Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-26

lice float to find the three Scot
land Yard men awaiting him.
~ II don't know what we can do"
said the chief, after he had fin
ished his narrative. "A search warrant
would probably reveal nothing. We
can't connect this ship with the india
rubber men. She's registered at Rio
and sails under the Brazilian flag. I'm
getting her checked up; probably the
report will be ready when we get back
to the Yard"
It was thorough report that the
clerical department had prepared. The
Seal of Troy, once unit in the Seal
Line, had been purchased by Bra
lillian named DumareZ 10 years before.
She had certainly been in London, and
in New York, when the india rubber
men had been active, but many crimes
attributed to this gang had been COM
mitted when she was thousands OF miles
from the scene.
However, one thing was proved.
Though she might be on the other side
of the Atlantic when a crime bearing
the mark of the india rubber men was
committed within reach of Marseille,
she invariably called at Marseille within
two months of the robbery"
AL that night the police kept the
khip under observation, and, when Lord
Einiford landed in the morning he was
Swallowed back to his fat in st. James
street.
At 3 o'clock In the afternoon the ship
went slowly down river. AT Gravesend
it was boarded by a medical officer.
Information had come from London,
the officer said, that there was a Sus-
pected case of infectious disease on
board, and he was not satisfied until he
had made a scrutiny of all reachable
parts Of the ship. Capt. Aikness ac-
companied him to the companionway
and nodded a grim farewell
I'm afraid you won't have very
much to tell Scotland Yard" he said,
and the medical officer" smiled cryp-
tically.
On the fourth day after her departure
John Wade received a radio message
from the ship.
when come back to London, I
would like to have a little talk with
you. AIKNESS."
THAT tells me lot" said John
Wade. What an artist"
But he did not explain his meaning.
Instead, he decided to call on Lila Smith
at the Mecca He found the place very
quiet There was no sign of Golly, no
sound of NUNS" strident voice. He
waited a while and then new servant
appeared.
Lila about?" asked Wade.
The girl looked at him suspiciously.
Miss Lila's upstairs" she said
Miss Lilal Nobody had ever called
her that.
viii you ask her to come down?
Where is Mrs. Oaks?"
Il don't know I'm not supposed to
talk to anybody. Mrs. Oaks said I
wasn't. Are you Mr. Wade?"
John Wade nodded
wait a minute" said the girl, and
went out.
John Wade waited more than a min
ute before Lila came. Then he stared |
in establishment. No longer was she |
the down-at-heel mental: Cinderella
was remarkably well dressed and shod.
@Hullo, Lila" he began, but stopped
when he saw that she had been weep
ing.
Don't stay, pleased" she said in a
low voice. Mrs. Oaks is out. I'm hav-
ing very nice time and I'm going to
school to learn French and German"
She said this quickly, almost me-
chemically. He had the impression that
she was repeating lesson.
"Where?" he asked.
ct don't know think in France.
Mum made me promise I wouldn't tell
you, but had to. I told the girl to
let me know when you came. You saw
me the other night?"
He nodded Lila, what is it all
about? Who is Mr.. BROWNE"
She shook her head
Il don't know. Mrs. Oaks says he's q
relative
John Wade thought quickly.
'Is it possible to see you alone? II I
came up one night to the wharf"
moi" She was almost frantic in her
refusal. you mustn't come here at
night"
Can you come to see me7 Do you
know where I liye?"
"Yes." She looked him straight in the
eye. I'm little house that stands
by itself. You can get into the house
over the fat roof Of the kitchen, and
there's an old well at the end OF the
garden"