The evening world. Newspaper, March 25, 1922, Page 13

\ ee, je ee & » hi u ‘mm T was February off the Banks, and so thick was the weather that, on the upper decks, one could have driven a sleigh. Inside the smoking room Austin Ford ordered hot gin for himself and the ship's doc- tor. The ship's doctor had gone be- low on another “hurry call” from the widow. At the first luncheon on board the widow had sat on the right of Dr. Sparrow, with Austin Ford facing her. Since then, at frequent intervals, the ili health of the widow had depriv- ed Ford of the society of the doctor. That it deprived him, also, of the so- ciety of the widow did not concern him. Ford was op his way to England to act as the London correspondent of the New York Republic. For three years on that most sensational of the New York dailies he had been the star man, the chief muckraker, the chief sleuth His interest in crime, in such offenses uguinst and society are perpetrated nice intelli- gence. The ship's docta was law are with - returned from his visit below decks and sank into the leather cushion close to Ford's elbow, “IT told her to talk to you,” he eaid fretfully “Her? Who inquired Mord ML th af the widow?” “You were about that said Dr. Sparrow, “she is not a widow bi The reporter smiled complacent!y “Do you know why I thought not’ he demanded “Because all t time sas at luneheon she kept t lin us though she * her wedding ring was not used to it. It was a new ring, too { told you then she was not a widow." that isked the doctor. “Not od purpose, said th rmateu ut 1 ep it riumphan “You did not see that the widow wis on the yerge of a breakdown!’ UN * returned reporter “Ls ‘ Rut used the doctor eagerniy, “youll help ber. Sue is goiny to sectidon alone to find her husvand He was disuppeared she thinks tial he ts eo murdered, ov that he as lying il son spital Lt told her if an) c ile to Mud tian you ) t y “London is a town 1 1 1 marked “She has photograplis of lim and know Where he spends time, pleaded the doctor METS ua com- PaDy Proiueter | ould be eusy jor you “Mayoe he doesn’t want her to find him,” said bord Chen it wouldn't te 8O Cusy for me The old doctor sighed heavily #*j know,” he murmured “! thought of that, too, And she is so very pretty. She must stop worrying, he ex- claimed, “or she will have uo mental collapse, Ll have tried sedatives, but they don’t touch her | want to give her courage She is frightened, She's left a baby boy at home and shes feu il that something will happen to him, and she’s frightened at being at sea, frightened at being alone in Lon- don; its pitiful." The old man shook his head Pititul! Will sou talk to her now?" he asked, “Nonsense! exclaimed Ford “She doesn't want to tell the stowy of her life to strange young men." “Rut it wa suggested it,’ cried the doctor f Austin Ford, lord snorted nol!" he protested, of a Man who ii she asked me j detective.’ scorofully, “She did His tone was that 8s to be contradicted vse you were the great Sut she did,’ insisted the doctor, “and 1 told her your specialty. was teacing pewsoans Her face tened at “THE AMATEU By RICHARD HARDING DAVIS lilustrated by WILL B. JOHNSTONE One of the Greatest Stories of a Master Writer CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. AUSTIN FORD, newspaper correspondent on his way to London as representative of The New York Republic; of keenly observant menial bent with a wonderful record as a sleuth. DR. SPARROW, the ship’s surgeon, a genial reconteur, sympatheti- cally interested in the affairs of his charges, the sick passengers, and deep once; it gave her hope. She will listen to you,” HE widow, .as Ford and Dr. Sparrow still thought of her, was lying on the sofa that ran the length of the stateroom. She was fully dressed, except that in- stead of her bodice she wore a ki- mono. She had been sleeping, and when their entrance awoke her her blue eyes regarded them uncompre- hendingly. lord, hiddén from her by the doctor, observed that not ont” was she very pretty, but that she was ab- surdly young and that the drowsy smile she turned upon the old man before she noted the presence of Ford was a8 innocent as that of a baby When she saw Ford she caught the kimono so closely around her throat that she choked “| thought,” she stammeegd, “he was an old man The doctor, misunderstanding, has- tened to reassure her, “Mr. Ford is old in experience,” he said soothingly “He has had remarkable success, Why, he found «a criminal once just because the man wore » collar. And he found Walsh, the burglar, and Phi lips, the forger, and a gang of countee feifers” Mrs. Ashton turned upon hit er es wide with wonder ‘But omy oy “ASHTON HAD ALREADY DiS COVERED MRS. ASHTON. ee a ee oa HE WAS STANDING TRANSFIXED.” in’ knowledge ot human nature. > “MRS, ASHTON,” who is going tu Lordon in search of her husband who hasn’t furnished her with his adcress in the British capital. HARRY ASHTON, who is in London not becaus: he wants to be, and has only thirty-five days.of a seit-imposed sentence to complete. husband,” she- protested, “is not a criminal!” “My dear lady!” the doctor cried “TL did not mean that, of course not. | meant, if Mr. bord can find men who don’t wish to be found, how eaay for him,to find a man who He turned helplessly to [eurd “You tell her,” he begged. Ford sat down on a steamer trunk and, turning to the widow, gave het the full benefit of bis working smilt It was confiding, he' pl appealing BS, “Dr. Sparrow tells me.” began Mord timidly, “you have lost your husbands address; that you will let me try to find him. [f I can help in any way | should be glad.’ The young girj : trded him, appar ently, with disappointmen She save Ford three bound to photographs, gether, with a stri “When Dr. Sp told ome eould help ome - vot out these she row said = lord jotted down a mental note te the effect that she “got them out.” That ia. she did not keep them where she could always look at them, Wit first) photograph showed theee men standing in an opea puce and leaning on a railing. (ine of them was smiling to- war photogeapher. He was a nor fook.ng young man of about thirty years of aye, well fed, well dressed, and apparent'y well satisfied with the world and himself. Lorde ey were alert and interested Poo one with the Panama hat pulled lown er his eyes is your husband?” 1e asked Yes.’ ussented the widow. Her tone rowed slight surprise “This was taken :hout a year ago?’ nouired Ford. “Must have been,” he u . ‘imself: “they haven't raced be Pay since then, This was takes n mtoef the tub stand —probably ~-2--