Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1927, Page 42

The Four Stragglers €APT FRANCIS NE the Great War A into soviety Varne, noted | | her birth cer ote neh thief i the backwaters of | perhaps has done some big | ¢ NNELLS. a valet. who thefts ‘on his own accol THE FOURTH STRAG( school conta _"' ntinued fr 1 Ye ALLMENT XXVIL APT. FRANCIS NEWCOMBE drew slightly b: He made no other movement. He said nothing. His eyes remained | riveted on Locke's face | “I was almost done in that night,” | said Locke. d had two days and two nights of it. I did not hear nh‘ you said—what particular place it for_instance, that had been 1 heard of the share had plaved your w robbed each of vou fair. T saw the Fren he said, his voice rasping “are Polly’s papers ate, the marriage cer- tificate of her parents—the proof of the most contemptible and indrelly crime you have ever com mitted; I say perhaps, because there may be lower depths of beastliness and inhumanity of which only a mind such as yours could conceive, You “These,” hoarsely a | know where these papers were found. Besides using Polly as your catspaw and your tool, making her innocence erve your vile ends, you robbed her claim to even honest parent His face had grown white to , his voice was almost out of is Polly—Polly you now! I have 1 never, even on thicket nt with you olly’s sake than 1 hate I want to save her from the sor and distress she would suffer if s<he knew the truth of what has hap pered here: and above all 1 want to save her from the misery and #hame of having her name publicly con- nected with yours were you brought as a common criminal to stand in the dock. And so you are going—where T do mot know. Not London, or any- where else, as Capt. Francis Ne combe any more—for you would no longer dare do that with the police at t hot on the investization of vour But you are going out of her as [ do more He could not draw his revolver and fire another and kLill this man—not now. To do that would be suicide. eater than himself— even than any hail you as a yes, ‘as a greater criminal in all France. P heard you check him with your name on his lips. I heard him call your attention | to my presence there. I heard you say you had not forgotten—and in a flare of light I saw you with your rifle across your knees, its muzzle only a few feet away from my head. Then in the ensuing darkness I was lucky enough to be able to wrig- gle silently back a few yards in among the trees—and a second later I saw the flash of your rifle shot.” Locke stopped. His lips were dry. He touched them with the tip of his ‘tongue. The two men stood eyeing each other. Neither moved. Locke spoke again: “As I crawled out of that thicket I swore that I would pay you for that shot if it took all my life to bring you to account. I did not know your name. I did not know where vou came from or where you lived; but I knew your face—and I was sure, as we are sometimes strangely sure of the future, that some time, in some place, you and I would meet again. But it was four years before we did and in those four years, during which I have traveled a great dedl on my father's business, no man’s face, in a crowd or merely sing on the street, whether here or abroad. but that I searched in the hope that it might be yours. And then I saw you—in London—just a few days be- fore we sailed. I followed you to your apartment, and I saw the other two—Runnells_and the Frenchman, whose name I discovered was Paul Cremarre. I secured am introduction to you at your club, and I learned irom you that you were sailing within a day or so on a certain ship. 1 told you I was sailing on the same ship. Within an hour after I had Jeft you at the club I did two things: 1 booked passage on that ship; and 1 engaged a man who was recom- mended to me as one of the best pri- vate detectives in England. With the knowledge that you were a criminal, it was only a question of a short time then before the detective would un earth your record, or that you would be caught in some new venture, and meanwhile, leaving him to work up your ‘history,’ I crossed with you and suggested the yachting trip, as I did not intend to let you out of my sight again until you were trapped. And I think but for the fact that you have been toid now, that would have been accomplished even more quickly than I had expected. At one of the stops that I purposely made on the way down the coast on the Talofa I re- ceived a letter from the detective, led in_London the d: fter sailed. He said that developments had been such that he was working in conjunction with Scotland Yard, and that he expected to be able to send me a very satisfactory report within a day or so.” Capt. Francis Newcombe took his cigarette case from his pocket for the second time—but now he calmly lighted a cigarette. “And so,” he =aid smoothly, “just at the moment when, after four Jong years, you are about to reap the fruits of your labor, you tell me to go. ‘Where? Into the t waiting for me over there on th inland?” No,” said Locke bitterly. ‘“Where rou and Runnells—and Paul We'll have no more trou y of you here.” -ombe paused lifting his ciga you wi Cremarre. Capt. suddenly in tt e to his lips, This Paul Cremarre you 5 “what makes you speak o think h 4 him to be here,” said Locke shortly. “He was one of the three of you. He could not wvery well form part of your retinue as Runnells did. “He would have to come