The Intrusion of Jimmy

wrote and dispatched his letter to Wragge's Detect

, there are few things pleasanter than supper at the Savoy Hotel, London. But, as Jimmy sat there, eying the multitude through the smok

ing that time, he had covered a good deal of new ground. His restlessness had reasserted i

ame. Spike had called the man with the revolver "boss" throughout-only that and nothing more. Except that he was a police-captain, Jimmy knew as little about the man as he had before their meeting. And Spike, who held the key to the mystery, had vanished. His acquaintances of that night had passed out of his life like figures in a waking dream. As far as the big man with the pistol was concerned, th

on, but never again that of his young disciple in the art of burglary. In the end, he had wearied of the other friends of the Strollers, had gone out again on his wanderings. He was greatly missed, especially by that large section of his circle which was in a perpetual state of wanting a little to see it through till Saturday. For years, Jimmy had

suli and Kaid MacLean. But Jimmy was not to be stop

hy for those who travel, that a man cannot change his feelings with his climate

unning away, he told himself, was futile. He

weeks, and already he was contemplating retreat.

demeanor, plainly her mother, and a light-haired, weedy young man in the twenties. It had been the almost incessant prattle of this youth and the peculiarly high-pitched, gurgling laugh

ee that all was not well with him. He was pale. He talked at

eye. There was a

caused this look. Either the light-haired young man had seen a ghost, o

scribbled the words, "Can I help?" on it, and gave it to a waiter to

aired one was at his table,

p! It's frightfully awkward. I've come out with too litt

rtunes," pleaded Jimmy

ive-pound not

e said, produ

card. Is your address on your card? I can't remember. Oh, by Jove, I've got it in my hand all the time." The gurgling laugh came into action again, freshe

eat," said Jimm

some ghost-story. Everyone had heard of the secret of Dreever, which was known only to the earl and the family lawyer, and confided to the heir at midnight on his twenty-first birthday. Jimmy had come across the story in corners of the papers all over the States, from New York to Onehorseville, Iowa. He looked with interest at the light-haired young man, the latest depository of the a

is bill, and

the Embankment, and stood leaning over the balustrade, looking across

or some time, his thoughts far awa

s his light-haired lordship of Dreever. "

red uneasily in his sleep as the

ave. I often do. Don't you think it sort of makes a chap

?" sai

y poetical. Suppos

y was sympathetic with this mood of contempla

Lord Dreever, "and came down here for a

rd Dreever lighted a cigar, and fix

it looks,

y no

uddy and beastly. Damn' depressing, I call it. But at night-" He paused. "I s

said

," said Lord Dr

stranger. The man you talk with is a friend, and, if he will listen-as, by the etiquette of

love with her,"

charming gir

mewhere out in the night came the sound of

nt to go to Japan?" a

d Dreever, sta

he position of confidant,

stay in one place for more than a month on end. I tried Morocco, and had to quit. I tried Spain, and that wasn't any good, either. The o

ded this traveled

ant to leg it about the world like that for? What's

know wher

't k

isappe

" asked his lordship, as if

w Y

disappeared? Don't y

even know

say, I mean! Have yo

a complicated story. A

it was a rum business.

his lordship, "we'

your t

eever h

to marry one girl, and my uncle's

of hurting your

ll, it's too long to tell now. I think I'll be gett

ou'll walk, I'll come so

Let's be pushing

dilly has a restful aspect in the small hours. Some men were cleaning the road with

cabmen's shelter. Conversation and emotion had made Lord Dreever thirs

in town," he said. "The cabbie

l duties that he is apt to avoid it in private life. The air was heavy with conflicting scents. Fried onions seemed to be having the best of the s

to be in progress

you was in Russh

d a shriveled mummy of a cabman, who was b

the interlocutor, introducing a Massa Bone

er yer knees in bla-a-a-

wo

a-a-ad! That's why I

Lord Dreever. "I say, can

nstead of Japan," sai

ussia. Jimmy would have enjoyed it more if he had been less sleepy. His back was wedged comfortably against the wall

hrough the murmur and woke him. It was a voice

! Excu

a crop of fiery red hair was standing in the doorway, regarding th

ed him. It was

nal beauts wants to give a poor orphan dat suffers from a painful toist some

door," said the mu

te opponent. "We don't wan

the newcomer, regretfully. "I t'ought youse didn't loo

en I'm telling yer!" said the

ntly withdrawing,

ment,"

s not, perhaps, exactly a friend, but even an acquaintance could rely on

e of stolid woodenness. He took the sovereign that Jimmy held out

anted to give him any

l only spend it

d me of a man I

t-is-it, I should thi

we be m