, 1924-07-09
by %CRITTENDEN MARRIOTT

ther!" she cried. whats it all
about?"
Archman half paused. 81 can't talk
now. Bess.' he answered, as he passed.
ASK Akin. He's just behind. Or ask
Nellie. She'll want you to help her
pack, anyway. Where's Harry?''
Bess clutched at her head. Help
Nellie to pack! !" she echoed. Good
gracious! Harry isn't home. He went
out just after you did"
Archman's brows darkened. 81
guessed as much" he growled. Tell
your mother l want to see her in five
minutes. And help Nellie to get
ready" He passed on up the stairs.
Bess started after him. Then she
ran to seek her mother and deliver
the message. This done. she raced up
he stairs to Nellie's room.
Meanwhile Archman had hurried
into his office and sat down at his
desk. He jerked the telephone toward
him. Long distance" he ordered
CURLY. Give me New York-Des-
brosses. 5s641. Quick. CENTRAL"
A moment later the phone tinkled
and he picked 1t up. Hello! Is this
Captain Bunker? Good! Do you
know my voice, captain? Hushl No
names. This phone may leak. It's
leaked once tonight already, or it's
got the credit Of 1t. When can you
put to sea? Yesl l know you need
coal and stores and all that. What
| want to know is the earliest posi-
BILE moment you can be ready for a
W th~ousand-mile trip. Five days
Five days! On! Oh, very we'll If
you can't you can't. Now listen. I'll
be at your house some time before
morning. Wait up for me. I'll give
you instructions then. Understand?
All right. Make no mistake. That's
all"
Archman Slammed the receiver back
Come i'm he ordered irascibly.
Come in, Martha" he called. ~
want TO talk to you. The summons
has come at last"
What"
YES! It's come at last. IT didn't
reach me. The messenger was muir
dered and his papers have been stolen.
But I've had warnings. and a
guess what he wanted to say. I've got
10 start at once"
Mrs. Archman paled. Murdered! I"
she gasped. "will you be in danger?-
Archman jerked his shoulders impa-
tiently. 'Of course not" he rasped.
Now, Martha. don't you go to worry
ing. Everything will be all right"
But where are you going?"
81 can't tell you. It's not my secret"
But when will you be back?"
Il don't know. ! may go to Argen-
tina first. I'll try to keep you in
formed as TO my movements, but you
mustn't worry II I fail to do SO. /
may take Nellie on with me or send
her back"
"Nelliel You're taking NellieT"
Archman's eyes widened. "Yesl I
thought you understood. It's for Nell
lie that I'm going"
Mrs. Archman's pleasant face grew
paler. you've never explained about
Nellie" she began.
"rve explained all that I could or
can. The secret isn't mine. When /
brought the child home ! told you that
It was only for a time-that some day
she would be required OF us. The
times been slow in coming, but it's
come at last"
But why tonight Can't you wait
till tomorrow"
ss-N,,,nrrnN- will hn ton tata Two
got TO try to outrun the thieves who
stole that paper. I'm going south by
railroad and on by any means that
ofrer. I can't tell you how. The FL
Rio will follow as quickly as II can
probably in FIVE days. Get Nellie's
trunks packed and send them on
board. ! don't know whether ! will
come back myself or go on to Argen-
tina. I don't know anything except
that I must get Nellie away before the
thieves have time to watch and fol-
low us"
But who are the thievesT"
81 can't tell you. That Is. ! can't
tell you who is behind the thing, though
I guess. know the actual thief. It's
that Grant woman"
"Whof'
AN actress who calls herself Edith
Grant. She's shared Harry"
Harry! My Harry"
"Yesl Your Harry" Archman
spoke grlmly. II don't blame the boy
very much. They chose their agent
well. Morbach died in her house. Har.
rvs mad about her. That's what l
was talking to him about tonight"
"He-he isn't planning to marry her,
Is hei"
Maybe he IL. But you can bet your
Inst dollar that she isn't planning TO
marry him. Not Don't worry about
that. She'll drop him when she gets
through with him. And. after all. the
quickest way TO cure n fool Is TO give
him his head"
Ntrs Arehmnn I'D NOT nurSup the