The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-01-21
CHAPTER XIV

Hotel. Mr.. Richard Taussig got out.
''It's been very pleasant, and most
interesting" he said. "Thank you SO
much. Good-by. Good-by, senorita."
It had been a mistake to allow
,Graciela to call Miss Haywood. Ora
-ciela was disconnected, seething and
highly unpredictable. Her fathers
confidence in his continuing hold
over her was to Mr.. Taussig's real
istic mind stupidity unrealistic.
Mr.. Taussig shrugged his Shout
,ders and went into the lobby. AS
long as it didn't interfere in his
plans And there had been
enough interference already. He had
been trying to figure that out on his
way home. It had little of the
smell of Fate to it, the more he
thought about it. Perhaps it was
Just as well (. if he could figure
Wilcox out properly.
He was still thinking about that
forty-fve minutes later as he came
through the iron grilled gateway into
the inner courtyard of Albert Beno-
list, coffee and sugar importers, his
green guide book under his arm, his
green-visored yachting cap on his
head. He went up the stone steps
to the first-foor gallery. At the top
he paused, waiting for Diego Con-
CARO- coming out of the arched tun-
mel from Juan de Pinzon Street.
81 must frankly admit I was dis
turbed this morning." Gongaro said
casually. 81 was afraid our young
friend might lose her footing so high
above the floor. It would have been
most unfortunate.
Most" Mr.. Taussig agreed equa-
bly,. However, was watching her
very carefully. Shall we 60 in?"
IT always admire finesse," Diego
Gongaro said irrelevantly.
He waited until the. door was
closed.
s'In view Of the fattering atten-
ton we have been favored with this
morning by certain member Of
the Military Intelligence, I wish
zach department to function with
out communication with any other,
until let us call it X-Day.
When that comes, it will be in CO.
ordination with the concerted move
ment throughout the Caribbean
area, Central and South America.
Until then, Gongaro will continue
the organization of personnel for the
eventual destruction Of all water IA
cilities.''
He took out his handkerchief and
wiped his dark lenses.
The dark man with the black mus
tache moved suddenly.
81 wonder" he said quietly.
II have an exhibit-two exhibits, in
fact. think they will interest you"
He went to a desk in the corner
and took a folded piece of paper out
Of a drawer.
II saw a friend off on the strato-
liner for Rio this morning with the
information for Bauer. This new
filtering station here has caused us
no end of trouble. I think the safest
thing to do is chop up the sending
unit we got last fall"
He came back to the table. "When
I returned to the office from the
airport, / found this under the stairs
in the yard. The cat was playing
with it."
He opened the folded paper and
took out small linen handkerchief.
It had been white, but it was crum-
pied and slightly soiled, as if it had
been moist.
cts an expensive trif1e And ex-
pensively perfumed. Also mono
grammed. The initials are A. C. H"
He looked up.
1T was not there when we came
in last night. I turned my flash
light around the yard, to be quite
sure of everything"
The silence in the room lasted
for some time.
what is Exhibit By" Mr.. Taus-
sig inquired quietly.
1T is golden hair" Albert Beno-
list said. 1T was caught in the
rough plaster on the wall under the
stairs, at height of five feet eight
inches. I presume the average heels
are about two inches high. In which
case the owner of this would be ap-
proximately five feet six inches"
Diego Gongaro knocked off the
long cylinder of gray ash from his
cigar.
1T is most unfortunate" he said
urbanely.
Most" Mr.. Taussig said. He got
up. "Good day, gentlemen"
He went down the stairs and
stopped in the courtyard, looking
at the space where Anne Haywood
must have been, trying to recall
where they had stood the night be-
fore and what they had said. A
clerk crossing the patio with a sheaf
of papers In his hand looked at him
and quickened his pace, Slightly
startled. Mr.. Taussig crossed the