Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23

she followed me. j ungereu upon Tie
threshold. listening. and. treasured to
| reigned in the house. I closed
the door. She stood for a moment
looking around the room. Then
she walked to the window and drew the
curtain a little closer. Afterwards she
tried the catch of the outer door and
finally made her way to my easy-chair.
into which she sank with a slight ges-
ture of relief. and sat gazing at me with
! almost disconcerting intentness
You are wondering, Of course, Maj.
| Owston," she remarked, why tried
to persuade you to go away. I simply
| followed out my uncle's instructions.
He wished to test your tenacity of pur-
pose and your intelligence. A mean
action, of course. My uncle believes
that the end justifies the means, and
we who live with him have to think as
he does"
yet" I ventured, you seem to me
to have a will of your own
! 81 have" she admitted dryly, but it
is in subsection to a much stronger
one"
There was brief silence. Then my
companion, who had been looking
steadily into the fire, turned toward me
and disclosed the reason of her visit.
My uncle" she confided docs not
l
mercenary in connection with your
engagement here. In other words, he
does not want you to be forced into a
desperate position without some idea
Of what you are fighting for. You must
have questions you wish to ask"
| II certainly have" confessed. 81
really have only the vaguest idea as to
/ what 1t is all about. Are we expecting
raid upon the place with the object
l
what do they exist for, anyhow, these
bands Of criminals? How does Mr..
Martin Hews happen to be connected
with them?"
"That is one of the things must
explain" she said. You have prob
ably read Of rival gangs who are sup
posed to frequent race courses and
affairs, bogus bookmaking and that sort
Of thing"
Certainly have read of them," ]
acknowledged.
These gangs are composed not OF
mere desperadoes and pickpockets. but
of really organized criminals who are "a
serious menace to the police. Their
race course activities are mostly bluff
From their headquarters have beer
planned all the great burglaries of re-
cent days, the counterfeit money ex.
ploits, the holding up of banks, anc
even murders, both here and on the
Continent. Donkin was the nomina
head Of one band, Joseph of the other
My uncle'S sympathies and interests
have always lain with Donkin-unfor.
tunately. as it seems at present. Don.
kin was under my uncle's protection
for services rendered, you might say
which accounts for this afternoons ex-
plot. He was holding his own against
Joseph, but as usual these men mus
complicate everything by their ridicu.
lous love affairs. Owing to his infatua.
ton, Donkin has become q fugitive
his gang, of course, would be useles.
without him-and Joseph, we under.
stand, at some time or other during the
near future, means to risk his security
and the security of his adherents BY
pose of recovering the girl. You have
a vague idea of the situation now?"
"a vague idea" I admitted
What should like to under.
stand. though. is this. What is the
precise consideration your uncle ha.
received as return for his support
to Donkins gang Of criminals?"
Yes, imagined you would ask
that" she observed throughtfully. "l
am not sure that can entirely satisfy
fyour curiosity. I might tell you a.
much as this though. My uncle is ont
Of the most famous collectors of ar
treasures in the world. There are many
that are not for sale. Sometimes they
come into the hands of thieves by H.
legal methods. They have to be SOLE
to someone. My uncle buys then
through an agent. without asking in
convenient questions. There are pic
lures. for instance, in his gallery, TO
which he has paid-not their value
/ perhaps, but a great deal-tlat woui,
never have been parted with by tllei
! owners voluntarily, That is all cal
r tell you for the moment, Mai. Owston,
Il want to ask you another question
/ though" said. Don't look upon It a
a sign OF cowardice. 1t Is simply ;
, knows that there is going to be an at
: tack upon the house for the purpos
E Of carrying off that young woman, VIII
S doesn't he inform the police?"
;, You're terribly logical" she re
, marked. "The police will be sum
8 moned II 1t becomes absolutely neces
sary. but only as q last resource. ]
= has been matter of etiquette between
z both gangs to fight their Quarrels on
4 suppose my uncle Is obeying a pre-
d cedent. There have been many fights.
/, she added, after a moments pause
between these men, and the plans @
h the attacking party have often leake
!, out, but neither side yet has ever ap
S pealed to the police. It is slight
= different now, Of course, and at tn
y proper moment the authorities will b
d summoned"
must have seemed to her almos
z stupidity obstinate, but felt that sh
e was not giving me her whole conf
dence.
y at can't see," I persisted, "why W
n shouldn't just ring up the police static
e and give them an idea Of what
20 likely to happen"
she half closed her eyes. She ha