The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-07

| found Mr.. Cams and the two would
set forth for Italy within a few
! days
CHAPTER N =
Mr.. Peter Cams
Mark Brendon received with min
J gled emotions the long letter from
Jenny Doria. It awaited him at New
Scotland Yard. and. as he took it
J from the rack, his heart leaped be-
| fore the weIl-remembered handwrit-
ling.
She reminded Brendon OF his good
Will and declared how personally she
| should welcome him and feel safer
| and more sanguine for his companion
ship. She also contrived to let him
know that she was not particularly
happy.
Brendon sought the famous Ameri-
can and found his direction without
difficulty. He had already visited
New Scotland Yard. where he num-
bered Several acquaintances, and
Mark learned that he was stopping at
| the Grand Hotel in Trafalgar Square.
On sending in his name a messen-
ger boy bade Brendon follow to the
smoking romo.
His first glance, however, failed to
| indicate the great man. The smoking
room was nearly empty on this June
morning and Mark observed nobody
but a young soldier, writing letters,
and a white-haired, somewhat corpu-
lent gentleman sitting with his back
to the light reading the Times. He
was clean-shaved, with a heavy face
modelled to suggest a rhinoceros. The
| features were large; the nose swollen
/ and little veined with purple the
| eyes hidden behind owl-like spectacles
with tortoise-shell rims. and the brow
very broad. but not high. From II
abundant white hair was brushed
| straight back
Brendon extended his glance else
where, but the messenger stopped,
| turned, and departed, while the stout
man rose, revealing a massive frame,
wide shoulders, and sturdy legs.
Glad to meet you, Mr.. Brendon,"
| he said in a genial voice; then he
shook hands. took off his spectacles.
and sat down again.
This is a pleasure I had meant to
give myself before I quilted the city"
| declared the big man I've heard
about you and I've taken off my hat
| to you more than once during the
war. You might know me, too"
! Everybody in our business knows
| you, Mr.. Cams. But I've not come
hero-worshiping to waste your time.
I'm proud you're pleased to see me
and it's great privilege to meet you;
but I've looked in this morning about
something that won't wait; and your
name is the big noise in a letter 1 re-
ceived from Italy today"
i The elder stared, took golden box
out OF his waistcoat pocket, opened it.
tapped it, and helped himself to a
| pinch Of snuff. The habit explained
his somewhat misshapen nose II
was tobacco, not alcohol, that lent its
exaggerated luster and hypertrophied
outline to that organ.
Brendon produced Jenny's letter.
Peter put on his spectacIes and read
slowly. Indeed Mark had never seen
a letter read so slowly before.
AT last the American spoke.
What about you? Can you COP"
Yes; I've appealed to my chief and
got permission to pick this I'D again
MY holidays due and I'll 20 to italy
instead of Scotland. was in it from
the first, you know"
do KNOW know all about II
from my old pal. Albert Redmavne
he wrote me the most lucid dispatch
that ever read"
You can go, Mr.. Ganns?"
Brendon,' said Mr.. Cams "r,n
round and find when the night boat
sails from Dover. or FoIkestone.
wen reach Paris tomorrow morning
guess. catch the Rapide for Milan.
and be at the Lakes next day. You'll
md we can do so. Then telegram
to this dame that we start a week
hence. You take me?'
You want to get there before we're
expected?"
Exactly"
He took another pinch Of snuff
and picked up the Times. will YOU
lunch with me here in the grillroono
at 2 o'clock?"
with pleasure, adr. Cams"
Some hours later they met again
and over a steak and green peas
Brendon reported that the boat train
lett Victoria at eleven and that the
/ Rapide would start from Paris on
the following morning at half past
six.
we reach Bevano some time
after noon next day" he said, land
can either go on to Milan and then
come back to Como and travel by
boat to Menaggio, where Mr.. Red
mayne lives, or else leave the train
at Bevano. take steamer on Mag.
giore, cross to Lugano, and cross
again to Como. That way we land
right at Menaggio. There's not much
in it for time"
We'll go that way, then, and I'll
see the Lakes"
Peter Cams spoke little while he
partook of a light meal He en-
joyed the spectacle of Brendon's
hearty appetite and bewailed his in
ABILITY to join him in red meat and
| a bit of Burton
They entered the smoking room
presently and then Brendon, very