Evening Star Newspaper, October 28, 1925, Page 26

The Double Cross BY A. i %i Coprright, 1925, by THOMAS, A Mystery Story of Dramatic Power. Dodd. Mead & Co. (Continued from Yesterday's Star.) “Perhaps,” admitted Mr. Colby. rose, walked to the window, and looked out. Vaguely through the afternvon haze far down the harbor he could discern the majestic bulk of the Aqui tanla, smoke streaming from her h 3 funnels in the western breeze. bound When he turned Bromfleld, he spoke easily., like & man who ha ome to a d ion “Mr. Bromfield he id, “I do not need to beat about the bush with you nor do 1 need to assure not suspect you of any complicity in the disappearance of my daughter’s diamonds “I_should gambler “Aside from the moral obliquity involved in any such connection. you are much too fastidious a per 1t concern yvourself in such a vulgar niatter. And yet it is in connection with the theft of these jewels that I have asked vou to comeé and this afternoon.” Bromfield af outward again_ to swiftly, hope mnot.” laughed the d surprise. to see how he said > lawyer continued: “T will not guise from you the fact that I have a definite opinion as to the iden tity of the thief. I think I know his name. T shall not mention it either now or at any time. 1 do not desire to punish any one. no v whom it may be. Fortunately, since some thing more than one hundred thou ind dollars is involved, the insurance vents any pecuniary loss. But en de from that feature of the onds have o sentimental daughter and myself.” aid Bromfticld, “They belonged (o the late Mrs. Colby “Quite so, and to her mother before her . therefore, there is a special for regretting the loss.” “I quite understand,” npithetic Bromfield Now we both on Mr. C tha - my eed the understand,” went hat though vou are n person an ble, cultivated and presentable nevertheless r which is ais ntenanced by . “Quite true,” in ipted Bromfield, defensively, “and vet I'll have you understand’ that I've never felt myself a criminal. Al my gan e on the level-—they always have been When gentlemen play at my place they have an equal chance with me, with the exception of the slizht percentaze in my favor which inherent in the rules of certain games, and I never have been able to see why it should be made a criminal thing for me to allow men to risk their own money upon the chance of gaining mine. “My dear Bromfield,” smiled the “we're not here to discuss the of your business, and I feel that if we were, your impa ty in the matter is open to dispute. What says the bard in his little poem? “No man e'er felt the halter With Food ‘opinion of the liw But though Mr. Colby smiled, Brom field did not. He really felt that it was an outrage that an honest gam- ler like himself should be in I criminal. What T s _getting continued Mr. Colby st as I say, you're a person whom it is agreeable to meet, and your personal morals are so far as I know above reproach, nevertheless I know that in Yyour line of business it is sometimes Necessary for you to come in contact | with certain gentlemen who are not so scrupulous as vourself. Is that| not true?” nfortunately, e is at is this,” vely: “Though yes.' 3 while T share regret. to mak stance. use of this lamentable circum may T ask?" replied the lawyer, sencil upon a portrait somehow took on & vague likeness to those of a man of hom he was thinking at the moment. | curred to me that it was barely | ble that in your regrettably neces ne of these, persons, you tumble upon some information which would enable me to recover my dat necklac He stopped and glanced shrewdly the gambler The latter possible,” he at met his gaze. “It said at length. went on the lawye is Daintily flowered Silver Brocade. $5.95. e | vou that T do | | cash. | he figure. | with_his feet again Colby | slightly. | “I wish to that if you are ;.m(\1 I'to recover them, I will see that you are reimbursed to the full amount of the insurance, plus any pense. In addition to that, e me under a great obligation. should be very glad to do that, Mr. Colby, believe me."” | “I need scarcely say that no public- | ity whatever will attach to your efforts | in the tter | The gambler I | chair, and ned forward in his | fixed his keen eyes upon | | the other. “Understand me now, Mr. | Colby—I have at present no knowl-| | edge whatever as to the whereabouts | | of the diamonds.” | “My dear Bromfield!” exclaimed the | wyer, reproachfully | oh, T know—I know a good deal more "than you perhaps think of what is going on in