Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-17

! Square, Tor she was saving young
| woman who knew the value OF even
| twopence. But these circumstances
were anything but ordinary, and
| Beatrice chartered a taXicab and in
| structed it's driver to set her down at
the corner of ST. James Square. In due
| time she was set down close by the
Army and Navy, and after remunerat-
| ing her driver, turned toward that eX'
| elusive establishment.
The janitors within the portals of
| the Army and Navy felt unusual sur
prise and something almost approach
ing emotion when a very well
young woman, very quiet and self
assured, descended upon their gran
deur and asked in modest but firm
| fashion. if she could see Capt. Mervyn,
of the 22lst Lancers.
capt. Mervyn?" said one. UNI
I haven't seen the captain for two or
three weeks. Where's the 221st quar-
tered now"
"Aldershotw replied the other func-
| tionary. But Capt. Mervyn's on the
northumberland or somewhere
been away for a fortnight. He was
! in the club the morning he left"
Capt. Mervyn returned to England
last night" remarked Beatrice. Il
saw him. at Wychport. just after he
landed. That's why I want to see him
again-on very important business"
The two janitors inspected her
again and made another inspection Of
| each other.
well. he's not been in here today,
miss" said one. THAT is. as yet.
But if he's in town he will be coming
| in. And, of course. If you saw him
last night. he's in England again, and
for him England means London or
SAldershot
He came to London this morning
by the 1920" said Beatrice. DO you
know where he lives when he's in
London"
"Um" admitted one of the janitors.
II debut it's against all rules to
give addresses. But" he added. see
ing Beatrice TO be disappointed. 'if he
is in town. he'll be in here by 5
o'clock, safe as houses. If you leave O.
message
No" answered Beatrice. the bust
ness is very important-for him. I'll
lall again. In the meantime | shall
go and get some tea"
She had tripped off before the func-
tionaries could say another word.
x x Il
IN leaving the Army and Navy she
~ turned along Pail Mall intending
L
knew of a place at which afternoon
tea was procurable under refined sur
roundings And she had just adj
vanced as far as the corner when she
suddenly caught sight OF the man she
wanted. Having the trick OF remem-
bering faces, Beatrice knew him
again at once, though he was now
attired in the height of fashion and
wore the glossiest of silk hats, the
shiniest of patent leather boots, and
looked a very grand parsonage indeed.
He was crossing the roadway from the
direction of Cleveland Row. and Bea-
trice, waiting for him on her side of
the street, planted herself directly in
his path and looked at him out of her
violet-tinted eyes. He gave mighty
start.
Good heavens" he exclaimed, in
stinctively raising his magnificent hat
THE little chambermaid. What on
earth brings you here. young LADY,
Beatrice produced the card which
she had found on the dressing table
of 81.
81 came to find you, sir" she an
swered. II have just called at your
club. You were not in. They
thought you might be in about .
o'clock. So I was going 10 call
again"
The cause of Beatrice's journey.
now leaning both hands on the han
die of his carefully rolled umbrella
and bending toward her from his
considerable height, looked more n1ys-
tilted than she had ever seen man
look in his life. Yet already there
was the birth of a whimsical smile
about his lips and the carefully
brushed moustache was beginning to
CULVER.
'But-why?" he said. What
what's it all about?"
TT is all about that gentleman, sir.
who come in with you to the hotel
early this morning" replied Beatrice.
He awoke at II o'clock to discover
that he had been robbed"
Capt. Mervyn gave another mighty
start-almost a jump.
NO" he exclaimed. his voice al
most rising to a shout. "Nhat-of
his diamonds"
Yes. sir assented Beatrice.
Thirty thousand pounds worth.
after drugging him. And he has a
detective at work, and
Needless of whoever might be
looking en-, Capt. Mervyn interrupted
Beatrice with a burst of laughter
which made her jump. Just as sud
denly as 1t rose, it died away, and,
laying a hand on the girls shoulder.
he turned her around toward St.
James street.
Come along up here" he said.
You shall have some tea and tell me
all about 1t. Now, this is really the
very biggest lark 1 ever heard of
This way
In the quietest little corner OF a
smart little teashop Beatrice care
fully narrated the doings of that
morning at the Grand Harbour Hotel.
, Her companion found it hard work to
restrain his laughter. Evidently. the
adventure was one which suited his
sense of humor. But when Beatrice
had made an end. even down to the
last detail, his whimsical face became
grave and business-like.
Now. you listen to me, young
lady," he said. II dare say you know
the old proverb-that it's an Ill wind
that blows nobody any good? Very
well, this little affair is going to dc
you some good. First of all, are you
certain-absolutely certain-that thi
Dutch chap is going to make good his
offer Of $500 reward? Because that's
highly important, in view of what
I'm going to tell you"
1.-The detective said so. SIR" said
Beatrice. And 1 heard the foreign
gentleman promise it to the man
ager, and, more than that, the news
was all over the hotel before I left,
and a typewriter notice, mentioning
the $500, had been put upon the no.
tice board
Good exclaimed Capt. Mervyn
Excellent! Very well, now you lis
ten very carefully to what I'm about
| to tell you"
He bent forward across the little
tea table and began to whisper, In
terrupting his story now and Their
with suppressed laughter. And