Charred Wood
objurgation as he recognized the man speaking to the clerk. Mark's thoughts were no longer of holy things, for
could, Mark shook hands with the detective, greeting him with a fair amount of cordiality, for, perso
wered. "I can't say the same of you, Mr. Griffin. I knew you w
ant to see me for? No, no. I am bad material for you to work on. Bett
you think, Griffin. By th
N
l join m
ks; I
a corner and ta
Saunders began. When he did, it w
and looking straight at Mark, "Griffin, w
take refuge again in the picturesque slang which the
do. What are y
show a little pique, "you have remarkable
Griffin. I am not a bo
rk's turn
information to me. I knew it
that tell
that you make up splendidly as
ness, but it is my business. Now, look here, Griffin, I want you to help instead of hindering me.
, "the constable has not
e seen h
rywh
en if he is not a good detective." Saunders
nings now. He knew well ho
l, interested i
aunders h
ark quietly, "sit down. What
d to Miss Atheson?
n't sa
in. "You know nothing
ds are good enough
s the Pa
er. He fixed them on Saunders, and h
Saunders?
hat Ruth Atheson i
who is
hard at Mark for what seemed a long time
and ought to be given a job as town crier, or you
ledge which you possess. Get it off your mind, man-better do it soon, for
w-it really looks as if you didn't. Are you the simon-pure M
u get that last bi
ignored t
ere as a traveler, aiming
es
never k
is
h Atheson
N
hear o
N
ally-intere
es
end to stay
es
d I guess it's my duty to tell you
Mark was
Atheson is not Ruth Atheson. She's the daughter of a grand duke. I can't tell you the name of the Grand Duchy, but I'll say this: it isn't very far from a certain Big Kingdom we hear a gre
hat he could speak. He saw a tragedy that
How do y
like. I was instructed to watch her. She got out
"how do I know you a
led out a postal card. "This will te
d as is sold in every country with portraits of reigning or distinguished personages. The facs
ers, with some sympathy showing on his face,
nders. You had better te
an with a trusted attendant. The attendant was evidently not to be trusted, for she disappeared, too. They were traced to London, the
you spoke of-wha
bad English, piercing black eyes, sixty years old, upper lip sho
m Neu
he? I suspected that, but I h
sn't go
isfied now,
ill ask the questions. I have
ers n
he Duchess
he answered. "I hate to
I do
right to know. There w
d at his own
was
fell in love with him, that's all. I was here watching for him. I thought, for a while, that you might be the man, though the descriptio
they
dent that they don't want her to meet him. I can't arrest her, and neither can they; but they certainly could do for him if they want
'm afraid that I don't know just what to do
about the
find it very hard
ow you are a gentleman, and because you have a right to know
onfidence, Saunders
ff. I don't blame you for wanting her. You know bette
m. On his table lay a not
Holy Communion last Sunday. His Lordship is a charming man. I'm sure you would like to meet him. Come up and
cer
d Mur