Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07

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ouiries. This Is very I'M
pleasant. I have seen the manager
himself. He assures me that Miss
Essiter has not returned. What can
we do7"
him. "Of course, 1t was chiefly my fauiC
for leaving her alone, but It was you
who put her into the taxi and sent ner
back here"
Leopold declared. I'VE are equally IN
volved in this matter-no' VIII noO say
equally. I offered my escort TO the
Young lady, and she refused It. nay
share of the blame is small, but stu
II was I who invited you to the CLUB.
we must put our heads together. MISS
Essiter is, I am sure, Q charming young
ladv. and she undoubtedly has large
number of friends. Perhaps she mas
gone to one of them"
quite possible" I admitted.
"Under those circumstances. sug-
cest that we give the young LADY q
chance before we create q scanoal'
Give her. at any rate, until this even
ing. IT, at the end OF that time, noun
ing has been heard of her, VIII see
that scotland Yard is informed, and
vor can 20 down and interview her
"You don't think we ought to let the
nolice know at once?" I asked duol-
II should give her another hour or
two" Mr.. Leopold urged.
I rose reluctantly. hated 10 leaVe
Mr. Ieopold. but I felt that l nao
reached almost the limit Of my enour-
ance. -, L,-, "r,u
leave the matter In your nanos' sn
ri wait for a time before l go down
IN Breezeley. Can I see you anywhere
this evening, in case you nave any
Certainly, my lad" was the cordial
rsrIv 'I'Yn sorry about last night,
hut It can't be helped. Don't worry
about 1t too much. I'll see you tonlgnt
with pleasure. Where am dining
now? Can't remember. Anyway, WI
YOU come to my rooms-numoer "a;
Berkeley street-and have cocktan
do?" -. ?
VERY well indeed, thank you," !
assured him. +" 1'll be there"
walked dejectedly towards the exit;
IJaIf wav there, however, Mr.. Leopold
recalled me. He was fumbling in the
pocket of his overcoat. 49,
-"I say, you didn't notice letter
living on the floor or on my chair when
went to the once, did you?" ne asked.
ct am afraid I'm not In the nurnor
to notice anything this morning /
regretted.
He frowned. His little black eyes
looked slantwise into, mine.
Nothing important, / nope?
He shook his head, apparently salts
fed
"It was Just a message. never
carry important papers about with me
Sorry to have called you back; III
sese you later in my rooms. Hail past
eight tonight, Ell?
IF get back from Breszeley alive "
I replied dolefully.
sent an urgent note to inspector
BIoor. abandoning with some reluctance
INV first intention of going down to
scotland Yard myself. Then sum-
moned up all my courage and started
off for Breezeley.
I shivered as I drew near the huge
edifice, shivered as the front door
opened without any summons from me,
and Minchin babe me enter. the mouse
was incredibly still. He led me TO the
lift.
he announced, and was sure tnat
in his tone I advanced as bravery
as could into the little circle OF light
thrown from Martin Hews' red lamp
the only illumination in the room.
"Sit down, he ordered me briefly,
without looking up.
I obeyed My employer was bending
over the table, studying what seemed
to me to be a chart. 1t was at least
quarter of an hour before he spoke
to me, and then he did so without
lifting his eyes from his task.
$50 you are good for nothing except
draymans work, after all, OWston|
he said.
"You were sent TO the west end OF
London to establish yourself there for
a certain purpose. On practically the
first night you stepped guilelessly into
a trap. You cannot now enter single
night club in London. Your name
Is being posted as an undesirable per-
son. You will need courage to show
yourself whenever people of the world
into which wish you to penetrate are
gathered together. The cards Of invi-
to attend with my niece have been, or
will be, of course, withdrawn. You
have destroyed your whole utility to me
in a single evening"
"That is all quite true, SIR" I
acknowledged, but it Is. not the fun
extent of my folly. You have probably
received my message and you know that
a much more serious thing has hap
pened through my laundering. Your
niece has disappeared"
He leaned back In his chair. It was
obvious that he was enjoying my misery.
Disappeared" he repeated. Eek
plain yourself, If you please. Your
message was too vague"
miss Essiter went with me to the
Blue Skies Night Club at the invitation
of a Mr.. Leopold, brother Of Lady Bono
far. When we arrived there, I was
asked to visit the secretary's room.
where was fool enough to allow myself
to be drugged and woke up this morn
ing in a police cell. This morning
went to Claridge's, and I learned that
Miss Essiter had not returned. have
seen Leopold and he declares that he
put her into a taxicab at the club rev
minutes after had left. Nevertheless.
This afternoon I received one of those
polite communications from Joseph.
Here it is
handed to him the note found in
my letter box a few minutes before l
had left. He read 1t through slowly: .
"a fair exchange, my dear Major. !.
have altered my mind. have decided
that I viii not raze Breezeleg to the
ground to snatch away your prisoner:
Rachel is, after all, little creature OF
the slunns and alleys, but Beatrice-ah,
well, it would not be for you, dear
clumsey enemy, to appreciate how won
derful a woman she Is. ! think that
shall rest content"
MARTYR Hews read. with q devilish