Adventure, June 1911 — page 45: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Seeds of Destruction quite so. Your brother has been useful to me 6n the past two or three occasions—oh, quite unintentionally I assure you—and he was useful again to me to-night. But to-night I’m afraid he was just a shade too smart—for his own sake! However, that is beside the mark and concerns only himself ‘and myself. What I rang you up for was to say that if you desire to meet your brother on his return, be at Sir Dean Dens- ham’s house in Whitehall at twelve mid- night to-night! Understand? Twelve mid- night. And you might also acquaint Sir Dean Densham with the fact that I hope to make his acquaintance very soon now—and. Mr. Algy Brett also. Can you remember the names? It’s not really important—it won’t do them any good to know it and it won't do me any harm. Good-by. So sorry you were anxious about your brother: Twelve midnight!” In a passion of hysteria, of dread, of ago- nizing doubts, Eva still held the receiver to her ears, begging, shrieking to the unknown sinister voice to explain, to say that Car was safe, to say that Car would be safe! Until the Exchange called through to ask what number she wanted she poured a prayer of piteous entreaty into the inani- mate mouthpiece, straining every nerve to catch even the semblance of an answer. But none came save the operator’s harsh demand, and with a tortured cry of mental anguish she ran blindly from the room to the . hall below, calling out as she ran for a serv- ant to call a cab immediately. Within a minute a taxi swept to the steps and she sprang in, bribing the man with a sovereign to drive his fastest to Sir Dean Densham’s, to get her there in ten minutes! To get her there in time! Bribing him again to drive faster—faster A mad- ness in her brain made her scream to him . again and again to go faster! The clock in St. James’ Palace pointed to twenty min- utes past eleven and again she urged him to drive faster. SIR DEAN came to her imme- diately, his face showing anxiety. He listened without commenting until she had finished. She told him every- thing—of her fears and of the unknown voice at the telephone. “And you suspect foul play? You think——?” “T suspect anything, Sir Dean! I suspect 231 anything and everybody! That voice—that awful voice! Ht was dreadtul—every word a menace!”’ Eva Darien sat like a statue of despair in the chair Sir Dean had placed for her. Her fingers twisted and tore her gloves to shreds; her eyes, black with fear, never left Sir Dean’s face. “It is barely half-past eleven—we still have thirty minutes in which to try to find out what it means. I think perhaps some one ought to be stationed in the porch in case your brother does not return alone. The odd thing is why Darien should come here instead of to his own home. Why come to my house at midnight—I mean, why has the man who evidently knows his where- abouts counseled him to come to me? If the man who spoke to you on the telephone is the man who is accountable for your -brother’s disappearance, then he is also the man whose benefit it was to secure the papers—and I can not think that he would be so ready, so eager to permit Darien to give his account of what has happened! Only six hours have elapsed since the papers left my charge—even the most daring crim- inal does not deliberately send his scapegoat back to tell his story so early in the game! If you i I think I saw Jacobs and another de- tective in the hall as I came in?” Eva’s voice was jerky, but Densham could see her mind working clearly and quickly behind the enveloping feverish anxiety. " “Yes, Jacobs and Martin. As a matter of fact, Mr. Sterrith and Lord Vales are here —about the missing papers, and the two men are attending them. The Cabinet have ‘many enemies just now and—— But I will go down and give instructions to the men. Will you wait here?” “YT would rather go with you, Sir Dean. It is almost twelve—oh, let us go!” Without a second’s delay the detectives received their orders and acted on them, stationing themselves within an alcove be- tween the front door and the flight of steps leading down to the street. The lights in the hall were lowered and the massive doors‘ left imperceptibly ajar. Eva moved rest- lessly in the shadows and Sir Dean never left her side. The hall seemed full of whis- pering shapes, barely visible in the dimness. The Prime Minister and Lord Vales, im- pelled by the sudden sense of something un- CORNICLO© SoCO)