The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-13


three quarters of an hour?"
II shall be very glad of your help, sir"
was the quiet reply.
The dinner in the grill-room was a rather
dull meal. Sara was several times on the
verge of tears, and her father, although
fully sympathetic, was inclined at times to
let his attention wander little.
at seems positively hateful" the former
declared, ''to think that should be up here
dining alone with you, and George, who has
been away from me for months, is dining
with another woman! Of course l am sorry
that the letter was stolen from him, but
I'm sure he tok every care of it. don't see
what he can possibly do now toward getting
it back"
cts hard luck" Mr.. Cray murmured
soothingly, "but 1 guess you've got to re-
member this, Sara; in diplomacy and all
intelligence business, judgment goes only
by results. George was intrusted with that
letter, and it was stolen from him. The
fault might not have been his. On the other
hand, if he don't get it back again, the black
marks there"
81 call it unfair Sara protested. 'He
so successful with all the rest of his
business. They ought to take that into ac-
count"
''Well soon fix it up all right" Mr.. Cray
promised.
Sara sighed.
81 know how clever you are, Dad" she
said, "but l really don't see what you can
dc here
'What should like to do Mr.. Cray re-
marked thoughtfully, "is to turn a slight
disaster into an absolute triumph. Blanche
Weller, Ell? Well, well! The wife of
Jacob N. Weller of Cincinnati, eh?"
'Do you know something about her, Dad?
Have you ever seen her before?" Sara in
quired.
Mr.. Cray smiled mysteriously.
81 think know as much about the lady
as our friend Mr.. King" he said. 81 was
at Amiens when she was in charge of a
French field hospital. She was asked to
leave, the day after she arrived-no excuse,
S1ot word of explanation, just her railway
pass to Paris, and hint. She simply faded
away, l knew her before that, though. l
remember when she had what they call
salon in Washington, some eight years ago."
''You really are rather wonderful per-
son." Sara observed.
Nothing wonderful about it," Mr.. Cray
replied modestly. 81 have good memory,
and l never forget face"
Sara sighed as her father paid the bill.
"Well, l suppose I'd better go home,"
she said "Will you put me in taxi, Dad,
and let me know as soon as there's any
news?"
"Sure!" Mr.. Cray promised. "Ill tele-
phone"
Mr.. Cray found his new friend studying
the tape of the newsletter in the upper
hall.
'sSay, I'd like to be presented to this Mrs.
Weller" the former said, after they had
stood side by side for several moments, both
apparently deeply interested by the news.
Mr.. King shook his head. II am keeping
under cover" he replied.
"Sha'nt be butting in,'' Mr.. Cray asked,
eff l find my own way there?"
Mr.. King considered the point for a mo-
ment.
"Not at ALL" he decided. "You're Sir
Georges father-in-law. Quite natural. for
you to speak to him."
Whereupon Mr.. Cray descended into the
foyer, and after glancing around for a mo-
ment as though in search of some one, ap-
preached Sir. George. His right hand was
held out in cordial recognition to Mrs. Wiel-
ler She looked up at him pleasantly but
evidently puzzled.
George, my boy, glad to see you safely
back again." Mr.. Cray said. "And-sure-
ly I'm not mistaken-aren't you Mrs. Jacob