your mind.” { | “I have endeavored to make mysel? very clear.” | “You have done so. But Just now | I can promise nothing.” “I ask you for no pr you ‘will do wha m, you . except | that can for me.” “Very good,” concluded Bromfield, | rising.” “T will do my best to serve | you in this matter. Mr. Colby make inquiries in certain q od many people common; und ble citizens have rateful to me for various sn servic and possibly me one them may be able to help both and me just now. I do not know, but You see, Mr. Colby, though you not think it, we—criminals are | ful for kindne: re with this s Bromfield | reason | nf as to b v may often ceived departed “Hm,” mused th closed behind t sort of fellow at Ar ot lawyer as the door | ambler, “not a bad | all. I'd like to take ! him to my club, and vet I suppose that if he were to appear in St. Bar tholomew’s Church next Sunday morn ing several people much less admir 1ble than he would be killed in the rush to escape. Funny world—funny world Now Bromfield had spoken the exact truth when he said that he had no knowled the nt whereabouts of the diamonds. ertheless, he had n them not long after their theft. | They had been offered him in payment | of a gambling debt. He had flatly | refused to accept them & 0! he said to his debtor. “How you bring them to me like this? Take ‘em away. I have never in all my life been concerned with any kind | of theft. and never in my life do I| wish to be. Put 'em in your pocket— | em aw Don't ever let me n again i d his debtor, “I offer them vment of my debt. nd I refuse them. Your personal none of my business, but I| will never consent to be the receiver of stolen ods| The debtor departed with the jewels, and presently his debt was paid in Bromfield knew, of course, how money to settle the obligation | have been obtained, but that, | was none of his business. | His skirts re clea: . Some six hours after Bromfield left Mr. Colby in his office, a shabby lit- tle man rang the bell at the trades- men's entrance of Bromfleld's estab lishment. A few moments later he en- tered the office where Bromfield sat significantly upon Smpire desk. The visitor was in abashed by the resence. ant to see me, Bill?” he asked down, Mike,” replied Bromfield, help vourself to a smoke. Want a drink?’ His visitor accepted both | these offers and waited. “Mike,” said Bromfield, “you or “harlie know ing about these iamond The lids of Mike's left eve flickered aff: the must “I want ‘em, aid Bromfield. Colby's “an you get ‘em? “Might." t friend of mine. ‘em then.” Bacillus Acidophilus Milk For intestinal disorders Ask your physician about it Prepared by the NATIONAL VACCINE AND ANTITOXIN INSTITUTE 1515 U St. N.w. Hauowe cn SHOES pl’.RF BCT “D; of materials. a clusive things! Dyeing Service Buying White Satin Shoes and letting us dye them to exactly match the costume is Yi(e tho thing! It's quick, accu- rate, and costs only Silver Brocade, White, Satin, Black Velvet. $5.95. and Gold Kidskin—Brocades, ship to start you thinking of ex “Hahn Special” WOMEN reams” of Evening Slippers! In atins, Velvets! (@, o g nd workmar And low prices prevail, rightly so! Yet, Beginning Friday— 1914-16 Pa. Ave. 1267 F St. {and fou I owill | & you | ¢ | body in this house. THE EV NG STAR, WASHINGTON, ““The modern crook is a most resource- ‘Oh, sure. Got to chase around to {ful anmal.” set 'em together again, I suppose.” “I should be so glad to know,” Doris yenh. answered, “that it was a bur, should almost be willing to give up all hope of seeing the necklace again in exchange for the assurance that the thief was no one whom I had known and trusted.” “I feel exactly as you do, my child, but I would not give up hope. I have a presentiment that somehow, in some way, that necklace will come buck. Mr. Colby departed from his daugh- ter’s drawing room that afternoon a little happier than he had been for some time. For weeks he had been convinced of her unhappiness. Not a word had ever been exchanged be- tween them upon that subject, but he knew, and she knew that he knew. Until she spoke he would continue to be silent. But he believed that the thing must come to a separation. He believed too that Waterman would fight it if he could. He had wished for a weapon which he could use if it ever came to a fight. Now, at least, he had that weapon. But his heart ached for his daugh- ter, none the le And he thought to himself, as he found his way slowly down the avenue, now just coming to its most crpwded hour as the hu- man