Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-15
fcontinued FROM Yesterday,s Star,
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
~ ICK SHANNON returned to his
fiat at 4 O'Clock in the morn
ing, having escorted Lacy
~ Marshall back to his house and
witnessed the embarrassment
of Mr.. Stanford at the sudden appari-
ton.
He found two men in his sitting room,
one a Sleepy-eyed but logged William.
the other
why, Mr.. Torrington, you're the last
person in the world expected to see!''
The man was changed, his tone of
light banter had gone. Dick recognized
this the moment he spoke.
II want to see you pretty badly. MY
daughter has disappeared"
"Your-?"
my daughter-Audrey. You didn't
know that she was my girl? I can't
go into the story now, but Audrey Bed
ford is Audrey Torrington, the child OF
by second wife"
Dick was looking at him through a
haze.
nm dumfounded," he said. Audrey
she has disappeared, you say? But
she has been staying at your hotelf"
"She went out last night and didn't
come back. let her go out because I
had arranged to meet Martin Elton,
who had something to tell me-Some-
thing which I knew and something
which I guessed"
Briefly he narrated all that had
passed at the interview with Martin.
Unfortunately for him, knew all
the facts and guessed what he was driv-
ing at before he'd finished and I left
orders that Audrey should be told
wanted to see her when she returned.
At / o'clock she had not come in: at
midnight, when sent to inquire, think
ing she might have gone to a dance,
she was still out. knowing that young
girls nowadays keep up until all hours
I wasn't alarmed till o'clock came and
! then 2. Then I communicated with
headquarters; they told me you were
out and that you would be notified as
soon as you returned. I couldn't wait
any longer, so 1 came here"
where did she go?" asked Dick.
Mr.. Torrington shook his head.
"I don't know. She merely said she
was going out; she told nobody where.
haven't, of course, searched her room
Il didn't want to take that course until
was sure"
| "We'l search 1t now, said Dick, and
drove him back to the hotel.
The night porter who opened the door
to them had no news.
1.-THE young lady hasn't come back
yet, SIR" he reported.
! He took them up in the elevator to
her room and opened the door for them
| The bed had not been slept in. Her
night dress had been laid across the
turned-down sheet; glass Of milk
stood on the side table. He saw a well
known writing case by its side and this
he opened, examining the letters quick
| ~. There was none which gave him
! the slightest hint of her destination
until he saw in the microscopic waste
paper basket with which hotels supply
their guests the torn-up fragments of
letter. Tipping the basket up on the
table, he began to put the pieces to-
gether.
This is from Mrs. Elton; it was
written today"
Presently he had It complete. It was
note telling her to come early, and
there was a significant p. s.
please burn this letter. I hate TO
think that my letters are lying around,
especially IN a hotel, where everybody
sees them"
II will see Elton. You needn't come.
Mr.. Torrington," said Dick quietly.
The old man demurred, but presently
saw the wisdom Of this course and left
Dick to go alone.
The Elton house was in darkness, but
he had not to wait long before he saw
light appear in the passage. It was
gown and might have Just come out OF
bed but for the tell-tale evidence OF
cigar ash on the front of the gown.
| "Hullo, Shannon! Come in. You're
rather an early caller" he said as he
closed the door.
rs your wife up?"
II don't know-I1l see. Do you want
her?"
II want you BOTH" said Dick.
! When a police officer speaks In the
| tone that Dick Shannon employed there
is very little ultimate profit in argu-
! ment.
Dora came down in a negligee within
few minutes of his arrival.
do you wish to see me, Capt. Shan
non?"
IT want Dorothy Audrey Torrington, .
he said.
1T don't" she began.
"You know what mean, Of course
Now listen, Mrs. Elton. Your sister
! came here to dinner at your invitation
You sent her letter which you asked
| her to burn up, but which she did not
| burn but tore up. She arrived at this
house somewhere about o'clock" And
then, as thought struck him, Let me
| see your maid"
my dear Capt. Shannon, what use
can the maid be? I will tell you all ]
know. don't want the servants
| brought into this" said Dora tartly.
go and bring her down."
Martin went upstairs to the top floor
Of the house, knocked at the door and
was almost staggered when the door
| opened Immediately and the maid came
out, fully dressed and wearing an over.
coat.
What the-?" he began, and she
| laughed.
What do you want, Mr.. Elton?"
/ Capt. Shannon wishes to speak to
you," said Martin, recovering from his
surprise. "He is inquiring about
madam's sister. You know, she dined
here tonight and you'd better tell Shan
non that you were here all the time
and you remember her going"
She made no reply.
Here is the girl" he said as h.
| Ir