT
Yes" Towndrow replied. There
is no question concerning the identity
or the man who sent the telephone
message to Charming. It was Reif-
snyder
but what of Enderbrookc"
We nave every reason to believe
mat there was no such person. More
over, working at this end. 1 located
the booth from which the supposed
Ehoerbrook telephoned to the Wcy-
mouthshire this morning, asking that
MS wife be made comfortable In the
Looni that had been reserved for
Good" Rennison said approvinsly,
Well. the booth was right here
IN Washfngton-and the man who
5alkeo over the telephone has been
uescrioed in a manner which makes
J Gear that he was none other than
u.
That's progress" said Rennisou.
Ihe chief also Is satisfied that
kelrsnyder. an expert on the sub
Ject of explosives. placed on the
Dragonfy. with his own hands, one
OF the bombs that had been made
l spoke to you-for Experimental
purposes. 1t long has been a Gus
tom OF Reifsnyders to carry with
him a small camera. with which to
photosraph the effects Of explosives
when, as member of the bureau OF
experimentation, he witnessed thei-
tests. He carried what appeared 10
oe box camera when he wei.
aboard ?. the Dragonfiy, and he Lad
boat "''h Tbe h'H as,arl when , he left e
IS that from the interior Of the ,ox
the Photographic apparatus had :,een
removed and that one of McCorYnick's
aerial bombs was in the box when
Reifsnyder went on the vessel and
was placed by him before the doors
and matches were sealed by Rear Ad
miral Longley and himself"
But McCormick's bombs, being OF
the aerial variety. surely were not
oeo9natsd deo9ns.sS by clockwork." Rennison
NO. but It is probable Reirsnyder
attached to it some clockwork de-
vice
"All this is pretty strong. but what
does Reifsnyder himself say about
!t? Rennison asked.
We have not been in comrnun:ca-
ton with him yet, but We expect"
ToWndrow began, but Horsford inter
rupted him.
II have cautioned Towndrow not
to proceed too blindly," the assistant
secretary said. 1T is possible that
we are taking too much for granted
We must not jump at conclusions.
Let US take our time-so far as
Reifsnyder is concerned. Our prin-
cipal object just now is to regain
taken from the body OF poor Chan
ming. II seems clear that they were
taken by a woman. That woman
must be found with as little delay as
possible II the trail then leads to
Reifsnyde-, we will deal with him
as q confederate. It cannot be de-
MED that you secret service people,
aided by some suggestions from Rem
nison, are making d fairly strong cir
cumstantial case against him-as a
confederate. But 1t is essential that
we get the principai-this woman
who. having committed murder. has
obtained possession of q secret which
means the triumph or anuihilation Of
Seafalcon. Why do you not find
herr"
Rennison's attitude was one OF re-
spectful attention.
He was conscious OF q strange
change that had come over Hors-
ford since the meeting in the after
verge .of collapse. Now ne spoke
with restraint. AS he began to
speak. there was a suggestion of diff
fdence in his manner, but proceeding.
lie grew warmer and then con-
temptuous as he referred to their
to be addressing Towndrow. Only
once did he glance at Rennison. and
then 1T was merely for a moment.
I'VE must find the woman-quick-
ly," assented Col. Hawkshurst,i who,
as head Of the bureau Of military in
telliEence. was Rennison's immediate
superior.
Rennison's gaze fell thoushtfully
to the floor, then he turned to Capt
Merschon, who had been cycling him
fixedly.
when you gave my note to
what 1t directed him to do?" Renni-
son asked.
why, yes" Merschou answered.
rehectiveiy. He told me you had
directed him to go to the Guilfords'
reception and to shadow man who
tain kind of cane. fte explained that
you also told him that when the man
reached his destination. the place
should be watched for an hour. and
every person entering or leaving 1t
should be closely scrutinized. When
he was done, he was to report to you
here
"Reifsnyder understood he was to
meet US here at midnight?" Rennison
inquired.
Yes" answered Eawkshurst. s'If
he is guilty, it is reasonable to be-
lfeve that he would be loath to ex-
cite suspicion by remaining away.
In accordance with Mr. Horsford's Is
suggestion, we decided to await his
arrival rather than Iet bj,,, ,a+ ~-;, !