tide turned northward for the night: “Poor child—poor darling—to come to t could only make ber hapoy CHAPTER XII in the month of October that tanley had departed for the “Oh, well—nothin’ to me who's in on Get 'em.” chi.” ~that's all.” er—kind of—er— er— Bromfield seized a pen, wrote six words on a piece of paper and flicked “Give him that,’ Mike picked up the paper, slanced t it, stuffed it in his shoe. his_is Mond: went on field. “How soon Wednesday night, mebbe.” “Right. Pretty soft for you lads. No questions, no bulls, no commissions ull value. Take a drink and beat Brom it Mike did both of those things. On Thurse morning next Mr. Colby, in going ugh the letters on his office desk dy opened by his secretary, encountered the following note: Mr. W ympliments to M and requests the fa a personal interview at Mr. Colby's office this afternoon between the hours of three RGSIV P The lawyer smiled a qui and took up his telephone, Late that afternoon he spent one hour with Doris over the tea- | fauc, This was a_custom which had | 345t n in frequency of late. Though | o Sone he m‘(_l always been close to his d‘.u sh- | g e e of late he had seemed to be drawn | yor o’ to her even more intimately than of :{,‘]’:(““’_‘ i He began to sec that she needed | P URET S Bis coming we 1d though he regretted the | o gne‘was warned of his re he was not ill-pl 4 with its SLALM LS The talk had fallen on the t of the stolen jewels It does seem, papa, as if the police were right,” Doris was saying. It seem: s if it must have been some. liam Bromfield presents his Alexander Colby cal smile, Tt wi Jim S returned. He came as by way of San Franc tved from Europ he obbvd New Building Materials “Rock-Bottom Prices” Galvanized ‘Oh, T don’t know,” sald Mr. Colby. Lusser Fitted s Examined Dr. CLAUDE S. SEMONES Eyesight Specialist N BRIGHTEN THE HOME UP Complete at OUR Yards —with a nttle That by o dowmz T i} heieh up—N3 Worry Cor inconvenience ' attached CORNELL WALL PAPER (CO. LWL M: 5373-537 714 13th St 5 PAINTING Paperhanging—Decorating F. GORDON Cedar Street N.W. Main Office 6th & C Sts. Southwest Camp Meigs Sth & Fla. Ave. Northeast Hechingér Co. I “From Foundation to Roof” Cuticura Preparations Unexcelled in purity, they are regarded by millions as unrivaled in the promotion of skin and hair health. The purifying, antiseptic, pore-cleansing properties of Cuti- cura Soap invigorate and preserve the skin; the Ointment soothes and heals rashes and eruptions. The freely-lathering Shaving Stick causes no irritation but leaves the skin fresh and smooth. The Talcum is fragrant and refreshing. } Soap Ze. Ointment 2 and 0c. Taleam 2Se. Sold ywhers. Ssmpl Gold or Silver skin Opera Pumps. $7 shining Silver And in a grade Cor. 7th and K. 414 9th St. 233 Pa. Ave. SE. SRR ——— White Satin with Silver Kid applique. It was in the following Octaber | C.. WEDNESDAY, one exception—that exception was Frank Wiison. Wilson had known for five days that Stanley was on his way. He had received from Francis telegram which said riving on the 24th by the Lake Shore Limited. Jingage hotel accomodations for two. Wilson had done just that and no more—that is to say, he had held his tongue. And now, as he stood outside the iron gate, behind the rope stretched Defore the exit by the rafl- way attendants, awaiting the arrival of the Limited, he wondered in whose company his employer was returning The heart of the little clerk beat a trifle faster tood there wait- ing. Not only was he to meet hi best friend long separation— there was that, of course, but there was something more. He had a feel | ing that something exciting was about to happen. What it was he could not tell, but his sensations were those of a man who has covered his antlcipation of an_explosion. That afternoon, with Stanley's tele in pocket, he had passed | Nassau street. The . his_chin in EXPERTS We do' the work you Low prices. B 1] 5] V2 415 OCTOBER 28, 1925. his shoulders back, smiling, de- bonair, confident as ever. He nodded curtly to Wilson as he passed. I ‘wonder,” thought the little clerk, as he glanced after the retreating Waterman, “I wonder how you would feel if you were to read this telegram in my pocket Stanley’s quick eye caught Wilson's face the instant he emerged from the gate, followed by a company of porters loaded down with assorted luggage He seized the clerk’s hand in both of his own Well, well, Frank,” he cried, with boyish enthusiasn rour soul! 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