Evening star., 1925-11-09
The Double Cross
BY A. E. THOMAS
Mystery Story Of Dramatic Power.
by Mead& &
Copyright. 1928. by Dodd. Mead Co

| phone. But as he did So quiet voice
was heard to say, what is this?"
Startled, the little group turned as
one. The Swami, clad in his custom
airy robes. stood in the doorway.
| by CAD, it's the Swami" cried
| Waterman. Come in, sir. We had
| forgotten all about you. / suppose
we woke you up with all this tempest
| in a teapot"
| ''No-no-' he said quietly. II was
awakened from a dreamless sleep by Il
sense of trouble. Then something led
me here
! He walked slowly to the center of
the room and looked about the startled
| group.
"Ah-it's Mr.. Stanley. is it not? He
| is not here
Yes, SIR" Wilson informed him.
Mr.. Stanley has disappeared.
"Ah?"
1--WE have every reason to fear foul
play"
Foul play?"
Yes. sir. murder"
The faintest possible smile fiickered
over the Swamis face. But you look
so shocked" he said mildly. "It is
amusing. If, as you say, Mr.. Stanley
has been murdered he has but passed
to another cycle, where perhaps he
will be happier than here. He was
my friend and his heart was clean"
The Swami's ear caught the ghost
of a sob. He turned to Doris-she
had covered her face with her hands
"Ah. my child" he said. you suffer.
Do mott beg you. 1t would grieve
him" He laid his hand lightly upon
her shoulder.
II don't know anything about
cycles" said Wilson with startling
distinctness, but I'm going to call
the police" Again he started for the
telephone.
Wait" said the Swami with quiet
swiftness. Later. perhaps, you shall
summon those imbeciles. But not
| now" And after a little pause he
went on. You have questioned the
domestics?"
NO, sir, not yet"
The Swami sat down. do so,' he
said.
Wilson turned to the maids Ann =
he said, when did you see Mr.. Stan.
ley LAST"
About 6 o'clock. sir" replied the
maid, ''as he was passing through the
hall"
"Saraho"
Just before dinner, sir, as he was
leaving his bedroom"
Bridget"
Sure, I didn't see him today at all,
at all. l been in the kitchen all day
What in the name of all the saints
| would l be KNOWN about"
Hush, hush. hush murmured vii.
son. Mrs. Burkett?''
Il haven't seen him since the mid
die of the afternoon" replied the
housekeeper. when I looked out the
window and saw him playing with
Henry Cabot"
Henry Cabot?" inquired the Swami.
puzzled.
That's the cat, sir"
How do you happen TO be fully
dressed at this hour of the night?"
| inquired Wilson.
Il fell asleep in my chair and slept
till you come knockin' on the door"
! Wilson TUNED to the butler.
''Jefferson"
II saw Mr.. Stanley last, sir re-
piled the butler, when 1 fetched a
after dinner"
You locked up, as usual?"
Yes, sir, about 10 o'clock. And
then l went to bed
Wilson turned to the Swami. DO
you wish to question them further"
The Swami did not answer him but
turned to the chauffeur.
And you?"
well, sir answered O'Hara
mfr. Stanley sends for me about 10
o'clock and says he wants me to sit
up. He's going to have some letters
for me to mail. So 1 gets busy around
the garage, and about midnight Mr..
Wilson rings me up on the house
! phone and say will I come in"
How did you get in?' demanded
| Wilson.
| 'I got a key to the kitchen door"
The Swami raised his hand.
| Let them CO." he said; they know
| nothing"
Jefferson, O'Hara, wait in the hall,