separately. I know he is here because 1 saw & man wearing a mask last night. I have reason to know it wak not you and since I superintended the packing of Runnells' baggage and have also seen Runnells himself, I know—for reasons that need not be explained— that it was not Runnells Capt. Francls New- t have been this v the three would be here together. I regret that T was not fortunate enough to have the ad vantage of your viewpoint, ever though you honor me with the credi of having arranged all these little de tails. And so, at the moment of you: supreme success we are to Eo—wc | three. May I ask why this chang: of heart?” Howard Locke reached into his pocket and took out a faded envelope that was torn at one end. life never to contaminate it again. And this is the bargain that I make 'with you—that she shall never hear from You again. I compound no fel- ony with you. I have no power to hol@yeu, even were I an officer of the law, without specific evidence of a spe. cific' crime. That such evidence will inevitably be forthcoming is certain, but for the moment there is no war- rant for your arrest. You will make the excuse for your departure as I have sugge i—and later on a brief notice of the death of Capt. Francis Newcombe in some distant place will account for your continued silence, and remove you out of her life.” Capt. Francis Newcombe blew a smoke ring in the air and watched it meditatively. “Excellent!” he murmured. “And if T refuse? To save Polly you would ve to call your bloodhounds off.” is too late for that,” said Locke “And even if it were not, it be better that. Polly should suffer even the shame of publicity than that you should remain in any way in touch with her life. “I see,” murmured Capt. Francis Newcombe. “But with exposure as in- evitable as you say it is, it is too bad that Polly should—er—nevertheless, suffer her share of this shameful pub- whether T go or not.” “You fence 1,” said Locke, with a grim smile. cotland Yard sooner or later will know, but they will not make public what they know until they have laid hands upon their man. It is your freedom that is at stake. I told you I did not think you would venture to return to London.” “Locke,” said Capt. Francis New- combe, softly, “permit me to return the compliment—but also with reser- vations. 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Just a single course treatment gives you pounds of solid flesh (not fat), the blood is tleared of impurities and you get nice, clear, healthy skin, IRONIZED YEAST comes only in pleasant-tasting tablet form—60 to a bottle. for everybody. Does not upset the stomach use gas or bloati ent to by to IRONIZ 98T Author of “The Miracle Man” “Doors of the Night,” “Jimmie Dale,” Etc. wanted to | I cannot | D. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7. 1927. Mrs. Wickes, either. Mrs. Wickes is also dead. For reasons best known to | myself, I did not chgose to tell Polly about the woman's death, so I fear |as research a tants. Then they will now that lacking that estimable old [be trained toward leadership in the hag’s co-operation in the resurrectiofi|affairs of community and nation. of those papers, vou will have to re- | ;\A/VV\M/‘VVW on the shore a little way from the|sort to telling Polly, after all, a little water's edge, his clothes in ribbons— [ something about her cherished guard- in fact, one of his coat slPe\:s:s was | ian. However Locke, on the main ACross, Feverish Child is Bilious, Constipated EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO find Paul Cremarre. Get him, and take him with you. Your baggage has been searched—so has Runnells’. 1 do not for a moment think you found that which specifically “brought you to this house. I doubt, indeed, now that Mr. Marlin is dead, if it ever will be found by anyboc But in so [far as you are concerncd, assurance will be made doubly sure—the three cou will be subjected to a personal arch before you are landed on the other side.” e snapped his watch back in his pocket. “Shall T find out it Miss Marlin is able to see you?" Capt. Francis Newcombe mined the glowing tip of his cigarette with every appearance’ of nochalance—but the brain of the man was seething in a fury of action. He was beaten—in THE “The trouble with modern technical education is that too many super-me. chanics are being trained and too few leaders,” Dr. Farrand said. “We are being forced to accept the standards of scientific workers.” | standing undergraduates from various universities of the United States and :ving them to the Huntington Library ately; “but for whatever satisfaction it will bring you, I admit now that you have beaten me. I agree to your terms I will go; so will Runnells—but can't take Paul Cremarre. Paul Cre- marre is dead. 1e died this morning. I rather horrible death. I found him By Frank L. Packard Copyright. Geo. B Doran Co | Polly in ignorance of my unworthi ness falls to the ground. That en velope vou hold in your hand—I was | wondering—it simply occurred to me —how Polly was to he informed that —er—her name is—I think you said— Gray “I had not overlooked it,” Locke answered evenly. “Polly's parentag: is a matter that precedes your entry into her life by many years! it is a matter that is logically within the knowledge of this Mrs. Wickes. 