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


of Cincinnati
"And why is she dining alone with my
husband?"
Mr. King smiled inscrutably.
Gwen the most successful secret-ser-
vice agents in the world" he said, "have
their weak point. Mr.. Weller, although she
must be forty years old, preserves a roman
tic disposition. From my inquiries on the
ship, l learned that she has pursued your
husband with attentions from the day the
steamer left Sandy Hook, attentions which
l might add were obviously undesired. 1t
was my advice at once that your husband
should not lose sight of the lady. 1 may tell
you that while he engages her attention at
the dinner her rooms are being thoroughly
searched by our agents"
'Say, this affair becomes interesting!"
Mr.. Cray declared, his natural instincts as
sorting themselves. 81 guess you are sat
isfide, now, Sara?"
81 suppose so,' his daughter admitted,
with shade of doubt
''Lets just have a word or two more
about this matter" Mr.. Cray went on.
Searching the lady's rooms is all very
we'll; but couldn't she have sent the letter
away somewhere?'
cit is impossible that she should have
parted with it," Mr.. King pronounced. II
myself left the steamer by her side; l trav.
eled in the same compartment from Liv-
erpool; l did not move yard away from
her on Euston platform; Sir George escort
ed her here in a taxicab, from which l
l,oI l.,l,@ Al
hall of the Milan, and went up on the lift
with her to her room. Since then she has
been surrounded by Gordon of our best
agents She has posted three absolutely
harmless letters to personal friends, each
Of which has been read"
''What about her person?" Mr.. Cray
demanded. "Surely she would carry
about with her letter as important as
that"
can agent of ours" Mr.. King explained,
Eat once took the place of the chambermaid
on her floor, and has rendered her, since
her arrival, the most intimate personal SER
vices. The letter is not concealed upon her
person"
"How large thing is it?" Mr.. Cray
inquired.
at is a bulky document" Mr. King re-
piled. 'There are eighteen pages of or
binary letter paper Enclosed in long en-
velope. 1t is altogether packet of some
size
"The stewardess on the ship" Mr.. Cray
began.
Mr.. King smiled.
eve make our mistakes" he interrupted,
"but in our way we are thorough Every
person with whom she came into contact
during the last day of her voyage has been
dealt with. Excuse me for a moment"
Mr.. King sauntered across the foyer to
where recently arrived prototype of HIM
self had lighted a cigarette. There was a
few minutes casual conversation between
the two men, after which Mr.. King re-
turned
"The search of Blanche Wiellers room,"
he announced, "has revealed nothing.
think under the circumstances, Lady Sit
tingbourne, disappointing though it may be
to you, the best thing you can do is to re-
turn home. We will send your husband
after you as soon as we can spare him."
Sara made little grimace.
81 don't see what good he can do if your
agents have failed to discover the docu-
ment," she observed, rising reluctantly to
her feet; "and in any case 1 haven't had
any dinner yet"
Mr. Cray took his daughter by the arm.
''We1l go straight into the grill-room
and have bite Sara. Afterward, if
could have word with you, Mr.. King, I'd
be glad" he went on. 81 am naturally in
terested in this affair, and it is just pos