Evening star., 1923-08-02

to see who 1t was She quickly drew
| 1t in again.
TWO of the gang" she said e4-
c;tedly
! tarily.
His gang, the politicians. They've
come after him, | suppose. Wen
know in a minute"
Leaning forward in front of his
companion. Greg saw two men enter
a heavy suit case. They were incon-
| demonstrating men. soberly dress
ed, both under the average height,
one stock. one thin. They had
came to see. AS they passed back
Into the hotel they came within range
| OF the big window beside Gregs cab.
and the two could sit back and watch
them at their leisure. They pro-
ceeded TO the desk and made an in
! qufry. The clerk took down his teie-
phone receiver. After brief col
loquy over the phone. hH Nodded 70
the two men. who thereupon seated
! themselves near by.
Hes coming downstairs to them
murmured the girl.
Sure enough, Gregs former fare.
| the tall foreigner, presently stepped
out Of the elevator. He had his hat
| and overcoat on and carried yalise.
Going out again" said the girl eS-
! citedly. Going away, it seems"
| When the men met no greetings
gere exchanged; il was as II they
= had but lately parted. The three
moved away from the vicinity Of the
hotel clerk engaged in low-voiccd
! conversation. They came TO a stand
| not far from the window through
| which Greg and the girl were watch
! ing them. Here they stood talking
with guarded expressions. never
| thinking of looking out into the dark
street.
! He who carried the suit case ex.
! hibited il to the tall man, who there.
upon called the single sleepy boy or
| duty at this hour and gave instruc-
1 tions. The boy took the suit case and
! the tall mans own valise and. pro
ceeding to the entrance. summoned Il
cab: the bags We're put inside Mean
! while the three fingered moment 10
! finish their talk. The heavier OF tn"
| two newcomers took from his breast
pocket rather bulky little black
man. The latter's eyes visibiy
! CLEANED with satisfaction a. he
hastily ran over the contents. He
pocketed the book.
/ At sight OF the book startled eX
! clamation escaped from the girl be
| SIDE Greg "Why-why. that's my
uncle's book. How did they get it,
Greg marked well the look of the
| book. 1t seemed TO be a loose-leaf'
! note book with a number Of miscel-
lsneous papers of different sizes and
| colors. caught in on a patent fast
ener. 1t was somewhat long and mar
row. of a size that would just fl
mans breast pocket. and it was bound
in black seal leather.
After the transfer Of the book the.
three men started 70 move toward
I the hotel entrance.
Shall we follow" asked Greg6-
"Of course she said.
! Slipping out of his seat. he cranked
his engine in order TO be ready fnr
them. The three men got in the
waiting taxi. and 1t came on past
them bound downtown. Greg fell III
behind them but not close enough 10
excite suspicion. Down that broad
empty street one could see for half
mile.
| The girl did not speak again during
this part OF the journey. She was
staring ahead of her Under knitted
! brows; the softness was all ironed out
of the babyisl mouth and her little
hands were clenched. Greg wondered
m; ;shtly what grim thoughts could ne
nlling = creature SO sweet and deli
cate He felt that he could aid her
twice efficiently il he knew what u
was all about. but he would not FISH
a rebuff by asking again.
At SEVENTY second street the cab in
front stopped beside the subway
station and Greg slowed down while
they watched 70 See what the men
would do. The two short ment aliehted
and disappeared down the stairs. Tht
I'VE follow tbs tall man." asked
Greg: ...,,,, The others don, mat
ter"
Straight down the long empty
course or Broadway they were led a
top speed: through the mile OF auto
mobilc warerooms. now DARK. ana inc IN"
half mile of theaterS and restaurants.
where a few lights still maintained
a dfnsy Semblance of feStiTitY. in
icluding the strange blue glare OF the
I little photograph stores. which ioI
some mysterious reason keep open al
night In this quarter few revelers
| wore still TO be seen. bound more or
| less homeward, their loud and re
petitious assurances OF regard only
broken by violent quarrels: while
owl taxis like Greg's own surrepti-
tiously followed them on the chance
| of picking up business. Still they Kept
| down Broadway through the monde,
! script stretch between Herald and
! Madison squares, the Tenderloln OF
"Hs must be bound for Brooklyn"
said Greg.
But at goth street the car in
front turned to the east. Greg fol
lowed at discreet distance. On that
! dark and silent quarter greater care
was necessary If they wished TO keen
! the man in front from guessing that
| hn was followed. At Gramercy PARK
| place. and they lost ii for nome NJ
! when they cautiously turned the
| Irving place corner they saw that ~"
| other cab had come TO stop nan
wat down that short street. Even
as they looked the tan mans bags
| were carried into building on that
! side His cab went or.
I They drove slowly past the place
| modest little hotel with Spanish
name: Hotel dos Estados Unidos
| Through the windows Of the LOBBY
| they saw the tall man standing by
the desk. apparently being assigned
what does he come here for
| murmured the girl more and more
| Greg went on for a block. and
turning slowly back on the other side.
| cept for the dozing clerk behind IN"
desk. Greg brought the cab to stop
just beyond the hotel. where they
could still command an obliaue view
| OF the lobby.
! what nowo" he said
| al don't know what to say" she
murmured. II can't imagine why he
should come here TO sleep. I cam
believe that he does mean to sleer
here ] believe he'll be out again.
| Let's walt and see
They continued to discuss the situ-
| alton. a discussion with little pront
as far as GREG was CONCERNED. for he
lacked clue. The burden of her cry
was:
"ff only / knew what he was ar
Ito"
| BY ana by another cab drew up 70
| the little hotel and man and woman
got out. innocent, belated travellers
| these. who have nothing TO do with
the story. but the sight of them gave
| Greg an idea.
| Il might slip into the lobby while
Y "a * S,,ts, a. 4, AaiI