The Washington times., 1932-05-07
CHAPTER xxi


that Guy Everett had lied, and
about such an important mat
ter, did seem significant. But
Colt was not ready to discuss
the case. Instead he thought
fully consulted his watch, while
he told me that Gavin had
phoned: the portrait of Basil
was being cabled by telephoto
5000 miles to France.
1t was now o'clock in the
morning Of the new years first
day.
Ten o'clock in Paris" the
chief reflected aloud. Monsieur
le Prefect must certainly be at
his office"
And such is the service which
the Bell Telephone Company
puts at the disposal of all
police officials that in five min
utes Thatcher Colt and M. Du-
pont, Prefect of the Partisan
Surete, were talking on the
telephone-with myself taking
notes on an extension.
Hello"
Gallo"
Monsieur Dupont?"
''Mais oui. Qui est LAP"
Thatcher Colt"
"Ah, Monsieur Colt, mon cher
ami! Comment allezvous?"
"C'est Ia meme petite vie,
Monsieur Dupont, ct vous?"
"Ah, c'est Ia meme chose,
Monsieur Colt. Can I help
you?"
. On the Trail
Here the Paris police chief
switched suddenly to English
out Of compliment to his trans
atlantic confrere and much to
my relief.
II am tracing the history Of
a woman-and q man." ex.
planned Colt. First I want all
the facts that you can get
about the life in Paris or any
where else Of a woman now
living under the name Of Lola
Carewe, also known as Rosita
Jorga."
"Ah, oui!" And M. Dupont
spelled out the names carefully.
will you also see if the Ru-
manian police have a history
OF a man supposed to be her
father-Jorga, for a long time
q political exile in London"
II will do that, too, mon
cher ami! Anything else?"
Much more. chuck d
Thatcher Colt and went on to
explain how the portrait of a
young man, first name Basil,
family name unknown, was
being forwarded to the Prefect
by telephoto. M. Dupont gasped.
Such impatient persons, these
Americans!
And what I am most earn.
estly hoping you will see your
way clear to do" pursued Colt
warmly, "is to have one Of
your agents call on one Marcel
Grandon, so, Avenue D'Iena-
in the Etoile district, I assume
show him the telephoto por.
trait and try to get it identi-
field. Perhaps your people may
know hint is barely possible
the young man has police
record"
I'VE will do our best. Mr.,
Colt"
Angels could do no more, M.
Dupont! A thousand thanks!"
Pas du tout, Monsieur Colt"
eau revoir"
"Au revoir."
Getting Warmer
AS he hung up the receiver,
Colt cast rogue's grin at
Dougherty.
We're getting nearer to
something" he said, with our
picture of Basil"
Smart as hell and all that"
granted Dougherty, "but I still
don't see his connection with
this case"
"We'll debate that presently"
promised Colt. Meanwhile,
Tony, will you please now
arouse Mr.. Vincent Rowland
from his innocent slumbers and
tell him I would like to speak
to him on the telephone?"
In this announcement Dough-
erty displayed lively interest.
IT was much surprised,
Thatcher" he revealed, when
you put a tail on Rowland.
Surely you don't suspect that
old hin--7hisker of anything
serious?"
Having relighted his pipe,
Colt replied:
\ II do regard the eminent Mr..
Rowland with a somewhat
jaundiced eye. Dougherty.
Truth is, was watching him
in the Mayfair dining room last
night, just before Lola sent us
her note, inviting us into this
singular business! He didn't
wish Lola to write that note.
I watched him trying to dis
suade her. don't know
whether ever told you or
not, but in my youth I mas
tered lip-reading. l can lis
ten to distant conversation by
watching mouths. / saw him
implore her to have nothing to
do with me in this matter. Per
haps he feared having his
name mixed up in q police
case. Quite reasonably, too.
Yet when we went over, he
took the credit for inviting