1|so far as'the existence, the entity, of shall cable London today. There will |a character known as Capt. Francls be means of securing Mrs. Wickes' | Newcombe was concerned—he was confession on this point, These pa-|beaten. . . . This cursed, meddling pers will come from her.” fool had beaten him. Damn h, ves!” said Capt. Francis New- |that shot that he had missed in the combe, gently “Quite so! Perhaps, | darkness. after all, T am the one who overlooked | 1fe could not draw his revolver and detail. _But if by any chance this|gre apother and kill this man—not Wickes could not be found— yow. . . . To do that here would be then?” suicide. And, besides, there was cke studied the other still half a million dollars. . . . Quite was impassive; no. not quite that—|s gopt . . . Mrs. Wickes didn’t count there was something that lurked|one way or the other—but Paul Cre- around the corners of the man's|marre—that was awkward. . . . The mouth—like a hint of mockery. island must be left in quiet and re- “In that case,” he said, steadily, “I|pose in so far as anything pertaining should have done my best to save her |to the attempted robbery was con- from_the knowledge of what you are, | cerned—an incident that with his de- for I should have to tell her; but|parture was closed. . . . Paul Cre- meanwhile you will have gone from |marre must be accounted for. . . . here, and, as I have already said, she| Well, the truth was probably the will be saved the brutal notoriety that | safest, since denial would only result would attach to her wherever she|in a search for a third man that went and until she died mar her life, | Locke knew* had been here. . . . if Capt. Francis Newcombe's ‘case’|That Locke should think that Paul were blazoned abros Cremarre had come here as part of inal courts of England—and that, in | the prearranged plan was probably all last_analysis t really mat | the better. . . . It left no lingering He thrust ab. ‘xlm)M,\ & s b back into as| fle looked up—his eyes cold and abruptly took out ant| steady on Locke. d at it 1 de-| T regret You to! I missec apletely torn away and—" count, that of notoriéty, if it depends he man 1 was looking for had a [ upon Scotland Yard ever getting their white shirt sleeve,” said Locke|man, I think I can give you my per- quietly. sonal guarantee that she will never “Well be—" that will give you any further satis-| He stopped and faction,” said Capt. Francis New-'around. combe gruffly. “His white shirt sleeve One half of the French window was was the least of it. His face and|swaying inward. throat were covered with round, pur-| With a low cry, Locke sprang past lish blotches, and the man was abso- | the other. lutely mangled. He had the appear-| *Polly!” he cried ance of having been crushed—as they T say a python crushes a_victim in its folds. And, damn it, that's not far from what happened! How he had first come into contact with the mon- ster T don't know, but he had been in a fight with a_sigantic octopus, and had evidently just managed to crawl ashore out of the thing's reach tem- porarily, and had died there.” Capt. Francis. Newcombe laughed un- pleasantly. “The reason I know this is e 1 saw the creature—the tide s higher, of course, when I found body—come back and carry off its You will pardon me, perhaps, i be it in detail. It—er— your search is ended then, if whirled sharply (Continued in Tomorrow's Star.) $50,000,000 INSTITUTION TO SERVE DUAL PURPOSE| Huntington Gift to Pasadena to De- velop Political Leadership as Well as Scholarship. By the Associated Press. PASADENA, Calif., December 7. The Huntington Library and Art Gallery, the late Henry E. Hunting- ton’s $50,000,000 gift to the public here, will be made an institution for the development of political -leader- ship as well as scholarship. This was the announcement made here today by Dr. Max Farrand, di-| rector of reasearch at the library. in the trouble—it wouldn't do me any [ speech before the university club. zood to lie now. And so I might as| Dr. rand said the hoard of eIl tell you, too. that there's no use | trustees named in the ble to London about | fina r had decided to Every mother realizes, after giving her children “California Fig Syrup,” that this is their ideal la ¢, be c they love its pleasant taste and it| thoroughly cleanses the tender little stomach, ~liver and bowels without! griping When cross, breath is bad, face. Tt i : iritable, feverish, or stomach sour, look at the tongue, mother! If coated, give a teaspoonful of this harmless, “fruity laxative,” and in a few hours all the foul, constipated waste, sour bile and undigested food passes out of the bowels, and you have a well playful child again. When the little system is full of cold, throat sore, has stomach- ache, diarrhoea, indigestion, colic—re member, a good ‘“inside cleansing” should always be the first trcatmer given, Millions of mothers keep “California Fig Syrup” handy; they know a tca- spoonful today saves a sick child to- morrow. Ask vour druggist for a bot- tle o which wasn't nice. Locke stared at the other for a mo- ment. “That's a rather strange story,” he said slowly. “But I can't see where it would do you any good to lie now.” Capt. Francis Newcombe helped himself to another cigarette, lighted it, and_suddenly flung a mocking h at Locke. 0.” he said, “I'm afraid that's has directions for babies, children of all ages and grown-ups printed on the | bottle. Beware of counterfeits scld rere, so dont be fooled. 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