Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
Continued From Yesterdays Star !,
CHAPTER III.


can embassy. The sidewalk wa
Spanned by a striped awning,
i strip of red carpet ran down tn
steps to the curb, and for al
hour glittering limouSines had beer
bringing the distinguished and priv
legged guests to join the throng alread,
gathered In the none too spacious salon
that form the forty-ninth State OF tn
Union.
When the stream of cars had driet
20 the merest trickle a compact, jovial
faced man stepped down from biz
machine and walked leiSurely past thu
fringe of sightSeerS. He nodded ge
nially to the London policeman whC
kept the passage clear and passed
%Col James Boutwell," he said to thu
footman, and made his slow progress t.
the salon.
Excuse me-"
"a good looking man in evening dres.
took his arm affectionately and di'
verted him toward q small anteroon
fitted as buffet and at this early houl
deserted.
Col. Boutwell, raised his eyebrows ir
good-humored surprise at this clmiliar-
tty. His attitude seemed to say, you
are a perfect stranger to me, probably
one of these queerly friendly Americans
so l must tolerate your company"
mo" said the stranger gently.
.No?"
Col. BothwelIs eyebrows could not &c
any higher, SO he reversed his facial
processes and frowned.
mo- think not"
The gray eyes smiling down into the
coloners were twinkling with amuse-
nnent.
my dear American friend" said the
colonel trying to disengage his arm
ct really do not understand; you have
made mistake"
The ether man shook his head slowly
IT never make mistakes-and l am
English as you very well know, and
you are English, too, In spite OF your
caricatllre OF the New England accent
NY poor old Slick, 1t is too badi"
Slick Smith sighed, but gave no other
evidence OF his disappointment.
IF an American citizen can't make
without lashin' the bull pen to fury
wumpin's wrong, that's all. See here,
captain. / got an invitation. And II
my Ambassador wants to see me I guess
that's no business of yours"
Capt Dick Shannon chuckled softly
HE doesn't want to see you, Slick
He'd Just hate to see clever Yankee
crook around here with a million dol
lars worth of diamonds within reach.
He might be glad to see Col. Boutwell,
of the cath Cavalry on visit to Lon
don and anxious to shake him by the
hand, but he has no use at all for Slick
Smith, Jewel thief, confidence man and
superopportunist. Have a drink with
me before you go?"
Grape juice" he said laconically,
and indicated the bottle which was
otherwise labeled. And you're wrong II
you think I'm here on business. That's
a fact, captain. Curiosity Is my vice,
and was curious to see Queen Rienai
diamond necklace. Maybe it's the last
time I'll see it.. Go easy with that
water, George-whisky can't swim"
He stared gloomily at the glass in his
hand before he swallowed It's contents
,'But In a way I'm glad you spotted
me. I got the invitation through a
friend. Knowing what know, my COM
ing here was the act Of one who i'm
agines he is being followed by black
dogs and poisoned by his spiritual adj
wiser. But I'm curious. And I'm cursed
with the detective instinct. You've
heard of them nuts, Jekyll and Hyde9
That's me. Every mans got his dreams
Shannon. Even a busy"
Even busy" agreed Dick Shan
non
A ''busy" or busy fellow" is, in the
argot of the underworld of London, a
detective.
"some men dream about the way
they'd spend million" Slick went on
pensively. Some men dream Of how
they'd save a girl from starvation and
worse and be a brother to her until
she got to love him-you knowi Be-
tween jobs dream of how would I'M
raveI deadly mysteries. Like Stormer
the busy thief-taker that gave me
away to you. They've got something
on me-"
1t was perfectly true that Shannon
had had his first intimation Of Sticks
character from that famous agency.
do we meet now as brother detec-
tiyes?" he asked, "or are We just plain
Busy"
s"Say 'thief-don't worry about my
feelings" begged Slick. Yes; I'm
busy tonight"
"And the queens diamonds?"
Slick drew q long breath.
They're marked" he said I'm curl
Gus to know how they'll take 'em
There's a clever gang working the JoE
you won't expect me to give names
will you? II you do, you've got shock
coming"
"Are they in the embassy" asked
Dick quickly.
."I don't know. That's what cams
TO see. I'm not one OF these proleS-
SIGNALS who take no interest In the
game. I'm like doctor-I love to SEE
other peoples operations; you car
learn things that you'd never guess Il
ypu had nothing to study but YOU
own work."
Shannon thought for moment
wait here-and keep your hands OF
the silver" he said. Then, leaving The
indignant Slick, he hurried into tht
crowded room, pushing his way through
the throng until he came to a cleal
space where the ambassador stood talk
ing to TALL tired-looking woman, pro
lection of whom was the main reason
for his being at the embassy ball.
From her neck hung scintillatinl
chain that flashed and glimmered with
her every languid movement. TURNING
to survey the guests, he presently sin
gled out monocled young man en-
gagged in an animated conversation will
one of the secretaries of the embassy
and catching his eye he brought hin
TO his side.
steel, Slick Smith is here, and h
tells me that there will be an attemp
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