Evening star., 1934-12-22
CHAPTER XIII.
MD OPINEF

y IR WILLIAM and Stellman stood
there for perhaps 80 seconds
smiling and chatting. I had
~ Just sufficient time to get grip
on my scattered wits. and then,
with a farewell wave of his hand, Sir
William turned toward the car.
Stop for moment at the Milan
Hotel, Parker" he said.
The chauffeur arranged the rug
over our knees, closed the door and
walked around to his seat. There was
a warning toot, and with an almost
imperceptible jerk. We drew away
from the curb. AS far as I was aware
Mr. Stellman had not even glanced
at me.
Its a peculiar thing" observed Sir
William, but whenever I'm in a hurry
always seem to run across some one
who insists upon stopping and talk
ing to me-"
I managed to force laugh. Most
annoying" I agreed. by the way, if
it's not rude question, who was this
particular offender? I'm nearly GER
tain I've seen him before"
Not at all impossible. Most peo-
pie have met Mr.. Peter Orloff at some
time or other He's gentleman of
many activities"
Peter Orloff," I repeated. What
is he-a Russian?"
"Oh, yes-he makes no secret about
it. He is the head of large trading
concern which operates here and on
the continent. Exactly what its po-
sition is can't say. 1t sets out to be
an entirely independent organization,
but it must obviously have a working
arrangement of some sort with the
authorities at Moscow. Anyhow, Orloff
himself is a very clever fellow, and
there is no doubt that he has plenty
of money behind him. He carried
through a big business deal with my
firm only few months ago"
For a moment or two I made no
reply. I was torn with hesitation as
to whether I should tell my COM
panion the truth or whether for the
present it would be wiser to keep my
discovery to myself. l think it was
the memory of that half ironic ques-
tion of his which finally decided me.
Sounds quite mysterious char
acter!" I said lightly. Il expect I
shall open the paper one morning and
see that the police have been raiding
his headquarters. That's what usually
seems to happen with these Russian
trading companies
Sir William smiled grimly. 'I don't
fancy Orloff will ever figure in a po-
litical scandal. He holds too useful
position to foul his own nest"
He relapsed into silence until the
car turned into the Strand, when,
with friendly gesture, he laid his
hand on my arm.
"Well, goodby for the present, Mr..
Trench" he said II am glad to have
had this talk with you, and I hope
before very long I may be in a posi-
ton to send you some satisfactory
news. If you would care to bring Miss
O'Brien round to see me should be
most interested to make her acquaint-
ance"
"I'l fix it up as soon as I've been
to Hambridge," said.
He nodded. "And in the meantime,
If you will pardon a word Of advice.
I would suggest that the less you 60
about alone for the next week or two
the safer you are likely to be. 1t is
true that we are in London and not
in Chicago, but all the same, Ameri-
can visitors who carry guns and labor
under a financial grievance are not
the sort to be treated too casually"
$50 it occurred to me-" I said.
That's the very reason why I've gone
to stay with Jerry"
AS spoke we came to sudden halt
in traffic, block, a few yards short
of the entrance to the Milan.
This will do me all right" added.
Thanks for the lift, and I'm much
obliged to you for promising to send
me the keys. If I make any dis