Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-26

You are ITlP CIedIlSSG HldAl
that 1 have ever met she told MN
necessarily. Your Kisses are IKE 9
brothers.! If had only found you 10
wears ago, I was is then and had
no brothers" ,,,-
Her excuse for returning to the villa
Sabine after these adventures was al
ways that she was afraid of Ahlborg-
and Dichton was glad she was afraid
He was relieved, too, that she regarded
him as lover with brotherly QUANTITIES
In this, at least, she was consistent:
HIS introduction to the inventor had
constituted almost breach OF their
S Thrce nights after the incident in
the recess at the foot of the cliff she
had brought Ahlborg up to him IN the
dance hall.
karl" she said. Il want you to
know this gentleman. A thlet at
tackled me IN the gardens the otner
night. threatened me with a revolver
and attempted TO steal my rings. MT
Dighton came to my rescue and drove
him off"
The next moment Dighton was on
his feet. flushed and little confused
returning the pressure Of the other's
enormous fingers.
II am obliged to you, Mr. Dighton:
A thief, Ell? 1t is the first l heard
The adventurer spread out his hands.
ut was nothing, I assure you. l mao
just crossed from the hotel. I'm stay
ing there for a few weeks, you know.
There was absolutely no bother. The
fellow made off as came up"
Mafalda had put him in an embar-
raising position, but she had achieved
her purpose The introduction was
made and they were free to dance to-
gether. Al1lborg, besides, was disposed
to be friendly. The thing was panning
out like clockwors, and yet Dighton
was annoyed with Mafalda for refer
ring in any way to an incident which
he had hoped was closed.
The lack of men, his proweSs at
dancing. combined with the departure
of Mile. Rollins and her companion for
San Reno, roped him in whole most
of fresh acquaintance.
He had nodding acquaintance with
q princess from the Balkans, a TREND
ship with an aged contessa from Rome
and a charming leader<of local society
who organized bridge parties and the
dansantS. If he had been on holiday
and as unattached as when Corlltt had
crcss-exanlined him In his office, he
would have enjoyed himself thoroughly.
As it was he joined in these festivities
with mixed feelings.
The storm that was brewing around
the Villa Sabine would have to burst
some time. Whenever and however 1t
came there was bound to be a SEN
sation, and ne wondered in what light
these people would regard him when
he had gone.
Toward the end of his second week
something happened that was more
disturbing than his fears for the future
or Mafalda's passionate advances.
Marney had returned at last. He
had seen him seated at table outside
a cafe in the center of the town, sip
ping cognac and soda and talking to
an italian. Marney had looked at him,
but shown no sign of recognition. His
look was good enough for Dighton. He
planned to call on him that night with
the weapon he had recaptured from the
Lizard.
He did not go back to the hotel at
once. One of those many appoint
ments with Mafalda kept him out until
It was time to dress for dinner
He spent the day in q state of sup
pressed excitement. He was looking
forward to a chat with Marney, the
only person in italy to whom he could
unburden his SOUL He would tell him
how the lone game was progressing
about Mafalda and Ahlborg, and 6is-
cuss the possibilities of an invasion OF
the scientists laboratories .Marney
would have news for him, fresh instruc-
tons, fresh theories. They would
smoke and yarn and, out of it all, he
would find something that would give
him renewed enthusiasm for his work
AS soon as the meal was over he
changed into suit of tweedS, drawing
over it the waterproof he had worn In
Paris after the incident in the Rue de;
Acacias. Residents of the Via Emilia
did not run to evening dress and he
had no desire to appear conspicuous.
His last act before leaving was tc
unlock the suit case in which he had
placed the Pocket Death
He knew exactly the position in the
case in which he had put it. had looked
in a dozen times at least since 1t hac
come into his possession to assure him.
self 1t was still there. He lifted the lid
bare six inches and thrust in hi:
hand
His fingers touched nothing but the
bare lining
Gripped by sudden sensation Of
loss, that sent a cold feeling creeping
down his spine and brought the per.
spiration onto his forehead in little
fullest extent
The pistol was gone!
Through misted eyes he saw pail
OF shoe trees repoSing in a corner a
the back. Continental time table, al
odd coathanger-and a fiat green dis
to show that the Lizard had been. H..
He staggered back to the bed, cn'
hand to his brow.
1t was incredible g. inconceivable
-. He had seen him drowning-ther
yet here was irrefUtabie evidence tina
made him doubt the testimony of hi
own eyesi
He embarked upon hurried exam
nation of the room.
Nothing had been disturbed. Their
was no sign that any one had beef
there-and yet the case had been un
locked and rihed and locked again
Corlitt'S grim warning drifted back u
him.
You will be playing agains
people infinitely more clever than your
self"
He had played with vengeance
and the Lizard had beaten him al
hands down.
his woes in that shabby parlor behin
she greengrocer's shop with it's deartl
or comfortable furniture and array O
Photographic engagements of the green
grocer's ancestors, was inclined to TAX
this latest development philosophicallS
You're doing fine" was his com
feent. you've covered lot of valuabl